Market Update

Global markets are entering a decisive moment as investors shift their full attention to the upcoming US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, widely seen as the most important catalyst for near-term price action across gold, the US dollar, and equities. With positioning stretched and expectations finely balanced, the labor data could …

The euro area ended last year on a stronger footing than many had expected, showing resilience despite a challenging global backdrop. Economic activity remained steady, while inflation pressures continued to ease, reinforcing confidence that the region is navigating a controlled slowdown rather than a sharp downturn.A Strong Finish to the …

U.S. import prices were unchanged on a year-on-year basis in December, marking a stabilization after a 0.1% decline in November, according to data released Tuesday by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). On a monthly basis, import prices edged up 0.1% in December, indicating modest upward pressure after …

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Tuesday, as investors digested softer-than-expected retail sales data while keeping their focus firmly on a busy corporate earnings calendar. By 08:42 ET (13:42 GMT), Dow Jones futures hovered just below the flatline at 50,112 points. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average surged …

U.S. retail sales unexpectedly stagnated in December, pointing to a sharper-than-expected slowdown in consumer activity at the end of 2025 and raising fresh questions about the near-term strength of the world’s largest economy. Retail sales were flat on a month-on-month basis in December, falling well short of economists’ expectations for …

European equities traded in mixed fashion on Tuesday, as investors weighed a heavy slate of corporate earnings against a backdrop of improving global risk appetite. At 03:05 ET (08:05 GMT), Germany’s DAX slipped 0.2% and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 also edged 0.2% lower, while France’s CAC 40 bucked the trend, …

Bitcoin fell back below the $70,000 level during Asian trading on Tuesday, once again struggling to sustain recent gains as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of crucial U.S. economic data releases. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was last trading 2.2% lower at $69,392.7 by 05:58 GMT, after failing to build …

Oil prices slipped slightly on Tuesday as traders weighed the risk of potential supply disruptions linked to heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, while also digesting fresh developments around sanctions on Russian crude exports. Brent crude futures eased 0.2% to $68.88 a barrel by 08:00 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude …

Hedge funds are increasingly taking bold short positions on US stocks, signaling growing anxiety over the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on traditional business models. Last week saw record-level short selling, with hedge funds selling more than twice the amount they bought, reflecting widespread caution in the market. Concerns intensified …

Oil prices rose sharply on Monday after the United States issued an official warning to American-flagged ships to avoid entering Iranian territorial waters, particularly when passing through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The warning revived geopolitical concerns in one of the world’s most important energy transit …