Post FOMC

The FOMC decision is behind us, with a rate cut that has impacted market sentiment. Meanwhile, silver and gold have reached new all-time highs, signaling strong demand and market shifts. This has contributed to increased volatility, as seen in the VIX index. For futures traders, managing risk is crucial, and keeping a trade journal can help track strategies and improve decision-making.

Staying informed about these market movements is key to navigating the current landscape. With the FOMC now behind us and the Fed signaling a cautious pivot in December, markets are recalibrating around a lower-for-longer rate path that has already shifted flows into commodities and risk assets.

That backdrop helped push silver and gold to fresh all‑time highs this month as investors chase safe havens and physical demand tightens—silver’s rally has been especially dramatic, doubling year‑to‑date in some feeds, while gold has repeatedly printed new records through 2025. Those moves have come with higher intraday volatility—options and VIX dynamics show spikes around policy events and rapid repricing as traders digest Fed language and macro headlines.

For futures traders that means wider ranges, faster margin signals, and more false breakouts; the best defense is disciplined position sizing and a simple, consistent trade journal: record your thesis, entries, exits, size, and the market context for every trade so you can separate skill from luck, refine setups, and survive the next volatility swing.