Advanced Micro Devices designs a variety of digital semiconductors for markets such as PCs, gaming consoles, data centers, industrial, and automotive applications, among others. AMD’s traditional strength was in central processing units, CPUs, and graphics processing units, or GPUs, used in PCs and data centers. Additionally, the firm supplies the chips found in prominent game consoles such as the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox. In 2022, the firm acquired field-programmable gate array, or FPGA, leader Xilinx to diversify its business and augment its opportunities in key end markets such as the data center and automotive.

Crude oil (WTI) closed on Monday around $74/barrel in what has already been a wild ride of late. But that ride re-accelerated after hours as OPEC cut its demand outlook and fears lessened about energy facilities being targeted as part of Middle East hostilities. After falling to an October 1 intraday low of $66.33, oil had surged to an October 8 intraday high of $78.46. But WTI dropped to an intraday low $71.53 the next day, and then rebounded to $76.24 by October 10. With that rally, WTI had broken some shorter-term bearish trendlines and completed a bullish false breakdown. But as evidenced by events over night, the worry for any intermediate-term bullish call on oil is the lack of positive demand and supply news. And while it's hard to believe things will quiet down in the Middle East in the near term, crude could move even lower when hostilities do calm. As we've said, the COT data for WTI is technically bullish. But mid-October to early December has been the worst time for oil over 40 years. The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) ETF has moved sideways since September 26 and appears to be tracing out a bull flag. The reversal in the dollar and interest rates that started in mid-September has not hurt gold and silver so far; once again, the metals are ignoring a rising currency. As we have been saying, the COT data on the dollar is bullish while the COT data on the metals is terrible (but has been so for many months). When markets don't behave as they have historically, we can surmise that something is different. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) looks like it might be tracing out a bullish cup-with-handle formation and a bullish continuous inverse head-and-shoulders pattern. A break over $30 would complete these. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)

Meta Platforms operates the world's largest family of social networking websites, including the flagship Facebook site, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Reels and Threads. The sites enable users to communicate with friends and family by posting to the site; commenting on others' posts; sharing photographs, website links, and videos; and messaging and playing games. The company also partners with application developers to add functionality to the sites, and allows users to pay for virtual goods and services through its Payments function. Meta derives about 55% of its revenue from outside the U.S. and Canada. Facebook/Meta went public on May 18, 2012. Meta Platforms changed its ticker from FB to META on June 9, 2022.

McDonald’s is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2023 system sales of $130 billion across nearly than 42,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald’s pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.