Gold starts moving within minutes after crude oil, serving two completely different functions at the same time: one is as a safe-haven hedge against geopolitical uncertainties, and the other is as a store of value to combat energy-driven inflation. Silver often follows gold's initial rise, but due to its industrial properties, once the conflict evolves into an economic recession, silver's performance will be significantly weaker than gold. This divergence is clearly reflected in the mid-to-late stages of various Middle East conflicts.