Gold saw a significant turning point in October, with the spot price rising 7.32% in the US$/oz, the largest monthly gain since March 2023.

Markets are on perpetual watch for an appearance of Goldilocks, and she might have made an appearance this morning.

Despite signs of a cooling labor market, with employment data showing a lower-than-expected growth in new private sector jobs and an uptick in the unemployment rate, the market remains optimistic about the future.

The job market may be slowing, but manufacturing continues to contract, with ISM's Purchasing Managers' Index falling to 46.7. What's next for the economy?

Quantitative tightening continues unabated

Mixed economic data are marginally improving investor sentiment despite lackluster earnings reports following strong equity market gains yesterday. However, stocks are on track to close out October firmly in the red.

Stocks retreated last week despite mostly better-than-expected earnings results, with investors troubled by declines in year-over-year net profit margins and tepid earnings guidance.

Wall Street was anticipating today's third-quarter GDP report to be a monster print, but the figure arrived even hotter than expectations. The report showed persistent consumer spending, which is anchoring hawkish monetary policy expectations despite the data providing favorable inflation news.

Pricing pressures are not limited to the real estate sector, as companies like Heineken, Tesla, and Winnebago are also struggling to pass on higher input costs to customers, with some even engaging in a price war.

Stocks rallied to start the week on earnings optimism before losing momentum over rising bond yields, as the 10-year Treasury yield moved above 4.9% for the first time since 2007.