Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Imagesdpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesGold-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their fifth consecutive monthly inflow in October, data from the World Gold Council (WGC) showed.“Global ETFs are just two months away from recording what looks to be their strongest year on record,” the organization said.Gold funds accumulated another 55 tonnes of the expensive metal last month, though this was down from the monthly record of 146 tonnes punched in Sept ...

Core Viewpoint - Gold stocks continue to decline, with significant drops in major companies, reflecting a broader trend in the gold market as spot gold prices fall below $3980 per ounce, marking a decline of over 9% from the peak on October 20 [1] Company Performance - Lingbao Gold (03330) decreased by 4.27%, trading at HKD 15.9 [1] - Jihai Resources (02489) fell by 3.55%, trading at HKD 1.36 [1] - China Silver Group (00815) dropped by 3.23%, trading at HKD 0.6 [1] - China Gold International (02099) declined by 2.65%, trading at HKD 125 [1] Market Analysis - On November 4, spot gold prices fell by 0.53%, indicating a significant market correction [1] - The decline in gold prices is attributed to high implied volatility and profit-taking after substantial gains, alongside a weakening trend in capital inflow [1] - The market has over-priced geopolitical instability, with recent easing in tensions between the US and China, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict [1] Future Outlook - Short-term gold prices are expected to remain relatively high with significant volatility, while geopolitical risks are diminishing [1] - Without unexpected positive stimuli, London gold is anticipated to consolidate and fluctuate until the end of the year, with potential for new highs in the first quarter of the following year [1] - Future increases in gold prices may require two conditions: a reduction in implied volatility to levels seen in August-September and new macroeconomic driving factors [1]

Amazon - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is facing challenges compared to Microsoft and Google due to its slower growth rate and less direct ties to open AI technologies [3][4] - The recent layoffs announced by Amazon are the largest in the company's history, which may impact its operational efficiency [2] - If AWS revenue growth meets or exceeds the previous quarter's growth, it could positively influence Amazon's stock price in the near term [5] Apple - The iPhone 17 is reportedly outperforming expectations, with management guiding for mid to high single-digit revenue growth for September [6] - Ongoing geopolitical discussions between the U.S. and China may benefit Apple, particularly regarding the sourcing of rare earth minerals critical for consumer electronics [7][8] - The easing of geopolitical risks has contributed to a rebound in Apple's shares, indicating positive market sentiment [9]

Core Insights - Panther Denim is establishing a second manufacturing hub in Cambodia to enhance its supply chain control and respond to market demands for diversified sourcing options [1][3][5] Group 1: Expansion Plans - The company will begin trial pilots at its first fully-owned factory outside of China near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with plans to reach production levels similar to its China factory by the end of 2026, targeting 3 million yards of PFD and 5 million yards of denim per month [2] - The new facility is designed to be automated and serve as a one-stop solution for brands seeking quality comparable to that from China [6] Group 2: Market Challenges - Panther Denim faced significant challenges due to rising tariffs on Cambodian exports to the U.S., which peaked at 49 percent but have since been negotiated down to 19 percent [4] - Geopolitical risks have created market instability, making long-term decision-making difficult for buyers, but the company believes its expansion will provide a more resilient sourcing option [5] Group 3: Industry Trends - There is a noticeable trend of brands pulling out of China, prompting Panther Denim to offer an alternative country of origin to meet client demands for cost-competitive options [6] - While innovation is important, the current focus is shifting towards cost-effectiveness due to newly imposed tariffs [6]

Oil markets roared back to life after Trump’s sanctions on Russia’s top oil producers sent prices surging. Friday, October 24, 2025 Trump’s sanctions on Russia’s top oil firms have cut short the past weeks’ downward pricing movement, with stories of record high crude on water, flattening backwardation curves and weakening Chinese SPR purchases now all put on the back burner. With ICE Brent soaring to $66 per barrel, up $5 per barrel in just one day, Thursday’s rally failed to trigger incremental mo ...

There have been these longheld predictions that this surging production is going to push the market into a surplus. From your view, where are we at right now. Are we at some sort of tipping point.>> Great to be with you, Kaylee. We are. You know, we're like a bunch of folks at the beach who've been hearing on the radio that a tsunami is coming, but kind of questioning if it's coming or not.Now, Rapidan is predicting or forecasting to extend the analogy a tsunami for quite a while and we're starting to see i ...

Core Insights - FTI Consulting has appointed Paul Abbate as a Senior Managing Director in its National Security offering, leveraging his extensive law enforcement and intelligence experience [1][2][4] Company Overview - FTI Consulting is a global expert firm specializing in crisis and transformation, with over 7,900 employees across 32 countries and territories as of June 30, 2025 [8] - The company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024 [8] Appointment Details - Paul Abbate brings nearly 30 years of experience from the FBI, where he served in various executive leadership roles, including Deputy Director [2][5] - In his new role, Abbate will focus on helping clients identify geopolitical risks and combat threats, including espionage and insider threats [3][6] National Security Offering - FTI Consulting's National Security experts come from diverse backgrounds, including law enforcement and intelligence, providing comprehensive solutions for compliance with national security regulations [7] - The firm aims to enhance organizations' defenses against national security incidents and support investigations related to regulatory enforcement actions [7]

Germany plans to invest €10 billion ($11.6 billion) in military drones in coming years to help protect European and NATO airspace amid a rising threat from Russia https://t.co/mMmXpoRNw4 ...

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices declined following Israel's approval of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza, indicating a potential reduction in geopolitical tensions that could disrupt oil supply [1] Oil Market Impact - Analysts at ANZ Research noted that the cease-fire represents a significant step towards ending the two-year conflict, which had previously heightened the risk of supply disruptions in the oil market [1] - Brent crude and WTI prices both fell by 0.5%, settling at $64.88 and $60.76 per barrel, respectively, after a 1.6% decrease in the previous trading session [1]

Group 1 - Oil futures are experiencing an upward trend, with WTI increasing for four consecutive sessions and Brent rising for three out of the last four sessions [1] - Geopolitical risks, particularly due to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, are influencing market dynamics and countering oversupply concerns [1] - There are indications that OPEC may be nearing its production limits amid ongoing supply risks related to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict [2] Group 2 - Current discussions about an oil glut are not reflected in the actual supply numbers, suggesting a tighter market than anticipated [2] - The ongoing geopolitical tensions are contributing to a risk premium in oil prices, which may affect future supply and demand dynamics [1][2]