#commodities

#commodities

With government data releases halted by the shutdown, markets turned to private indicators for clues about the economy's health. Payroll provider ADP reported a surprising 32,000 job losses in September-far below expectations for job gains-fuelling expectations for Fed rate cuts. However, several Fed officials maintained a cautious tone. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee warned of persistent services inflation, while Dallas Fed's Lorie Logan suggested a slower path to policy normalization.

The price of gold soared to an all-time high on Wednesday, breaching the $3,300 mark for the first time as growing global trade tensions sent investors scrambling for safe-haven assets.