Market Update

The U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025, marking a worse-than-expected decline, according to the latest data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Thursday. This figure was a revision downward from the previously reported -0.2%, signaling a more …

The number of U.S. citizens filing new applications for unemployment insurance decreased to 236,000 for the week ending June 21, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on Thursday. This figure came in lower than both initial estimates and the previous week’s revised total of 246,000 (which had …

Bitcoin showed some positive movement on Thursday, rising by 1.4% to $107,751.9 as risk appetite continued to benefit from the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Iran, though it remained within a familiar trading range. The largest cryptocurrency’s price remained below its weekly high of over $108,000, signaling that while momentum …

Retail sales in the UK faced a significant downturn in June, as the latest survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) revealed a deeper contraction in sales activity compared to May. The CBI’s monthly retail sales gauge, which compares sales figures to those from the same time last year, …

European stocks gained ground on Thursday as investors tracked the fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire, the looming U.S. tariff deadline, and the latest comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. By 03:15 ET (07:15 GMT), the DAX index in Germany was up 0.5%, the CAC 40 in France climbed 0.4%, and the …

Gold prices found some support in Asian trade on Thursday, as a weaker dollar helped to stabilize bullion prices. Spot Gold remained largely unchanged at $3,336.65 an ounce, while Gold Futures for August rose 0.1% to $3,347.45/oz by 01:08 ET (05:08 GMT). Earlier in the week, gold saw sharp losses …

Oil prices made modest gains in Asian trade on Thursday, boosted by a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. oil inventories, which sparked some optimism around demand. However, the potential for further increases remained tempered by the sustained ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which has reduced concerns over potential disruptions in Middle …

The NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25, 2025, has thrust defense budgets into sharp focus, with allies pledging to raise spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, up from the prior 2% target. Fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for equitable contributions and escalating Russian threats, this …

The Federal Reserve’s proposal to loosen leverage rules for major banks has ignited controversy, with some policymakers signaling opposition. This move, announced on June 25, 2025, aims to adjust the enhanced Supplementary Leverage Ratio (eSLR), a post-2008 crisis measure to bolster banking stability. The debate centers on balancing financial resilience …

The EUR/USD pair extended its bullish run for a fifth straight day on Wednesday, nearing its year-to-date high around 1.1660, up 0.44% during the North American trading session. The euro’s strength was driven by renewed optimism over a U.S.-brokered Middle East ceasefire, which, despite its fragility, fueled risk-on sentiment and …