Benzinga examined the prospects for many investors' favorite stocks over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.Stocks wrapped a turbulent week with mixed performance as easing geopolitical tensions helped spark a relief rally, but market caution lingered into Friday's session. Major U.S. indexes climbed on Thursday after President Donald Trump backed away from threatened tariffs on European allies tied to a controversial Greenland strategy, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average a ...

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting with competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments in complex instruments like cryptocurrencies and CFDs [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party materials intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information should not be interpreted as a recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - The accuracy and reliability of the information are not guaranteed, and users are cautioned against relying solely on the content provided [1]. Group 2 - The website discusses the high risks associated with cryptocurrencies and CFDs, highlighting that they are complex instruments with a significant potential for financial loss [1]. - It encourages users to conduct their own research and fully understand the workings and risks of any financial instruments before investing [1].

Core Viewpoint - Silver prices have reached a new record, with the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gaining 97.3% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) which has increased by about 58% [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Rising speculative positions driven by expectations of ongoing supply tightness and lower U.S. borrowing costs have contributed to the rally in silver prices [2] - The Federal Reserve has implemented two rate cuts in 2025, with a high probability of further cuts, which typically supports non-yielding assets like silver [5] - The U.S. dollar has weakened, with the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) down 5% this year, which tends to boost silver prices as it is dollar-denominated [7] Group 2: Industrial Demand - Approximately 50% of silver's total demand comes from industrial applications, with a 4% increase in industrial demand reported in 2024, particularly driven by green energy initiatives [3] - The automotive industry is expected to increase silver demand due to rising vehicle sophistication and the gradual electrification of powertrains [4] - Silver's applications in solar power and electric vehicles, along with the global rollout of 5G technology, are significant contributors to rising demand [4] Group 3: Safe-Haven Appeal - Silver is viewed as a safe-haven asset, although not as strongly as gold, and has maintained its appeal amid moderate trade tensions [8] Group 4: ETF Holdings and Supply Constraints - Holdings in silver-backed ETFs have increased by approximately 200 tons recently, reaching their highest level since 2022, indicating strong investor interest [9] - Supply pressures have intensified, with inventories at warehouses linked to the Shanghai Futures Exchange dropping to their lowest level in a decade [9]

Group 1 - Gold prices increased by 0.5% in early trading, with New York futures reaching $4,086.10 per troy ounce and spot gold at $4,067.43 per ounce, driven by renewed safe-haven demand despite reduced expectations for a December interest-rate cut by the Federal Reserve [1] - Global equity markets experienced declines due to concerns over high valuations, leading to a risk-off sentiment that prompted buying in safe-haven assets like gold [2]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1] Group 1 - The content includes general news and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1] - It highlights that the information provided does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1] - The article warns that the information may not be accurate or provided in real-time, and prices may be sourced from market makers rather than exchanges [1] Group 2 - The website discusses complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1] - It encourages users to perform their own research and understand the risks involved before investing in any financial instruments [1] - The article states that FX Empire does not endorse any third-party services and is not liable for any losses incurred from using the information provided [1]

Core Viewpoint - The abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) has recently reached a new 52-week high, with shares increasing approximately 85.7% from their 52-week low of $82.35 per share, indicating strong momentum in the platinum market [1]. Group 1: ETF Performance - PPLT has a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold) and a medium risk outlook, suggesting a stable investment option [6]. - The fund has a weighted alpha of 87.22, indicating potential for further gains if market conditions remain favorable [6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - Recent increases in platinum prices are attributed to supply shortages caused by declining mine output and weak recycling efforts, tightening the supply [3]. - Demand for platinum remains robust, driven by sectors such as automotive, jewelry, and a significant increase in investment inflows, with investment in platinum bars and coins surging by 660% year-over-year in Q2 2025 [3]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The automotive sector's use of catalytic converters, which require platinum, is expected to rise due to a lack of favor for electric vehicles (EVs) under the current administration, positively impacting platinum and palladium prices [4]. - The ongoing transition to green energy and the rising demand for clean, low-emission technologies are contributing to increased demand for platinum [5]. - Precious metals, including platinum, are experiencing price increases due to heightened safe-haven demand amid uncertainties such as a U.S. government shutdown [5].

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party content intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party content intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1]. - The content may include advertisements and promotional materials, with the website potentially receiving compensation from third parties [1].

Group 1: Silver Market Performance - Silver reached a new 14-year peak as the U.S. dollar weakened amid rising risks of a government shutdown, with iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gaining about 15.7% over the past month, outperforming SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) which advanced about 9% [1] Group 2: Industrial Demand and Applications - Approximately half of silver's total demand comes from industrial applications, with a 4% increase in industrial demand reported in 2024, particularly driven by green energy initiatives [2] - Silver is crucial in solar power and electric vehicle applications, with China's solar cell exports increasing over 70% in the first half of the year, primarily due to strong shipments to India [3] - The automotive industry's increasing vehicle sophistication and gradual electrification of powertrains are expected to drive higher silver demand [3] - The global rollout of 5G technology is another positive factor for silver, as electronic components for 5G heavily rely on silver [4] Group 3: Economic Factors Influencing Silver Prices - The Federal Reserve's first rate cut of 2025 occurred in September, with an 89.3% chance of a further 25-basis point cut in October and 68.2% expecting another cut in December, influenced by a softer labor market [5] - Continued policy easing by the Fed could weaken the U.S. dollar, which typically boosts silver prices, as evidenced by the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) declining 7% this year [6] Group 4: Safe-Haven Demand - Silver's appeal as a safe-haven asset has increased amid moderate trade tensions and the potential for a U.S. government shutdown, with rising uncertainty boosting its demand [7][8] Group 5: ETFs and Investment Vehicles - In addition to iShares Silver Trust (SLV), other ETFs such as Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL), Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ), and abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR) are also performing well, hovering around 52-week highs [9]

Group 1: Gold Price Trends - Gold price has risen 10.63% over the past month and 42.90% year to date, driven by dollar weakness, central bank buying, and safe-haven demand [1] - The precious metal is trading near its record high, marking its sixth consecutive week of upward momentum, influenced by geopolitical tensions and high ETF inflows [2] - Strong fundamental indicators could extend gold's gains into late 2025 and 2026, suggesting increased portfolio allocation [1] Group 2: Federal Reserve Impact - The Fed's first rate cut of 2025 in September supported the gold rally, as interest rate cuts weaken the U.S. dollar, increasing gold demand [3] - Recent data showing stronger-than-expected U.S. GDP growth has eased speculation of additional rate cuts, with an 87.7% likelihood of a cut in October and 96.6% in December [4] - Even without further rate cuts, the market has priced in two cuts for 2025, meaning deviations from expectations could boost gold prices [5] Group 3: Investment Strategies - Gold remains a crucial hedge amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, with various ETFs available for increased exposure [6] - Recommended physical gold ETFs include SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and others, with GLD being the most liquid option [7] - A long-term passive investment strategy is advised, encouraging a "buy-the-dip" approach despite potential short-term declines [8] Group 4: Gold Miners ETFs - Gold miners ETFs provide access to the gold mining industry, magnifying gold's gains and losses, with options like VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) [11] - GDX is the most liquid option with an asset base of $21.64 billion, while GDXJ has outperformed others, gaining 23.82% over the past month and 76.85% over the past year [12]