USD/JPY approaches 158.00 as Japanese Yen resumes decline
USD/JPY is resuming its upside in the European session on Friday, refreshing two-week highs and nearing 158.00. The Japanese Yen extends losses, despite the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) expected rate hike to 1.25% and hawkish Governor Ueda's comments, as two surprise dissents against the rate hike weigh on it.
Gold tests $$4,400 as softer US bond yields cap USD gains
Gold scales higher for the second straight day and continues to hit new weekly highs through the first half of the European session on Friday, with bulls now awaiting a sustained move beyond the $4,400 mark before positioning for further gains. Retreating US Treasury bond yields keep the US Dollar (USD) uptrend capped ahead of Fedspeak and mid-tier US data.
EUR/USD keeps gains below 1.1500 as USD consolidates
EUR/USD trades in positive territory near 1.1500 in the European session on Friday, helped by a subdued US Dollar. However, the potential upside of the major pair might be limited amid a hawkish interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Traders will take more cues from Fed Governor Michelle Bowman’s speech later on Friday.
GBP/USD holds steady above 1.3350 despite upbeat UK Retail Sales
GBP/USD trades on a flat note above 1.3350 in the European session on Friday. Traders continue to assess the latest interest rate decisions and policy cues from the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, as the upbeat UK Retail Sales report fail to inspire the British Pound.
DEEPER DIVE
How Japan became the World's Banker and why that era may be ending
Japan's ultra-low interest rates helped finance trillions of dollars in global investments for more than a decade, making the Japanese Yen one of the world’s cheapest sources of funding. With the Bank of Japan expected to tighten policy again this week, that advantage may be entering a new phase. While most major economies raised interest rates, Japan remained the world's outlier.
Fed recap: One hike down, more to come? The Fed’s new rate path says yes
The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised its Fed Fund Target Range (FFTR) range by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00% in a unanimous decision, saying the move would support a timelier return to its 2% inflation goal.
2% wages: Why Canada’s weak jobs data strengthens the BoC’s stance
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Top 3 Price Prediction: BTC extends recovery, ETH eyes $2,500, XRP holds $1.30
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple extend their recovery, trading above $76,700, $2,400 and $1.300, respectively, on Friday. These top three cryptocurrencies now face key technical levels that could determine whether their recoveries extend further or pull back.
Crypto Overview: Bitcoin extends mild recovery – Near Protocol, Uniswap rally
Bitcoin hovers above $77,000 on Friday, holding steady with minor gains after Tuesday’s 3% decline. Bitcoin holds steady as the Bank of Japan raises interest rates from 1% to 1.25% on Friday. Near Protocol and Uniswap record double-digit gains over the last 24 hours, emerging as top performers.
S&P Global to acquire OpenZeppelin in on-chain security expansion
S&P Global has agreed to acquire blockchain security firm OpenZeppelin as the financial data and analytics company expands its on-chain risk assessment capabilities. The acquisition, announced Thursday, will bring OpenZeppelin’s smart contract security services, development tools and open-source libraries into S&P Global’s existing digital asset and risk assessment business.
STOCKS
Lennar reports Q3 earnings: What key metrics have to say
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: To hike or not to hike? Kevin Warsh between a rock and a hard place
Global inflation watch: Muted momentum outside of energy
Gold: Fed rate call and dot plot key for next directional action
Bitcoin: BTC retreats as macro headwinds grow
US Dollar: No country for soft landings
Week ahead – Dollar at a crossroads as CPI and ECB take centre stage
Dollar direction hinges on US CPI and the ECB decision. Treasury buybacks in focus; could fuel another rally in gold and bitcoin. Yen strength may be challenged by a strong US CPI report.
EDUCATION
How economic uncertainty changes bullion buying patterns across generations
When the economy becomes uncertain, investors react differently depending on their goals and circumstances. But, generally, periods of high inflation, market volatility, or geopolitical tension push investors to look beyond traditional assets for ways to diversify and manage uncertainty.
![You’re watching pre-market levels wrong [Video]](https://editorial.fxsstatic.com/images/i/Fear-2_Medium.png)
You’re watching pre-market levels wrong [Video]
If you trade NQ, you’ve probably been told to watch the pre-market high and pre-market low. That part is easy. The harder question is: what are you actually supposed to do when price gets there? Most traders react too quickly, and that’s usually where the trouble starts.
PRESS RELEASES
iFX EXPO unveils trader-first format for Mexico as global trading brands confirm participation
HFM, Webull, VT Markets, cTrader and other leading brands will connect with 3,000+ attendees from Mexico’s trading and investment community at The Trading Festival Mexico 2026.
cTrader Market Replay turns market history into a trading simulator
cTrader offers Market Replay to support trader education and engagement with historical market simulation, strategy testing and session review.
Exness introduces a new way to explore trading psychology at Forex Expo Dubai 2026
Trading psychology shapes how traders make decisions, manage risk, and respond to changing market conditions. Recognizing these patterns can help traders better understand their strengths, habits, and strategy.