Articles

Trade from an informed place. We cover news, political events and market analysis plus product updates.

Articles

Trade from an informed place. We cover news, political events and market analysis plus product updates.

Averaging down: A Risky Move or a Smart Strategy?

Averaging down is an investment strategy in which an investor purchases additional shares or other assets at a lower price than their initial purchase price. This strategy is employed when the price of the asset has declined after the investor's initial purchase. Through buying more of the asset at a lower cost, the average cost per unit or share d...

August 3, 2023
Read More >
Bank of England Decision could send the Pound Lower

Since March 2023, the GBPUSD had been trading higher as the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England (BoE) maintained along their path to continue raising rates, as they battled to bring inflation down to their 2-3% target level. As the DXY recovered in strength, this led the GBPUSD to reverse from the high of 1.3130, trading down toward the l...

August 2, 2023
Read More >
Nasdaq cements its best start to a year since 1975

The Nasdaq Composite Index has kicked off 2023 with a historic performance, achieving its most impressive start since 1975. Despite concerns about a potential recession, the index has displayed remarkable resilience, surging over 37% year-to-date as of the end of July. The upward trend has been consistent, with green months recorded in 6 out of ...

August 2, 2023
Read More >
FX Analysis – USD Catches a Bid, AUD outperforms ahead of RBA, JPY struggles

USD rallied modestly into month end with DXY pushing to the top of its recent range to again test the big 102 resistance level. The data highlight out of the US was the Chicago PMI figure which rose from the prior 41.5 to 42.8, but missing expectations of 43.3.  in FedSpeak,  Governor Goolsbee added little new from the FOMC statement last week st...

August 1, 2023
Read More >
FX analysis – USD up on rising yields, EUR down on dovish ECB, JPY surges ahead of BoJ

US equity markets snapped a record-breaking run of up sessions in Thursdays trading, with the Dow Jones looking set to close in the green for a 14th straight session (for the first time since the Dow’s inception), before seeing a sell-off on rising yields after a report that the BoJ is looking to tweak their YCC at their meeting today. FX Mark...

July 28, 2023
Read More >
Crude Realities: The extent of OPEC’s influence on financial markets

OPEC stands for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Founded in 1960, OPEC's main objective is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers.  This article briefly outlines who this organisation is and their significant influence on the pricing o...

July 28, 2023
Read More >
FOMC Preview – One and Done, or More to Come? The Charts to Watch

The long-awaited July FOMC meeting is finally upon us where rates markets are pricing in a sure thing for a 25bp hike (even a small chance of a 50bp), the question that traders will be looking for to be answered is “is this it?”. With a growing number of economists calling this the top in rates, butting up against the FOMC June statement and un...

July 26, 2023
Read More >
Gold eases heading into FOMC

After a fortnight of trending north, Gold has fallen over the past 5 days. It is currently trading at around $1960, showing a slight decline of approximately 1.35% from its recent high of $1987.53. Price is currently trying to break out of the downward channel that it has been in since late last week, so something to keep an eye on going into th...

July 26, 2023
Read More >
Understanding Monetary Policy: A Guide to Hawkish and Dovish Approaches

Familiarity with terminology used in financial markets is arguably highly important for those investing in financial products. This understanding can assist with both entry and exit decision-making in the context of an individual's risk profile and objectives.  Two terms that are often used to describe the overall position of a central bank are...

July 23, 2023
Read More >
FX Analysis – Treasury Yield surge Pushes USD Higher, AUD Outperforms on Hot Jobs Report

The US Dollar was firmer Thursday, continuing its bounce from extreme oversold levels, the DXY peaking at 100.97, just short of the major resistance at the big 101 figure. A much lower than expected initial jobless claims figure saw a jump in US treasury yields, propelling the USD higher with the DXY having it biggest up day since May. AUD w...

July 21, 2023
Read More >
Eyes on EURUSD going into European inflation data

After surging close to 4% since early July off the back of a weakening USD, the EURUSD pair has stabilised around $1.123. With very little volatility seen this week in the pair, eyes now turn to the euro, as the European inflation data is set to be released today. Analysts are predicting a continued downward trend in inflation, with a Year-on-Ye...

July 19, 2023
Read More >
The Economics of Currency Pegs: Stability vs. Risk

A currency peg is a policy in which a country's government or central bank fixes the exchange rate of its currency to the value of another currency or a basket of currencies. The pegged rate is enforced by the country's central bank, which will exchange currency at that rate. Commonly, countries that participate in this practice prefer to peg th...

July 17, 2023
Read More >
US Dollar analysis ahead of pivotal CPI reading

The US Dollar Index (DXY) has closed its fourth consecutive day in the red, reaching levels last seen in early May 2023. Despite the recent decline, the DXY is coming into support around the 100 level, which has proven to be a resilient bounce point multiple times. However, each bounce appears to be getting smaller, which might indicate growing ...

July 12, 2023
Read More >
FX Market analysis – USD lower ahead of key CPI figure, GBP breaks out on strong jobs data

USD was marginally lower in Tuesdays session ,  trading in a tight range amid thin newsflow and market participants awaiting the key June CPI reading released later today. After breaking the psychological 102 level in Mondays session, DXY tested a re-entry into the range but found the previous support at 102 acting as stiff resistance, seeing DXY ...

July 12, 2023
Read More >
Understanding the US Dollar Index

The U.S. Dollar Index (USDX, DXY, DX, or, informally termed “the Dixie") is a measure of the value of the United States dollar relative to a basket of foreign currencies. It is often used as an indicator of the overall strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar in the foreign exchange market.  Changes in the index value reflect shifts in the rel...

July 11, 2023
Read More >