SmallCaps Spotlight: Market Calm, Gold Momentum & the Small-Cap Watchlist

### In this episode - **Big tech signal check:** NVIDIA posts a **$96bn quarter** and beats expectations—yet the stock still **wobbles after hours**. - **Rates and the Fed:** The market is now pricing a **hike, not a cut**. - **Bond buyback chatter:** Discussion of whether potential **Treasury-funded bond buybacks** could keep yields contained. - **US dollar impact:** A softer US dollar helps explain **gold’s rally**. - **Commodities snapshot:** - **Gold:** Moves from roughly **US$4,160/oz to near US$4,700/oz**; central-bank buying (including China) remains a key structural theme. - **Silver:** Seen as highly correlated to gold, with expectations of upside. - **Oil:** Despite Middle East tensions, oil looks set for a **breakdown**. - **Currency angle:** A note on the **Aussie vs USD** cross—framed as something markets may be watching closely.

### Why it matters for small caps When **yields, the US dollar, and risk appetite** shift, smaller Australian companies can feel it quickly—through: - financing costs and refinancing risk, - currency translation for revenues/materials, - equity sentiment (especially where growth stories depend on capital markets).

### Small-caps watchlist — coming up next In the wrap, the hosts tee up **this week’s small caps worth watching**, using the macro backdrop to frame what to monitor: - balance sheet resilience in a rates-sensitive environment, - earnings quality versus accounting noise, - commodity-linked exposure where relevant (notably gold/silver themes), - and sector winners/losers as the market rotates.

### Important note This episode is general information only and does not constitute financial advice.

## Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. Listeners should conduct their own research and consider seeking professional financial advice before making investment decisions.

## Contact & Social

- Website: SmallCapsSpotlight.com.au - Email: hello@smallcapsspotlight.com.au - Twitter: @SmallCapsSpot - LinkedIn: SmallCaps Spotlight

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