AUD/USD holds steady above 0.7100; eyes multi-year top amid RBA rate hike bets
AUD/USD consolidates above 0.7100 during the Asian session on Thursday and remains close to a three-year peak amid bets for another RBA rate hike in 2026, bolstered by the latest Australian consumer inflation figures released the previous day. Moreover, a softer US Dollar and a positive risk tone act as a tailwind for the Aussie, though trade uncertainties seem to act as a headwind for spot prices.
USD/JPY retreats further from two-week top; downside potential seems limited
USD/JPY extends the previous day's late pullback from a two-week high and drifts lower during the Asian session on Thursday, as intervention fears offer some support to the Japanese Yen. The US Dollar, on the other hand, remains on the back foot amid concerns about the fallout from Trump's trade policies, which weigh on the currency pair. However, the uncertainty over the pace and timing of the next BoJ rate hike could limit JPY gains and cap the currency pair.
Gold retains positive bias amid sustained safe-haven demand, softer USD
Gold attracts some buyers for the second straight day as trade jitters and geopolitical tensions ahead of the US-Iran nuclear talks underpin demand for safe-haven assets. Apart from this, a softer US Dollar further supports the bullion, though the underlying bullish sentiment could cap gains. Bulls might also opt to wait for acceptance above the $5,200 mark before positioning for any meaningful appreciating move.
UK financial watchdog advances stablecoin oversight as four firms pilot issuance
The Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom is advancing toward the final stablecoin regulatory framework with a pilot program involving four companies, including Monee, Financial Technologies ReStabilise, Revolut and VVTX.
DEEPER DIVE
What the Supreme Court ruling means for tariffs...and what it doesn't
The Supreme Court struck down the presidents authority to levy tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). President Trump was quick to announce new tariffs.
Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair
We know from our many client discussions that there appears to be at least some degree of comfort with a Warsh led Fed vs. the other choices.
The Fed is heading for an extended pause, unlike the Bank of Japan
The FOMC decided to keep interest rates steady at 3.5% – 3.75% at its 27–28 January meeting, following three consecutive rate cuts at the end of 2025.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Cosmos Hub Price Forecast: ATOM rebounds slightly, bearish outlook remains intact
Cosmos Hub (ATOM) price rebounds, trading above $2.05 at the time of writing on Wednesday, after undergoing a sharp correction since last week. Weakening on-chain and derivatives data support a bearish outlook, while technical analysis remains unfavorable.
BTC, ETH and XRP post cautious recovery amid downside risks
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are posting a cautious recovery on Wednesday following a market correction earlier this week. BTC is approaching a key breakdown level, while ETH and XRP are rebounding from crucial support levels.
Top Crypto Gainers: Morpho, Ether.fi, and Pippin rally amid market pressure
Altcoins, including Morpho, Ether.fi and Pippin are leading the gains over the last 24 hours as the broader cryptocurrency market remains under pressure. Technically, the recovery in MORPHO, ETHFI, and PIPPIN shows upside potential as buying pressure increases.
STOCKS
Why SPX dropped — And why it still looks like noise
Yesterday’s drop in the S&P 500 (SPX) caught attention fast. Futures softened early, sellers pressed throughout the session, and by the close the tone felt heavy. Financial media framed it as a warning shot. Traders felt the tension.
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 comeback in the makes? Premium
The US Dollar (USD) stands victorious at the end of another week, with the EUR/USD pair trading near a four-week low of 1.1742, while the USD retains its strength despite some discouraging American data released at the end of the week.
GBP/USD: Pound Sterling braces for more pain, as 200-day SMA tested Premium
The Pound Sterling (GBP) crashed to its lowest level in a month against the US Dollar (USD), as critical support levels were breached in a data-packed week.
Gold: Escalating geopolitical tensions help limit losses Premium
Gold (XAU/USD) struggled to make a decisive move in either direction this week as it quickly recovered above $5,000 after posting losses on Monday and Tuesday.
Bitcoin: No recovery in sight
Bitcoin (BTC) price continues to trade within a range-bound zone, hovering around $67,000 at the time of writing on Friday, and falling slightly so far this week, with no signs of recovery.
US Dollar: Tariffed. Now What? Premium
The US Dollar (USD) reversed its previous week’s decline, managing to stage a meaningful rebound and retesting the area just above the 98.00 barrier when tracked by the US Dollar Index (DXY).
S&P 500 Price Annual Forecast: 2026 to benefit from decent growth as Trump runs it hot Premium
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, ran an online survey in early December asking respondents whether attractive returns for risk assets would continue for a fourth straight year in 2026.
EDUCATION
Ichimoku Cloud Trading Strategy: Understanding trend and support in one view
The Ichimoku Cloud is a technical analysis tool designed to provide traders with a rapid, comprehensive view of market trends, momentum, and future support and resistance levels.
Turn trading beats trend trading every time
While 85% of traders say they prefer trading trend, the truth is trend only occurs 15-20% of the time, leaving you flying blind on risk. In this video, I break down why most traders get trend trading completely wrong.
PRESS RELEASES
cTrader Admin 9.9: Email tracking and new Workspace app
Spotware releases cTrader Admin 9.9 with email tracking in Sessions, a new Workspace settings app and a collapsible main menu, improving daily platform administration and ensuring consistent operational control.
STARTRADER launches PowerPlay Challenge for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
As part of the global broker partnership with the UAE National Cricket Team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the broker has launched the PowerPlay Challenge competition.
Riyadh to host Global AI Show 2026: Where minds and machines meet
Riyadh is set to become the global stage for modern artificial intelligence with the upcoming Global AI Show (GAIS), beginning from 29-30th June 2026.