US housing starts dropped 5.2% to 1.221 million in September, the second-lowest pace since the 2020 pandemic shutdown, and building permits hit a three-and-a-half-year low of 1.400 million. Both figures are worse than they look because July and August were revised up. With the 10-year Treasury at 5.117% — only 19bp below its October 5 peak of 5.311% — and the NAHB builder confidence index at 2012 levels, here are the three numbers, the transmission chain from rates to permits, and the two scenarios into the October 28 FOMC.

The Dow closed 529.85 points higher at 52,495.88 (+1.02%) and the VIX fell 6.13% to 17.31, but the two stocks that carry the AI trade moved the other way after Tuesday's close: Netflix slipped to $64.74 (-5.8%) after guiding Q4 EPS of $0.67, below the street, while SpaceX jumped about 8% to near $160 on its first profit as a public company and revenue up 161%. Netflix is now below its 52-week low of $65.08. Here are the numbers, the $65 / $70 levels and the two catalysts that matter this week.

Get the latest gold price analysis, forex gold insights, and XAU/USD analysis for October 21, 2026. Read on for the details.

The AUD/USD pair trades with a positive bias for the fourth straight day, holding steady above the 0.7000 psychological mark during the Asian session on Wednesday and flirting with the monthly high it touched the previous day.