Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money
Published . Updated .
The toxic footprint is in the positioning.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund+13.9% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+12.1% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- GLD SPDR Gold Shares-3.3% 30d
SPDR Gold Shares: it follows gold or gold miners. Linked by “gold” (gold) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+13.4% 16d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+15.7% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- NEM Newmont-13.4% 30d
Newmont (gold and silver ores): gold miners' profits move with the gold price. Linked by “gold” (gold) in this story.
- COP ConocoPhillips+8.3% 30d
ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- AEM Agnico Eagle Mines-7.6% 30d
Agnico Eagle Mines (gold and silver ores): gold miners' profits move with the gold price. Linked by “gold” (gold) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | -1.54% | -1.29% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | -0.51% | -2.20% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| GLDNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOM | -1.45% | -2.77% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| CVX | -1.54% | -2.69% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| NEMNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COP | -1.71% | -3.24% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| AEMNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money The Dark Side Of The Boom
Source: The Dark Side Of The Boom
Price since this story was published: United States Oil Fund (USO)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conocophillips (COP) | three days earlier | -3.24% | final price |
| Conocophillips (COP) | five days earlier | -1.71% | final price |
| Chevron (CVX) | three days earlier | -2.69% | final price |
| Chevron (CVX) | five days earlier | -1.54% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | -1.29% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -1.54% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | -2.20% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -0.51% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | three days earlier | -2.77% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | five days earlier | -1.45% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 18 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 18 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 39 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 60 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Newmont (NEM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 69 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 67 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 69 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Conocophillips (COP), worth $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who collects and who pays in energy
Likely winners
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
In “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money,” ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- CVX Chevron
For “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money,” Chevron (CVX) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
No up or down call on file
- USO United States Oil Fund
In “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money,” United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- GLD Spdr Gold Trust
Spdr Gold Trust (GLD) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money.” Reason on file: SPDR Gold Shares: it follows gold or gold miners. Linked by “gold” (gold) in this story
- NEM Newmont
For “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money,” Newmont (NEM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Newmont (gold and silver ores): gold miners' profits move with the gold price. Linked by “gold” (gold) in this story
How energy news reaches United States Oil Fund (USO)
The 1 Nov 2026 story “Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money” names United States Oil Fund (USO) because of Energy.
The link for United States Oil Fund (USO) is this: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE): Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
The price range for United States Oil Fund (USO), and the dates in the story
GLD traded between 373.41 and 400.78 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 379.67. USO traded between 141.82 and 171.80 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 168.83. XLE traded between 62.06 and 70.15 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 70.00.
The energy score for United States Oil Fund (USO)
46 out of 100
“Gold's October Meltdown: Follow the Oil Markets, Then Follow the Money” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.