Gasoline prices are easing as the Thanksgiving travel weekend kicks off. While the national average remains slightly above $3 per gallon, the average price per gallon in more than half of US states now falls below that mark, and a handful of stations are even offering regular unleaded for $1.99. The national price of gasoline sat at $3.05 per gallon on Tuesday, about the same as exactly one year ago, according to AAA data. Coastal states like California and Washington still carry prices above $4 per gal ...

17 November 2025 | 11:08AM EST Commodities Research ENERGY TOMORROW Oil Prices Through 2035: Down in 2026 on Last Supply Wave, Up Later Daan Struyven +1(212)357-4172 | daan.struyven@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Yulia Zhestkova Grigsby +1(646)446-3905 | yulia.grigsby@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Alexandra Paulus +1(212)902-7111 | alexandra.paulus@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision. For Reg AC certification and o ...

Gold Market Insights - The gold market is currently viewed as both overbought and underowned, suggesting a long-term investment opportunity despite recent price fluctuations [3][4] - A forecast revision has been made, increasing the target price for gold to $5,000 per ounce, up from a previous target of $4,000, indicating bullish sentiment [3] - Recent volatility in gold prices has been attributed to significant inflows and geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and China, as well as sanctions on Russia [4][5] Investment Strategy - Gold is recommended as a core portfolio asset, but investors are advised against chasing prices higher; instead, buying on dips is suggested [10] - The historical value retention of gold is emphasized, with the assertion that it maintains purchasing power over time [10][11] Energy Market Overview - The oil market has been bearish throughout the year, influenced by sanctions on major Russian oil producers, which are expected to reduce supply [13][14] - Recent sanctions have led to a rally in crude prices, particularly in near-dated contracts, as refiners rush to secure alternative oil sources [15] - Despite the current price rally, OPEC+ is increasing production, which may prevent a long-term shortage of crude oil, indicating a potential surplus in the market [17]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Global Oil Market - **Key Focus**: Oil price forecasts, OPEC+ production dynamics, geopolitical risks, and supply-demand balance Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Oil Price Forecasts**: - Brent price forecast raised slightly to $63/bbl for 4Q25, reflecting better-than-expected performance in 3Q25 due to geopolitical risks and resilient demand [2][18] - 2026 Brent forecast cut by $1 to $64/bbl average, with long-term projections unchanged at $70 for 2027 and $75 for 2028 [2][18] 2. **Supply-Demand Balance**: - Anticipated surplus of 1.2Mb/d in 2025 and 1.5Mb/d in 2026, driven by increased OPEC+ supply [3][34] - Non-OPEC supply growth robust at 1.2Mb/d in 2025, slowing to 0.5Mb/d in 2026, with significant contributions from Brazil, Norway, and Canada [3][85] 3. **OPEC+ Dynamics**: - OPEC+ is expected to fully unwind 1.65Mb/d of voluntary cuts by September 2026, but only ~40% of this is likely to materialize due to limited spare capacity [3][52] - The group has resumed oil flows via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, initially facilitating 180-190kb/d, expected to rise to 230kb/d [54] 4. **Geopolitical Risks**: - Heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly in Iran and Russia, could impact oil prices significantly, with potential for Brent prices to rise into the $70s/bbl if disruptions occur [4][20] - Ongoing sanctions on Iran and infrastructure vulnerabilities in Russia are critical factors to monitor [78] 5. **Market Sentiment**: - Current market sentiment remains bearish due to OPEC+ production increases and seasonal demand declines, despite geopolitical support [34][41] - The forward curve indicates a market not dramatically looser, suggesting that lower prices could drive supply down, leading to a healthier market backdrop [22] Additional Important Insights 1. **Demand Growth**: - Global oil demand growth estimates slightly adjusted to 0.9Mb/d for 2025 and 1.1Mb/d for 2026, with stronger OECD demand but muted signals from non-OECD regions [41][42] - Chinese demand expected to grow by 0.1Mb/d in 2025 and 0.3Mb/d in 2026, while Indian demand tracking softer at ~0.1Mb/d for both years [42] 2. **Potential Upside and Downside Risks**: - Upside risks include firmer global economic growth and better OPEC+ compliance, while downside risks involve a global economic slowdown and increased OPEC+ production [30] - A recession could lead to aggressive market share pursuits by OPEC+, potentially driving prices below $50/bbl [10] 3. **Inventory Trends**: - Global observed inventories have been rising, with a projected build of 1.3Mb/d in 4Q, reaching ~8,030Mb by year-end [101] 4. **US Production Outlook**: - US liquids growth forecasted at 0.5Mb/d in 2025, with a slight decline of 0.1Mb/d in 2026 due to lower activity levels [8][85] - The US remains a key variable, with rig activity influenced by WTI pricing and efficiency gains [85] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, focusing on the oil market's dynamics, price forecasts, and the implications of geopolitical and economic factors on supply and demand.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the oil industry, specifically analyzing the current state of oil prices and market dynamics affecting Brent and WTI crude oil prices [4][7]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Price Forecasts**: The Brent and WTI prices have fallen to forecasts of $63 and $59 per barrel respectively for December 2025, indicating a bearish outlook for oil prices [4][7]. - **Market Dynamics**: - The decline in oil prices is attributed to rising US-China trade tensions, geopolitical de-escalation in the Middle East, and increasing global visible inventories, which have built by approximately 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) year-to-date (YTD) [4][7]. - OECD commercial inventories have also increased by 0.2 mb/d YTD, suggesting a cooling demand from China [4][7]. - **Investment Recommendations**: - The recommendation to close the three-way strategy of buying oil put spreads and selling calls is based on the expectation of further declines in oil prices through 2026 [4][5]. - Investors are advised to position for lower timespreads due to anticipated significant builds in OECD commercial stocks in November and January [4][5]. - Oil producers are encouraged to buy oil put spreads rather than those funded by selling calls, as the risks to the price forecast are two-sided, with a potential recession being a key downside risk [4][5]. Additional Important Information - **Trade Performance**: The report includes a performance summary of trades closed since 2024, highlighting various strategies and their respective profits or losses [5]. - **Geopolitical Factors**: The report notes a pause in drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, which has eased market concerns regarding Russian supply [4][7]. - **Market Sentiment**: The overall sentiment in the oil market is cautious, with expectations of further price declines influenced by both supply increases and demand cooling [4][7]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights and recommendations from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the oil industry.

Core Insights - Gold prices fell below $4,000 per ounce due to escalating geopolitical tensions from Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure [1][3] - Crude oil prices also declined, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude experiencing drops of 0.37% and 0.44% respectively [4] Geopolitical Context - Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukraine's energy assets, with over 1,550 attacks reported in recent days, particularly affecting regions like Chernihiv, Sumy, and Poltava [3] - The attacks have resulted in injuries and power outages in Kyiv, reflecting a strategy to disrupt civilian access to energy during winter [2] Market Reactions - Following the attacks, gold prices decreased by 0.24% to $3,966.57, down from a previous high of $4,059.34 [3] - Crude oil benchmarks also fell, with WTI at $61.28 per barrel and Brent crude at $64.93 [4] Analyst Insights - Analysts expect continued volatility in crude oil prices, with support levels identified at $60.60-60.00 and resistance at $62.00-62.70 [5] - For gold, support is noted at $3,940-3,910, while resistance is at $4,020-4,045 [5] Broader Market Impact - The escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has overshadowed recent optimism from a U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas peace deal, which had previously lifted gold prices above $4,000 [6]

Market Overview - Asia-Pacific stocks opened lower, influenced by a negative lead from US markets, breaking a seven-day winning streak, with the ASX 200 down 0.3% and the Nikkei 225 down 0.1% [2][10] - AI-related concerns contributed to the broader market pullback [2][10] Economic Data - Japan's Current Account Balance for August reached ¥3,775.8 billion, exceeding the estimated ¥3,506 billion and the previous month's ¥2,684.3 billion [4][10] - The Trade Balance (BoP Basis) turned positive at ¥105.9 billion, surpassing estimates of a ¥-111.5 billion deficit [4][10] - Adjusted Current Account stood at ¥2,463.5 billion, above the estimated ¥2,443.4 billion [4][10] - Japan's Labour Cash Earnings for August rose by 1.5% year-on-year, below the 2.7% estimate, while Real Cash Earnings declined by 1.4% year-on-year, worse than the estimated -0.5% [5][10] Bilateral Relations - Australia and Singapore are enhancing military reciprocal access and deepening cooperation in defense technology, with discussions also addressing the recent Optus emergency outage [6][10] Commodity Prices - Oil prices increased slightly, with WTI for November delivery rising 0.7% to $62.14 a barrel and Brent for December near $65.45, influenced by a mixed US inventory report and supply trends [7][10] - Gold prices approached $4,000 an ounce, driven by haven demand amid global uncertainties [8][10] Corporate Developments - Keppel REIT Management Limited proposed acquiring a 75% stake in Top Ryde City Shopping Centre in Sydney, indicating ongoing activity in the real estate sector [11] - Exxon Mobil is considering re-entering Iraq after a nearly two-year hiatus, planning to sign agreements for expanded operations [11]

Commodity Prices - Agricultural commodity prices in the grain/oilseed, soft, and animal protein sectors experienced losses in September, with the exception of October lean hog futures, which gained 5.08% [1] - Cooperative weather conditions contributed to lower prices for soybean, corn, and wheat, as indicated in the September WASDE report, which remained bullish on supplies but bearish on prices [6] - Soft commodities saw declines across the board, with cocoa futures leading with a 12.46% price drop, while coffee, cocoa, and orange juice prices remained elevated due to previous price surges [7] - The end of the 2025 grilling season led to lower prices for live and feeder cattle, although beef futures remained near record highs [8] Precious Metals - Gold reached a record high of nearly $3,900 per ounce, marking its eighth consecutive record quarterly peak, despite being the worst-performing precious metal in September [2] - Silver futures saw a significant increase, reaching their highest level since 2011, approaching the $49.82 high from that year and the all-time peak of $50.36 from 1980 [3] - Palladium outperformed silver with a 14.54% gain in September, while platinum futures also surged by 15.62%, reaching their highest price since February 2014 [4] - Precious metals significantly outperformed other commodities in September, with all four trading on the CME's COMEX and NYMEX divisions posting double-digit percentage gains [5] Energy Sector - In September, WTI and Brent futures prices were slightly lower due to increased OPEC+ production and U.S. energy policy, although geopolitical tensions provided some support [9] - Oil products reflected seasonal trends, with gasoline futures showing a marginal gain and heating oil futures posting a more significant increase [10] - Natural gas prices experienced a slight decline of under 1% in September, but are expected to rise as the peak demand season approaches [16] Stock Market and Economic Indicators - The stock market saw gains, with the S&P 500 rising 3.53% and reaching record highs in September, while the U.S. dollar index posted a marginal gain despite concerns over tariffs and rising debt levels [12][13][14] - The Federal Reserve cut the short-term Fed Funds Rate by 25 basis points in September, marking the first rate cut in 2025 [12] Future Outlook - Factors to watch in October include the potential for gold to reach $4,000 and silver's approach to new record highs, while livestock futures remain elevated despite expected price weakness in meats and gasoline [15] - The commodities market is anticipated to experience continued volatility in October and beyond, influenced by geopolitical events and seasonal demand changes [19]

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].

Market Trends - Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, is trading at a discount to its Middle Eastern counterpart [1] - A glut is forecast for later in the year [1] Geopolitical Factors - President Donald Trump is cracking down on Russian barrels [1]