Group 1 - The risk premiums for various assets, including stocks and gold, have increased since early September, driven by gold reaching new record highs [1][3] - Despite rising risk premiums, implied volatility on benchmark indexes has remained steady or even decreased throughout most of the year, indicating a lack of significant market swings [2][4] - Factors influencing the narrow trading ranges and rising risk premiums include rate-cut expectations for gold, supply and demand dynamics for oil, and uncertainties surrounding the Federal Reserve and corporate earnings affecting stocks [3][4] Group 2 - In the equities market, options volume reached a record high in September, with investors beginning to hedge against potential market movements as year-end approaches [4] - The S&P 500 Index has experienced low volatility due to low correlation among individual stocks, which has kept the VIX index muted despite rising single-stock volatility as earnings season approaches [5][6] - The oil market has shown limited movement, remaining within a narrow range due to a balance between expectations of oversupply and geopolitical tensions affecting supply, which has also contributed to low volatility [7]