Central Banks Are Buying Gold and ETFs Are Selling: Whose Money Decides the Next Move?
After rallying in August, gold has pulled back to the midpoint of that advance, with neither bulls nor bears gaining a clear upper hand. Technically, prices remain confined to the prior consolidation range, leaving room for either a breakout or a breakdown in the near term. The question is not whether gold must rise or fall, but whether post-FOMC macro moves can force a break from the range. $黃金主連 2612(GCmain)$$微黃金主連 2612(MGCmain)$$1盎司黃金主連 2612(1OZmain)$$黃金ETF-SPDR(GLD)$ FOMC Surprise Drives Near-Term Pricing, With Real Yields and the Do
Macro Strategy Weekly: 4 Fed Paths Decide Gold and Stocks Tonight! Which Strategy Wins?
Weekly Roundup 1. The Real Focus of the FOMC Isn't the Rate Move. It's the Treasury Yield Curve. Markets have largely priced in a 25-basis-point hike, so whether asset prices reprice sharply in the near term will hinge on how the Fed frames its future rate path and inflation outlook. The 10-year Treasury yield is closing in on 5%, and a decisive break above that level would weigh on both stocks and gold through three channels: valuation discounting, funding costs and risk appetite. What markets are really waiting on is whether long-term yields have peaked. 2. Beneath a Calm Surface, US Stocks Show Signs of Technical Fatigue. Market breadth is fading fast: only about 28% of NYSE-listed stocks are trading above their 20-day moving average, and the equal-weight S&P 500 has slipped be
The Fed Hike Is a Lock, Will Gold Crater to Another Fresh Low?
Tonight, I reviewed the fundamental backdrop through four lenses: Fed tightening and risks around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb; the World Gold Council report ahead of a packed central-bank week; China’s financial-sector agenda alongside inflation data; and the AI leaders amid US-China tariff tensions. I then mapped the next positioning framework around persistent rate pressure, rising debt burdens, Middle East risks, gold ETF flows, central-bank policy, and shifts across gold, silver and oil. The outlook also reflects energy costs, compute demand, softer AI momentum, distillation allegations, tariff risks and the yuan, which together will shape medium- to long-term capital flows and asset allocation. $标普500ETF(SPY)$
How to Trade FOMC Night: Can the Fed Contain Long-Term Yields Without Breaking Equities?
This week’s FOMC meeting will set the near- to medium-term rhythm for markets. But the key issue is not simply whether the Fed raises rates; it is how Treasury yields at the front end and long end of the curve will be repriced. The 10-year Treasury yield is now approaching—or has already touched—the sensitive 5% threshold. Markets are concerned both that further increases in long-dated yields could crush richly valued assets and that excessive policy tightening could push up front-end rates and quickly hit equities. In our view, four possible meeting outcomes could unfold this week. All ultimately revolve around the tug-of-war between the front end and the long end of the yield curve, although the implications for individual asset classes differ across scenarios. A Tense Yield Environment
How to Reposition After Taking Profits: A Practical Framework for Futures Rollovers and ETF Trading
After holding the positions for more than two months, our long EUR and WTI crude oil trades both generated positive returns last week. With a Federal Reserve rate hike drawing near, new trade setups may emerge at any time. Many investors still have questions about several key issues. This week, we will use the current market backdrop to review the main considerations and provide a practical framework. Managing Futures Contract Rollovers One of the most common questions concerns futures contract rollovers. Because we frequently run swing trades and some positions are held for relatively long periods, changes in the front-month or most-active contract are sometimes unavoidable. Since physical delivery is generally not a practical option, the choices are usually limited to the following: Sett
FOMC Preview: Watch Key Levels in U.S. Equities; Stay Alert to a Pullback in Commodities After Rally
Last week’s CPI release brought market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike into much sharper alignment. Following the euro area’s earlier rate increase and a 0.3% month-over-month rise in core CPI, markets are now pricing in roughly a 90% probability that the Fed will raise rates in September. Although core CPI came in marginally above expectations, the overall reading was not excessively strong. In particular, core CPI has not accelerated significantly even with oil prices approaching USD 100 per barrel. The market also generally expects the Fed’s tightening path to remain relatively gradual. As a result, a rate hike this week is largely priced in. Conversely, if the Fed unexpectedly leaves rates unchanged, the decision could be interpreted as a positive surprise and potentially
$MU: Nvidia Gets The Attention. Why Am I Watching Micron?
$NVIDIA(NVDA)$ designs the compute engine, but $Micron Technology(MU)$ controls the critical physical bottleneck powering next-generation AI accelerators: High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM). Key Catalysts Driving the $MU Thesis HBM Content Density Scaling: Modern GPU architectures require up to 3.5× more memory density per chip scaling from 80GB HBM2e on legacy cards to 288GB+ HBM3e/HBM4 on Blackwell and Vera Rubin platforms. As LLMs expand, memory bandwidth and capacity not raw compute FLOPS become the binding constraint on AI training and inference at scale. Unprecedented Pricing Power: HBM3e/HBM4 manufacturing complexity has created a structural supply bottleneck, leaving memory producers sold out quarters in a
Could Rate Hike Uncertainty Keep Markets Range-Bound? Three Ways to Track the Key Assets
Last night, in a futures livestream on the Tiger platform, I shared my latest views on the outlook for gold, Bitcoin, and offshore RMB amid expectations for higher interest rates. The core of this session was how to assess the direction of these assets through cross-asset correlations, while also covering trading strategy execution and adjustments to moving average parameters. Those who were unable to attend may watch the replay of our video course here: >>> 空前的高收益率壓力下,為什麼比特幣的低位機會卻很值得關注? Next, I will summarize the key information and trading-related views from the session, so that readers who did not have time to join can quickly unders
Weekly Valuation Watch: AI Capex Rises as Cash Flow Falls Behind, Can Returns Justify the Risk?
Introduction: Markets Hold Firm as Rate Sensitivity Rises From August 31 to September 4, U.S. stocks moved as investors weighed geopolitical risks, higher oil prices, volatile global bond yields and a stronger jobs report. SPY gained 0.41% for the week, suggesting that risk appetite remained intact. However, market swings grew sharper. On September 4, August nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000, well above forecasts, while unemployment held at 4.1%. As a result, Treasury yields and the dollar climbed, prompting investors to price in a greater chance of further Fed tightening. $标普500(.SPX)$$标普500ETF(SPY)$$SP500指数主连 2609
Meta Is Moving Beyond Model Benchmarks: AI Competition Is Entering the “Execution Layer”
Meta’s latest AI product is meaningfully different from a typical chatbot. Instead of simply answering questions, it is designed to help users actually complete tasks across areas like email, calendars, shopping, payments and travel planning. Compared with another round of “bigger model, higher benchmark” announcements, the more important shift is that Meta is pushing AI from something that talks to users into something that acts for them. That matters especially for Meta because the market’s biggest question is no longer whether the company has serious AI capabilities. The real question is when its massive AI spending starts turning into revenue. Meta has continued to invest heavily in data centers, GPUs and top AI talent, but stronger models alone do not automatically create a new busine
Macro Strategy Weekly: China’s Energy Rebound Lifts Global Yields: Options for Range-Bound Markets
Macro Strategy Weekly China’s Rebounding Energy Demand Is Pushing Global Yields Higher: What Is the Best Options Strategy for Navigating a Range-Bound Market? Weekly Strategy Summary The key focus for markets this week is not to make a directional bet on any single asset. Rather, it is to monitor how the yen, crude oil, global bond yields, the U.S. dollar, and U.S. equities establish new inter-market linkages. The key takeaways from this week’s report are as follows. $Japanese Yen - main 2609(JPYmain)$$WTI Crude Oil - main 2610(CLmain)$$E-mini Crude Oil - main 2610(QMmain)$
Selling Puts Remains My Preferred Strategy:Will Tokyo Set the Market’s Direction This Week?
The market’s greatest challenge this week is that several seemingly independent trading themes are beginning to interact with one another: the yen has reached a six-month high; expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike are building; global bond yields are broadly rising; signs are emerging of a rebound in China’s crude-oil demand; and expectations for Federal Reserve policy have once again been unsettled by comments from Donald Trump. When these variables move simultaneously, markets rarely deliver a clean, smooth one-way trend. Instead, they are more likely to enter a high-volatility, range-bound phase marked by repeated swings in both directions. The key variable to watch now is whether the yen can make a further near-term directional break. This matters not only for the U.S. dollar inde
I’d watch sugar, palm oil and agricultural commodities first. They’re already showing strength, so the key is whether weather disruptions translate into lower production and tighter inventories. That would make the move more fundamental than a short-term expectations trade. I’d then watch fertilizer and agricultural inputs. If crop prices remain elevated, stronger farm economics could support planting and fertilizer demand. I’d want to see this confirmed by planting data and earnings. Ultimately, food-company margins would be the biggest signal for me. If higher commodity costs persist and companies start flagging input-cost pressure, it would suggest agricultural inflation is spreading into the broader economy. That’s when I’d take the El Niño theme much more seriously.
My vote is ① Sugar, palm oil and agricultural commodities. That’s where the first market reaction is most likely to appear, because weather risk is already meeting rising prices and potential supply constraints. The FAO Food Price Index rose 1.9% in August, while sugar jumped 11.9% and vegetable oils continued to strengthen. Still, I wouldn’t blindly trade the El Niño headline. The real confirmation should be downgraded production forecasts, falling inventories and sustained price increases. If those appear, fertilizer and agricultural-input stocks could become the next beneficiaries, while food companies may face margin pressure. The key chain is: weather → supply cuts → commodity prices → corporate margins → food inflation. I’d watch the first three links most closely.
El Niño Is Here: Could Rising Food Prices Become the Next Market Theme?
Weather risks and food prices are starting to flash at the same time. The World Meteorological Organization has confirmed that El Niño is now established and is expected to strengthen over the coming months. Current forecasts suggest the event is highly likely to persist into February 2027 and could reach “very strong” levels by year-end. At almost the same time, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that its global food price index rose 1.9% month over month in August. All five major food categories increased. Sugar prices jumped 11.9% in a single month, vegetable oil prices rose for a third consecutive month, and grain prices also continued to strengthen. The key question for markets is no longer whether the weather outlook is deteriorating. It is:Will weather risks turn into
Blowout NFP, Trump Pressure, and a Choppy Gold Market: One Strategy to Navigate It!💹📉
Last week’s note highlighted the need for caution around the nonfarm payrolls report. The data had become more difficult to forecast than usual because payroll figures have been revised frequently in recent years, increasing the likelihood of surprises and larger market swings. The result was indeed a blowout: U.S. Department of Labor data showed that nonfarm employment surged by 162,000 in August, far exceeding the market expectation of 55,000. This exceptionally strong report once again disrupted the market’s expectations for Federal Reserve policy. The market had previously scaled back expectations of a September rate hike, but the release put rate-hike expectations back in the driver’s seat. The probability of a Fed rate increase in September has now returned to roughly a 60/40 split.
Central Banks Are Buying Gold and ETFs Are Selling: Whose Money Decides the Next Move?
After rallying in August, gold has pulled back to the midpoint of that advance, with neither bulls nor bears gaining a clear upper hand. Technically, prices remain confined to the prior consolidation range, leaving room for either a breakout or a breakdown in the near term. The question is not whether gold must rise or fall, but whether post-FOMC macro moves can force a break from the range. $黃金主連 2612(GCmain)$$微黃金主連 2612(MGCmain)$$1盎司黃金主連 2612(1OZmain)$$黃金ETF-SPDR(GLD)$ FOMC Surprise Drives Near-Term Pricing, With Real Yields and the Do
Macro Strategy Weekly: 4 Fed Paths Decide Gold and Stocks Tonight! Which Strategy Wins?
Weekly Roundup 1. The Real Focus of the FOMC Isn't the Rate Move. It's the Treasury Yield Curve. Markets have largely priced in a 25-basis-point hike, so whether asset prices reprice sharply in the near term will hinge on how the Fed frames its future rate path and inflation outlook. The 10-year Treasury yield is closing in on 5%, and a decisive break above that level would weigh on both stocks and gold through three channels: valuation discounting, funding costs and risk appetite. What markets are really waiting on is whether long-term yields have peaked. 2. Beneath a Calm Surface, US Stocks Show Signs of Technical Fatigue. Market breadth is fading fast: only about 28% of NYSE-listed stocks are trading above their 20-day moving average, and the equal-weight S&P 500 has slipped be
The Fed Hike Is a Lock, Will Gold Crater to Another Fresh Low?
Tonight, I reviewed the fundamental backdrop through four lenses: Fed tightening and risks around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb; the World Gold Council report ahead of a packed central-bank week; China’s financial-sector agenda alongside inflation data; and the AI leaders amid US-China tariff tensions. I then mapped the next positioning framework around persistent rate pressure, rising debt burdens, Middle East risks, gold ETF flows, central-bank policy, and shifts across gold, silver and oil. The outlook also reflects energy costs, compute demand, softer AI momentum, distillation allegations, tariff risks and the yuan, which together will shape medium- to long-term capital flows and asset allocation. $标普500ETF(SPY)$
How to Trade FOMC Night: Can the Fed Contain Long-Term Yields Without Breaking Equities?
This week’s FOMC meeting will set the near- to medium-term rhythm for markets. But the key issue is not simply whether the Fed raises rates; it is how Treasury yields at the front end and long end of the curve will be repriced. The 10-year Treasury yield is now approaching—or has already touched—the sensitive 5% threshold. Markets are concerned both that further increases in long-dated yields could crush richly valued assets and that excessive policy tightening could push up front-end rates and quickly hit equities. In our view, four possible meeting outcomes could unfold this week. All ultimately revolve around the tug-of-war between the front end and the long end of the yield curve, although the implications for individual asset classes differ across scenarios. A Tense Yield Environment
FOMC Preview: Watch Key Levels in U.S. Equities; Stay Alert to a Pullback in Commodities After Rally
Last week’s CPI release brought market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike into much sharper alignment. Following the euro area’s earlier rate increase and a 0.3% month-over-month rise in core CPI, markets are now pricing in roughly a 90% probability that the Fed will raise rates in September. Although core CPI came in marginally above expectations, the overall reading was not excessively strong. In particular, core CPI has not accelerated significantly even with oil prices approaching USD 100 per barrel. The market also generally expects the Fed’s tightening path to remain relatively gradual. As a result, a rate hike this week is largely priced in. Conversely, if the Fed unexpectedly leaves rates unchanged, the decision could be interpreted as a positive surprise and potentially
How to Reposition After Taking Profits: A Practical Framework for Futures Rollovers and ETF Trading
After holding the positions for more than two months, our long EUR and WTI crude oil trades both generated positive returns last week. With a Federal Reserve rate hike drawing near, new trade setups may emerge at any time. Many investors still have questions about several key issues. This week, we will use the current market backdrop to review the main considerations and provide a practical framework. Managing Futures Contract Rollovers One of the most common questions concerns futures contract rollovers. Because we frequently run swing trades and some positions are held for relatively long periods, changes in the front-month or most-active contract are sometimes unavoidable. Since physical delivery is generally not a practical option, the choices are usually limited to the following: Sett
Could Rate Hike Uncertainty Keep Markets Range-Bound? Three Ways to Track the Key Assets
Last night, in a futures livestream on the Tiger platform, I shared my latest views on the outlook for gold, Bitcoin, and offshore RMB amid expectations for higher interest rates. The core of this session was how to assess the direction of these assets through cross-asset correlations, while also covering trading strategy execution and adjustments to moving average parameters. Those who were unable to attend may watch the replay of our video course here: >>> 空前的高收益率壓力下,為什麼比特幣的低位機會卻很值得關注? Next, I will summarize the key information and trading-related views from the session, so that readers who did not have time to join can quickly unders
$MU: Nvidia Gets The Attention. Why Am I Watching Micron?
$NVIDIA(NVDA)$ designs the compute engine, but $Micron Technology(MU)$ controls the critical physical bottleneck powering next-generation AI accelerators: High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM). Key Catalysts Driving the $MU Thesis HBM Content Density Scaling: Modern GPU architectures require up to 3.5× more memory density per chip scaling from 80GB HBM2e on legacy cards to 288GB+ HBM3e/HBM4 on Blackwell and Vera Rubin platforms. As LLMs expand, memory bandwidth and capacity not raw compute FLOPS become the binding constraint on AI training and inference at scale. Unprecedented Pricing Power: HBM3e/HBM4 manufacturing complexity has created a structural supply bottleneck, leaving memory producers sold out quarters in a
Weekly Valuation Watch: AI Capex Rises as Cash Flow Falls Behind, Can Returns Justify the Risk?
Introduction: Markets Hold Firm as Rate Sensitivity Rises From August 31 to September 4, U.S. stocks moved as investors weighed geopolitical risks, higher oil prices, volatile global bond yields and a stronger jobs report. SPY gained 0.41% for the week, suggesting that risk appetite remained intact. However, market swings grew sharper. On September 4, August nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000, well above forecasts, while unemployment held at 4.1%. As a result, Treasury yields and the dollar climbed, prompting investors to price in a greater chance of further Fed tightening. $标普500(.SPX)$$标普500ETF(SPY)$$SP500指数主连 2609
Macro Strategy Weekly: China’s Energy Rebound Lifts Global Yields: Options for Range-Bound Markets
Macro Strategy Weekly China’s Rebounding Energy Demand Is Pushing Global Yields Higher: What Is the Best Options Strategy for Navigating a Range-Bound Market? Weekly Strategy Summary The key focus for markets this week is not to make a directional bet on any single asset. Rather, it is to monitor how the yen, crude oil, global bond yields, the U.S. dollar, and U.S. equities establish new inter-market linkages. The key takeaways from this week’s report are as follows. $Japanese Yen - main 2609(JPYmain)$$WTI Crude Oil - main 2610(CLmain)$$E-mini Crude Oil - main 2610(QMmain)$
El Niño Is Here: Could Rising Food Prices Become the Next Market Theme?
Weather risks and food prices are starting to flash at the same time. The World Meteorological Organization has confirmed that El Niño is now established and is expected to strengthen over the coming months. Current forecasts suggest the event is highly likely to persist into February 2027 and could reach “very strong” levels by year-end. At almost the same time, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that its global food price index rose 1.9% month over month in August. All five major food categories increased. Sugar prices jumped 11.9% in a single month, vegetable oil prices rose for a third consecutive month, and grain prices also continued to strengthen. The key question for markets is no longer whether the weather outlook is deteriorating. It is:Will weather risks turn into
Why Sell Puts Still Make Sense Now — And the Big Opportunity Brewing in Equities
The impasse of range-bound trading at elevated levels in the U.S. equity market remains unresolved. On the one hand, September seasonality, defensive positioning by institutional investors, and the potential seasonal tendency for the VIX to rise all suggest that a strong short-term rally is unlikely. On the other hand, robust corporate earnings and the fact that equity-index P/E multiples have not expanded materially are limiting the downside for U.S. equities. My conclusion for the U.S. market over the coming week is therefore as follows: taking all factors into account, U.S. equities are more likely to remain range-bound at elevated levels than to enter a one-way decline. At the same time, we should pay attention to a new opportunity at relatively depressed levels: commodity indices are
Selling Puts Remains My Preferred Strategy:Will Tokyo Set the Market’s Direction This Week?
The market’s greatest challenge this week is that several seemingly independent trading themes are beginning to interact with one another: the yen has reached a six-month high; expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike are building; global bond yields are broadly rising; signs are emerging of a rebound in China’s crude-oil demand; and expectations for Federal Reserve policy have once again been unsettled by comments from Donald Trump. When these variables move simultaneously, markets rarely deliver a clean, smooth one-way trend. Instead, they are more likely to enter a high-volatility, range-bound phase marked by repeated swings in both directions. The key variable to watch now is whether the yen can make a further near-term directional break. This matters not only for the U.S. dollar inde
Meta Is Moving Beyond Model Benchmarks: AI Competition Is Entering the “Execution Layer”
Meta’s latest AI product is meaningfully different from a typical chatbot. Instead of simply answering questions, it is designed to help users actually complete tasks across areas like email, calendars, shopping, payments and travel planning. Compared with another round of “bigger model, higher benchmark” announcements, the more important shift is that Meta is pushing AI from something that talks to users into something that acts for them. That matters especially for Meta because the market’s biggest question is no longer whether the company has serious AI capabilities. The real question is when its massive AI spending starts turning into revenue. Meta has continued to invest heavily in data centers, GPUs and top AI talent, but stronger models alone do not automatically create a new busine
Our Call That Gold and U.S. Equities Had Topped Out in the Near Term Has Been Validated Again Hello everyone, welcome back to the Macro Strategy Weekly. In this weekly report, we regularly select contributors within the community who have relevant professional expertise to share and consolidate their market-strategy views. We also track, on a weekly basis, how those strategy calls have played out. Before turning to this week’s strategy discussion, let us review the results of our previous calls. On July 21 this year, our strategy weekly published an analysis titled: Macro Strategy Weekly: Treasury Bond Purchases Are Bearish for Markets—U.S. Equity and Gold Bulls Should Be Cautious The report received substantial engagem
Futures Weekly:Gold Longs Stay Concentrated—Can Oil’s Advance Hold Without Inventory Support?
As of the close on August 28, 2026, this report examines the interaction among interest-rate expectations, the U.S. dollar, inventory data, fund flows, and speculative positioning across gold, silver, crude oil, copper, and aluminum. Market Overview U.S. July PCE inflation rose 3.7% year over year, while core PCE inflation increased 3.3%; both remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. At the Jackson Hole meeting, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh stated explicitly that “if inflation does not decline meaningfully, further rate hikes may be necessary,” significantly increasing market expectations for a September rate hike. Against this backdrop, the commodity market featured precious metals consolidating at elevated levels before pulling back, crude oil retreating as its geopolitical p
Blowout NFP, Trump Pressure, and a Choppy Gold Market: One Strategy to Navigate It!💹📉
Last week’s note highlighted the need for caution around the nonfarm payrolls report. The data had become more difficult to forecast than usual because payroll figures have been revised frequently in recent years, increasing the likelihood of surprises and larger market swings. The result was indeed a blowout: U.S. Department of Labor data showed that nonfarm employment surged by 162,000 in August, far exceeding the market expectation of 55,000. This exceptionally strong report once again disrupted the market’s expectations for Federal Reserve policy. The market had previously scaled back expectations of a September rate hike, but the release put rate-hike expectations back in the driver’s seat. The probability of a Fed rate increase in September has now returned to roughly a 60/40 split.
Long-Term Yields Are Approaching a Tipping Point—Could Dollar Drop Another 10%?
Recently, the broader market and most asset classes have remained locked in a relatively measured, range-bound tug-of-war. Inflation and rate-hike discussions have driven short-term volatility, but they have not triggered any meaningful change in the overall trend. Meanwhile, in a less closely watched corner of the market, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has gradually climbed back toward the highs of the previous tightening cycle. If bond prices lose further control from here, both the Federal Reserve and the market itself could face significant challenges. In theory, changes in U.S. interest rates drive fluctuations in Treasury prices and, in turn, movements in Treasury yields. In other words, policy rates should serve as the anchor. This year, however, long-dated Treasury yields have cle
Gold’s Correction Arrived as Expected—Will 4,000 Hold as Support?
Late August is typically when the world’s central banks hold a major annual gathering. The Federal Reserve—the “central bank of the world,” as it is sometimes described—is the central figure at the event, and remarks from the Fed Chair are often viewed as a briefing to central banks around the world on the Fed’s policy path. At present, the financial market’s primary concern is whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates and, if so, when. That is why Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish remarks last week had a significant impact on market expectations. The most direct result was that, following Warsh’s speech in Jackson Hole on August 28, 2026, the interest-rate futures-implied probability of a September rate hike rose from approximately 35% the previous day to nearly 60%. A rate hike