January WTI crude oil (CLF26) today is up +0.76 (+1.38%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF26) is up +0.0166 (+0.99%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are rising today amid heightened geopolitical risks in Venezuela and Russia.  President Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned tankers off Venezuela, and the US is preparing new sanctions on Russian energy exports if Russia rejects a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.  Crude prices fell back from their best level after weekly EIA crude inventories fell less t ...

Core Insights - Precious metals have seen significant price movements, with gold peaking at $4,400 and silver at just below $54.50 in October 2025, followed by sharp corrections [2][4] - Current trading levels for gold are just below $4,000 and for silver below $48, indicating a bearish trend with potential targets for gold at $3,720 and $3,540, and for silver at $44.48 and around $41.5 [2][4] Market Drivers - Strong central bank buying, particularly from China, has contributed to the rise in precious metals [5] - A transition from a rate hiking cycle to a rate cutting cycle has influenced market dynamics [5] - The decline of the USD, with the DXY index falling from 110 in January 2025 to the low 96s, has supported precious metal prices [5] - Increased global geopolitical tensions have driven investors towards safe haven assets [5] Market Sentiment - Sentiment and positioning in the precious metals market had become extremely bullish, with significant retail participation driven by fear of missing out (FOMO) [8] - The influx of new longs has led to a reversal in prices, as fast money and retail investors are now stopping out of positions [9] Mining Sector Performance - The GDX ETF (Gold Senior Miners) has decreased from its October highs of 85 to 69, with targets set at 62.4 and 55.38 [10] - The SIL ETF (Silver Senior Miners) has fallen from 80.72 to 63, with targets in the low 50s [12] Future Outlook - Despite current corrections, the fundamentals for a continued rally in precious metals and miners remain intact, suggesting potential for future long positions [14]