Investing in Gold, Oil, and Dollar Amid Venezuela Blockade; Silver Reaches All-Time High; Fed's Credibility Under Threat
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 17 2025
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: Benzinga
Silver Market Update: Silver has reached a new record price, currently trading at $66.27, with potential for a pullback as it is considered overbought. The target for silver futures is noted to be $70.
U.S. and Venezuela Tensions: President Trump's blockade of sanctioned oil tankers in Venezuela could lead to market fluctuations, with potential increases in gold, silver, oil, and stock prices if military action occurs.
Federal Reserve Credibility Concerns: The Fed's credibility is at risk due to ongoing interest rate cuts influenced by political pressure, as highlighted by Atlanta Fed President Bostic's comments on the importance of maintaining credibility in monetary policy.
Investment Strategies and Market Trends: Investors are advised to hold long-term positions while considering protective measures like cash or short-term trades. The article also emphasizes the importance of monitoring money flows in major stocks and ETFs, particularly in the context of the upcoming Consumer Price Index release.
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Analyst Views on META
Wall Street analysts forecast META stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for META is 824.71 USD with a low forecast of 655.15 USD and a high forecast of 1117 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
44 Analyst Rating
37 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 668.690
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 668.690
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
About META
Meta Platforms, Inc. is building human connections, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. The Company's products enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets, augmented reality (AR), and wearables. It also helps people discover and learn about what is going on in the world around them, enabling people to share their experiences, ideas, photos, videos, and other content with audiences ranging from their closest family members and friends to the public at large. The Company's segments include Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL). FoA segment includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads. RL segment includes its virtual, augmented, and mixed reality related consumer hardware, software and content. Its product offerings in VR include its Meta Quest devices, as well as software and content available through the Meta Horizon Store.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Dow Jones Decline: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell approximately 1.3%, or over 650 points, breaking a three-day winning streak, reflecting investor caution ahead of upcoming inflation data that could influence Federal Reserve rate decisions.
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See More
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See More
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- Volatility Analysis: Volatility skew data shows that for the March 20 expiration, put options have significantly higher implied volatility than call options, indicating a heightened focus on downside risk, which could lead to increased demand for hedging against Microsoft stock.
- Trading Parameters: According to the Black-Scholes model, Microsoft stock is expected to trade within a range of $402 to $423 over the next 36 days with a 68% probability, suggesting a conservative market outlook where a strong catalyst is needed to drive significant price movement.
- Hedging Strategy: Investors might consider a 410/415 bull call spread, which could yield a maximum profit of 117% if Microsoft stock exceeds $415 at expiration, indicating potential profit opportunities despite the prevailing market risks.
See More
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- Freight Brokers and AI: Freight brokers, once seen as beneficiaries of artificial intelligence, are now facing challenges from software companies leveraging AI technology.
- Shift in Perception: The shift in perception highlights the evolving landscape of the freight industry as AI continues to advance and disrupt traditional roles.
- Impact on the Industry: This change suggests that freight brokers may need to adapt to remain competitive in an increasingly automated environment.
- Future Considerations: The situation raises questions about the long-term implications of AI on various sectors within the logistics and transportation industries.
See More
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- Cisco Earnings Impact: Cisco's stock plummeted 11% despite reporting earnings of $1.04 per share, exceeding expectations, as the company’s gross margin guidance of 65.5%-66.5% fell short of the 68% consensus, highlighting the impact of rising hardware costs.
- Memory Shortage Risks: Lenovo confirmed mounting pressure on PC shipments, with CEO Yang Yuanqing stating that while unit pressures are expected, the company aims to maintain profitability, reflecting growing concerns over memory shortages in the industry.
- Software Sector Decline: The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF dropped over 3% on Thursday, with the sector down over 20% year-to-date, illustrating the ongoing impact of fears surrounding AI disruption on software stock performance.
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