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Gold sticks to gains as strong US PPI-inspired USD rally falters amid Fed rate-cut bets

Gold price edges higher as the strong US PPI-inspired USD rally lacks follow-through buying. Bets for an imminent Fed rate cut in September cap the USD and support the commodity. The upbeat market mood keeps the XAU/USD bulls on the defensive ahead of the US data. Gold (XAU/USD) adds to modest Asian session gains and recovers a part of the previous day’s losses to a two-week low, though it lacks bullish conviction. The US Dollar (USD) attracts fresh sellers and stalls Thursday’s strong Producer Price Index (PPI)-inspired gains as traders seem convinced that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will resume its rate-cutting cycle in September. This, in turn, is seen as a key factor that helps revive demand for the non-yielding yellow metal. Meanwhile, fresh inflation jitters seem to have tempered market expectations for a more aggressive policy easing by the Fed. This, along with the prevalent risk-on environment, is holding back traders from placing aggressive bullish bets around the Gold price. Hence, it will be prudent to wait for strong follow-through buying before confirming that the XAU/USD pair has bottomed out. Traders now look to the US macroeconomic data for some impetus heading into the weekend. Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold looks to build on intraday gains amid renewed USD selling bias Traders trimmed their bets for a more aggressive policy easing by the Federal Reserve following the hotter-than-expected release of the US Producer Price Index on Thursday. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the headline PPI accelerated from the 2.4% YoY rate to 3.3% in July, surpassing expectations of a 2.5% by a wide margin. The US Dollar rebounded sharply from the vicinity of its lowest level since July 28, touched on Wednesday, and triggered an intraday turnaround of around $45 in the Gold price. The USD recovery, however, runs out of steam during the Asian session on Friday as traders are still pricing in a 90% chance that the Fed will cut interest rates in September. Moreover, the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicates the possibility of two 25-basis-point Fed rate cuts by the end of this year.  This, in turn, keeps a lid on any further USD appreciation and acts as a tailwind for the non-yielding yellow metal during the Asian session. However, the prevalent risk-on environment caps gains for the safe-haven commodity. An extension of the US-China tariff truce for another three months eased concerns about a full-blown trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Furthermore, hopes that Friday’s US-Russian summit will increase the chances of ending the prolonged war in Ukraine remain supportive of the bullish sentiment across the global financial markets. Traders now look forward to the US economic docket – featuring the release of monthly Retail Sales figures, the Empire State Manufacturing Index, followed by the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment and Inflation Expectations Index. The data might influence the USD and provide some impetus to the XAU/USD pair heading into the weekend. Nevertheless, the precious metal remains on track to register losses for the first time in three weeks, and the lack of strong follow-through buying suggests that the path of least resistance remains to the downside. Hence, any subsequent move up could be seen as a selling opportunity and runs the risk of fizzling out rather quickly. Gold seems vulnerable while below the 100-hour SMA pivotal resistance, near the $3,355 area The recent repeated failures to build on momentum beyond the 100-hour Simple Moving Average (SMA) and the overnight slide favor the XAU/USD bears. Moreover, oscillators on hourly charts are holding in bearish territory and have just started gaining negative traction on the daily chart. This, in turn, validates the near-term negative outlook for the Gold price. Hence, any attempted recovery might confront a stiff barrier and remain capped near the 100-hour SMA, currently pegged near the $3,355 region. The latter should now act as a pivotal point, which, if cleared, could lift the Gold price back to the overnight swing high, around the $3,375 zone. The momentum could extend further towards reclaiming the $3,400 mark. On the flip side, the $3,330 area, or a two-week low touched on Thursday, seems to have emerged as an immediate support. Some follow-through selling could make the Gold price vulnerable to accelerate the slide to the $3,300 mark. Acceptance below the latter would reaffirm the near-term bearish bias and set the stage for a further depreciating move. Fed FAQs Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback. The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis. In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial

Gold sticks to gains as strong US PPI-inspired USD rally falters amid Fed rate-cut bets Read More »

Pound Sterling Price News and Forecast: GBP/USD gains ground to near 1.3545 in Friday’s session.

GBP/USD strengthens to near 1.3550 as US Retail Sales data looms The GBP/USD pair gathers to around 1.3545 during the early European session on Friday, bolstered by a weaker US Dollar (USD). Additionally, the stronger-than-expected UK economic data underpins the Pound Sterling (GBP) against the Greenback. Markets might turn cautious later on Friday as traders await the release of the US July Retail Sales report.  Traders adjusted their expectations for interest rate reductions from the US central bank after the latest soft data on US jobs and Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation reports. Rising bets of a US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in September weigh on the Greenback. However, hotter-than-expected Producer Price Index (PPI) inflation data released on Thursday prompted traders to trim wagers on rate cuts by the Fed in September. Read more… GBP/USD snaps winning streak after hot US PPI inflation print GBP/USD recoiled from rising US inflation metrics on Thursday, sending the US Dollar (USD) broadly higher and snapping a two-day winning streak in the Cable-Dollar pairing. GBP/USD saw its largest single-day decline in over two weeks, pushing the pair back toward 1.3500 after flubbing a technical push toward 1.3600. Despite getting trimmed lower by around one-third of one percent, GBP/USD is still holding firmly onto the bullish side. Cable is still trading well above the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near 1.3170, and immediate technical support is priced in at the 50-day EMA near 1.3440. Momentum has been a one-sided affair in favor of bidders, although the lower-highs patten baked into daily candlesticks is under threat of breaking down. Read more… GBP/USD slips as hot US PPI data erodes aggressive Fed cut bets The GBP/USD pair retreats during the North American session, down 0.21% after a hot inflation report in the United States (US) prompted traders to pare rate cut bets by the Federal Reserve (Fed) at the September meeting. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.3545 after hitting a daily peak of 1.3594. The Producer Price Index (PPI) in the US rose 0.9% MoM in July, up from 0% in the previous month. However, the yearly reading rose 3.3%, exceeding forecasts of 2.5%, up from 2.3% of June’s print. Core PPI, which is used to calculate the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, soared 3.7% for the same period on an annual basis, crushing the prior month’s 2.6% jump. Read more… Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

Pound Sterling Price News and Forecast: GBP/USD gains ground to near 1.3545 in Friday’s session. Read More »

U.S. Retail Sales, Fed Outlook, and Import Costs Paint Mixed Picture for Traders

Import Prices Firm, Led by Fuel and Industrial Goods The U.S. import price index increased by 0.4% in July, reversing two months of declines. Fuel import prices led the rise with a 2.7% monthly gain—petroleum up 2.4%, natural gas up 4.7%. Nonfuel import prices advanced 0.3%, reflecting higher costs for industrial supplies, consumer goods, and capital goods. Year-on-year, overall import prices were still down 0.2%, driven by a 12.1% drop in fuel prices. Meanwhile, export prices edged up just 0.1% on the month, with nonagricultural goods supporting the gain. Export Gains Slow as External Demand Levels Off Export prices rose only slightly in July, up 0.1%, after a 0.5% rise in June. Agricultural exports were flat on the month, while nonagricultural goods—particularly automotive and capital goods—provided some lift. Year-over-year, export prices increased 2.2%, driven by firming prices in industrial and manufactured goods. However, destination-based data shows declining prices to Japan and flat results for Mexico, suggesting uneven global demand. Outlook: Cautiously Bullish, but Fed Path Remains Unclear The combination of strong retail figures, a rebound in regional manufacturing, and firming import costs suggests continued economic resilience. However, with fuel prices rebounding and supply availability still tight, input costs could pressure margins. For traders, the short-term bias remains cautiously bullish, supported by improving business sentiment and stable consumer spending—but attention remains on the Federal Reserve’s inflation and rate response. More Information in our Economic Calendar. Read More

U.S. Retail Sales, Fed Outlook, and Import Costs Paint Mixed Picture for Traders Read More »

China Retail Sales Slip, Industrial Output and Jobs Data Weigh; Hang Seng Dips

Scan QR code to install app Important DisclaimersThe content provided on the website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and contents provided by third parties, which are intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be read as, any recommendation or advice to take any action whatsoever, including to make any investment or buy any product. When making any financial decision, you should perform your own due diligence checks, apply your own discretion and consult your competent advisors. The content of the website is not personally directed to you, and we does not take into account your financial situation or needs.The information contained in this website is not necessarily provided in real-time nor is it necessarily accurate. Prices provided herein may be provided by market makers and not by exchanges.Any trading or other financial decision you make shall be at your full responsibility, and you must not rely on any information provided through the website. FX Empire does not provide any warranty regarding any of the information contained in the website, and shall bear no responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using any information contained in the website.The website may include advertisements and other promotional contents, and FX Empire may receive compensation from third parties in connection with the content. FX Empire does not endorse any third party or recommends using any third party’s services, and does not assume responsibility for your use of any such third party’s website or services.FX Empire and its employees, officers, subsidiaries and associates, are not liable nor shall they be held liable for any loss or damage resulting from your use of the website or reliance on the information provided on this website.Risk DisclaimersThis website includes information about cryptocurrencies, contracts for difference (CFDs) and other financial instruments, and about brokers, exchanges and other entities trading in such instruments. Both cryptocurrencies and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money. You should carefully consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.FX Empire encourages you to perform your own research before making any investment decision, and to avoid investing in any financial instrument which you do not fully understand how it works and what are the risks involved. Read More

China Retail Sales Slip, Industrial Output and Jobs Data Weigh; Hang Seng Dips Read More »

Congratulations to our President’s Club agents!

I’m thrilled to recognize the 366 Redfin agents who’ve earned a spot in President’s Club, Redfin’s highest honor for top performance! While this is our first public announcement of President’s Club honorees, it’s been a proud tradition at Redfin for years. Agents earn points for closing deals, building client loyalty, and delivering exceptional service. Every six months we tally those points and award three tiers – President’s Club, President’s Club Premier, and President’s Club Elite – based on each agent’s accomplishments. It takes serious commitment to reach this level, especially in a shifting housing market. But our first-half honorees rose to the challenge: 38% earned a higher tier than in the prior six months, and 14% made President’s Club for the first time in at least a year (and some for the first time ever!) That tells me when the going got tough, Redfin agents stepped on the gas.  Please join me in congratulating all of our honorees, especially our top 10 overall point earners! Melissa Kingsbury, Chicago – 1,167 points Maryam Amiri, Orange County – 1,129 points Mandy Kaur, Maryland – 1,081 points Gagan Singh, San Francisco – 875 points Daniel Close, Chicago – 850 points Niko Voutsinas, Chicago – 762 points Jessica Nelson, South Carolina – 729 points Lucy Goldenshteyn, San Francisco – 719 points Rebecca Thompson, Portland – 704 points Hazel Shakur, Maryland – 689 points Nine Newfins also deserve some extra recognition for earning a spot within their first year at Redfin – an incredible accomplishment! Rocky Loring, Portland (President’s Club Elite) Tracy Vasquez, Maryland (President’s Club Premier) Amanda Maron, Virginia Laura Reckmeyer, Los Angeles Lora Smith, Portland Mark Ridens, Sacramento Morshad Hossain, New Jersey Pej Elahi, Phoenix Robert Stoeck, Seattle President’s Club is more than a title, it’s proof that Redfin is where top performers thrive. We give agents the tools, support, and technology to take care of customers and grow their business. Our most successful agents work smart, move fast, and lead with heart—and when you pair that talent with Redfin’s platform, great things happen. And as hard as Redfin agents work, we also know how to celebrate! Many of these honorees will head to Hawaii this fall for our annual President’s Club trip, where we’ll celebrate their incredible achievements and the impact they’ve had on their teams, customers, and the company. To every agent who made the list – thank you for setting the bar for what’s possible at Redfin. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. If you’re looking for a new brokerage to call home or simply want to learn more about what Redfin has to offer, check out our career page or join our talent community! Let’s get after it! Redfin President’s Club Agents – First Half 2025 President’s Club Elite (440+ points) Agent Name Market Points Earned Melissa Kingsbury Chicago 1,167 Maryam Amiri Orange County 1,129 Mandy Kaur Maryland 1,081 Gagan Singh San Francisco 875 Daniel Close Chicago 850 Niko Voutsinas Chicago 762 Jessica Nelson South Carolina 729 Lucy Goldenshteyn San Francisco 719 Rebecca Thompson Portland 704 Hazel Shakur Maryland 689 Jill Moyer Charlotte 673 Aditi Jain Boston 657 Frank Dong New York 651 Darlene Heseltine Seattle 638 Sheryl Wingate Seattle 635 Dino Pasquali Virginia 634 Kim Doering Phoenix 591 John Litrenta Chicago 585 Andrew Vallejo Austin 584 Chaley Mcvay Portland 569 Erica Tang Orange County 564 Kelly Khalil Phoenix 563 Trenton Hogg Minneapolis 553 Allison Taylor Virginia 552 Danielle Carter Virginia 551 Martin Mata Denver 547 Bonnie Phillips Cleveland 547 Rachael Wang Dallas 545 Rob Wittman Virginia 542 Abbey Beal Seattle 534 Doreen Lewis Boston 533 Troy Lehman Seattle 529 Long Ngo Maryland 529 Emily Olson Minneapolis 528 Abbie Andersen Seattle 527 Nathan Freeborn Chicago 525 Amy Gugliuzza Chicago 515 Matthew Purdy Denver 513 Maribel Cribb San Francisco 508 Michelle Palmquist Portland 507 Macartney McQuery Seattle 505 Leslie Ikle Maryland 504 Tramy Vo San Francisco 501 Anthony Lam Virginia 495 Kimberly Cardilli Chicago 492 Christopher Paul Chicago 486 Kendell Walker Virginia 482 Yesay Semerjian Seattle 477 Leopoldo Gutierrez Chicago 476 Steve Dombar Chicago 472 Layching Quek Chicago 470 Mariah O’Keefe Seattle 470 Rocky Loring Portland 467 Brad Shields Columbus 466 Nevin Nelson Chicago 465 Chandra Gordon Seattle 463 Jonathan Huffer Palm Beach 462 Heidi Ludwig Los Angeles 462 Thomas Connors Connecticut 460 Crystal Zschirnt Dallas 456 Cheryl Wood Virginia 453 Kimberly Brown-Lewis Chicago 452 Gitte Long Virginia 450 Roseanne Martin San Diego 450 Jeremy Beauvarlet San Diego 449 Steven Weiss Tampa 449 Rheema Ziadeh Virginia 448 Christine Hudson Seattle 448 Jenny Rowe San Francisco 445 Charlie Jaeckels Raleigh 444 Dan Bergman Chicago 443 Sarina Dhanoa San Francisco 443 Ericka Tatum Portland 442 Becky Wipperfurth Chicago 440 Camie Cirrincione Chicago 440 President’s Club Premier (360-439 points) Agent Name Market Points Earned Dorothy Bistransin Maryland 439 Kelly Primerano Portland 439 Heather Clayton Denver 438 Daniel Lopez Salt Lake City 434 Kris Paolini Maryland 430 Van Welborn Phoenix 430 Tarah Yurovchak Portland 429 Ashley Arzer Chicago 427 Christine Chang San Francisco 420 Rebecca Koulalis Boston 418 Rebekah Liperote Phoenix 415 Vickie Hauck Seattle 415 Andrea Ratcliff Indianapolis 413 Tammy Shaver Orlando 413 Michael Kowalski New Jersey 412 Jeff Nix San Diego 410 Joey Keeler Seattle 408 Greg Janis Phoenix 408 Wemmy Collins Maryland 407 Tracy Vasquez Maryland 407 Cynthia Stolfe Chicago 405 Joanne Rodrigues Boston 403 Loren Ellingson Seattle 402 Barb Norris Portland 401 Jacqueline Colando Chicago 400 Mitch Toland Maryland 399 Jon Erro San Diego 398 Mimi Trieu San Francisco 397 Meirav Golan Yaaran Seattle 395 Sara Sogol Chicago 395 Joe Vego Seattle 394 Kevin Kestenbaum Denver 393 Brian Richards Seattle 392 Joel Bumgarner Portland 392 Ted Chen San Francisco 392 Kenny Whiteside Seattle 391 Christopher Prokopiak Chicago 391 Jennifer Yiu San Francisco 391 Beth Behling Chicago 390 Moe Yousofi San Francisco 388 Danilo Bogdanovic Virginia 388 Maria Babakhanova Boston 388 Emily Lam Seattle 388 Pamela Davison Seattle 387 Kathy Froelich New Jersey 386 Nancy Granby Dallas 385 Sherri Vis Tucson 385 Tommy Ngo Atlanta 385 Scott

Congratulations to our President’s Club agents! Read More »

EUR/CHF remains above 0.9400 as Euro gains on cautious ECB outlook

EUR/CHF appreciates as the Euro receives support from a cautious tone surrounding the ECB policy outlook. Traders believe the ECB concluded its easing cycle in July after delivering eight rate cuts over the past year. A decline in Swiss Producer and Import Prices heightens the chances of the SNB moving rates into negative territory. EUR/CHF holds gains after registering losses in the previous session, trading around 0.9410 during the Asian hours on Friday. The currency cross recovers its losses as the Euro (EUR) receives support, driven by traders’ expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) has ended its easing cycle in July after eight cuts over the past year, leaving borrowing costs at their lowest since November 2022. However, the Euro faced challenges as Eurostat reported on Thursday that monthly industrial production in the Eurozone dropped 1.3% in June, falling short of the 1.0% decline expected, reversing May’s upwardly revised 1.1% gain from 1.7%. Meanwhile, output growth slowed sharply to 0.2% YoY, missing the 1.7% forecast and down from a revised 3.1% in May. The European Union (EU) economic docket will be absent as there are no scheduled events due to the Feast of Our Lady of Heaven. The Swiss Franc (CHF) could come under pressure as recent data show a continued decline in goods and services prices in Switzerland. Softer Producer and Import Prices increase the likelihood of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) pushing interest rates into negative territory. Thursday’s data revealed a 0.9% year-over-year drop in Producer and Import Prices for July, steeper than June’s 0.7% fall. On a monthly basis, prices slipped 0.2%, following a 0.1% decline in the previous month. ECB FAQs The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy for the region. The ECB primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means keeping inflation at around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is by raising or lowering interest rates. Relatively high interest rates will usually result in a stronger Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde. In extreme situations, the European Central Bank can enact a policy tool called Quantitative Easing. QE is the process by which the ECB prints Euros and uses them to buy assets – usually government or corporate bonds – from banks and other financial institutions. QE usually results in a weaker Euro. QE is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the objective of price stability. The ECB used it during the Great Financial Crisis in 2009-11, in 2015 when inflation remained stubbornly low, as well as during the covid pandemic. Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse of QE. It is undertaken after QE when an economic recovery is underway and inflation starts rising. Whilst in QE the European Central Bank (ECB) purchases government and corporate bonds from financial institutions to provide them with liquidity, in QT the ECB stops buying more bonds, and stops reinvesting the principal maturing on the bonds it already holds. It is usually positive (or bullish) for the Euro. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. Read More

EUR/CHF remains above 0.9400 as Euro gains on cautious ECB outlook Read More »

New all time high for US stock markets despite higher inflation

Emini S&P SEPTEMBER new all time high at 6506. Last session high & low were: 6453 – 6496. (To compare the spread to the contract you trade). Emini Nasdaq September new all time high at 24068. Last session high & low were: 23793- 24007. Emini Dow Jones jumps to 45340. Last session high & low for the last session were: 44770 – 45142. Emini S&P September futures Emini S&P can target 6488/90 (hit) & 6516/20. A break above 6525 can target 6550/6555. First support at 6465/6460 & longs need stops below 6455 (we traded down to 6453.50 but if you held on the worked perfectly). Very strong support at 6445/6435 & longs need stops below 6425. Nasdaq September futures Emini Nasdaq break above 23800/23845 targets 23960/990 (hit) then 24150/200 (almost there!). Above 24240 look for 24400. We made a low for the day 3 ticks above an excellent buying opportunity at 23790/740 & longs need stops below 23650. Just be aware that a weekly close below 23500 starts next week with a more negative bias & risks a slide to 23300/260. Emini Dow Jones September futures Emini Dow Jones we wrote: move above 44750 this week triggers a retest of 44900/950 as predicted & even the all time high at 44230/45312 is possible. Targets hit! However bulls need a break above the longer term trend line at 45400/45450 for a new buy signal next week. Failure to beat 45400/45450 risks a slide to 45070 & 44800/750.  The contents of our reports are intended to be understood by professional users who are fully aware of the inherent risks in Forex, Futures, Options, Stocks and Bonds trading. INFORMATION PROVIDED WITHIN THIS MATERIAL SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS ADVICE AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION AND EDUCATION PURPOSES ONLY. Read More

New all time high for US stock markets despite higher inflation Read More »

EUR/GBP edges higher above 0.8600, eyes on Trump and Putin meeting

The EUR/GBP cross gains traction to around 0.8610 during the early European session on Friday. The Euro (EUR) strengthens against the Pound Sterling (GBP) amid hopes that Russia will end the war in Ukraine. Traders will closely watch the developments surrounding the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin later on Friday.  Trump and Putin are set to meet later in the day in Alaska to discuss the Ukraine issue. Trump said on Thursday that he believes Putin is ready to end his war in Ukraine, but peace would likely require at least a second meeting involving Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Peace hopes imply lower energy costs and reduced geopolitical uncertainty in the Eurozone, which generally provides some support to the shared currency.  On the other hand, the UK economy slowed less than expected in the second quarter this year despite the shock of US trade tariffs and a weaker jobs market. This, in turn, could boost the GBP and cap the upside for the cross. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Thursday that the UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 0.3% QoQ in Q2 versus a 0.7% growth in Q1. This figure came in better than the expectation of a 0.1% expansion in the reported period. Euro FAQs The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%). The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde. Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money. Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy. Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance. Read More

EUR/GBP edges higher above 0.8600, eyes on Trump and Putin meeting Read More »

US Retail Sales are expected to increase further in July, ahead of tariff hikes

Retail Sales in the United States (US) increased by 0.5% on a monthly basis in July to $726.3 billion, the US Census Bureau reported on Friday. This reading followed the 0.9% increase (revised from 0.6%) recorded in June and came in line with the market expectation. On a yearly basis, Retail Sales rose by 3.9%. “Total sales for the May 2025 through July 2025 period were up 3.9% from the same period a year ago,” the press release read. “Retail trade sales were up 0.7% from June 2025, and up 3.7% from last year.” Market reaction to US Retail Sales data These figures don’t seem to be having a noticeable impact on the US Dollar’s valuation. At the time of press, the US Dollar Index was down 0.25% on the day at 97.94. US Dollar PRICE Today The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the weakest against the Japanese Yen. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD -0.33% -0.20% -0.56% -0.16% -0.35% -0.18% -0.21% EUR 0.33% 0.13% -0.15% 0.17% -0.03% 0.14% 0.12% GBP 0.20% -0.13% -0.30% 0.04% -0.16% 0.01% -0.00% JPY 0.56% 0.15% 0.30% 0.34% 0.16% 0.37% 0.28% CAD 0.16% -0.17% -0.04% -0.34% -0.13% -0.03% -0.05% AUD 0.35% 0.03% 0.16% -0.16% 0.13% 0.11% 0.16% NZD 0.18% -0.14% -0.01% -0.37% 0.03% -0.11% -0.02% CHF 0.21% -0.12% 0.00% -0.28% 0.05% -0.16% 0.02% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote). This section below was published as a preview of the US Retail Sales data at 05:00 GMT. The United States Census Bureau will release Retail Sales data on Friday. US Retail Sales are expected to have increased by 0.5% in July, in line with June’s 0.6% rise. These figures are unlikely to significantly alter the consensus for a Fed rate cut in September. The United States Census Bureau will publish the country’s Retail Sales report on Friday. Market analysts anticipate a 0.5% monthly growth in the headline Retail Sales in July, following a slightly higher increase in June, suggesting that consumption stayed strong. Consumers seem to have rushed to Main Street, responding to summer sales and eager to avoid further price hikes from higher trade tariffs.  Consumer spending unexpectedly rebounded in June following the 0.9% decline in May. Retail and food services grew 0.6%, totalling USD 720.1 billion in June, fuelled by a broad-based recovery. Excluding autos, sales of all other products increased 0.5% compared with the previous month. The data release will find the Greenback on its back foot. The moderate consumer inflation numbers seen earlier in the week have boosted investors’ confidence that the Federal Reserve will finally cut rates at its next meeting in September, triggering a risk-on mood that is weighing on the US Dollar.  The USD Index (DXY), which shows the value of the Dollar against a basket of six majors, has depreciated about 2.3% so far in August, reaching lows below the 98.00 mark. The market is almost fully pricing an interest rate cut in September, and investors will be looking at July’s consumption figures for confirmation. A slight moderation in retail consumption, as expected, might be the “Goldilocks” reading that highlights a somewhat softer consumer spending, but without triggering concerns of a recession. This would allow the central bank to ease its monetary policy to support a softening labour market. What to expect in the July US Retail Sales report? The headline Retail Sales is likely to show a 0.5% increase, after June’s 0.6% growth. The core Retail Sales, which exclude the automobile sector, are expected to have shown a somewhat larger moderation, with a 0.3% increment, after the 0.5% advance seen in June. All in all, July’s Retail Sales report is expected to reflect that US consumption remains resilient, as buyers responded to summer sales, anticipating their purchasing decisions to avoid the impact of tariffs on prices. Automobiles are seen as the main driver for July’s gains for the second consecutive month, but most retail sectors are expected to reveal higher sales from the previous month. “A bounce in auto sales and higher prices during the [July] month are mostly behind the ‘stronger’ retail print,” said economists at Wells Fargo ahead of the data release. Still, consumers have shown signs of spending fatigue recently, they said.  “We suspect the moderating job market and concern over tariff-induced price pressure has led consumers to grow more choosy,” they added. When will US Retail Sales data be released, and how can it affect EUR/USD? The US Retail Sales data for July is due at 12:30 GMT. Unless the numbers show a significant deviation from the market consensus, July’s consumption figures are unlikely to stand in the way of a September rate cut by the Federal Reserve, which is nearly fully priced at the moment. In this context, the data release will fail to provide any significant support to a softening US Dollar, which is expected to remain vulnerable, as hopes of an easier monetary policy will likely fuel investors’ appetite for risk. The EUR/USD pair has rallied nearly 3% so far in August, as soft US labour data and recent comments from Fed officials have prompted investors to ramp up expectations of Fed rate cuts. The immediate bias is positive, but the pair needs to breach the trendline resistance at 1.1735 to clear the path towards July’s highs at first 1.1785 and then 1.1830. (This story was corrected on August 15 at 09:55 GMT to say that today’s is July’s Retail Sales report, and not February’s as it was previously reported) Fed FAQs Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed).

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KORE Group Holdings, Inc. (KORE) reports Q2 loss, tops revenue estimates

KORE Group Holdings, Inc. (KORE) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.5 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.47. This compares to a loss of $0.99 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -6.38%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post a loss of $0.59 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.77, delivering a surprise of -30.51%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once. Cerberus Telecom Acquisition, which belongs to the Zacks Internet – Software industry, posted revenues of $71.25 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.35%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $67.87 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock’s immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management’s commentary on the earnings call. Cerberus Telecom Acquisition shares have lost about 26.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500’s gain of 10%. What’s next for Cerberus Telecom Acquisition? While Cerberus Telecom Acquisition has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors’ minds is: what’s next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company’s earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Cerberus Telecom Acquisition was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company’s just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future.  It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.33 on $75.1 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$1.76 on $293.55 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Internet – Software is currently in the top 30% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, VNET Group (VNET), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2025. The results are expected to be released on August 21. This provider of carrier-neutral internet data center services is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.02 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -66.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. VNET Group’s revenues are expected to be $321.33 million, up 17.1% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed. Read More

KORE Group Holdings, Inc. (KORE) reports Q2 loss, tops revenue estimates Read More »

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