Gold Headed for Its Worst 5-Day Stretch Since 2013. Strong Dollar and Middle East Tensions Dent Its Allure. - Barron's

The media loves dramatic headlines but misses the bigger picture. Gold dropping during Middle East tensions tells you everything about paper market manipulation. Physical demand from central banks hit record highs this quarter while COMEX registered inventory sits near decade lows. The dollar strength is temporary - Fed pivot talk will resurface once employment data softens. This five-day selloff creates the kind of entry point we haven't seen since the banking crisis. Smart money accumulated during the 2013 correction and rode the next bull run to $2000. Same playbook here. Physical premiums haven't budged despite spot weakness, confirming this is futures manipulation not real selling pressure.