AUD/USD consolidates above 0.7200; US NFP awaited
AUD/USD holds steady above 0.7200, near its highest level since mid-May, as bulls await the US NFP report for more cues on the Fed's policy path before placing fresh bets. Meanwhile, the recent decline in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar depressed near its lowest level in over a week and acts as a tailwind for the Aussie amid the RBA's hawkish tilt.
USD/JPY eyes August swing low, near 155.20 ahead of US NFP
USD/JPY retests the August monthly swing low during the Asian session on Friday as a more hawkish repricing of BoJ rate-hike bets and a suspected intervention continue to underpin the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar is seen consolidating the previous day's heavy losses amid soft US bond yields, further weighing on the currency pair as traders keenly await the US NFP report.
Gold holds steady below $4,500; looks to US NFP for fresh impetus
Gold consolidates its strong gains recorded over the past two days and trades below $4,500 during the Asian session on Friday, awaiting the US NFP report for cues about the Fed's policy path amid reduced September rate-hike bets. In the meantime, the recent fall in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar depressed and acts as a tailwind for the non-yielding bullion.
Bitcoin clears $80,000 on reduced rate hike odds – Zcash, Ethena rise
Bitcoin is trading above $80,000 on Friday, sustaining the broader cryptocurrency market's risk-on sentiment. Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Christopher Waller signaled support for a potential pause in interest rates on Thursday, lowering the odds of a September rate hike to 50%. Zcash (ZEC) and Ethena (ENA) emerge as top performers over the last 24 hours.
DEEPER DIVE
Diesel’s record $100 warning: The oil shock hiding in plain sight
The Oil market may look calmer than it did a few months ago, but diesel is sending a very different message. The US diesel crack spread, the premium of ultra-low sulphur diesel futures over WTI, recently surged above $100 per barrel for the first time, reaching an intraday record of just over $102.00.
Canada's 6.4% unemployment rate: Why Friday's jobs print puts the BoC's slack story on trial
The Bank of Canada held at 2.25% on Wednesday for a seventh straight meeting and rewrote the one paragraph that still argues against a hike. In July, the BoC’s statement called the labour market soft and pinned the unemployment rate inside a 6.5%-7% range it had held since the end of 2024. July's Labour Force Survey then printed 6.4%.
60 days to pay: Nvidia is financing its own demand
The Jensen Huang-helmed Nvidia (NVDA) delivered its second-quarter earnings print with its stock roughly 11% beneath the peak it set in May and around 8% beneath where it traded in mid-August, on the day it told the market it would stand behind up to $105 billion of a single customer's rent.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Ripple and Stellar outlook: XRP defends key support, XLM awaits breakout as derivatives strengthen
Ripple and Stellar show divergent technical outlooks as traders assess whether the recent weakness could give way to a recovery. XRP is finding support and defining a key support zone, while XLM slips below a cluster of Exponential Moving Averages.
Crypto Overview: Bitcoin holds steady, resonates with Gold – ARB, PYTH extend gains
Bitcoin price hovers above $77,000 on Thursday, losing bullish momentum as its correlation with Gold has risen to nearly 50% over the last 90 days. Arbitrum and Pyth Network recorded double-digit gains over the last 24 hours, emerging as top performers.
Bitcoin holds $63K and $86K range as profit-taking risk builds
Bitcoin's recovery faces growing resistance as the market trades between a major accumulation zone below current prices and a dense concentration of potential supply overhead, according to a Glassnode report published Wednesday.
STOCKS
Compared to estimates, Dell Technologies Q2 earnings: A look at key metrics
For the quarter ended July 2026, Dell Technologies (DELL) reported revenue of $46.97 billion, up 57.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $7.04, compared to $2.32 in the year-ago quarter. The reported revenue represents a surprise of +3.6% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $45.34 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $4.97, the EPS surprise was +41.65%.
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 rate hike back on the table, US Dollar up
The Japanese Yen gives up the big figure intervention won back
Gold: Bulls take a breather following three-week rally
Bitcoin: Billions in ETF inflows push BTC toward decisive breakout
US Dollar: Higher for longer is back… and the Dollar likes it
Week ahead – RBNZ and BoC decide on rates ahead of all-important US NFP
Dollar rebounds ahead of ISM PMI and NFP data. RBNZ is expected to raise rates; focus to fall on forward guidance. BoC is set to remain on hold; will it raise rates in 2027?
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
Versus Trade, Indy Trader and Andromeda hold trading education events across Malaysia and Thailand
Three trading education and community events involving Versus Trade and local partners took place across Malaysia and Thailand in August 2026, bringing together live market education, systematic trading and face-to-face interaction with local trading communities.
Changelly to give away $20,000 in Gold-backed XAUT with support from Tether
Changelly, a leading instant crypto exchange platform, is launching the Golden Boost Campaign offering $20,000 in XAUT rewards to 100 winners, with support from Tether, a pioneer in the field of stablecoin technology.
CFI appoints Federico Cirulli as Chairman as group enters next phase of growth
CFI Financial Group, a globally recognized leader in online trading services, today announced the appointment of Federico Cirulli as Chairman of the Board, marking the latest step in the Group's evolution into a more institutional and scalable organization.