AUD/USD sits near June 5 high, eyes 0.7100 ahead of China's macro data
AUD/USD trades near its highest level since June 5 at the start of a new week, as traders look to China's macro data dump for fresh impetus. In the meantime, the RBA's hawkish tilt continues to act as a tailwind for the Aussie. Furthermore, reduced bets on further Fed rate hikes keep the US Dollar on the back foot and provide a tailwind for the currency pair, supporting prospects for a move beyond 0.7100.
USD/JPY holds above 159.00 as Japan's soft Q2 GDP meets USD weakness
USD/JPY trades with a mild negative bias at the start of the new week as the US Dollar remains depressed amid receding Fed rate-hike bets. Meanwhile, Japan's preliminary GDP report showed that the economy expanded 0.3% in the second quarter, missing expectations. This could temper September BoJ rate-hike bets and act as a headwind for the Japanese Yen, assisting the pair to hold above 159.00 during the Asian session.
Gold eyes $4,400 as receding Fed hike bets undermine USD
Gold is looking to build on Friday's bounce from the $4,300 neighborhood as reduced bets for an immediate Fed rate hike keep US Dollar bulls on the defensive and support the non-yielding bullion. However, the US-Iran standoff could limit deeper USD losses, warranting caution before positioning for the resumption of the XAU/USD pair's recent uptrend to its highest level since June 5.
Week ahead: Summer lull could be tested by geopolitics and central bank expectations
DEEPER DIVE
Why is Crude Oil priced for a reopening the ships haven't made?
Why the WTI sell-off may be hiding a supply warning
911 million shares freed: Why SpaceX rallied into its own supply
The most heavily trailed supply event of the year landed on August 6, and the SpaceX (SPCX) stock went up. Roughly 911.5 million shares held by insiders and early backers became eligible to trade, around 43% more than the entire float sold at the listing.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Pi Network extends consolidation as bulls eye $0.10
Pi Network price holds steady on Friday, maintaining a consolidating tone for three consecutive days. Mild retail strength in the PI token remains stable, with Open Interest above $9 million, while social buzz eases.
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Hormuz uncertainty clouds BTC outlook
Bitcoin trades around $62,900 on Friday, down over 3% so far this week, but signs of stabilization are emerging. Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are keeping Oil prices and the war-risk premium elevated, supporting the US Dollar and weighing on BTC.
Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple risk steeper correction as bearish pressure mounts
Bitcoin trades below $63,000 on Friday, projecting a downside bias as selling pressure resurfaces. Ethereum and Ripple also take a bearish path, risking a drop below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average at $1,856 and the $1.00 psychological support, respectively.
STOCKS
S&P 500 hits new high on fresh AI enthusiasm
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: War escalation can bring back US Dollar demand
Why SpaceX bonds disagree with the stock
Gold: Mideast stalemate keeps bullish potential in check
Bitcoin: Hormuz uncertainty clouds BTC outlook
US Dollar: Fed hawks circle, but weak data clips the Dollar’s wings
Week ahead – Summer lull could be tested by geopolitics and central bank expectations
US dollar stabilizes as September Fed hike bets remain subdued. Market volatility stays low, but thin liquidity could amplify movements. Key UK data could challenge pound strength; euro craves bullish catalysts.
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
Weltrade officially launches in South Africa under FSCA licence
The global CFD broker brings 20 years of industry experience and an award-winning product offering to one of Africa's most active retail trading markets.
From Chinese AI to global ETFs: STARTRADER launches 45 new 24/7 stock and ETF CFDs
Available from August 13, 2026, the launch covers seven distinct market themes with no trading-hour restrictions.
Monolith Market introduces four account types for different trading profiles
Monolith Market has structured its offering into four account types — Standard, Advanced, Professional and Corporate/Institutional — each with distinct conditions and service levels, designed for different operating profiles.