Linde is the largest industrial gas supplier in the world, with operations in over 100 countries. The firm's main products are atmospheric gases (including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) and process gases (including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and helium), as well as equipment used in industrial gas production. Linde serves a wide variety of end markets, including chemicals, manufacturing, healthcare, and steelmaking. Linde generated approximately $33 billion in revenue in 2023.

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)

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

Our recent call for a rally in the U.S. Dollar Index, a reversal in metals, and more struggles in emerging markets took a Mike Tyson left hook to the chin on Tuesday. A "sweeping" stimulus package from China sent Chinese stocks soaring and Materials stocks to the moon. The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) spiked 10%, its largest one-day move since March 2022, while the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM) popped 3.4%. The Materials (XLB) sector was the largest gainer on Tuesday, with a 1.4% gain - but that doesn't tell the entire story. The real action took place within the sector, with nonferrous metals and aluminum bolting higher by 7.6%-7.9%. Copper futures spiked 4%, leading to big gains in Southern Copper (SCCO) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Aluminum was led by Norsk Hydro (NHYDY) and Alcoa (AA). Mining stocks also did well, led by BHP Group, Rio Tinto, and MP Materials. Silver futures surged 4.6% and are back at the top of the range that began months ago. The timing of the stimulus package is interesting. Was it in reaction to the Fed's larger-than-expected rate cut and/or an attempt to front-run a possible increase in U.S. tariffs (which would hurt China's competitiveness in certain markets)? We will let others argue about that, as mixing politics with the equity market is like trying to mix oil and water. It generally doesn't work out very well. The bull rages on and now more fuel has been added to the fire. Some are talking about a melt-up. That action is fun while it lasts, but always ends in big losses on the other side. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)