GBP/USD posts modest gains above 1.2500, UK GDP data eyed
GBP/USD posts modest gains near 1.2525 on Friday. The major pair bounces off the lows of 1.2445 after the Bank of England’s dovish hold. The attention on Friday will shift to the first reading of the UK Gross Domestic Product for Q1 and the US Michigan Consumer Sentiment report.
EUR/USD: The crucial resistance level will emerge at the 1.0790–1.0800 region
The EUR/USD pair trades on a softer note near 1.0775 during the early European hours on Friday. The downtick of the major pair is supported by the renewed US Dollar demand amid hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials.
Gold price extends the rally despite hawkish Fedspeak
Gold price gains momentum on Friday despite the modest rebound in US Dollar. The yellow metal edges higher as many economists expect a weakening labor market could prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates sooner than currently expected to stimulate economic growth.
Ethereum waiting on a bullish trigger, Consensys CEO takes a jab at the SEC
Ethereum co-founder alleges that the SEC aims to stifle innovation through its enforcement actions against Ethereum-related companies. Grayscale CEO says he's optimistic the SEC would approve its spot ETH ETF application.
Rate cut optimism fuelled by higher US jobless claims
With Federal Reserve policy acting as the primary driver of investor sentiment in 2024, renewed optimism surrounding the possibility of rate cuts has propelled the Dow to its most significant rally since December. Additionally, the S&P 500 surged past the critical 5,200-point mark.
DEEPER DIVE
Like there’s no tomorrow: Unpacking consumer credit
The recent run-up in revolving debt combined with the much higher financing costs raises doubts about the ability of credit to continue to make up for the shortfall between modest real income growth and aspirational spending.
Inventories are quiet, a little too quiet
The economy is in the midst of an unusually calm stretch with respect to inventory investment. It is like the point in the scary movie when someone points out that all the forest creatures have gotten quiet.
Softer growth, cooler inflation and rate cuts remain on the horizon
Economic growth in the United States appears to be in solid shape. Although real GDP growth came in well below consensus expectations and amounted to just 1.6% annualized in Q1-2024.
FXS Signals
Technical Confluences Detector
Gold flirts with $2,320 as USD demand losses steam Premium
Gold price flirts with $2,320 in the American session, trimming early losses that sent XAU/USD to a weekly low at $2,303.60. The US Dollar lost momentum after Wall Street's opening despite the poor performance of American indexes. The DJIA posts some modest gains, although the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 trade in the red.
Financial markets continue to struggle for direction in a week marked by the absence of relevant macroeconomic data. Speculative interest tries to take clues from Fed officials' words, but so far, none provide fresh clues that could spur some directional price action.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
AI crypto coins rally ahead of ChatGPT creator OpenAI plans to announce Google search competitor on Monday
Barely before the hype around NVIDIA stock gain is over, AI crypto tokens have another bullish catalyst coming their way, which could provide more tailwinds to drive the price of the sector’s tokens.
Ethereum needs a bullish trigger, Joseph Lubin blasts the SEC
Ethereum co-founder alleges that the SEC aims to stifle innovation through its enforcement actions against Ethereum-related companies. Grayscale CEO says he's optimistic the SEC would approve its spot ETH ETF application.
Franklin Templeton declares it’s “Base Season” as the Coinbase low-cost L2 sees significant rise in activity
Franklin Templeton, an investment firm with up to $1.46 trillion in assets under management, has declared that “It’s Base Season.” It comes amid growing activity on the low-cost ETH L2 solution.
Binance fined by Canadian financial regulator over AML violations
Canada's financial regulation body, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC), has fined Binance for refusing to abide by the status quo for all foreign monetary bodies in the country, according to a report on May 9.
THE STOCK OF THE DAY
SHOP stock gets massacred as market scoffs at bare beat Premium
Shopify checked most of the boxes during its first-quarter earnings results late Tuesday, but that just wasn’t enough for the market’s outsized ambitions. The eCommerce solution has traded down more than 20% on Wednesday morning as the broader market tumbles in tandem.
ECONOMIC CALENDAR
WEEKLY FORECAST
EUR/USD: Optimism prevailed, hurting US Dollar demand Premium
The EUR/USD pair advanced for a third consecutive week, accumulating a measly 160 pips in that period. The pair trades around 1.0760 ahead of the close after tumultuous headlines failed to trigger a clear directional path.
GBP/USD: Recovering ahead of BoE, UK GDP data Premium
The British Pound (GBP) extended its march north against the US Dollar (USD) throughout the week, motivating GBP/USD to break above the 1.2600 figure for the first time since mid-April.
US Dollar: Less-hawkish Fed, Nonfarm Payrolls miss weigh on the Greenback Premium
A marked pullback during the week prompted the US Dollar (USD) to retreat to the area of three-week lows in the mid-104.00s when tracked by the USD Index (DXY) soon after the US NFP came in below expectations in April.
Gold: XAU/USD bears take action on mixed signals from US economy Premium
Gold (XAU/USD) price fell more than 2% for the second consecutive week, erased a small portion of its losses but finally came under renewed bearish pressure. The near-term technical outlook points to a loss of bullish momentum as the market focus shifts to Fedspeak.
Bitcoin: Should you buy BTC here? Premium
Bitcoin (BTC) price shows signs of a potential reversal but lacks confirmation, which has divided the investor community into two – those who are buying the dips and those who are expecting a further correction.
Week ahead – BoE and RBA decisions headline a calm week
Bank of England meets on Thursday, unlikely to signal rate cuts. Reserve Bank of Australia could maintain a higher-for-longer stance. Elsewhere, Bank of Japan releases summary of opinions.