Key TakeawaysU.S. Navy presence in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean has reached 13 ships, signaling a significant escalation in regional military readiness.President Trump has received multiple briefings on "swift and decisive" military strike options targeting Iran’s nuclear program and Revolutionary Guard facilities.The Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) plummeted to 16,900 per dollar, reflecting intense pressure on emerging markets amid global uncertainty and hawkish Fed signals.Defense and energy sectors ...

Earnings season comes calling for three popular stocks.Don't let this holiday-shortened trading week lull you into a sense of financial slumber. Earnings season continues, and more than a few stocks will be on the move after their respective companies' latest quarterly numbers come out.A few of the stocks I hope will step up nicely this week include Palo Alto Networks (PANW +2.52%), Booking Holdings (BKNG 0.52%), and Walmart (WMT +0.19%). They have a lot to prove in the next four trading days. Let's take a ...

Core Insights - Gold prices have surged, approaching $5,600 per ounce, marking a significant increase of over 27% in the past year and nearly 100% year-to-date [1][2] - The rally is driven by geopolitical tensions, a weaker U.S. dollar, and speculation regarding potential monetary easing by central banks [2] - Tether has expanded its physical gold holdings to approximately 140 tonnes, valued at around $23 billion, positioning itself as one of the largest non-sovereign gold holders globally [2][3] Market Dynamics - The total market capitalization of gold is estimated at roughly $37 trillion, while Bitcoin's market cap is around $1.8 trillion [6] - A notable 5% increase in gold prices on a single day added the entire market cap of Bitcoin, highlighting the scale of the gold market's movement [4] Future Considerations - Potential scenarios that could trigger a rotation between gold and Bitcoin include renewed monetary expansion, stress in bond markets, and shifts in investor psychology [7] - If the Federal Reserve engages in large-scale balance sheet expansion, both gold and Bitcoin could benefit, with Bitcoin potentially outperforming due to its higher beta [7] - Stress in bond markets could enhance gold's appeal, while Bitcoin may regain its status as an uncorrelated hedge if market conditions worsen [7]

Group 1: Company Overview - The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is recognized as one of the 13 Best Dividend Kings to buy in 2026 [1] - P&G is a global consumer products company that sells branded packaged goods across multiple categories to consumers worldwide [4] Group 2: Stock Performance and Analyst Insights - Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman raised P&G's price target to $155 from $151, maintaining an Equal Weight rating, indicating a cautious outlook despite recent enthusiasm [2] - P&G's stock has declined nearly 11% over the past 12 months due to inflationary pressures and increased price sensitivity among consumers [3] - In the fiscal first quarter ending September 30, P&G reported a 2% increase in sales, with price and mix contributing 1 percentage point each to growth, while volumes remained flat [4]

Core Insights - Gold is experiencing its largest weekly gain in five years, with prices reaching an all-time high near $4,380 an ounce, marking an increase of approximately 8% this week, the highest since March 2020 [1] - Silver has also reached new highs, with prices hitting nearly $54.50 an ounce, reflecting an increase of over 85% this year [3] Group 1: Market Drivers - Concerns over credit quality in the US and renewed trade tensions with China are driving investors towards precious metals as safe-haven assets [2] - Geopolitical risks, rising public debt, and threats to the Federal Reserve's independence are contributing to the increased demand for gold and silver [2] Group 2: Price Movements and Trends - Gold has surged more than 60% this year, supported by central bank purchases and inflows into exchange-traded funds, with traders anticipating at least one significant US rate cut by year-end [3] - The London silver market has tightened significantly, leading to a price increase above New York silver futures, with borrowing costs for silver sitting around 20% [4] Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - Over the past week, over 15 million ounces of silver have been withdrawn from Comex warehouses in New York, with much of it likely heading to London to alleviate tightness in the market [5] - A notable outflow of 10 million ounces from silver-backed exchange-traded funds occurred on Thursday, contributing to the ongoing supply dynamics [5]

Core Viewpoint - China Evergrande Group has been delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, marking a significant decline from its previous status as a leading developer in China, now recognized as the world's most indebted developer with over $300 billion in debt [1][3][22] Company Summary - Evergrande's market capitalization peaked at $51 billion in 2017 but has since plummeted to approximately $280 million following a liquidation order [2] - The company was once the largest developer in China by sales but is now facing a prolonged crisis that has affected the broader economy [3][5] - Evergrande has delivered 1.2 million homes in the last four years, with over 95% of sold units completed, but still has numerous unfinished projects and a significant number of homebuyers awaiting their homes [21] Industry Summary - China's housing market has been in a downturn for four years, with new home prices falling 3.2% year-on-year in June and 2.8% in July, alongside a decline in real estate-related investments [4][6] - The property bubble peaked in 2021, with sales volumes of new residential properties halving over four years, and prices dropping significantly in both smaller cities and major urban areas [6] - The ongoing housing market correction is expected to continue impacting China's GDP, with forecasts indicating a reduction in the drag from 2.5 percentage points in 2022 to 1.5 percentage points in 2025, and further down to 0.3 percentage points by 2027 [7] - Recent government measures aim to stimulate home demand, including easing purchase restrictions and lowering mortgage rates, which has led to a rally in shares of Chinese developers [9][10] - The consolidation of the industry is anticipated, with state-owned developers likely to take over distressed assets and complete unfinished projects, as private developers face significant restructuring challenges [14][16][18]