The British Pound Sterling (GBP) plummeted against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday, hitting an eight-month low near 1.2440. At the time of writing, the GBP/USD pair is down -1.01%; trading at 1.238. This sharp decline was driven by a confluence of factors:Weakening UK Manufacturing: The final S&P Global/CIPS Manufacturing …
Read More »U.S. Futures Begin 2025 on a High Note Amid Optimism
U.S. stock index futures opened the new year on a positive trajectory, reflecting investor optimism following a year of stellar market performance. By 05:25 ET (10:25 GMT), Dow Jones Futures rose 195 points (0.5%), S&P 500 Futures gained 38 points (0.7%), and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 165 points (0.8%). The …
Read More »European Stocks Struggle Amid Valuation Concerns and U.S. Policy Uncertainty
European stocks fluctuated on the first trading session of 2025, as investor sentiment remained cautious following a late-year selloff driven by concerns over high valuations and potential policy shifts under incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. The pan-European STOXX 600 index dipped 0.2% by 0946 GMT, erasing earlier gains as trading …
Read More »Oil Prices Edge Higher Amid Cautious Optimism on Chinese Growth
Oil prices started 2025 with modest gains on Thursday as investors cautiously assessed China’s economic outlook and fuel demand. President Xi Jinping’s pledge to adopt proactive policies aimed at boosting growth in 2025 provided some optimism to the market. Brent crude futures climbed by 0.21% to $74.80 per barrel, while …
Read More »Gold Prices Show Modest Gains Amid Dollar Weakness, Fed Rate Outlook in Focus
Gold prices inched higher in Asian trading on Thursday, building on their robust performance in 2024 as a softer U.S. dollar lent support. However, investor caution lingered due to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s indications of fewer interest rate cuts in 2025. Spot gold rose by 0.3% to $2,632.82 per ounce, …
Read More »China Adjusts Yuan CFETS Basket Weighting in 2025, Reducing Dollar’s Influence
The China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS), overseen by the People’s Bank of China, announced significant adjustments to the yuan’s CFETS basket weighting effective January 1, 2025. These changes reflect a strategic shift in China’s foreign exchange policy, aiming to diversify the yuan’s value away from over-reliance on the U.S. …
Read More »Wall Street Retreats as Record-Breaking Year Closes
US stock indexes experienced a downturn on Tuesday, indicating a potential subdued finish for a year marked by significant gains. The S&P 500, after a brief initial rise, turned negative, declining by 0.6%. This follows two consecutive days of losses exceeding 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also slipped, while …
Read More »Fresh US Sanctions Target Russia, Iran On 2024 Election Interference
The Treasury and State Departments said Tuesday that the Biden administration had placed additional penalties on Iranian and Russian organizations for their efforts to sabotage the 2024 election. In particular, the Treasury Department is enacting new sanctions against the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise and its director, Valery Mikhaylovich Korovin, …
Read More »XAU/USD Holds Firm Above $2,600 as Year-End Trading Winds Down
XAU/USD is trading above $2,600 per ounce as the year draws to a close, though upward momentum remains limited. Risk-off sentiment spurred by the year-end market slowdown has provided some support for gold prices.Trading activity has been subdued in recent days as investors prepare for the New Year’s holiday, with …
Read More »Key Cryptocurrency Predictions for 2025: Navigating Uncertain Outlook
The cryptocurrency market experienced a remarkable surge in 2024, with the total market capitalization soaring to over $3.3 trillion, a nearly twofold increase from the previous year. Bitcoin, the dominant cryptocurrency, led this charge, gaining over 125% in value. This bullish sentiment was fueled by several key factors, including the …
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