EUR/USD: US Dollar in trouble as Warsh chickens out
The EUR/USD pair closes July with modest gains near the 1.1500 mark, adding over 1.1% in the last trading week. Price action throughout the month was dull to say the least as investors remained clueless, although the pair managed to hit 1.1530 ahead of the close.
Gold: Bull hesitancy persists despite weaker US Dollar
Gold (XAU/USD) struggled to make a decisive move in either direction as the persistent US Dollar (USD) weakness was offset by a widening conflict in the Middle East. July employment data from the United States (US) could trigger a big reaction in Gold, while the near-term technical outlook highlights a lack of buyer interest.
Japanese Yen mid-year outlook: Why BoJ rate hikes aren't saving the Yen — and what actually would
The Japanese Yen (JPY) has experienced a pronounced downtrend since the beginning of 2026, hitting a series of multi-decade lows versus the US Dollar (USD) heading into the second half of the year.
Bitcoin: Bulls hold the line
Bitcoin (BTC) edges slightly lower, trading at $64,300 at the time of writing on Friday but holding firmly above a key support zone. US-listed spot Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) support BTC as they continued to attract institutional flows through Thursday, pointing to the fourth consecutive week of net inflows.
DEEPER DIVE
Three central banks held rates this week. Here's what has them all worried
The Federal Reserve (Fed), Bank of England (BoE) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) all kept interest rates unchanged this week. Anyone looking at the decisions alone might conclude that monetary policy had entered a quiet period. The message beneath the surface was very different.
9-3: Is the Federal Reserve’s vote tally Warsh's new forward guidance?
The rate did not move. Neither did the statement, and that’s the more interesting fact. Set the July 29 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement beside the one issued on June 17, and the two documents are identical apart from a single verb and a paragraph at the bottom naming three dissenters.
Australian Dollar outlook: Chances of another rally won’t be decided in Canberra, but in Washington
The Australian Dollar (AUD) rode a rollercoaster in the first half of the year, hitting a four-year high and then correcting. The currency enters the second half with an outlook full of uncertainty due to renewed hostilities in the Middle East, which clouds the inflation outlook and interest rates.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
XRP holds bearish bias despite spot ETF inflows
Ripple (XRP) retains a bearish near-term tone on Friday, falling toward the psychological support at $1.00. This follows renewed inflation concerns in the United States (US) after the Federal Reserve (Fed) left interest rates unchanged, as two members of the committee dissented in favor of a 25 basis point hike.
Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP edge lower despite renewed ETF inflows
The cryptocurrency market broadly corrects on Friday, as investors assess macro uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, which continue to escalate in the Middle East. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading below $64,000, down from the weekly high of $65,745. Altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) are trading under increasing selling pressure below $1,900 and $1.10, respectively.
US sanctions Iran-linked Bitcoin insurance scheme for Strait of Hormuz ships
The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned two Iranian firms behind a maritime insurance operation that accepted Bitcoin, saying the scheme forced commercial vessels to buy coverage to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and funnelled the proceeds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
STOCKS
Warning signs in the stock market: Is this the top, or just a very short fuse?
Overnight, South Korea's Kospi fell more than 10%, SK Hynix lost close to 15% and Samsung Electronics lost 13%. Into that, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures traded up around 1% on paint and soft drinks, and S&P 500 futures sat roughly flat. An index that absorbs a memory-chip panic and prints nothing is not a calm market.
Nasdaq 100 rebound looks strong… or is it just a trap?
The Nasdaq 100 spent the past few sessions recovering strongly from its November lows, rebounding from 24,307 and climbing back into the 25,100–25,150 mid-range zone. While the candles look convincing, the broader picture reveals a different story: the index remains trapped inside a 4H range structure.
WEEKLY FORECAST
EUR/USD: US Dollar in trouble as Warsh chickens out
The EUR/USD pair closes July with modest gains near the 1.1500 mark, adding over 1.1% in the last trading week. Price action throughout the month was dull to say the least as investors remained clueless, although the pair managed to hit 1.1530 ahead of the close.
Japanese Yen mid-year outlook: Why BoJ rate hikes aren't saving the Yen — and what actually would
The Japanese Yen (JPY) has experienced a pronounced downtrend since the beginning of 2026, hitting a series of multi-decade lows versus the US Dollar (USD) heading into the second half of the year.
Gold: Bull hesitancy persists despite weaker US Dollar
Gold (XAU/USD) struggled to make a decisive move in either direction as the persistent US Dollar (USD) weakness was offset by a widening conflict in the Middle East. July employment data from the United States (US) could trigger a big reaction in Gold, while the near-term technical outlook highlights a lack of buyer interest.
Bitcoin: Bulls hold the line
Bitcoin (BTC) edges slightly lower, trading at $64,300 at the time of writing on Friday but holding firmly above a key support zone. US-listed spot Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) support BTC as they continued to attract institutional flows through Thursday, pointing to the fourth consecutive week of net inflows.
US Dollar: Geopolitics, inflation and the Fed shape the outlook
The US Dollar (USD) has traded mostly lower throughout the week, briefly testing six-week lows despite prevailing risk aversion, which has been driven by unabated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. That said, the US Dollar Index (DXY) dipped to the 99.90 zone for the first time since mid-June, just to recover some ground afterward toward the end of the North American session.
Week ahead – US payrolls report and AI earnings to keep investors on edge
With the Fed still pondering how soon it would be appropriate to raise interest rates, the July jobs report looks set to take centre stage in a week where little else is likely to attract much attention. Although with tensions in the Middle East remaining high and blockbuster earnings struggling to stop the bleeding on Wall Street, volatility isn’t about to ebb.
EDUCATION
Something has gone completely wrong in enterprise AI
There is a moment in every boom when the music is still playing, the lights are still flashing, and someone finally notices that the bar tab has been left on the table. That is roughly where enterprise AI feels today.
The psychology of Gold buying during periods of market uncertainty
Historically, gold is considered a reliable investment avenue, especially in times of market uncertainty. Modern economies are based on fiat currency, where the value is determined by government decree and public trust.
PRESS RELEASES
TenTrade Appoints Wilfred Obasi as Regional Director Africa, Accelerating Local Expansion
Global CFD and prop brokerage firm TenTrade further strengthens its presence and strategic operations in Africa by onboarding Wilfred Obasi as its Regional Director in the region.
STARTRADER expands AI offering with 31 New US Share & ETF CFDs in Semiconductors, Optical Networking & Nuclear
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 31st, 2026, FinanceWire
SAP Fioneer Launches Cloud Accounting Subledger to Simplify Multi-GAAP Accounting for Financial Institutions
Walldorf, Germany, July 30th, 2026, FinanceWire