Financial Gold Models Deutsche Bank has raised its gold price forecast to an average of $4,000 per ounce for 2026, driven by strong central bank buying, a weakening U.S. dollar, expected Fed rate cuts, and…

Announced Share Repurchases (U.S. Buybacks) The surge in S&P 500 buybacks this year, backed by solid earnings, liquidity, and targeted capital allocation, marks a pivotal year for shareholder value and market gains. Image: J.P. Morgan…

Gold Annual Returns Up 40% this year, gold is enjoying its strongest rally since 1979’s 133% surge. But so far, the rise has stirred far less hysteria than in earlier eras, leaving room for further…

U.S. Consumer Confidence in Higher Stock Prices vs. S&P 500 Trailing Valuations When consumers feel confident about future stock prices, current valuations rise because investors expect continued growth and are willing to pay more today…

S&P 500 Index Around First Cut Following Easing Cycle Pauses of Six Months or More Historically, when the Fed resumes rate cuts after holding steady for at least six months, U.S. stocks often post strong…

S&P 500 Cash Spending Relative to Cash Flows Many S&P 500 companies devote substantial cash flow to stock buybacks, a practice that benefits shareholders in the short term but sparks concerns about favoring short-term gains…

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. A 0.5% decline in the U.S. Leading Economic Index (LEI) in August 2025 indicates an ongoing slowdown in U.S. economic activity. Image: The Conference Board

Buying U.S. Equity Securities In 2Q 2025, foreign investors boosted their holdings of U.S. equities, while U.S. households and hedge funds cut back amid market volatility and policy uncertainty. Image: Deutsche Bank

S&P 500 Market Cap / S&P 500 Equal Weight Index The current performance gap—where the market-cap-weighted index outperforms the equal-weight index—does not necessarily signal an imminent bear market, but it does warrant some caution for…

Gold ETF Holdings and COMEX Open Interest The confluence of rising gold ETF holdings, speculative flows, central bank buying, and macroeconomic factors has created strong bullish momentum for gold, which is likely to persist through…

Fed Funds Rate By the end of 2026, Goldman Sachs anticipates four 25-basis-point cuts and expects the Fed to loosen monetary policy more than markets foresee, driven by worries about weaker employment growth and inflation…