Written by Irene Q.
Reviewed by Irene Q.
Compliance reviewd by Irene Q.
Written by Irene Q.
Brent rose 3.3% and US crude stocks built 4.66 million barrels in the same weekBrent January settled at 95.82, up 3.3%, and WTI at 88.74, up 2.55%, after the US signalled it would not pursue a deal with Iran and attacks on Gulf shipping continued. In the same week, EIA data showed US crude inventories rising 4.657 million barrels against expectations of a 1.1 million draw, with gasoline up another 1.799 million. OPEC output also rebounded 1.96 million barrels a day to 27.16 million in October, led by Saudi Arabia at 10.56 million. This piece separates the geopolitical premium from the physical balance and lays out where each side of the trade is anchored.
Brent January settled at 95.82, up 3.3%, and WTI at 88.74, up 2.55%, after the US signalled it would not pursue a deal with Iran and attacks on Gulf shipping continued. In the same week, EIA data showed US crude inventories rising 4.657 million barrels against expectations of a 1.1 million draw, with gasoline up another 1.799 million. OPEC output also rebounded 1.96 million barrels a day to 27.16 million in October, led by Saudi Arabia at 10.56 million. This piece separates the geopolitical premium from the physical balance and lays out where each side of the trade is anchored.
Gold hit a one-year low while central banks bought 321 tonnes — the sellers were never the ones you thinkSpot gold closed at 3,876 on Thursday, down 2.8% and its lowest close in more than a year, with an intraday low near 3,852. The dollar is at a 19-month high of 103.21 and the 10-year yield is at 5.10%, so the price move is easy to explain. What is harder to explain is who sold: central banks bought 321 tonnes in Q3, the PBoC added for a 24th straight month, ETF holdings are near a record 4,256 tonnes, and roughly 95% of the futures selling came from non-reportable and sovereign-type accounts rather than hedge funds. This piece separates the two books that have to balance.
Spot gold closed at 3,876 on Thursday, down 2.8% and its lowest close in more than a year, with an intraday low near 3,852. The dollar is at a 19-month high of 103.21 and the 10-year yield is at 5.10%, so the price move is easy to explain. What is harder to explain is who sold: central banks bought 321 tonnes in Q3, the PBoC added for a 24th straight month, ETF holdings are near a record 4,256 tonnes, and roughly 95% of the futures selling came from non-reportable and sovereign-type accounts rather than hedge funds. This piece separates the two books that have to balance.
Gold closed below $4,000 again — the ETF crowd and central banks stayed, the momentum money leftSpot gold is trading near $3,999, its third consecutive lower daily low, after a 5.00% 10-year yield and a 102.85 dollar index raised the odds of a December hike to 87%. But the selling is not coming from the strategic holders: managed-money net longs fell to 324 tonnes, a 21-week low, and Goldman Sachs attributes roughly 95% of five weeks of selling to non-reportable positions. ETFs still hold a record 4,256 tonnes and central banks bought 321 tonnes in Q3. The table below sets the triggers, directions and levels.
Spot gold is trading near $3,999, its third consecutive lower daily low, after a 5.00% 10-year yield and a 102.85 dollar index raised the odds of a December hike to 87%. But the selling is not coming from the strategic holders: managed-money net longs fell to 324 tonnes, a 21-week low, and Goldman Sachs attributes roughly 95% of five weeks of selling to non-reportable positions. ETFs still hold a record 4,256 tonnes and central banks bought 321 tonnes in Q3. The table below sets the triggers, directions and levels.
Nvidia slid 7.7% after hours while AMD and Broadcom rose — the AI trade changed hands, it didn't breakNvidia closed Wednesday at 173.73, up 2.87%, then fell as much as 8.1% to 159.44 after reports that its board was preparing for a possible leadership change. The same session, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 5.7% with all 30 components higher, CoreWeave jumped 24.7% on 168% revenue growth, and Micron added 11.9%. If AI demand were being repriced, AMD and Broadcom would not be bid. This is a governance discount on one name, and 204.54 — the 200-day average — is the level that settles it.
Nvidia closed Wednesday at 173.73, up 2.87%, then fell as much as 8.1% to 159.44 after reports that its board was preparing for a possible leadership change. The same session, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 5.7% with all 30 components higher, CoreWeave jumped 24.7% on 168% revenue growth, and Micron added 11.9%. If AI demand were being repriced, AMD and Broadcom would not be bid. This is a governance discount on one name, and 204.54 — the 200-day average — is the level that settles it.
Core CPI stuck at 0.3% for a third straight month — and BLS couldn't publish the number that would explain itOctober headline CPI rose 0.4% m/m against a 0.3% consensus, and core rose 0.3% for a third consecutive month against 0.2% expected. BLS published no year-on-year figures because October 2025 collection was lost to the government shutdown. Energy cooled to 0.7% from 5.2% — shelter, food and transport services did the rest. The 2-year yield jumped 18 to 21 basis points, the 10-year added 12, and the dollar closed at 102.25.
October headline CPI rose 0.4% m/m against a 0.3% consensus, and core rose 0.3% for a third consecutive month against 0.2% expected. BLS published no year-on-year figures because October 2025 collection was lost to the government shutdown. Energy cooled to 0.7% from 5.2% — shelter, food and transport services did the rest. The 2-year yield jumped 18 to 21 basis points, the 10-year added 12, and the dollar closed at 102.25.