Dilin Wu
Research Strategist
Most recent articles

Gold Outlook: All Eyes on CPI as Geopolitics Stall
Gold remains rangebound as markets await key U.S. CPI and retail sales data for direction. This weekly analysis explores XAUUSD technical levels, inflation outlook, Fed policy expectations, and the impact of stalled U.S.-Iran geopolitical talks on gold’s next move.

Gold Outlook: Geopolitical Tailwinds Fading, Nonfarm Payrolls Could Be the Deciding Factor
Gold remains rangebound and tilted to the downside, as geopolitical tailwinds gradually lose their potency and interest rate headwinds persist. This week, markets will closely watch the U.S. ISM Services PMI and the nonfarm payrolls report — both could prove pivotal in determining gold's next directional move.

Apple Q2 26 Earnings Review: Record Quarter, but Growth Quality Under Scrutiny
Apple’s Q2 FY26 earnings beat estimates with strong guidance, but rising costs and leadership uncertainty put Apple’s growth quality under scrutiny.
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Microsoft Q1 26 Earnings Review: A Clean Beat, but Profitability Draws Scrutiny
Microsoft Q1 beats across the board with Azure reaccelerating to 40% and Copilot adding a record 5 million paid seats — but weaker margin guidance, a sharply higher capex outlook, and a loosening OpenAI tie-up are keeping the bulls honest.
Nikkei 225 Hits Record High: Strong AI Momentum, Three Key Risks to Watch
The Nikkei 225's break above 60,000 to a record high reflects the convergence of the AI capex cycle, a weak yen environment, and sustained foreign inflows. Yet at these elevated levels, geopolitical risks in the Middle East, yen volatility, and upcoming US tech earnings reports represent key uncertainties that could determine whether the rally has legs.

Gold Outlook: Geopolitical Deadlock Caps Trend, Two Key Risks in Focus
Repeated geopolitical headlines keep gold range-bound. This week, markets are focused on developments in US–Iran negotiations and major central bank meetings, including the FOMC. In the near term, price action is likely to remain driven by shifts in inflation expectations and the interest rate outlook.

Tesla Q1 26 Earnings Review: Beat on Numbers, Growth Under Pressure
Tesla’s Q1 results show an upside surprise in profitability and cash flow recovery, but slowing vehicle delivery, rising inventory, and a significant upward revision in AI and robotics capex have reignited concerns over its growth trajectory and valuation re-rating.

Oil consolidates at highs: Escalation concerns give way to time premium pricing
US–Iran talks remain deadlocked, while oil trades at elevated levels. Pricing is gradually shifting from headline-driven geopolitics toward a time-premium and supply–demand framework. Markets are now focused on US substitution capacity, early signs of demand erosion, and tail-risk scenarios that could disrupt the current balance.

Gold Outlook: Repeated Geopolitical Swings Keep Gold Awaiting a Breakout
Gold remains range-bound at elevated levels amid shifting expectations around geopolitical risks and Fed’s policy path. Traders are closely watching shipping conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, the expiration of the ceasefire agreement, and incoming US economic data, while awaiting a key breakout signal in the $4,850–$4,900 range.

Netflix Q1 26 Earnings Review: Solid Results, Weak Guidance, Valuation Enters Repricing
Netflix Q1 2026 revenue and earnings beat expectations, although EPS was largely driven by one-off gains. Softer Q2 guidance and no full-year upgrade are prompting a reassessment of growth momentum, weighing on the stock in after-hours trading.

Gold Outlook: Tug-of-War Continues, Geopolitics and Earnings in Focus
The breakdown in U.S.–Iran negotiations has lifted risk premiums and inflation expectations, limiting gold’s upside potential. However, growth slowdown pricing and sustained central bank buying continue to provide support.

US Earnings Season Kicks Off: Geopolitical Risk Drives Pricing, Three Key Sectors in Focus
Q1 2026 US earnings season begins against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty shaping market pricing. Banks, technology, and energy emerge as key sectors to watch, with attention on earnings quality, capital expenditure, and the impact of energy supply shocks.
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1. Data for the Pepperstone Group, correct as at October 2025.
