- Escalating conflicts in the Middle East led to sustained military strikes, causing oil prices to surge. Although geopolitical risk typically drives gold prices higher, the rising energy costs fueled inflation concerns, which reduced expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut. This "higher-for-longer" rate outlook, combined with profit-taking, resulted in active Gold futures retreating to $4,678.6/oz, a 10.9% month-over-month (MoM) decline.
- Silver prices fell nearly 20% MoM, closing the month at $74.920/oz. This decline was driven by a gloomy global economic outlook, individual traders shifting to other asset classes and silver’s inherent volatility coupled with falling gold prices.
- Despite a positive long-term outlook tied to electrification and AI demand, copper settled the month at $5.6140/lb, down 7.4% MoM. This decline was primarily triggered by rising exchange inventories and fears that ongoing conflict will weaken the global economy while further stoking inflation.
Liquidity and volume highlights
Micro Metals futures continue to provide deep liquidity for efficient risk management. Recent performance milestones include:
- Micro Gold (MGC) futures: Achieved a record-breaking quarterly average daily volume (ADV) of 598,556 contracts in Q1 2026.
- Micro Silver (SIL) futures: Set new quarterly records in Q1 2026, hitting an ADV of 254,623 contracts and an average daily open interest (ADOI) of 25,216 contracts
- Micro Copper (MHG) futures: Reached quarterly record highs in Q1 2026 with an ADV of 35,299 and an ADOI of 13,775.
- 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures: March 2026 saw the highest monthly figures since the product’s launch for both ADV, at 116,486, and ADOI, at 31,695.
- 100-Ounce Silver (SIC) futures: Ended March 2026 with a record monthly ADV of 16,389 contracts.
Micro Gold (MGC), Micro Silver (SIL) and Micro Copper (MHG) Futures Update
MGC, SIL and MHG price movement and daily range (expressed in terms of one lot notional)
*Intraday price movement is expressed as the difference between the daily high price and the daily low price multiplied by the contract notional in troy ounce (MGC and SIL) and pounds (MHG).
Options Heatmap (Change in open interest from March 6 to April 2, 2026)
Key Economic Events in Apr/May 2026:
|
Key Economic Event |
ET |
GMT / BST |
SGT / HKT |
|---|---|---|---|
|
U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI |
Apr 1, 10.00 a.m. |
Apr 1, 3.00 p.m. |
Apr 1, 10.00 p.m. |
|
U.S. Non Farm Payrolls |
Apr 3, 8.30 a.m. |
Apr 3, 1.30 p.m. |
Apr 3, 8.30 p.m. |
|
FOMC Minutes |
Apr 8, 2.00 p.m. |
Apr 8, 7.00 p.m. |
Apr 9, 2.00 a.m. |
|
U.S. Core PCE Price Index |
Apr 9, 8.30 a.m. |
Apr 9, 1.30 p.m. |
Apr 9, 8.30 p.m. |
|
China Inflation Rate YoY |
Apr 9, 9.30 p.m. |
Apr 10, 2.30 a.m. |
Apr 10, 9.30 a.m. |
|
U.S. Inflation Numbers |
Apr 10, 8.30 a.m. |
Apr 10, 1.30 p.m. |
Apr 10, 8.30 p.m. |
|
China Balance of Trade |
Apr 13, 11.00 p.m. |
Apr 14, 4.00 a.m. |
Apr 14, 11.00 a.m. |
|
China Industrial Production YoY |
Apr 15, 10.00 p.m. |
Apr 16, 3.00 a.m. |
Apr 16, 10.00 a.m. |
|
U.S. Fed Interest Rate Decision and Fed Press Conference |
Apr 29, 2.00 p.m. |
Apr 29, 7.00 p.m. |
Apr 30, 2.00 a.m. |
|
China NBS Manufacturing PMI |
Apr 29, 9.30 p.m. |
Apr 30, 2.30 a.m. |
Apr 30, 9.30 a.m. |
|
RatingDog Manufacturing PMI |
Apr 29, 9.45 p.m. |
Apr 30, 2.45 a.m. |
Apr 30, 9.45 a.m. |
|
U.S. Core PCE Price Index |
Apr 30, 8.30 a.m. |
Apr 30, 1.30 p.m. |
Apr 30, 8.30 p.m. |
|
U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI |
May 1, 10.00 a.m. |
May 1, 3.00 p.m. |
May 1, 10.00 p.m. |
|
U.S. Non Farm Payrolls |
May 8, 8.30 a.m. |
May 8, 1.30 p.m. |
May 8, 8.30 p.m. |
|
China Balance of Trade |
May 8, 11.00 p.m. |
May 9, 4.00 a.m. |
May 9, 11.00 a.m. |
|
China Inflation Rate YoY |
May 10, 9.30 p.m. |
May 11, 2.30 a.m. |
May 11, 9.30 a.m. |
|
U.S. Inflation Numbers |
May 12, 8.30 a.m. |
May 12, 1.30 p.m. |
May 12, 8.30 p.m. |
|
China Industrial Production YoY |
May 17, 10.00 p.m. |
May 18, 3.00 a.m. |
May 18, 10.00 a.m. |
|
FOMC Minutes |
May 20, 2.00 p.m. |
May 20, 7.00 p.m. |
May 21, 2.00 a.m. |
|
U.S. Core PCE Price Index |
May 28, 8.30 a.m. |
May 28, 1.30 p.m. |
May 28, 8.30 p.m. |
|
China NBS Manufacturing PMI |
May 30, 9.30 p.m. |
May 31, 2.30 a.m. |
May 31, 9.30 a.m. |
|
RatingDog Manufacturing PMI |
May 31, 9.45 p.m. |
Jun 1, 2.45 a.m. |
Jun 1, 9.45 a.m. |
Source: CME Group, QuikStrike
Useful resources
Stay up-to-date with the latest probabilities of FOMC rate moves with the CME FedWatch Tool.
The Commitments of Traders (COT) tool can provide a comprehensive and highly configurable graphical representation of the CFTC's report on market open interest.
Build and test your trading strategies in a simulated environment with free pricing and analytics tools for CME Group markets. Choose from three ways to access exclusive, web-based tools developed by QuikStrike®.
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