The precious metal has been supported by speculation of a potential de-escalation in Middle East tensions.
At the same time, markets are also reacting to reports that the US and Japan could pursue coordinated currency intervention.
The US dollar recovered from earlier selling pressure amid lingering uncertainty over a rapid resolution to the Middle East conflict, alongside stronger-than-expected US economic data. ADP reported a 109K increase in private sector employment in April, marking the strongest reading since the beginning of 2025. The resilience in the labour market, combined with persistent inflation pressures, helped the DXY rebound 0.5% from its intraday lows, recovering roughly half of its earlier losses on Wednesday. However, the recovery proved short-lived.
Markets are also focused on renewed US–Iran diplomatic efforts, with talks expected to resume by 15 May. As often seen in geopolitics, markets tend to price in outcomes ahead of confirmation. Rumours of de-escalation initially pushed EUR/USD to its highest level since February near 1.1800, before subsequent uncertainty triggered a pullback.
At the same time, geopolitical risks are increasingly seen as more damaging for Europe than for the US. Additional pressure comes from renewed tariff threats by Donald Trump, including potential increases on European auto imports from 15% to 25%. Slowing growth combined with inflationary pressure from higher energy costs is raising stagflation concerns in the eurozone, forcing the ECB into a more cautious policy stance. Even if further rate hikes occur, they are expected to be limited, leaving interest rate differentials supportive of the US dollar and capping EUR/USD upside.
Beyond geopolitics, currency markets are also reacting to developments in Japan. While fundamentals favour a stronger US dollar versus the yen, any coordinated effort to weaken the dollar could impose significant strain on Tokyo. Discussions around possible joint intervention—drawing comparisons to the 1985 Plaza Accord—have resurfaced, with US officials expected to meet Japanese counterparts to discuss foreign exchange stability.
Meanwhile, gold has benefited from easing Middle East tensions, posting its strongest daily gain since late March. The metal is also supported by shifting inflation expectations following the decline in oil prices, which reduces the likelihood of aggressive Fed tightening into 2026. However, upcoming US data releases remain a key catalyst, and any downside surprise could provide fresh momentum for further upside in gold.
GBP/USD rose to 1.3599 on Thursday, with the pound briefly touching its strongest levels since mid-February. Sterling’s advance was supported by ongoing US dollar weakness, as demand for the greenback’s safe-haven status eased amid increasing optimism over a potential US–Iran agreement.
Axios reported that the White House is nearing a framework memorandum with Iran, which could open the door to ending the conflict and beginning nuclear negotiations. Tehran is expected to respond within 48 hours, though a final deal has not yet been reached.
Meanwhile, investors are watching UK local elections closely, with polling indicating potential setbacks for Keir Starmer’s party.
On the monetary policy side, expectations for the Bank of England have been adjusted, with markets now pricing in around 50 basis points of tightening by year-end—roughly two rate hikes—down from earlier expectations of up to three increases.
Market technical review
On the H4 timeframe, GBP/USD is moving within a wide consolidation band above 1.3515, with price action currently stretching toward 1.3650. A pullback toward 1.3344 is still on the table before any further range-bound movement resumes. A decisive break to the upside would expose the 1.3650 area again, while a break lower could accelerate declines toward 1.3344. The MACD also aligns with this outlook, as the signal line remains above the zero line but is turning downward, suggesting weakening bullish momentum.
On the H1 timeframe, GBP/USD is consolidating in a tight range around 1.3615. Price has recently extended lower toward 1.3578 and is now attempting a recovery back to 1.3615 for a potential retest from below. This rebound may be short-lived, with a further decline toward 1.3565 still likely. The Stochastic oscillator supports this bearish short-term bias, with the signal line below 50 and trending down toward 20, indicating rising downside pressure.
Conclusion
The pound continues to find support from improved global risk sentiment and weaker demand for the US dollar as a safe-haven asset. However, ongoing political uncertainty in the UK, along with evolving expectations for Bank of England policy, may cap further gains. In the near term, GBP/USD is expected to remain highly reactive to geopolitical developments and shifts in broader market sentiment.
USD/JPY slips toward 156.85 in Friday’s Asian session, pressured by renewed reports of Japanese FX intervention during the May holidays. Market attention now shifts to the US April employment report, which is expected to be the key macro driver for the session.
USD/JPY weakened to around 156.85 during Friday’s Asian session as the Japanese yen gained strength after reports of another round of FX intervention by Japanese authorities. Traders also turned cautious ahead of the upcoming US April employment data.
According to Reuters, citing a familiar source, Japanese officials reportedly intervened in the FX market during the early May holiday period, following yen-buying operations on April 30. The source noted that “the intervention since the start of May was timed to coincide with the holiday period, when market liquidity was thin.”
Expectations of further intervention may continue to support the yen and weigh on USD/JPY. Japan’s top foreign exchange official Atsushi Mimura also stated on Thursday that authorities stand ready to respond to speculative currency moves across all fronts.
Attention now shifts to the US April jobs report, due later on Friday. Markets expect around 62,000 new jobs, a notable slowdown from March’s 178,000 increase, while the unemployment rate is forecast to remain unchanged at 4.3%.
Silver extends its rally for a third consecutive session and stays poised to post weekly gains.
The broader technical outlook continues to support bullish momentum and suggests further upside potential.
Any notable pullback is likely to attract dip buyers and could remain relatively limited.
Silver (XAG/USD) rebounds after an Asian-session dip below $78.00, reversing part of the previous session’s late decline from a near three-week peak. The metal regains the $80.00 psychological level and remains set for strong weekly gains.
From a technical standpoint, the bias stays constructive as price holds above the 100-period SMA and has recovered the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the March decline. Momentum signals also support the bullish view, with RSI near 68 and MACD remaining above the zero line—indicating buyers still dominate despite emerging overbought conditions.
That said, a sustained break above the 61.8% Fibonacci level and a move beyond $83.00 would be needed to confirm the next leg higher. If achieved, upside targets shift toward the 78.6% retracement near $88.83 and the previous swing high around $96.44.
On the downside, initial support sits at $78.66 (50% retracement), followed by the 100-period SMA near $76.26 and the 38.2% level around $74.47, where dip-buying interest may re-emerge before the broader uptrend is challenged.
Nonfarm Payrolls are forecast to increase by 62K in April, while the Unemployment Rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.3%. The USD could face elevated volatility ahead of the weekend.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the April Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report on Friday at 12:30 GMT, with markets closely watching the data for clues on the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate path later this year.
Economists expect the US economy to add 62K jobs in April, a sharp slowdown from March’s stronger-than-expected 178K gain. The Unemployment Rate is forecast to remain steady at 4.3%, while annual wage growth, measured by Average Hourly Earnings, is seen accelerating to 3.8% from 3.5%.
Analysts at TD Securities expect signs of stabilization in the labor market after several volatile months. They forecast payroll growth of around 80K, driven mainly by hiring in healthcare and leisure & hospitality, while government employment may decline slightly. They also expect monthly wage growth to stay modest at 0.2%.
Additional labor indicators released earlier this week painted a mixed picture. ADP reported that private-sector employment rose by 109K in April, improving from March’s revised 61K increase. Meanwhile, the Employment Index in the Institute for Supply Management Services PMI climbed to 48 from 45.2, signaling that service-sector hiring is still contracting, though at a slower pace.
What impact will the US March Nonfarm Payrolls have on EUR/USD?
EUR/USD is likely to remain highly sensitive to the upcoming US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, as investors reassess the outlook for the Federal Reserve and the broader direction of the US Dollar.
Despite the Fed’s relatively hawkish April meeting, the USD has struggled to gain traction amid improving global risk sentiment and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell reinforced a data-dependent approach, while Austan Goolsbee acknowledged that labor market conditions have softened, even if they remain broadly stable.
Markets currently expect the Fed to keep rates unchanged through the end of 2026, though traders still see some probability of either a rate hike or cut depending on incoming data. A weak NFP reading — particularly below 30K alongside a higher Unemployment Rate — could strengthen expectations for rate cuts later this year. In that scenario, the USD may weaken further, allowing EUR/USD to extend gains.
On the other hand, a stronger-than-expected payrolls figure could reduce expectations for monetary easing and help the USD stabilize. This would likely cap EUR/USD upside, although a sustained dollar rally may remain limited if risk appetite stays strong heading into the weekend.
From a technical perspective, FXStreet analyst Eren Sengezer notes that EUR/USD maintains a bullish near-term bias. The pair continues to trade above its 100-day and 200-day Simple Moving Averages, while the Relative Strength Index trends toward bullish territory.
Key resistance is seen around 1.1800–1.1810, followed by 1.1900–1.1910 and the psychological 1.2000 level. On the downside, major support stands in the 1.1710–1.1680 zone, with further downside targets at 1.1650 and 1.1560 if selling pressure intensifies.
The conclusion of Operation Epic Fury is lifting risk sentiment.
Japan is expected to keep cracking down on speculators.
The US Dollar weakened after the White House announced the end of the two-month “Operation Epic Fury” and highlighted progress in talks with Iran. Markets are interpreting the developments as a sign of easing tensions in the Middle East, triggering a selloff in Brent crude and pushing the dollar index back toward two-month lows amid improving risk sentiment.
The more optimistic backdrop could support further gains in EUR/USD, though much will depend on how quickly oil prices decline. Damage to energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf is expected to keep Brent and WTI well above the $65–70 range seen before the conflict erupted, maintaining underlying inflationary pressure.
US services PMI data continues to point to the strongest price pressures since 2022, while futures markets are increasingly pricing in the possibility of additional Fed tightening. That complicates any effort by Kevin Warsh to deliver the aggressive policy easing sought by Donald Trump. For now, however, traders remain focused almost entirely on developments in the Middle East.
The prospect of a ceasefire has already lifted EUR/USD toward 1.1760, and the pair could extend gains if de-escalation continues. On the other hand, a collapse in negotiations or renewed friction between the US and Iran would likely trigger a reversal, especially as Washington continues expanding its military presence in the Persian Gulf despite softer rhetoric.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s sharp drop in USD/JPY has fuelled speculation that Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market again. Tokyo appears determined to discourage speculative dollar buying during periods of USD weakness.
Gold has also surged more than 3% on hopes of easing geopolitical tensions, climbing above $4,700. Lower oil prices reduce the risk of persistent inflation and lessen pressure on central banks to tighten policy further, potentially reviving demand for gold as a debasement hedge.
Huge swings across USD/Asia as Japan’s MOF keeps intervening in USD/JPY, while Axios continues to publish reports pointing to progress on an Iran deal. It’s difficult not to view the headlines with some skepticism, but markets react sharply to every update, making them impossible to ignore. Regardless of how the probabilities around an Iran resolution are assessed, the market response has been so significant that questioning the credibility of the news flow becomes secondary.
My long USD/CHF position has taken a heavy hit as the US Dollar tumbles alongside a sharp decline in oil prices. USO, the oil ETF, is down 11% today after Monday’s attacks on the UAE had traders positioned for a bullish breakout in crude that ultimately never materialized.
There still appears to be plenty of downside room before crude finds meaningful support. I’m using USO as the reference here, though the broader oil futures curve shows a very similar setup. Fresh optimism over a potential end to active conflict in the Middle East has fueled another rally in AI capex-related names, though it hasn’t translated into stronger USD demand as Japan’s MOF remains active and concerns over stagflation-driven rate hikes from the ECB and other central banks continue to ease.
Apparently, the launch of the DRAM ETF was not the top for memory stocks after all.
SanDisk has now turned into a 35-bagger over the past year, soaring from $40 to $1,400 in just 12 months.
USD/JPY
Interesting setup in USD/JPY. My initial strategy — selling into the 157.19–157.94 area in anticipation of MOF-driven upside exhaustion — turned out to be the correct call, but I got thrown off by a competing view that nonfarm payrolls would likely surprise to the upside. In hindsight, that was probably something to focus on Thursday rather than Monday. The chart still shows the former major low zone around 157.30–157.80 acting as resistance, and the repeated interventions suggest the MOF is serious about defending the area.
Here’s the 5-minute chart. It’s hard to say with certainty that every sharp drop was driven by the MOF, but several of them likely were.
I’m staying on the sidelines for now. Going long here makes little sense regardless of one’s NFP outlook, while shorting at the bottom of the range is equally unattractive. At this point, the MOF simply needs to keep hovering above 157.50 while hoping for lower yields and softer oil prices.
With the VIX sitting at 16.4 and oil down 10%, the hawkish Trump mean-reversion trade — long oil and long USD — probably offers positive expected value. The problem is that there’s still no concrete timeline attached to the latest “deal” or MOU narrative, making risk management on long oil positions extremely difficult.
In hindsight, I was too focused on NFP too early, if it even deserved attention at all in this environment. With oil and MOF activity overwhelmingly driving FX flows, concentrating on payrolls four days ahead of the release now feels misplaced.
Extend this analysis
In recent weeks, a 50/50 barbell trade pairing semiconductors and oil has gained traction, with several bank strategists and Substack writers pitching it as a modern alternative to the traditional 60/40 stocks-and-bonds risk parity framework. In hindsight, the trade has delivered exceptional performance and offers some attractive characteristics: it largely sidesteps direct exposure to the U.S. consumer while remaining relatively resilient to stagflation pressures and tightening financial conditions.
That said, assuming the strategy will continue to work simply because it has worked recently feels like a dangerous exercise in extrapolation. Much of the enthusiasm may reflect performance chasing rather than a durable structural edge.
The following charts take a simplified approach by comparing a portfolio of 100*XLE + SOX against the Advance Research Risk Parity Index (RPARTR). I chose this particular risk parity benchmark because its data extends back to 1998, though using more sophisticated methodologies would likely produce a broadly similar picture.
The SOX+XLE barbell began outperforming after Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine and continued to hold up even as oil prices eased post-Ukraine, largely because ChatGPT accelerated the AI capex boom. Still, after two wars and three years of markets pricing in the LLM theme, it’s difficult to argue that the trade still offers especially attractive risk/reward. Time will tell.
Traditional risk parity, meanwhile, outperformed across nearly every longer-term horizon except the past few years. The chart on the right indexes both strategies to January 1999 = 1, while the second chart highlights the performance gap between the two indexed series.
Worth keeping in mind.
Closing thoughts
EUR/USD is basically trading like oil.
Check who took the mound for the Cardinals on May 3 — Dustin May, wearing No. 3.
USD/GBP has remained under pressure since early April, driven mainly by uncertainty among central banks over how the conflict in Iran could affect inflation and energy prices. On Thursday, April 30, a fresh batch of economic data reinforced the cautious stance adopted by both the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of England (BoE).
Over the past month, the pair has fallen 2.8%, with ongoing tensions in the Middle East continuing to fuel market volatility.
While recent inflation data from both the United States and the United Kingdom drew attention, markets remained focused on the broader energy risks linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a key factor behind the cautious outlook.
Energy driving USD/GBP
For currency traders, USD/GBP has increasingly behaved like a proxy for crude oil rather than reacting primarily to interest rate differentials, though energy market disruptions have also directly influenced monetary policy expectations on both sides of the Atlantic.
Over the past week, the pair has maintained a notably strong correlation with Brent crude, ranging between 0.96 and 0.97. In practical terms, this suggests that USD/GBP tends to rise alongside oil prices and fall when crude declines. Since correlations closer to 1 indicate an almost perfect relationship, the current pattern highlights the extent to which oil prices are steering movements in the pair.
Recent volatility in crude — which briefly surged nearly 7% to a four-year high of $126 per barrel — was largely triggered by reports that the US military was preparing to brief President Donald Trump on potential new actions involving Iran.
“We saw oil prices climb on fears over supply disruptions, making energy one of the few sectors to post gains,” Wealthify said in its monthly market summary. “Equity markets declined broadly, with losses across the US, Europe, the UK, and Asia, leaving investors with limited regional shelter.”
“The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged in March, but rising oil prices and inflation concerns cast uncertainty over future rate cuts, pressuring bond prices lower. In the UK, mounting inflationary pressures alongside a softer labour market strengthened expectations that the Bank of England may keep rates elevated for longer, with the possibility of another hike later this year.”
The connection between energy markets and USD/GBP has therefore become a dominant force shaping sentiment, often overshadowing corporate earnings and other macroeconomic drivers. At the same time, interest rate expectations themselves are increasingly being influenced by the Middle East conflict, with recent central bank guidance offering key clues about the future direction of both the US Dollar and the British Pound.
Rates fuel cautious optimism
Thursday, April 30, 2026, brought a wave of central bank updates with important implications for USD/GBP.
The Bank of England (BoE) began the day by keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, while warning that the conflict in Iran could eventually trigger further inflation pressures and potentially require additional rate hikes.
The decision to hold rates passed by an 8–1 vote, though policymakers signaled that future tightening remains possible, including the prospect of more aggressive increases if inflation risks intensify.
Meanwhile, the United States released its March Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index data. Headline inflation came in slightly below expectations at 3.5%, versus forecasts of 3.6% from economists.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the Federal Reserve’s preferred core inflation measure rose 3.2%, matching market expectations and once again underscoring the uncertain influence of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Additional US economic data released Thursday showed weekly jobless claims falling to 189,000 — the lowest level in more than 50 years — signaling ongoing resilience in the labor market and strengthening hopes for continued economic recovery.
While strong US labor data would normally support the Dollar against the Pound, expectations that the BoE may raise rates further are emerging as a key bullish factor for Sterling.
Markets now appear to be pricing in a more hawkish outlook for the UK, whereas sentiment in the United States is becoming comparatively more cautious despite elevated inflation linked to the Iran conflict. Although the Federal Reserve also left rates unchanged recently, several major financial institutions — including Capital One Financial, Synchrony Financial, and Marcus by Goldman Sachs — have already reduced yields on high-yield savings accounts.
These developments highlight growing differences in the monetary policy outlook between the two sides of the Atlantic, a divergence that forex traders are likely to monitor closely in the months ahead.
What’s next for USD/GBP?
The prospect of a more hawkish stance from the Bank of England, fueled by rising energy-driven inflation, could place further downward pressure on USD/GBP in the coming weeks. However, the key factor shaping the pair’s direction will remain developments surrounding the conflict in Iran and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
If the conflict drags on and keeps energy markets under strain, the BoE may be forced to respond with more aggressive rate hikes to contain inflationary pressures. In contrast, the Federal Reserve could continue facing political pressure from the US administration to lower interest rates, even as higher oil prices complicate the inflation outlook.
Against this backdrop of heightened volatility and uncertainty, a prolonged Middle East conflict could potentially drive USD/GBP toward the 0.71 level. At the same time, expectations for future US rate cuts may extend the Dollar’s broader long-term weakness against major global currencies.
WTI struggles to build on the previous day’s rebound from a more than two-week low as traders await further clarity on a potential US-Iran peace deal. A weaker US Dollar, however, helps cushion downside pressure on the commodity.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, trades sideways during Thursday’s Asian session after rebounding modestly from a more than two-week low below $87.00 in the previous session. The commodity hovers around the mid-$92.00s, down roughly 0.65% on the day, as traders weigh mixed market signals.
Oil prices remain pressured by optimism surrounding a possible US-Iran peace agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran was highly possible. However, losses are limited as investors continue to question the likelihood of a final agreement. Additional support for crude comes from a broadly weaker US Dollar, which tends to benefit dollar-denominated commodities.
Iranian state-linked media rejected reports suggesting a broader agreement had been reached, while the Iranian Students’ News Agency stated that the US proposal contains terms Tehran has already refused. The BBC also reported that Iran is still reviewing the US proposal aimed at ending the conflict and lifting the American blockade on Iranian ports. At the same time, Trump warned that Iran could face attacks “at a much higher level and intensity” if it refuses a peace deal.
On the macro side, the positive impact of the stronger-than-expected US ADP private employment report faded quickly as markets continued to scale back expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike in 2026. Softer hawkish expectations have kept the US Dollar under pressure after its rebound from a near three-week low, discouraging traders from making aggressive bearish bets on crude oil and prompting caution over further downside.
The US Dollar Index softens as optimism surrounding a potential US-Iran agreement dampens safe-haven demand. Lower oil prices are also easing inflation worries, reducing expectations that the Fed will maintain a hawkish stance for longer. Meanwhile, Fed official Austan Goolsbee cautioned that inflation has picked up since the conflict began, moving further away from the central bank’s 2% target.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against six major currencies, is stabilizing around 98.00 during Thursday’s Asian session after declining nearly 0.5% in the previous trading day.
The US Dollar remains under pressure as optimism over a possible US-Iran agreement reduces safe-haven demand. The prospect of easing tensions has driven oil prices sharply lower, helping to ease inflation concerns and diminishing expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain a hawkish policy stance for an extended period.
Still, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee warned that inflation has failed to continue moderating toward the Fed’s 2% target and has instead accelerated since the conflict started.
According to the BBC, Iran said on Wednesday that a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict is “still being considered,” despite growing speculation that both sides could be approaching a deal. Reports suggest Washington submitted a one-page memorandum of understanding that would gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease the US blockade on Iranian ports, while discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program would take place later. However, no final agreement has yet been reached.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump told CNBC that Iran would face bombing “at a much higher level” if it refuses to accept a peace deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump added that the US military operation known as “Operation Epic Fury” would end if Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed to.”
EUR/USD remains flat near 1.1750 as traders stay cautious over Iran’s response to the US peace proposal. Risk appetite continues to improve amid growing optimism surrounding a potential US-Iran agreement, while investors focus on upcoming remarks from ECB President Christine Lagarde and the US April Nonfarm Payrolls report for fresh market direction.
EUR/USD moves within a narrow range near 1.1750 in Thursday’s early European session as investors await Iran’s response to the US peace proposal, which includes restrictions on Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Market sentiment remains broadly positive after reports suggested the US and Iran are nearing a potential agreement. Although S&P 500 futures trade little changed in Europe, the index rallied nearly 1.5% in the previous session.
Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the Greenback against a basket of six major currencies, stays cautious around the 98.00 level.
Traders are now turning their attention to Friday’s key events, including remarks from ECB President Christine Lagarde and the US April Nonfarm Payrolls report. Both releases are expected to provide fresh signals on the future monetary policy paths of the ECB and the Federal Reserve.
EUR/USD: Technical outlook points to cautious consolidation
EUR/USD continues to consolidate near 1.1750 at the time of writing. The pair has hovered around the 20-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), currently at 1.1708, for nearly a month, signaling a lack of clear directional momentum.
Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains trapped within the 40.00–60.00 range, highlighting ongoing market indecision.
On the downside, immediate support is seen around the 20-day EMA at 1.1708. A daily close below this level could weaken the near-term bullish outlook and trigger a deeper correction towards the April 1 peak at 1.1627. On the upside, a breakout above the May 6 high of 1.1797 may pave the way for a move towards the April 17 high near 1.1850.
Gold draws buyers for a second consecutive session as optimism over a potential US–Iran peace agreement weakens the US dollar. Easing inflation concerns also dampen expectations of aggressive Fed tightening, supporting demand for the metal, while traders await the US ADP report for fresh direction ahead of Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls release.
Gold (XAU/USD) holds firm near a more-than-one-week high, staying above $4,650 as the European session begins on Wednesday. A broadly weaker US Dollar—pressured by growing optimism over a potential US–Iran peace agreement—has supported the metal’s rebound from Monday’s one-month low around $4,500. At the same time, falling crude oil prices are easing inflation concerns and reducing expectations of a more aggressive Federal Reserve, further boosting demand for the non-yielding asset for a second consecutive day.
On the geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary pause in “Project Freedom,” the military effort to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, to allow room for negotiations with Iran. He noted meaningful progress toward a comprehensive deal, echoing earlier remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the US is not seeking renewed escalation and that the ceasefire with Iran remains intact. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the conclusion of “Operation Epic Fury,” a joint US–Israel campaign launched on February 28.
These developments have strengthened expectations of a peace agreement that could end the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran and reopen the strategically crucial strait, lifting investor sentiment while weighing on the dollar’s appeal. Meanwhile, oil prices have dropped to a one-week low, helping to curb fears of rising inflation and allowing the Fed to maintain a more cautious policy stance. Still, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing in more than a 35% chance of a rate hike by year-end, which may limit further downside in the USD and cap gold’s near-term upside.
Given this backdrop, traders may wait for stronger follow-through buying before confirming that gold has formed a bottom near $4,500 and positioning for additional gains. Attention now turns to the US ADP private employment report later in the North American session, along with remarks from key FOMC officials and ongoing geopolitical updates. The primary focus, however, remains Friday’s closely watched US Nonfarm Payrolls report, which is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the near-term outlook for both the dollar and gold.
Gold H4
Gold bulls remain in control as long as prices hold above the 200-period SMA breakout level on the H4 chart. The metal’s solid rebound from the $4,500 region—near the 50% retracement of the March–April rally—combined with a move above $4,600, supports a bullish outlook. Prices are now approaching the 200-period SMA at $4,651.69, which serves as the next key resistance.
Momentum indicators reinforce the positive bias. The RSI sits around 59, suggesting steady strength without entering overbought territory, while the MACD histogram remains positive and continues to rise, pointing to building bullish momentum as gold tests overhead resistance.
On the downside, immediate support is located at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level around $4,588.83. Further declines could find buying interest near the 50% level at $4,495.62, followed by the 61.8% retracement around $4,402.41. A decisive break below this last level would invalidate the bullish setup and shift the near-term outlook back in favor of the bears.
MUFG’s Michael Wan says Brent crude has slipped below US$110 per barrel after President Trump halted a US-backed operation to assist vessels leaving the Strait of Hormuz, as negotiations with Iran continue. He emphasizes that disruptions in the Strait go beyond oil prices, potentially triggering wider shortages in products such as energy, petrochemicals, and fertilizers—placing import-reliant economies at greater risk.
Hormuz tensions pressure Brent Oil
“Brent crude dropped under US$110/bbl and the Dollar weakened after President Trump announced a pause in a US-led mission to help stranded ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, allowing time to see whether a deal with Iran to end the conflict can be reached.”
“More broadly, as we’ve noted over the past two months, the implications of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz extend beyond oil, raising the risk of shortages across a wide range of goods, including energy, petrochemicals, and fertilizers.”
“Countries that rely heavily on Middle Eastern oil, have limited ability to shift to domestic energy sources, and depend more on imported energy and food are generally more exposed to various risk scenarios.”
Commerzbank’s Antje Praefcke maintains that geopolitical tensions surrounding the Iran conflict continue to be the dominant force driving EUR/USD, overshadowing upcoming US indicators such as ADP and Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP). She highlights that recent US labor data has been inconsistent and is unlikely to meaningfully influence the dollar. As a result, EUR/USD is expected to remain within its recent range unless there is a clear escalation or easing of tensions in the Middle East, which is currently acting as a cap on major price movements.
Praefcke notes that attention will still turn to incoming US macro data, beginning with JOLTS job openings—which came in somewhat soft—followed by the ADP report and the official payrolls release. While a strong ADP reading might offer the dollar modest support, a weaker NFP figure could exert downward pressure.
However, given the recent volatility and lack of clear direction in employment data, she believes these figures will likely remain inconclusive. April job growth is expected to be moderate, suggesting little chance of a decisive signal emerging. Consequently, unless there are significant surprises, the data is unlikely to drive the USD in any meaningful way.
In her view, the broader narrative remains unchanged: until there are concrete signs of either de-escalation or escalation in the Middle East conflict, other factors—including US economic data—will take a back seat. Only a clear shift in the geopolitical backdrop is likely to push EUR/USD out of its established range.
Narrowing market breadth. Overextended positioning. The weakest seasonal stretch of the year. The most challenging phase of the political cycle. And a conflict with no clear end in sight. The ingredients for a market correction are piling up.
The S&P 500 notched another record high last week, yet the typical stock in the index remains about 13% below its 52-week peak. That gap isn’t trivial—it’s one of the clearest warning signs seen since the dot-com era, and it’s emerging at a particularly unfavorable time in the calendar. Correction risks are building, now layered with several forces that rarely align all at once.
Decades of observing market cycles suggest the most dangerous periods are when conditions appear stable on the surface but are weakening underneath. That’s the current setup. The risk of a summer correction isn’t tied to a single bearish signal, but to multiple red flags appearing simultaneously—and overlooking any one of them could prove costly.
Breadth Divergence Is at an Extreme
The current rally’s narrowness isn’t a matter of interpretation—it’s simply the math.
The S&P 500 has climbed about 14% from its late-March selloff to reach a new high near 7,125. But beneath the surface, the market tells a very different story. The equal-weight version of the index is actually down roughly 1% over the same stretch. Meanwhile, the “Magnificent Seven” have gained around 10%, and semiconductor stocks have surged close to 30%, leaving much of the broader market behind.
This level of dispersion has been rare since 1980. Analysts at Goldman Sachs recently highlighted that such weak breadth has often been followed by deeper-than-average declines over the next six to twelve months. They’re not alone in raising concerns. Hedge funds are heavily skewed toward momentum trades, with net positioning near multi-year highs, while overall leverage sits toward the top of its five-year range. When positioning becomes this crowded and leadership is so concentrated, any reversal tends to be abrupt rather than orderly.
While market breadth grabs the headlines, the underlying technical signals are just as concerning.
The 14-day relative strength index (RSI) on the S&P 500 has remained above 70 for much of the past three weeks—a level typically associated with overbought conditions. More importantly, a classic negative divergence has emerged: prices pushed to a new high last week, while RSI failed to confirm and instead formed a lower high.
This exact setup has appeared before at key turning points, including the January 2018 peak, the February 2020 top, and the late-2021 high—and in each case, the aftermath was far from benign.
The advance-decline line for the broader NYSE has started to roll over even as the index continues to push higher. At the same time, the share of S&P 500 stocks trading above their 200-day moving average has slipped to around 56%, despite the index itself setting new highs.
We saw a similar deterioration in breadth during a rising market just ahead of the “Liberation Day” selloff in 2025—a reminder that weakening participation beneath the surface often precedes sharper corrections.
The Volatility Index is hovering in the mid-teens, which might seem comforting—until you recall it sat around 12 in January 2020 and near 15 just before the market unraveled. Low realized volatility tends to foster complacency; complacency encourages leverage; and leverage, in turn, sets the stage for sharp unwinds. Right now, all three conditions are in place.
On their own, none of these indicators can precisely time a correction. But taken together, they point to a market that has largely exhausted its margin of safety.
As noted previously:
“Markets don’t typically unravel from euphoric peaks—they tend to break from periods of complacency. And right now, we’re looking at a complacent backdrop marked by weakening breadth, deteriorating technical signals, and the most unfavorable stretch of the seasonal calendar directly ahead.”
Summer Seasonality Is Real—And This Year Looks Even Tougher
The old “sell in May and go away” saying is often brushed off, usually by those who haven’t examined the historical data closely. But the numbers are hard to ignore.
Since 1950, the S&P 500 has delivered an average return of about 1.7% from May through October, compared to more than 7% during the November-to-April period. Much of that underperformance is concentrated in the summer months—June through September. More importantly, in years when the market enters May at or near record highs, the seasonal weakness has tended to be even more pronounced than the long-term average.
Statistical evidence reinforces the seasonal pattern: a $10,000 investment held from November through April has historically far outperformed the same capital deployed from May through October. Notably, the largest drawdowns also tend to cluster in the “Sell in May” window, with major market breaks occurring in October 1929, 1987, and 2008.
That said, seasonality isn’t a guarantee. There have been plenty of exceptions where markets rallied through the summer months. In 2020 and 2021, for instance, aggressive Federal Reserve support helped drive equities higher well beyond April. By contrast, April 2022 marked a sharp downturn as the Fed pivoted to an aggressive rate-hiking cycle the month prior, underscoring how macro policy can override typical seasonal trends.
To be clear, seasonality on its own isn’t a sell signal—it’s context, not a catalyst. But when a weak seasonal backdrop aligns with deteriorating breadth and crowded positioning, the market loses one of its key shock absorbers.
During the summer months, liquidity tends to thin out, trading volumes decline, and it takes less to move prices. With fewer buyers stepping in, even modest negative catalysts can trigger outsized volatility. That’s the environment the market now appears to be heading into.
Midterm Election Years Tend to Be the Most Volatile
One underappreciated reality is that midterm election years have historically been the weakest and most volatile phase of the four-year presidential cycle for equities.
On average, the S&P 500 posts its softest performance from May through October during these years, with larger drawdowns and a higher frequency of corrections compared to non-election periods.
Looking back to 1962, midterm election years have seen average peak intra-year drawdowns of around 17%—notably worse than the roughly 13% typical in other years. The most difficult stretch tends to fall between spring and autumn: from April through October, the S&P 500 has historically experienced an average peak-to-trough decline close to 19% in midterm cycles. Then, almost like clockwork, markets have often found a bottom in late October before staging a strong rebound into year-end and over the following year.
This pattern isn’t random. As November approaches, policy uncertainty ramps up. Companies grow more cautious in their guidance, while political maneuvering and fiscal debates dominate the narrative. Markets generally struggle with uncertainty, and few periods in the four-year cycle carry more of it than the months leading into midterm elections.
With roughly six months until the next vote, the combination of polling dynamics, policy ambiguity, and geopolitical tensions suggests a more contentious backdrop than usual. History indicates that this is precisely the window when correction risk tends to be at its highest.
Iran, Oil, and the Inflation Pipeline
The market has, so far, managed to compartmentalize the conflict in the Persian Gulf—but that kind of detachment rarely lasts indefinitely.
Brent crude is trading above $109 per barrel, roughly 40% higher than before the conflict began. WTI has followed a similar path, hovering near $102. At the center of the risk is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that handles about 20% of global oil supply. Any escalation that seriously disrupts this passage would represent a step-change risk for energy prices.
Up to this point, markets have absorbed the impact of higher oil without major disruption. But that resilience has limits. The longer energy prices stay elevated, the more pressure builds across the inflation pipeline, eventually feeding into broader economic and market stress.
As noted in Bull Bear Report: “The duration of the conflict—specifically how quickly the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal shipping conditions—is the single most important variable for downstream economic and market outcomes. From there, we frame three potential scenarios…”
The risk intensifies over time because energy prices transmit into inflation more directly than almost any other input. A sustained $10 rise in oil typically lifts headline CPI by about 0.2–0.3 percentage points within a few months. Shortly after, some of that pressure filters into core inflation as higher transportation costs ripple through the pricing of goods.
That dynamic helps explain why the Federal Reserve has remained cautious about cutting rates. If tensions escalate further and oil climbs toward $130 or even $140, the argument for easing this year likely disappears—and the possibility of renewed rate hikes could come back into focus.
That scenario isn’t reflected in current pricing. Equity valuations are still built on the expectation that inflation will continue to ease and that the Fed will begin cutting rates later this year. Remove those assumptions, and the foundation under multiples weakens quickly—leaving valuations vulnerable to a sharp repricing.
Managing Market Correction Risk
The most credible counterargument is fairly simple. The surge in AI-driven capital expenditure represents one of the largest corporate spending cycles in decades. According to Q1 2026 GDP data, roughly 75% of overall growth was driven by capital investment, helping to offset softness in personal consumption—which itself makes up about 70% of the economy.
On top of that, hyperscaler earnings are still beating expectations. While narrow breadth is a concern, it doesn’t automatically require leaders to fall—there’s a plausible path where lagging sectors simply catch up instead. That’s a legitimate counterpoint, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
There’s a flaw in the “catch-up” argument. For laggards to close the gap, you need a supportive catalyst—and the current macro setup isn’t providing one. Consumer stocks, which carry the largest weight outside of tech, are directly pressured by elevated oil prices acting as a tax on disposable income. Industrials and materials depend on improving global growth, yet ongoing conflict is pulling in the opposite direction. Financials would benefit from a steeper yield curve and tighter credit spreads, neither of which are in place today. In short, a smooth rotation into laggards would require a macro improvement that doesn’t appear likely in the near term.
That said, narrow leadership can persist. Research from Goldman Sachs suggests the typical narrow-breadth phase lasts around three months, though extreme cases—like the late 1990s—can stretch much longer.
To be clear, this isn’t a call for an imminent crash. It’s a recognition that the ingredients for a sharp and disorderly drawdown are as aligned as they’ve been in quite some time—and they’re showing up during the least forgiving part of the seasonal calendar.
The response doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s about sticking to fundamentals and applying them with discipline.
None of these steps depend on calling the exact top, and they don’t require an outright bearish stance. They simply reflect an understanding that the current risk-reward balance is skewed unfavorably—and adjusting positioning with that reality in mind.
As noted earlier, markets rarely unravel from euphoric peaks—they tend to break from periods of complacency. That complacency is increasingly visible today, with weakening breadth, deteriorating technicals, the least favorable seasonal and political backdrop, and an active geopolitical conflict pushing energy prices to multi-year highs. Any one of these factors would be worth monitoring on its own. Taken together, they create one of the most elevated correction risk environments seen since early 2022, particularly heading into the November election window.
This isn’t a call to exit the market entirely, but it is a case for taking measured action now to reduce exposure to potential downside. Rebalancing portfolios, locking in gains, and modestly increasing cash positions are all ways to regain control on your own terms rather than reacting under pressure later.
It’s important to distinguish between elevated risk and certainty. None of this guarantees a correction. Markets can defy logic—rallies can extend, geopolitical tensions can ease quickly, and seasonal patterns can fail. But the real risk lies in inaction when the warning signs are this aligned.
If markets continue grinding higher into year-end, trimming risk may lead to a period of underperformance. That’s manageable. Performance gaps can be recovered over time with disciplined participation. Permanent capital loss is far harder to repair. A 30% decline requires a 43% rebound just to get back to even—and the deeper the drawdown, the steeper the climb.
That asymmetry should guide decision-making. Investors who endure across cycles aren’t those who capture every rally—they’re the ones who avoid being significantly impaired when conditions turn against them.
A $2 trillion IPO doesn’t emerge in isolation. Long before SpaceX lists on a public exchange, the technology stack behind its reusable rockets and AI-powered systems is already being built by a select group of publicly traded firms—and according to Dylan Jovine, founder of Behind the Markets, most investors are looking in the wrong place.
“SpaceX doesn’t exist without chips,” Jovine argues. The company’s ability to autonomously land rockets and expand its Starlink satellite network depends heavily on semiconductor technology—designed, fabricated, packaged, and delivered by companies investors can access right now.
Here are the five stocks Jovine sees as best positioned to gain from this trend.
Taiwan Semiconductor: The Foundry Powering Every Player on This List
No matter which company designs the next breakthrough in AI chips—whether it’s NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or even Elon Musk’s rumored AI5—Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is almost always the one that brings those designs to life in silicon.
Jovine calls TSMC the backbone of the entire AI chip ecosystem, a view reinforced by its latest earnings results.
“TSMC benefits regardless of who wins the chip race,” he notes. “They’re positioned to succeed across the board.”
The company commands a leading role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing—one that rivals, and in some respects even surpasses, SpaceX’s dominance in orbital launches.
That advantage only deepens as chip designs grow more complex. With next-generation GPUs, AI5, and emerging agentic AI processors demanding increasingly advanced fabrication, TSMC’s technological edge becomes more difficult—not easier—for competitors to match.
Intel: A CPU Revival the Market Is Only Beginning to Recognize
The rise of agentic AI—systems capable of taking action, not just generating responses—is quietly reshaping demand across the semiconductor landscape.
In the early phase of the AI boom, GPUs dominated, with roughly eight GPUs sold for every CPU. According to Jovine, that ratio has already tightened to around four-to-one, and Intel’s CEO has indicated it could eventually move closer to parity.
For Intel, whose core strength has long been CPU design, that shift represents a major tailwind. “It’s like a comeback story,” Jovine suggests, likening it to a powerful return rather than a fading legacy.
The stock has already begun to reflect this changing narrative, climbing more than 100% in the past month. Still, Jovine argues the opportunity is rooted in structural demand, not short-term hype. With the so-called “Magnificent Seven” expected to pour nearly $200 billion into AI infrastructure, the need for CPUs—especially for agentic workloads—is scaling faster than the industry was built to handle.
That gap between demand and supply is exactly where pricing power tends to emerge.
For those concerned about entering after a sharp rally, Jovine takes a balanced view: periods of consolidation are both natural and necessary. The broader trend, he believes, is still in its early stages.
AMD: Positioned to Capture Both Ends of the AI Boom
Advanced Micro Devices is benefiting from the same surge in CPU demand that’s boosting Intel, while also gaining from its exposure to GPUs.
The stock has jumped करीब 70% over the past month, fueled by the broader wave of enterprise spending on AI infrastructure.
Microsoft has indicated that around 90% of Fortune 500 companies are now exploring agentic AI solutions—and AMD plays a key role in enabling that shift.
The investment case is clear: as businesses push cloud providers to integrate more autonomous, agent-driven capabilities, that demand cascades down to chipmakers. AMD is right in the middle of that flow.
NVIDIA: “Cheap” on a Different Scale
It’s not a word most investors would use for NVIDIA—but Jovine does: cheap, at least in relative terms.
While Intel and AMD have surged on the CPU narrative, NVIDIA has been moving sideways, consolidating as it waits for the next phase of its growth story.
The initial GPU-driven rally may have cooled, but the rise of agentic AI is setting the stage for a fresh wave of demand in high-performance computing.
Jovine points to research suggesting a potential $24 trillion valuation for NVIDIA—a figure that naturally invites skepticism, yet is argued on the basis of the company’s dominant market position and exceptional pricing power in GPUs.
With the Magnificent Seven collectively committing massive capital to AI infrastructure, the question becomes less about if demand materializes and more about where that spending ultimately flows—and NVIDIA remains a primary destination.
Amkor Technology: The Overlooked Link in the Semiconductor Chain
The least recognizable name on the list may offer one of the more compelling opportunities.
Amkor Technology operates in semiconductor packaging—a segment that was historically viewed as a low-margin, commoditized business.
That perception is shifting. As chip architectures grow more complex, companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing are increasingly producing “chiplets”—modular components that must be precisely assembled before they can function as a complete system.
This is where Amkor comes in. Modern chip packaging now involves highly advanced processes, requiring precision engineering at microscopic scales. As complexity rises, so does the value—and strategic importance—of companies providing these services.
Jovine highlights a key signal: when TSMC built its major fabrication plant in Arizona, Amkor followed by establishing its own facility just seven miles away. That proximity isn’t accidental—it reflects a tightly linked supply chain, with Amkor’s performance increasingly tied to TSMC’s production volumes.
After rallying about 65%, the stock saw a modest pullback in late April. Jovine views this not as a red flag, but as a typical consolidation phase following a sharp repricing—suggesting the broader investment thesis remains intact.
AI Spending Keeps the Momentum Alive
SpaceX may be capturing the spotlight, but the real enablers are already trading in public markets. From chip design and fabrication to advanced packaging, the backbone supporting what could be the most anticipated IPO in history runs through these companies—and the Magnificent Seven’s record-level AI spending continues to reinforce that demand.
This trend has staying power. The cycle doesn’t fade until the capital behind it does.
As the U.S. conflict with Iran moves into its third month, markets have largely steadied following early fears of disruption to the energy sector and oil prices. Still, the evolving political landscape—including a ceasefire that has been in place since early April—continues to inject a high degree of uncertainty. Should the truce break down and tensions escalate again, investors could see renewed volatility.
One approach to navigating this uncertainty is through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which offer exposure to sectors that may benefit from shifting conditions. Below are two funds to consider, depending on whether your outlook on developments in the Middle East is more optimistic or cautious.
A Cost-Effective, Highly Liquid Way to Gain Crude Oil Exposure
The United States Oil Fund LP is among the most widely used exchange-traded products for investors seeking exposure to oil. Structured as a commodity pool, USO invests in oil futures contracts to mirror daily price movements of light, sweet crude—an oil type that dominates production in the U.S., making the fund closely linked to the domestic energy market.
USO carries an expense ratio of 0.60%, which is relatively low compared to many similar funds. It also stands out for its strong liquidity, with an average monthly trading volume exceeding 27 million shares. Although it isn’t the largest fund by assets—managing roughly $1.9 billion—it remains highly active in the market.
These characteristics make USO especially appealing for short-term traders. Its ability to capture near-term price swings in crude oil is a key advantage, though its reliance on futures contracts exposes it to contango, which can erode returns over time. As such, it may not be the best choice for long-term, buy-and-hold strategies tied to developments in the Iran conflict.
That said, if oil prices continue climbing—something that could happen if the ceasefire collapses and tensions escalate—USO offers a practical way for investors to capitalize on that upward movement.
An Airline-Focused ETF Positioned to Rebound if Fuel Markets Stabilize
Investors anticipating a de-escalation in geopolitical tensions may turn their attention to one of the sectors hit hardest by the conflict: aviation. Airlines have faced mounting challenges, from volatile jet fuel costs and supply constraints to disruptions in routes and operations driven by regional instability.
The U.S. Global Jets ETF tracks a basket of companies tied to the air travel industry, encompassing not just airlines but also firms involved in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, and related services.
While the fund has global exposure, it leans heavily toward U.S.-based companies and includes many of the world’s largest carriers. Major holdings such as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines together account for roughly one-third of its portfolio.
JETS stands out for its pure focus on aviation, unlike broader transportation ETFs. This specialization could make it particularly attractive to investors who expect improving diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran. However, its year-to-date performance—down around 8% in 2026—suggests that tensions have yet to ease meaningfully.
The fund carries an expense ratio comparable to that of USO and manages a relatively modest asset base of about $725 million, along with lower trading volumes—typical for a niche ETF. It also pays a dividend, though with a yield of roughly 0.5%, income generation is more of a secondary benefit than a primary draw.
More broadly, a sustained ceasefire or an end to the conflict could lift a range of ETFs. Industries with high sensitivity to oil prices would likely see the strongest upside. Even diversified funds focused on developed or emerging markets could benefit if key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz reopen and global trade flows return to normal, helping stabilize both energy markets and the wider economy.
WTI weakens as concerns over supply disruptions subside, with the US Navy taking steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Maersk reported that its US-flagged vehicle carrier, Alliance Fairfax, successfully transited the strait under US military escort.
Meanwhile, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on the UAE, and the US stated it had destroyed Iranian boats in the Hormuz region.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude edges slightly lower during Tuesday’s Asian session, hovering near $101.80 per barrel after posting modest gains a day earlier. Prices are under pressure as immediate supply disruption fears ease, with the United States Navy working to restore traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s attempted shutdown.
On Monday, Washington initiated a fresh operation to reopen the waterway, and Maersk later confirmed that its US-flagged vehicle carrier, Alliance Fairfax, successfully exited the strait under US military escort.
According to Reuters, Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, noted in an email that the incident demonstrates limited safe passage is still possible under current conditions, easing worst-case supply concerns. However, he cautioned that it appears to be an isolated case rather than a sign of a full reopening.
Even so, tensions remain elevated after Iran launched drone and missile strikes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). CNBC reported that the US also destroyed Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it targeted American ships protecting commercial traffic in the area.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz underscores the absence of a military solution to what he described as a political crisis. He added on X that as diplomatic efforts—supported by Pakistan—continue, the US should avoid being drawn deeper into conflict, warning that “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”
Gold edges higher with modest gains, but the broader fundamentals suggest caution for bullish traders.
Persistent inflation concerns are reinforcing expectations of more hawkish central bank policies, weighing on the metal.
Meanwhile, rising US-Iran tensions bolster the US dollar’s safe-haven appeal, adding further pressure on gold.
Gold (XAU/USD) picks up some buying interest during Tuesday’s Asian session, partially recovering from the previous day’s drop to around the $4,500 level—its lowest in over a month. However, the rebound lacks a clear fundamental driver and could fade quickly, suggesting traders should remain cautious before expecting any sustained upside. Ongoing US-Iran tensions continue to stoke inflation fears and reinforce expectations of higher interest rates, which, alongside a stronger US Dollar (USD), is likely to cap gains in the non-yielding metal.
The fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran appears close to breaking down after renewed violence in the Persian Gulf on Monday. Both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea reported attacks on vessels in the critical shipping lane, while the UAE confirmed a fire at the Fujairah oil port following Iranian missile and drone strikes. US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face devastating consequences if it targeted American ships escorting vessels through the region under the “Project Freedom” initiative.
These developments heighten the risk of further escalation in the Middle East, pushing crude oil prices higher and reinforcing concerns that rising energy costs could reignite inflation. This, in turn, strengthens expectations that major central banks—including the US Federal Reserve (Fed)—may adopt a more hawkish policy stance. Data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool now shows the probability of a Fed rate hike by year-end at around 35%, up sharply from below 10% last Friday.
The outlook supports higher US Treasury yields, which continue to underpin the USD. Additionally, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz further enhance the dollar’s appeal as a global reserve currency, adding to the bearish near-term outlook for gold. As a result, any upward moves in the metal are likely to attract selling interest, and traders may prefer to wait for stronger, sustained buying before concluding that gold has formed a bottom.
Gold (XAU/USD) 4-hour timeframe chart
Gold may find it difficult to build on its intraday gains given the prevailing bearish technical structure.
From a chart standpoint, XAU/USD continues to show a short-term negative bias as it remains below the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $4,655.02. The metal is also constrained by the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the March–April rally, keeping prices trapped beneath a strong resistance zone despite a slight rebound from the $4,500 region, which aligns with the 50% retracement level.
Momentum signals are still weak, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) staying below the neutral 50 mark at 39.84 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) lingering in negative territory. This suggests the current recovery attempt could lose steam near the 38.2% Fibonacci level at $4,595.23. Any further upside is likely to face resistance around the 200-period SMA at $4,655.02, followed by the 23.6% retracement at $4,711.12.
On the downside, immediate support is seen near the 50% retracement at $4,501.57, ahead of the 61.8% level at $4,407.90. If selling pressure intensifies, deeper support levels come into view at $4,274.55 and $4,104.68.
GBP/USD has come under selling pressure for a third consecutive session as renewed tensions between the US and Iran continue to support demand for the US Dollar.
Higher oil prices are stoking inflation concerns and reducing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, further strengthening the greenback. Meanwhile, the Bank of England’s relatively hawkish stance may provide some support to the pound, helping to cap deeper losses in the pair.
GBP/USD is extending its decline for a third consecutive day on Tuesday, though selling pressure remains limited as the pair holds above the key 1.3500 level during the Asian session. The mixed fundamental landscape suggests traders should be cautious about expecting a deeper pullback from last Friday’s peak around 1.3655–1.3660, the highest level since mid-February.
The US Dollar continues to benefit from safe-haven demand amid rising tensions between the US and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz, alongside reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026. This stronger USD is weighing on GBP/USD. However, the Bank of England’s comparatively hawkish stance offers support to the British Pound, helping to cushion further downside.
Recent developments have heightened geopolitical risks, including reports of an explosion on a South Korean-flagged vessel in the strait. Former US President Donald Trump warned of severe retaliation if Iran targets US ships, while Iran reportedly launched missile and drone attacks on the UAE following the US announcement of “Project Freedom” to assist stranded vessels.
These escalating tensions are pushing crude oil prices higher, stoking inflation concerns and reinforcing expectations of tighter monetary policy from major central banks, including the Fed. This dynamic continues to support the USD and pressure GBP/USD, although the BoE’s indication that further rate hikes may be needed if inflation persists should help stabilize the pair.
Looking ahead, traders will monitor Tuesday’s US data releases—including ISM Services PMI, JOLTS job openings, and new home sales—along with comments from FOMC officials for short-term direction. Still, attention is firmly on Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls report and ongoing geopolitical developments, both of which are likely to drive market volatility.
Salesforce, Adobe, and HubSpot have each experienced sharp year-to-date declines in their share prices.
However, despite the pullback, all three continue to deliver strong fundamentals, including double-digit revenue growth, industry-leading profit margins, and robust long-term earnings expansion forecasts.
The analysis below examines why these companies are increasingly viewed as “buy-the-dip” opportunities in the current market environment.
Software equities have come under heavy selling pressure in 2026, with many major enterprise software names falling sharply on worries about AI-driven disruption, lengthening sales cycles, and a broader shift away from high-growth tech.
Despite this backdrop, industry leaders like Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE), and HubSpot (NYSE:HUBS) continue to report strong operating performance while accelerating the monetization of AI capabilities.
As a result, these companies are now trading at multi-year low valuation multiples even as subscription revenues remain resilient and forward guidance is stable or improving. This disconnect is creating potential long-term entry opportunities for investors looking to accumulate high-quality growth names at discounted levels.
Salesforce (NYSE: CRM)
Year-to-Date Performance: -33.3% Current Price: $176.53 Fair Value Estimate: $282.84 (+60.2% upside) Market Cap: $144.4B
Salesforce has emerged as a notable laggard in 2026, with its share price down roughly one-third year-to-date amid broader software sector de-rating and concerns about moderating growth in its core business.
Even so, the company continues to demonstrate solid fundamentals, supported by AI-driven product enhancements and ongoing enterprise demand, which helps reinforce its long-term growth narrative despite near-term market weakness.
However, Salesforce’s AI initiatives—particularly Agentforce and its broader agentic AI suite—are beginning to show meaningful traction, with accelerating adoption and improving bookings momentum as enterprises integrate more autonomous workflow capabilities.
From a valuation standpoint, the stock now trades at levels well below its historical averages for a company of its scale and quality, which many analysts see as increasingly attractive. Salesforce is projected to deliver nearly 94.3% EPS growth, alongside an estimated 11.0% increase in revenue.
Wall Street consensus currently places a price target of $270.93, implying about 53.5% upside from current levels, while InvestingPro’s AI-driven models suggest roughly 60.2% upside, broadly aligning with a fair value estimate of $282.84.
With its next earnings report scheduled for June 3, 2026, Salesforce has an opportunity to reassert its leadership in both cloud software and AI-powered CRM solutions, potentially reinforcing investor confidence in its long-term growth trajectory.
Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE)
Year-to-Date Performance: -29.7% Current Price: $246.10 Fair Value Estimate: $398.38 (+60.1% upside) Market Cap: $99.5B
Adobe has also been heavily sold off, with shares down nearly 30% year-to-date and now trading well below its 52-week high of $422.95. The decline reflects broader pressure across software stocks as well as investor concerns around AI disruption and shifting creative software dynamics.
At the same time, Adobe continues to make meaningful progress in integrating AI into its creative suite, strengthening its positioning in generative tools and workflow automation. This innovation cycle helps support its long-term growth outlook despite near-term volatility.
The company recently delivered another earnings beat in March, with both EPS and revenue surpassing expectations, driven by continued strength in its subscription-based business model.
Looking ahead, Adobe’s earnings are forecast to grow by 40.1%, while its free cash flow yield stands at an attractive 7.2%, a level that compares favorably with most peers in the software sector.
Momentum in its AI strategy is also accelerating. Adoption of Firefly generative AI tools has been strong, with generative credit usage rising more than 45% sequentially. Firefly-related ARR increased 75% quarter-over-quarter, while AI-first applications have more than tripled year-over-year, underscoring rapid integration of AI across Adobe’s product ecosystem.
With a forward P/E of just 10.5x, Adobe is trading at a notably compressed valuation despite its continued earnings strength and expanding AI-driven product momentum. Against this backdrop, a fair value estimate of $398.38 implies roughly 60.1% upside from current levels, reinforcing the view that the market may have overcorrected on the stock’s recent weakness.
HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS)
Year-to-Date Performance: -44.7% Current Price: $221.76 Fair Value Estimate: $303.95 (+37.1% upside) Market Cap: $11.4B
HubSpot has been one of the hardest-hit names in the software sector, with shares declining nearly 45% year-to-date amid widespread weakness across high-growth SaaS stocks and ongoing concerns about slower enterprise spending. As a result, the stock now trades well below its 52-week high of $344.71.
Despite the sharp correction, HubSpot remains a standout in the small-to-mid-cap software space, with its pullback reflecting more of a sector-wide de-rating than a deterioration in its underlying business fundamentals.
This sharp sell-off contrasts with HubSpot’s “Strong Buy” consensus rating, which reflects continued confidence in its underlying business strength.
The company has maintained solid growth in its inbound marketing and sales platform, while expanding AI-driven capabilities that enhance customer acquisition, automation, and retention tools.
Recent earnings reports have consistently delivered upside surprises in both revenue and profitability, reinforcing the durability of its SaaS model even in a more cautious spending environment. Looking ahead, the upcoming Q1 2026 results (expected on May 7) are seen as an important catalyst that could further validate HubSpot’s long-term growth trajectory.
At current levels, HUBS appears undervalued based on AI-driven quantitative models from InvestingPro, suggesting a potential 37.1% upside toward its estimated fair value of $303.95 per share.
This gap between price and intrinsic value highlights a meaningful dislocation in the stock, especially when combined with HubSpot’s strong competitive positioning in inbound marketing software and its expanding suite of AI-enabled tools that enhance customer acquisition, engagement, and retention.
Taken together, its resilient growth profile, innovation pipeline, and discounted valuation support the view that HubSpot remains an attractive buy-the-dip opportunity within the broader software sector.
Bottom Line
What unites Salesforce (CRM), Adobe (ADBE), and HubSpot (HUBS) is not just the magnitude of their recent selloffs, but the growing disconnect between depressed share prices and still-strong underlying business fundamentals.
Despite short-term concerns around software demand cycles and AI disruption, each company continues to demonstrate durable growth, expanding AI capabilities, and resilient recurring revenue models.
Historically, periods of heavy pessimism in high-quality software names have often proven temporary. For long-term investors able to tolerate volatility, these pullbacks may represent a rare opportunity to accumulate leading SaaS platforms at discounted valuations.
The market’s attention this week will center on the U.S. jobs report, the ISM PMI survey, and a fresh wave of AI-driven tech earnings.
Palantir Technologies looks set to post striking growth, fueled by accelerating demand for its AI-powered platforms.
Meanwhile, The Walt Disney Company is under pressure as investors closely evaluate streaming profitability and trends in its theme park business.
U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting fresh record highs as investors weighed signs of progress in U.S.–Iran ceasefire talks, while a strong rally in Apple Inc. shares provided additional support.
For the week, the S&P 500 climbed 0.9%, while the Nasdaq Composite and the small-cap Russell 2000 gained 1.1% and 0.9%, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a more modest increase of about 0.5% over the same period.
Looking ahead, markets may see increased volatility as investors weigh the outlook for economic growth, inflation, interest rates, and corporate earnings amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
The key item on the economic calendar will be Friday’s U.S. employment report for April, which is expected to show job gains of around 73,000, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%. In the meantime, the ISM services PMI will also draw close attention as an indicator of economic activity.
That will be accompanied by a busy lineup of Federal Reserve speakers, with policymakers including Christopher Waller, John Williams, Michelle Bowman, Beth Hammack, Mary Daly, and Alberto Musalem all scheduled to speak publicly.
Elsewhere, earnings season remains in full swing, with more than 100 companies in the S&P 500 due to report results this week. Key names include Advanced Micro Devices, Palantir Technologies, CoreWeave, Arm Holdings, The Walt Disney Company, McDonald’s, and Uber Technologies.
They will be joined by other notable firms such as Shopify, PayPal, Coinbase, Pfizer, and Arista Networks.
Regardless of how the market moves, here’s one stock that could attract strong demand and another that may face renewed downside pressure. Keep in mind, this outlook is strictly for the week ahead, from Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8.
Stock to Buy: Palantir Technologies
Palantir stands out as a compelling buy ahead of its Q1 2026 earnings release, scheduled after Monday’s market close. The data analytics and AI platform firm continues to deliver rapid growth, fueled by strong demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and accelerating adoption across commercial clients.
Sentiment has been increasingly bullish in the run-up to earnings, with analysts steadily revising their forecasts higher. Notably, all 18 of the most recent estimate changes have been upward revisions, underscoring growing confidence in the company’s near-term performance.
In the options market, traders are pricing in a post-earnings move of roughly ±9.5%, pointing to expectations of elevated volatility following the report.
Analysts expect adjusted EPS to reach $0.28, marking a 115% year-over-year surge, with revenue estimated at about $1.54 billion, up 74% annually. Both U.S. commercial and government segments are projected to grow by more than 60%, driven by strong demand for Palantir’s AI solutions.
Although the stock has declined roughly 20% in 2026 due to sector rotation, Palantir has consistently outperformed expectations and lifted its guidance. Market speculation around a potential stock split is also drawing attention. With Wall Street holding a Moderate Buy rating and average price targets near $192, a solid earnings beat combined with upbeat updates on backlog and AIP momentum could spark a sharp recovery.
Palantir is currently consolidating within a clearly defined range, with key support coming from the SuperTrend indicator and the Ichimoku Kijun level around $139.48–$140. While MACD is showing signs of improving bullish momentum, the broader price structure still reflects a pattern of lower highs since the November peak.
This technical setup suggests that, barring a significant earnings disappointment, the stock could be positioned for an upside surprise and a momentum-led breakout.
Trade Setup:
Entry: ~$144.10
Target: $164.30 (≈ +14% upside)
Stop-loss: $139.00 (≈ -3.6% risk)
Stock to Sell: Disney
In contrast, Disney is being viewed as a potential sell or short ahead of its Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings, scheduled for Wednesday morning before the market open. Although the company benefits from a diversified business model spanning streaming, theme parks, and content production, its near-term outlook points to only moderate growth amid ongoing headwinds.
Sentiment has also turned more cautious going into the report, with all 19 recent analyst revisions moving downward. Meanwhile, the options market is currently pricing in an expected post-earnings move of about ±5.1% in the stock.
Consensus estimates point to earnings per share of $1.49, up 3.4% compared to the same period last year, with revenue expected to increase 5.1% year-over-year to $24.84 billion.
More importantly, investors will focus on three key drivers: streaming profitability, theme park performance, and broader macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures affecting discretionary spending.
The Burbank-based entertainment giant is also expected to issue relatively cautious forward guidance, reflecting ongoing challenges in the Disney+ segment as well as uncertainty tied to global conditions impacting its theme park operations.
Disney recently staged a V-shaped rebound from the $92.18 area, but the upside momentum is now showing signs of exhaustion. Despite the bounce, the broader trend remains under pressure, with the 150-day moving average near $109.65 and a strong volume-based resistance zone around $111.82 continuing to cap further gains.
From a technical standpoint, the structure still favors sellers in the near term, making Disney more of a sell or underweight candidate into earnings for short-term traders and risk-conscious investors.
Oil isn’t just climbing—it’s triggering a broad reset across global markets.
With crude pushing past $108 per barrel, fueled by escalating conflict involving Iran and a sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, this move goes far beyond a normal commodity rally. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through that corridor, and current restrictions are tightening supply significantly.
This is a geopolitical shock to the system—and for prop traders, it creates one of the most opportunity-rich, yet high-risk environments of the year.
Futures Traders: Volatility as an Advantage
For futures traders, this kind of price action is exactly what high-performance environments are built for.
Daily swings of 5–8% in oil open the door to:
Breakout trades
Momentum continuation setups
High-probability intraday opportunities
But this isn’t a clean, technical market—it’s driven by headlines.
What’s working:
Riding momentum rather than calling tops
Scaling into trades instead of going all-in
Locking in profits quickly
Common mistakes:
Excessive leverage
Ignoring geopolitical developments
Holding positions through major news events
Key takeaway:
With strict drawdown limits, the objective isn’t to capture the entire move—it’s to generate steady gains while staying within risk parameters.
Stock Traders: Track Capital Rotation
At $108 oil, sector rotation becomes one of the clearest themes in equities.
This isn’t about trading indices—it’s about identifying where money is flowing.
Clear divergence:
Outperformers: Energy producers, oil services, infrastructure
Bitcoin resumes its upward move on Monday following a brief pause last week.
Ethereum is nearing its 200-day EMA, and a strong close above this level could pave the way for further gains.
XRP trades close to the $1.40 resistance area, with a breakout potentially sparking a new rally.
Bitcoin (BTC) climbs on Monday, trading above $80,000 and continuing its uptrend after a short consolidation last week. Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) mirror BTC’s momentum, posting early-week gains as they approach key resistance levels, where a breakout could signal the start of another rally.
Bitcoin reaches the $80,000 milestone.
Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $80,161 on Monday, maintaining a bullish tone as it holds above a strong support zone formed by the 50% Fibonacci retracement at $78,962 and the 100-day EMA near $75,903. The 50-day EMA around $74,448 further supports the ongoing uptrend.
Momentum indicators remain positive, with the RSI near 66 in bullish territory and the MACD crossing higher into positive ground, signaling continued buying interest despite nearby resistance levels.
On the upside, immediate resistance is seen at the 200-day EMA around $81,912, followed by the 61.8% Fibonacci level at $83,437 and a key horizontal barrier near $84,410. A decisive close above this zone could pave the way for a move toward the January high around $97,924.
On the downside, initial support lies at the $80,000 psychological level, with stronger support at $78,962. A deeper correction could target the broader support area between the 100-day EMA at $75,903 and the previous channel top near $75,680, where buyers are likely to step in as long as the overall bullish structure remains intact.
Ethereum may extend gains with a confirmed close above the 50-day EMA
Ethereum (ETH) is trading around $2,370 on Monday, holding a constructive short-term outlook as price remains above both the 50-day EMA (~$2,256) and the 100-day EMA (~$2,344). However, it is now testing a key resistance zone, with the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $2,380 acting as the first barrier, while a stronger supply cluster sits near $2,575, where the 50% retracement and the 200-day EMA converge.
Momentum is gradually improving. The RSI is rising toward 58, indicating strengthening bullish momentum without being overbought, while the MACD remains negative but is trending higher, suggesting fading bearish pressure.
On the upside, a break and daily close above $2,380 would expose the critical $2,575 confluence zone. Clearing this area decisively could open the path toward the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement at $2,770.
On the downside, immediate support lies at the 100-day EMA ($2,344), followed by the 50-day EMA ($2,256). A deeper pullback could test the channel resistance-turned-support near $2,148 and the 23.6% retracement at $2,138. Only a move toward the lower channel boundary near $1,747 would begin to threaten the broader bullish structure.
XRP tests key resistance near $1.40
XRP is trading around $1.41 on Monday, hovering just above the 50-day EMA at $1.40, which provides immediate support. However, it remains below the 100-day EMA near $1.50 and the upper boundary of a broader descending channel around $1.54, keeping the medium-term outlook constrained.
Momentum is modest. The RSI sits near 53, indicating mild bullish pressure without being overextended, while the MACD has dipped slightly into negative territory, suggesting that upward momentum may be losing strength as price consolidates.
On the upside, resistance is seen first at the 100-day EMA (~$1.50), followed by the channel ceiling near $1.55. A sustained breakout above this zone would be required to target the 200-day EMA at $1.74 and the longer-term resistance around $1.90.
On the downside, initial support lies at the 50-day EMA ($1.40), followed by a stronger floor at $1.30. If selling pressure intensifies, the lower boundary of the channel near $0.73 could come into focus as a major structural support level.
The US Dollar Index trades steadily near 98.20 during Monday’s early Asian session. Donald Trump stated that the United States will assist vessels in exiting the Strait, while traders turn their focus to the upcoming US April employment report scheduled for release on Friday.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the US Dollar against a basket of six major currencies, is hovering around 98.20 during Monday’s Asian session. It remains relatively stable as market participants evaluate ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump announced that starting Monday, the US will assist neutral vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf by escorting them through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Bloomberg, US Navy ships will remain on standby to deter potential Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the area.
Meanwhile, an Iranian official cautioned that any US involvement in the Strait would be viewed as a breach of the ceasefire, emphasizing that the Persian Gulf is not a place for political posturing. Traders are keeping a close watch on developments in the region, particularly any continuation of the Hormuz blockade. Escalating tensions could support the US Dollar due to its safe-haven appeal.
Attention will also turn to the upcoming US April employment report, scheduled for release on Friday. Job growth is forecast at 73,000, while the unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.3%. A weaker-than-anticipated report could weigh on the DXY in the short term.
The NASDAQ 100 has delivered another strong week, but the key question now is whether it can sustain further upside momentum. Despite the gains, the market remains highly volatile and choppy, making it difficult to confidently chase prices at these elevated levels.
I believe dips will present buying opportunities that many traders will look to capitalize on, but for now, patience is essential. When a market is this strongly bullish, it can be challenging to navigate effectively.
USD/JPY
The US dollar dropped sharply against the Japanese yen on Thursday amid intervention, but overall, the market likely needs to stabilize before traders feel confident enough to start buying the dollar again.
Ultimately, the Japanese central bank has limited ability to keep the yen stable. Japan’s heavy debt burden makes it extremely difficult to sustain higher interest rates. As a result, I expect the market to reverse course and move back toward previous highs.
EUR/USD
The euro dipped early on, then rebounded, but ultimately surrendered much of its gains by the end of the week, reflecting ongoing choppy and erratic price action.
Given this setup, it appears that the 1.18 level marks the start of a significant resistance zone, likely extending up to around 1.1850. On the downside, the 1.1650 level remains a key area to watch, with a break below potentially opening the door toward 1.15.
BTC/USD
Bitcoin initially declined during the week but later rebounded, showing signs of recovery. As a result, the formation of a weekly hammer isn’t particularly surprising, given the strong resilience the market has consistently demonstrated.
It has climbed for most of the conflict, which is likely the first clear indication that something meaningful is happening beneath the surface. Bitcoin now appears to be targeting the $84,000 level, though reaching it will likely be a tough battle rather than an immediate move.
USD/CAD
The US dollar has traded in a choppy manner against the Canadian dollar this week, remaining within a well-established range. The 1.35 level continues to act as support, while the 1.3750 level serves as resistance above.
Friday saw a modest rebound from the lower end of the range, reinforcing the idea that “buy the dip” behavior may continue—at least until price breaks above the 1.3750 level. If that resistance is cleared, the upside could accelerate significantly, potentially pushing toward 1.40 over time, though such a move is unlikely to happen quickly.
Gold
Gold initially declined during the week, attempted a rebound, but then pulled back again. Overall, the $4,600 level appears to be a key area that traders will continue to watch closely.
This level has repeatedly proven significant in the past, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. That said, a break below the week’s low could open the door for a move down toward the $4,200 level.
Crude Oil
Crude oil has been highly volatile again this week, with markets remaining broadly noisy and unpredictable. Prices are largely being driven by the latest headlines from the Middle East, Washington D.C., and Tehran, leaving the market heavily influenced by geopolitical developments.
Given the situation, it’s nearly impossible to analyze or predict the next move in such a chaotic environment. Over the longer term, however, the only clear takeaway is that prices are likely to maintain a higher floor than they have in the past.
GBP/USD
The British pound showed strength for most of the week, though a late pullback has raised doubts about how sustainable the rally may be.
Given enough time, the market will likely make another attempt to reach the 1.37 level, though it may take a while to get there. After all, this has been a significant level over the past several months.
Is Bitcoin’s legendary boom-and-bust cycle truly breaking down, or are traders simply misinterpreting recent price action? After rallying to around $126,000 and then plunging nearly 50% within months, Bitcoin is putting one of its most enduring narratives—the four-year cycle—under serious scrutiny.
From 2024 to 2025, claims that “the four-year cycle is dead” spread widely across crypto circles as Bitcoin repeatedly set new all-time highs, peaking near $126,000 in October. Prominent voices like Bitwise’s Matt Hougan and ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood supported this view, pointing to shifting market dynamics such as spot BTC ETFs, evolving regulation, and increasing institutional and government participation.
Yet after the roughly 50% correction over the past six months, many who dismissed the cycle have reversed course, once again favoring the traditional pattern. Still, the question remains: what if the original argument—that the cycle is changing—was right all along?
The four-year cycle, explained
Bitcoin has historically moved in a repeating four-year rhythm, closely tied to its halving events. These cycles typically feature major bull market peaks and deep bear market bottoms spaced about four years apart. This pattern can be seen in Bitcoin’s record highs in November 2013, December 2017, November 2021, and October 2025—each occurring in the period following a halving.
A halving cuts the rate of new Bitcoin issuance by 50% roughly every four years, tightening supply and often fueling upward price momentum.
On the downside, Bitcoin has also followed a consistent pattern of steep corrections, with bear market lows marked by drawdowns of around 80% from prior highs—seen in January 2015, December 2018, and November 2022.
More recently, Bitcoin appears to be echoing this behavior, dropping about 50% from its $126,000 peak in October to around $63,000 by February. However, this could be one of the final instances where the market adheres so closely to the traditional four-year cycle.
Why calling the death of the four-year cycle in 2024 may have been premature
One of the main arguments for declaring the cycle “dead” was Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high before the April 2024 halving. This early surge was largely driven by strong inflows into newly launched spot BTC ETFs, which boosted demand ahead of schedule.
In previous cycles, Bitcoin typically set fresh record highs 16–18 months after a halving—not before it. So this unusual timing led many to believe that the traditional pattern had broken.
However, rather than signaling the end of the cycle, this shift may simply reflect front-loaded demand. The ETFs and rising institutional participation could have pulled forward the bullish phase, compressing or reshaping the cycle instead of eliminating it altogether.
Some argued that the arrival of traditional finance (TradFi) players via ETFs introduced entirely new market dynamics, since these participants don’t behave like native crypto investors. While there’s some truth to that, the argument overlooks a core driver of price action: supply and demand.
By the time ETF investors entered in January 2024, Bitcoin had already gone through about a year of bear market consolidation. During that phase, native crypto participants—long-time cycle followers, including whales and retail investors—had accumulated significant amounts of BTC, effectively becoming long-term holders (LTHs).
Sticking to the traditional cycle playbook, many of these holders maintained their positions, taking only partial profits, until around Q3 2025. This timing aligned with their expectations of a cycle peak. As a result, LTHs began distributing more heavily leading up to the final top on October 10.
In the months afterward, their holdings dropped sharply, with LTH supply falling to around 13.6 million BTC by December—the lowest level since 2021.
On the surface, the heavy distribution by long-term holders—combined with Bitcoin’s roughly 50% price drop—seemed to validate the familiar four-year cycle. However, it may instead signal a turning point, marking the beginning of that cycle’s breakdown and the rise of a new market structure.
Four-year cycle relevance may diminish over time
The current market reset suggests a gradual shift in Bitcoin ownership—from traditional cycle-driven participants to institutional players such as ETF investors and corporate treasuries like Strategy.
In just the past two months, US spot BTC ETFs have recorded net inflows of about $3.75 billion, while Strategy alone has accumulated over 100,000 BTC since the start of the year. The entrance of major financial institutions—highlighted by Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF launch in April—further signals that larger, more traditional players are taking a growing role in the market.
If this trend continues, and many crypto-native investors remain on the sidelines, the influence of the classic four-year cycle could steadily weaken. Price behavior already hints at this shift: the recent ~50% decline from Bitcoin’s all-time high is notably milder than the historical average of around 80% in past bear markets. If Bitcoin holds above $60,000, this would mark the shallowest drawdown in its history.
At the same time, halvings may carry less weight going forward. As Bitcoin’s total supply approaches its 21 million cap—with over 20 million already in circulation—the impact of reduced issuance naturally diminishes due to the law of diminishing returns.
As the market matures and institutional participation deepens, these structural changes could accelerate, pushing crypto-native investors to adapt their strategies to a new, less cycle-dependent environment.
Still, there’s room for error
To play devil’s advocate for the four-year cycle, recent behavior from ETF investors suggests the pattern may not be entirely gone.
Many ETF participants appeared to follow a familiar cycle-driven approach last year: strong inflows helped push Bitcoin to new all-time highs, but were later followed by significant outflows as investors rushed to lock in profits or limit losses after the October leverage flush.
This behavior mirrors the classic boom-and-bust rhythm seen in previous cycles, indicating that even newer institutional players may still be influenced—at least partially—by the same psychological and market forces that have historically shaped Bitcoin’s price action.
ETF investors, having now experienced a full boom-and-bust phase, may start factoring the four-year cycle into their strategies—potentially reinforcing it as a self-fulfilling pattern, much like crypto-native investors have done in the past.
At the same time, the true motivation behind ETF demand remains unclear. Unlike corporate holders such as Strategy, which openly embrace a long-term HODL approach, ETF investors represent a broad and diverse group with varying objectives.
Some may be drawn to Bitcoin as a store of value, others may be actively trading the familiar four-year cycle, and some—particularly hedge funds—could be exploiting arbitrage opportunities like the basis trade. This diversity makes it difficult to predict how their collective behavior will shape future market cycles.
So, is the four-year cycle dead?
A more balanced view is that Bitcoin’s cycle may weaken structurally, but still persist behaviorally. Going forward, price dynamics will likely depend less on halvings and more on how institutional capital chooses to act.
Bitcoin rebounds to trade above $76,000 on Friday after finding support near a key level the previous day.
Ethereum remains above its 50-day EMA at $2,244, signaling potential recovery momentum.
Meanwhile, XRP continues its decline after dropping below the key 50-day EMA at $1.41 earlier this week.
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are attempting a recovery on Friday after rebounding from key support levels in the previous session. In contrast, Ripple (XRP) remains under pressure, having slipped below a crucial support zone. Overall, price action across the three leading cryptocurrencies reflects a cautious market sentiment, as traders watch whether BTC and ETH can sustain their rebound while XRP continues to underperform.
Bitcoin is trading around $76,600 on Friday, posting a modest rebound after finding support near a key zone in the previous session. The near-term outlook remains slightly bullish, with price holding above both the 50-day and 100-day EMAs, clustered just below $75,700 and aligned with a former channel top that now acts as immediate support around $75,680.
Momentum indicators paint a mixed picture. The daily RSI near 56 points to steady but not overbought strength, while the MACD remains below the zero line, indicating that the broader momentum backdrop is still somewhat weak despite the recent upside.
On the downside, immediate support lies near $75,680 and the 100-day EMA at $75,665. A deeper pullback could find demand around the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $74,487 and the 50-day EMA near $73,783.
On the upside, resistance is first seen at the 50% retracement level of $78,962, followed by the key psychological barrier at $80,000. Beyond that, a stronger supply zone emerges between the 200-day EMA near $82,326 and the 61.8% retracement around $83,437, just below a horizontal cap at $84,410, which could limit further gains.
Ethereum’s 50-day EMA remains firm, providing solid support.
Ethereum is trading around $2,265 on Friday, holding just above its 50-day EMA at $2,244, though still facing resistance below the 100-day EMA at $2,344 and the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $2,367. This setup points to a neutral-to-slightly capped outlook, with price maintaining position above the former channel top at $2,148 but lacking the strength to push into higher resistance zones.
Momentum signals remain mixed. The daily RSI sits near 49, reflecting neutral conditions, while the MACD stays in negative territory, suggesting fading bullish momentum despite the short-term support holding.
On the downside, immediate support is located at the 50-day EMA around $2,244. Further support lies near the previous channel ceiling at $2,148 and the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement at $2,130. A break below this zone could expose the lower boundary of the channel near $1,747.
On the upside, resistance begins at the 100-day EMA at $2,344, followed by the 38.2% retracement at $2,367. A sustained breakout above these levels could pave the way toward the 50% retracement at $2,558, then the 200-day EMA at $2,613, with the 61.8% retracement at $2,749 as a longer-term target.
XRP price action remains weak, signaling continued bearish pressure.
XRP is trading around $1.37 on Friday, continuing to show near-term weakness as it remains within a broader descending channel and below all major EMAs. The 50-day EMA at $1.40 acts as the closest resistance, with additional barriers at the 100-day EMA near $1.51 and the channel top around $1.56.
Momentum remains soft, with the RSI near 44 staying below the neutral level, while the MACD continues to trend deeper into negative territory—indicating that any short-term rallies may struggle to gain traction under current conditions.
On the downside, immediate support is seen around $1.30, a level that has previously attracted buyers. If selling pressure intensifies, the broader channel support near $0.75 could come into focus.
On the upside, a daily close above the 50-day EMA at $1.40 would be an early sign of stabilization. Further resistance lies at $1.51 and $1.56, and only a sustained breakout above these levels would begin to weaken the prevailing bearish trend, with $1.90 as a more distant resistance target.
Gold trades in a tight range during the Asian session, struggling to extend the prior day’s gains. It holds above $4,600 but is still set for a second consecutive weekly loss. A steadier US Dollar, supported by geopolitical tensions from stalled US–Iran talks, along with the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance, continues to limit upside momentum.
Gold Technical Analysis
A push above $4,600 and the 100-hour Simple Moving Average (SMA) triggered some intraday short covering. However, the rally lost momentum before reaching $4,650, close to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the drop from April’s peak. At the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 58.33, indicating solid but not overbought conditions, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains slightly negative. Overall, momentum signals suggest that bullish pressure is present but still lacks strong conviction, even as prices stay above key short-term levels.
Given this setup, it may be wise to wait for a decisive break above the 38.2% Fibonacci level at $4,651.19 before expecting further upside from this week’s rebound off the $4,500 area, which marked a one-month low. If buyers gain traction, the next resistance could appear near the 50% retracement level at $4,696.20. On the downside, immediate support lies at the 100-hour SMA around $4,623.78. A drop below this level could open the door toward the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement at $4,595.49, with a deeper move potentially revisiting the broader swing low near $4,505.46 if selling pressure intensifies.
Fundamental Analysis
US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease the blockade while delaying nuclear negotiations. He stated that the US will maintain a naval blockade until Iran agrees to terms addressing concerns over its nuclear program, with reports also تشير to possible new US military strikes. These developments heighten fears of escalating tensions, supporting the US Dollar’s safe-haven appeal and weighing on Gold prices.
At the same time, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, with an unusually high level of dissent among policymakers. Recent US data showing rising inflation and continued economic strength reinforces expectations that rates could remain elevated into next year, further boosting the Dollar and pressuring Gold.
Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed the PCE Price Index rose 0.7% month-on-month in March, with annual inflation accelerating to 3.5%. Core PCE also increased to 3.2% year-on-year. Additionally, the US economy grew at a 2.0% annualized pace in Q1 2026, a notable improvement from the previous quarter.
However, expectations for at least one 25-basis-point rate cut in 2026 have risen modestly, limiting bullish momentum in the Dollar and helping Gold avoid deeper losses. Market attention now turns to upcoming US data, particularly the ISM Manufacturing PMI, along with ongoing developments in the Middle East, both of which are likely to drive near-term price action.
Microsoft (MSFT) reached a major all-time high of $555.45 on July 31, 2025, before entering a sharp correction that bottomed at $356.07 on March 28, 2026—identified as wave (II). Since then, the stock has begun advancing in wave (III), although a break above $555.45 is still needed to fully rule out the risk of a double correction. The rally from the wave (II) low formed a clear five-wave impulse, reinforcing the bullish outlook as long as price holds above that base.
From the March low, wave (1) peaked at $386.29, followed by a pullback in wave (2) to $367.05. Wave (3) then extended higher to $433.94, before wave (4) corrected to $404.61. The final push in wave (5) reached $445.24, completing wave ((1)). Currently, the stock is undergoing a pullback in wave ((2)), correcting the cycle from the March low.
This corrective phase is expected to unfold in either three or seven swings before the broader uptrend resumes. In the near term, as long as the pivot at $367.23 holds, dips are likely to attract buyers, supporting the case for continued upside within wave (III).
Bitcoin trades just above $76,000 on Friday, maintaining support near its 100-day EMA. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index remains stuck in a neutral-to-bearish zone, signaling subdued market sentiment. Meanwhile, Terra Classic and Zcash are finding it difficult to sustain Thursday’s gains, raising the risk of a potential bearish reversal.
Bitcoin (BTC) holds above $76,000 at the time of writing on Friday, remaining stable despite subdued broader market sentiment. Meanwhile, Terra Classic (LUNC) and Zcash (ZEC) are under pressure, struggling to maintain the gains recorded in the previous session.
Market sentiment tilts toward a bearish bias.
Market sentiment tilts bearish as CoinMarketCap’s Crypto Fear and Greed Index reads 41 on Friday, lingering near the line between neutral and fear, signaling that risk-off sentiment is increasingly taking hold among investors.
Bitcoin steadies at a key support level.
Bitcoin holds near a key support level, with the 100-day EMA around $75,719 halting its recent three-day pullback and maintaining a short-term upward bias. However, the MACD remains in negative territory below its signal line, indicating that bullish momentum may be transitioning into a corrective phase. Meanwhile, the RSI at 56 stays above the midpoint, supporting a constructive outlook without signaling overbought conditions.
A break below the 100-day EMA at $75,719 could expose the 50-day EMA near $73,786 as the next support level, while the ascending trendline around $68,707 represents a more distant structural base.
On the upside, the 200-day EMA at 82,494.55 stands as the next key resistance, and a sustained move above this level could pave the way for a fresh advance within the broader bullish trend.
Will Terra Luna and Zcash hold gains?
Terra Classic (LUNC) is trading above $0.000070 on Friday, maintaining its footing after a strong 5% rally in the previous session. The token continues to hold above its 50-, 100-, and 200-day EMAs, signaling a constructive short-term outlook.
However, momentum indicators suggest caution. The RSI is elevated near 79, deep in overbought territory, indicating that the recent upside may be stretched. At the same time, the MACD is flattening around the zero line, pointing to fading bullish momentum following the latest surge.
For now, LUNC faces clear resistance at the $0.000081 swing high. A failure to break above this level could lead to consolidation or a short-term pullback, especially given the overheated conditions.
On the downside, the 78.6% and 61.8% Fibonacci retracement levels at $0.000070 and $0.000062, respectively, act as key support zones for Terra Classic.
Meanwhile, Zcash trades below $350 on Friday, continuing to consolidate within a triangle pattern. Despite this, the broader outlook remains constructive, with price action holding firmly above the 50-, 100-, and 200-day EMAs clustered between roughly $285 and $307.
Zcash also stays above a rising support trendline near $322, indicating that buyers still dominate the medium-term structure. However, the MACD slipping below its signal line points to fading upside momentum, while the RSI at 56 keeps the bias modestly tilted to the upside.
On the upside, immediate resistance lies at the descending trendline around $357, where previous rallies have stalled. A decisive daily close above this level could trigger a stronger recovery, potentially targeting the $400 psychological level.
On the downside, initial support emerges at the rising trendline near $322, followed by the 50-day EMA around $307 and the 100-day EMA near $301. The 200-day EMA at $284 serves as a deeper and more critical support level should selling pressure intensify.
USD/CHF climbs as the US Dollar rebounds following the Fed’s decision to hold rates while signaling a more hawkish outlook. Morgan Stanley now anticipates no rate cuts this year, scrapping its previous expectations for reductions in September and December. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s March KOF Leading Indicator is due for release later in the day.
USD/CHF posts a third straight day of gains, hovering near 0.7920 in Thursday’s Asian session. The pair is supported by a rebound in the US Dollar, which remains firm after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged but adopted a more hawkish tone amid ongoing inflation concerns.
Morgan Stanley has revised its outlook, now expecting no Fed rate cuts this year, reversing earlier projections for two 25-basis-point reductions in September and December. The shift reflects persistent inflation and signs of continued economic strength.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 8–4 to keep rates within the 3.5%–3.75% range, marking the highest level of dissent since October 1992. Policymakers noted that inflation remains elevated, partly driven by rising global energy prices.
Safe-haven demand has also lent support to the Greenback. US President Donald Trump stated that the naval blockade on Iran will remain in place until a nuclear agreement is reached, rejecting calls to reopen key routes. Iran responded with warnings of retaliation, accusing Washington of using coercive tactics.
Meanwhile, Swiss data showed a slight improvement in sentiment, with the ZEW Survey Expectations rising to -30.3 in April from -35.0 in March. The March KOF Leading Indicator is scheduled for release later in the day.
Bitcoin fell on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged and indicated it may maintain this stance to counter inflation risks stemming from Middle East tensions. Renewed diplomatic friction between the U.S. and Iran further dampened market sentiment, pushing the world’s largest cryptocurrency down about 1% to $75,632 by late trading.
Fed holds rates
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, in line with expectations, but the decision drew the most dissent since October 1992. One official favored a 25-basis-point cut, while three others opposed signaling any easing bias for now.
The move comes as rising oil prices linked to Middle East tensions continue to pressure U.S. inflation, while the labor market remains subdued with low hiring and firing activity—making policy decisions more complex. In his press conference, Jerome Powell said the Fed is in a “good place” to either raise or cut rates depending on how inflation evolves, particularly from energy shocks.
He also indicated he will remain a Fed governor after his term as chair ends. This comes as the Senate advances Kevin Warsh, his potential successor, toward a full confirmation vote. Prolonged higher interest rates are typically a headwind for risk assets like cryptocurrencies.
Trump moves to extend the Iran blockade long-term, turning down Tehran’s proposal.
Donald Trump is reportedly pursuing a long-term blockade strategy against Iran, favoring sustained economic pressure over renewed military action or withdrawal, according to a The Wall Street Journal report. This comes after the U.S. rejected a three-step proposal from Tehran that would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz while postponing nuclear talks, with Trump considering the offer inadequate.
In comments to Axios, Trump described the blockade as potentially more effective than airstrikes and reaffirmed his stance against lifting it, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, Axios reported that U.S. Central Command has drafted a plan for a brief but intense round of strikes to break the negotiation impasse.
Trump also criticized Iran on social media, urging faster progress toward a non-nuclear agreement, alongside a provocative post emphasizing a tougher stance. The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher on Wednesday.
Despite these macro pressures—including rising oil prices, increased liquidations, and expectations of prolonged high interest rates—Bitcoin has remained relatively stable. According to analyst Iliya Kalchev from Nexo Dispatch, this resilience may indicate that weaker market participants have already exited, or that the market is consolidating ahead of a major catalyst that could determine its next move.
Most altcoins moved lower alongside Bitcoin on Wednesday. The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, dropped 2.2% to $2,241.03, while XRP, ranked third, fell 1.3% to $1.3620. Solana and Cardano also declined by 1.4% and 1.8%, respectively. Among meme coins, Dogecoin reduced part of its earlier gains but was still up 2.6% at last check.
EUR/USD could linger close to its eight-month low around 1.1411.
The 14-day RSI, sitting near 48, points to fading bullish momentum and a likely consolidation phase.
Near-term resistance is located at the 50-day EMA, around 1.1678.
EUR/USD continues to decline for a third straight session, hovering near 1.1660 in Thursday’s Asian trading. Technical signals from the daily chart point to a possible bearish reversal after the pair broke below its ascending channel.
The pair remains slightly below both the 50-day and nine-day EMAs, indicating that near-term upside is limited despite the recent bounce from lower levels. Meanwhile, the 14-day RSI near 48 suggests weakening bullish momentum and a tendency toward consolidation, reinforcing the idea that gains may be capped while price stays beneath these key moving averages.
On the downside, EUR/USD could revisit the eight-month low around 1.1411, last seen on March 13. Immediate resistance is found at the 50-day EMA near 1.1678, followed by the nine-day EMA around 1.1700. A move back into the ascending channel would restore bullish sentiment and open the door to a retest of the two-month high at 1.1849 (April 17), with further upside toward the channel’s upper boundary near 1.1940. A decisive breakout above this zone could pave the way for a climb toward 1.2082, the highest level since June 2021, recorded on January 27.
Gold draws some buying interest on Thursday as the US dollar pauses following its post-FOMC rally. Meanwhile, elevated crude oil prices continue to stoke inflation concerns and reinforce expectations of a more hawkish Federal Reserve. At the same time, the ongoing US–Iran standoff underpins the dollar, which in turn caps further upside for the metal.
Gold (XAU/USD) extends its modest rebound from the $4,500 area—its latest monthly low—and gains traction during Thursday’s Asian session. The US dollar is currently consolidating after a hawkish Fed-driven rally to a two-and-a-half-week high, providing a supportive backdrop for the metal.
As expected, the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, though the decision saw the most dissent since 1992, with three officials opposing the policy tone. Fed Chair Jerome Powell later emphasized that the disagreement centered on communication rather than the need for rate hikes. Still, markets scaled back expectations for policy easing in 2026 and are now assigning a modest probability to a rate increase by year-end.
At the same time, surging energy prices—driven by ongoing US–Iran tensions and stalled negotiations—are reinforcing inflation concerns and supporting the dollar. In a recent development, President Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s proposal to end the conflict, insisting that no agreement would be reached unless Tehran abandons its nuclear ambitions. He also highlighted that naval blockades are continuing to disrupt energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
These factors may help sustain the dollar’s strength and limit gold’s upside potential. Even so, the precious metal has broken a three-day losing streak and is trading near $4,580, up about 0.75% on the day. Market participants now turn their attention to key US data releases, including the advance Q1 GDP report and the PCE Price Index, along with upcoming policy decisions from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, which could drive further volatility.
Gold chart
Gold could face renewed selling pressure at higher levels, given the weakening technical outlook.
The recent rejection near the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart, combined with a drop below the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the March–April rally, tilts the bias in favor of XAU/USD bears.
Momentum signals also remain fragile, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) lingering around 38 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) still in negative territory. This indicates that any recovery attempts may struggle as long as prices remain capped below key resistance levels.
On the downside, initial support is located near the 50% retracement around $4,494.59, followed by deeper Fibonacci support levels at $4,401.36 and $4,268.64, which could act as a broader cushion if selling pressure intensifies.
As of now, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been shut since February 28, halting about 20% of global seaborne oil flows through this critical passage. The International Energy Agency called it “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.” Producers in the Gulf have curtailed nearly 9 million barrels per day, while U.S. gasoline prices have surged from $2.98 to above $4.00 per gallon.
Historically, shocks of this magnitude—1973, 1979, 1990—have delivered stagflationary blows severe enough to rattle markets. But after decades of observing market cycles, one lesson stands out: when price action refuses to validate a crisis narrative, it’s often because markets are factoring in dynamics that headlines overlook. That seems to be the case with Hormuz today.
Brent crude briefly spiked near $120 but has since eased to around $96, well below the $132 level projected by the Dallas Fed for a prolonged closure. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 continues to edge higher, and China—despite routing roughly a third of its crude imports through the strait—has remained resilient.
The real issue, then, isn’t why the worst-case forecasts missed the mark, but what they failed to account for—and where the true risks may now lie.
Why the Headlines Looked Worse Than the Reality
The “20% of global oil supply shut” narrative was always an oversimplification. In practice, the actual impact was cushioned by several key factors—each grounded in primary data and policy responses.
First, Gulf producers quickly rerouted a significant share of crude exports. According to estimates from Rystad Energy’s Tom Liles, around 5–6 million barrels per day could be diverted through pipeline networks in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, bypassing the Strait via outlets on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman. That’s roughly one-third of the region’s typical seaborne exports, reestablished within weeks rather than months.
At the same time, Iran quietly shifted from outright disruption to selective control. By late March, it allowed tankers from countries like China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to pass. In effect, the “closure” functioned more as a rationing system than a complete blockade.
Second, strategic reserves performed exactly as intended. The International Energy Agency coordinated a record 400 million–barrel release, while the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve alone contributed about 1.4 million barrels per day. As Bernstein analysts succinctly noted, the goal wasn’t to fully replace lost supply—it was to buy time. And it did just that, bridging the gap while alternative logistics ramped up and demand began to soften.
Third, China entered the الأزمة in a position of strength. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed commercial inventories approaching 1 billion barrels before February 2026, alongside an additional 360 million barrels in state reserves. That buffer equates to several months of imports, meaning Beijing had both the stockpile and the policy flexibility to weather disruptions—especially when paired with Iran’s selective transit allowances.
Taken together, these factors explain why the real-world impact fell far short of the initial shock implied by the headlines.
Finally—and most critically—the United States is structurally very different from what it was in the 1970s. Domestic crude output now exceeds 13 million barrels per day, providing a significant buffer against external supply shocks like those seen during the Arab Oil Embargo. In addition, LNG exports reached nearly 18 billion cubic feet per day in March, according to the EIA’s April Short-Term Energy Outlook. Less than 10% of U.S. crude imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, meaning that in a global disruption, the U.S. acts more as a marginal supplier than a marginal victim.
Importantly, even the Dallas Fed’s worst-case scenario assumes the economic damage would be short-lived—limited to roughly one quarter, with an estimated 2.9 percentage point annualized drag on global real GDP. Current conditions appear much closer to the base-case outlook, which anticipated that rerouting, strategic reserves, and demand adjustments would absorb most of the shock. So far, that expectation has largely held true.
The Real Risk Lies on the Other Side
Here’s where the consensus may be misjudging the setup. If the bearish, crisis-driven oil narrative was overstated on the way in, the bullish case for oil at $96 may be equally overstated on the way out.
Once the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, three forces are likely to hit the market simultaneously. Gulf producers could quickly bring back roughly 9 million barrels per day of shut-in supply, in line with EIA estimates. At the same time, tankers that have been sitting in storage will begin releasing cargoes, while U.S. shale—revitalized by prices near $95—continues operating at elevated output levels. Together, this creates a classic oversupply scenario.
The main counterbalance is the need to rebuild strategic reserves. More than 30 IEA member countries have drawn them down and will likely spend the latter half of 2026 replenishing stocks. Analysts at Kpler have pointed out that the back end of the oil futures curve appears undervalued, with late-2026 Brent priced around $74 compared to a fair value closer to $85.
That said, the direction may be right, but the scale could be off. Restocking demand will unfold gradually over several quarters, whereas supply can return within weeks. That mismatch is where the real risk of dislocation lies. A reasonable base case is for Brent to fall back toward the low $70s within about 90 days of a sustained ceasefire, with a meaningful chance of overshooting toward $60 if demand weakness—triggered by $4+ gasoline—persists.
This isn’t a call for a collapse in crude, but rather a recognition that the adjustment may be uneven. From current levels, upside appears limited, while the downside risk could be swift and pronounced.
The Market Has Already Pivoted to Earnings
It increasingly looks like markets have already absorbed the supply shock and moved on. Oil disruptions have been digested, and the focus has clearly shifted back to corporate earnings—and on that front, the data supports the bulls.
FactSet’s April 17 Earnings Insight shows that 88% of S&P 500 companies reporting so far have beaten first-quarter EPS expectations, well above the 10-year average of 76%. In aggregate, earnings are exceeding forecasts by 10.8%, compared to a historical norm of 7.1%. Looking ahead, analysts are now projecting around 18% earnings growth for full-year 2026. Barclays strategist Venu Krishna has already raised his 2026 EPS estimate to $321 from $305, while FactSet sees net margins reaching 13.9%—a record high. Earlier, Goldman Sachs highlighted this shift, noting that future index gains are likely to be driven primarily by earnings growth rather than multiple expansion.
Beyond that, the trend isn’t limited to 2026. Analysts are also revising 2027 earnings estimates upward, and at a pace that significantly exceeds historical norms.
That’s a genuinely constructive backdrop. Over time, equities tend to track earnings, and the strong Q1 beat rate points to real operational resilience. This isn’t a rally built on optimism alone—it’s being supported by actual results.
There are two important caveats, however.
First, forward earnings estimates almost always trend upward—until they don’t. Rising forward EPS is the norm during an expansion, not a uniquely bullish signal. What really matters is the turning point, and revisions typically roll over with a lag. As Goldman Sachs’ Ben Snider recently highlighted, much of the upward revision driving the S&P 500’s record levels has been concentrated in a narrow group of stocks, such as Exxon Mobil and Micron Technology. The median company in the index has seen minimal upgrades, suggesting this is a rally carried by a handful of leaders rather than broad-based improvement.
Second, valuations leave little room for error. The forward 12-month P/E ratio stands at 20.9—above both the 5-year average of 19.9 and the 10-year average of 18.9. At these levels, even strong earnings beats tend to generate only modest upside, while any disappointment—especially in forward guidance—can trigger sharp declines.
That makes the real test less about Q1 results and more about Q2 outlooks. If sectors like retail, travel, and discretionary begin lowering guidance as the impact of $4+ gasoline filters through consumer spending, forward estimates could finally start to roll over.
Until then, the path of least resistance for equities still appears to be upward.
How to Position From Here
I know not everyone will agree—and that’s fine. Markets exist because of differing views. But after decades of managing portfolios through shocks like this, here’s a practical way to think about positioning given the Strait of Hormuz dynamics and elevated equity valuations:
Don’t chase the oil rally. Crude right now is being driven more by geopolitics than underlying fundamentals. At around $96, the risk/reward for going long looks unfavorable. If you’re already holding energy names that have rallied 40% or more, it may make sense to lock in gains rather than press further. Adding exposure here increases downside risk if the setup reverses.
Favor infrastructure over raw exposure. Instead of betting on oil prices directly, consider energy infrastructure—midstream operators and LNG exporters. These businesses are less sensitive to spot price swings and tend to benefit from a global shift toward energy security. Their cash flows are generally more stable, even if Brent pulls back toward $70.
Respect equities—but don’t overextend. With the S&P 500 trading around 20.9x forward earnings, markets are not pricing in much room for error. It’s reasonable to acknowledge the strength, but avoid chasing it. Rebalancing—trimming outsized winners back to target weights—can help manage risk without abandoning exposure.
Hold duration as a hedge. U.S. Treasuries are currently reflecting expectations of solid growth. But if oil prices fall sharply and demand weakens, it could give the Federal Reserve room to ease policy. In that case, intermediate-duration bonds (“the belly” of the yield curve) would likely rally, providing a natural offset to risk assets.
Keep some cash on hand. Markets across equities, oil, and credit seem to be pricing in a smooth resolution to the conflict. If that assumption proves wrong—whether due to a breakdown in ceasefire or a supply glut hitting before restocking demand builds—liquidity becomes a strategic advantage. Having dry powder allows you to respond when dislocations create better entry points.
Overall, this is less about making aggressive bets and more about managing asymmetry: limited upside in crowded trades versus potentially sharper downside if the narrative shifts.
Bottom line: The market’s calm around the Strait of Hormuz is justified, and the focus on earnings is warranted. But the risk hasn’t disappeared—it has shifted. Instead of an oil price spike, the bigger threat may now be an oil downturn, and instead of geopolitics, attention turns to equity valuations. Both sides of that equation require active management, not complacency, even if markets appear steady.
With ceasefire talks postponed for the second time in a week, tensions between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved. Although equity markets have rebounded this month—shifting focus to a more optimistic macro backdrop—and crude futures have retreated from their March peaks, investors may be underestimating the tightening in physical oil supply.
At the start of 2026, an oversupply of crude was expected to weigh on prices. However, damage to energy infrastructure and production cuts in the Middle East have heightened concerns about a supply crunch triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Typically, about one-fifth of global oil supply flows through this passage, yet since March 1, only around 23,000 kilobarrels have exited—equivalent to less than a day and a half of normal volumes based on the previous year’s average. While earlier oversupply has cushioned the initial impact, a full market rebalancing could take several months.
Much of the attention has been on futures prices in the “paper” market, but a growing disconnect with the physical market has gone largely unnoticed since mid-March. Signs of tightening supply are evident as futures continue to trade below dated Brent—the benchmark for physical oil—even as prices recover after briefly surging past $140 per barrel ahead of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire.
As the last shipments that left the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict only reached their destinations in the week of April 13, securing physical crude supplies is quickly becoming a top priority. Japanese refiners have increased purchases of U.S. oil, Chinese buyers have pushed imports from Vancouver to record levels, and India has ramped up acquisitions of Venezuelan crude. In some cases, traders at Asian refineries have reportedly been willing to pay almost any price to secure cargoes.
While oil futures could decline once credible news emerges of a sustained reopening of the Strait, the shape of the futures curve indicates that a higher price floor may now be in place. Ongoing tightness in the physical market could drive a longer-term shift in the energy landscape—from a just-in-time supply model toward one that places greater emphasis on holding strategic inventories.
What’s Driving the Buzz Around the Petrodollar?
A major theme tied to the recent squeeze in physical oil markets is renewed speculation about the “death” of the petrodollar. Still, that narrative appears overstated. The petrodollar system—rooted in a 1970s agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to price oil in dollars and recycle those revenues into U.S. assets—remains structurally intact.
Concerns were stirred when Iran reportedly accepted transit payments in Chinese yuan, fueling talk of a potential shift toward a “petroyuan.” However, such a transition would be gradual at best, unfolding over years or even decades—not in a matter of weeks. That said, the offshore petrodollar system may be less influential in the current shock compared to past cycles.
Several factors explain this shift. Gulf nations have increasingly diversified away from traditional reserve assets like U.S. Treasuries, favoring sovereign wealth funds and equity investments instead. Saudi Arabia, for example, has begun issuing dollar-denominated bonds rather than simply reinvesting in them. Additionally, the temporary decline in Middle Eastern oil flows due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz has reduced the scale of dollar recycling tied to energy exports.
At the same time, the U.S.’s position as a net energy exporter helps sustain strong dollar liquidity within North American oil markets, reinforcing the broader role of the dollar in global energy trade.
What About Equities?
As global markets have shown since late February, rising oil prices don’t impact all regions equally. The U.S., now firmly a net exporter of petroleum products, enjoys a degree of insulation. This status helps shield domestic equities, which also tend to rely less on overseas revenue than many international peers—reducing vulnerability to global spillovers.
In contrast, developed markets outside the U.S. appear more exposed. Europe’s relative underperformance during the conflict highlights how higher energy and raw material costs can squeeze corporate margins and cap earnings growth. At the same time, rising oil prices often translate into “imported” inflation, pushing expectations higher for rate hikes from central banks like the European Central Bank and the Bank of England this summer. Even if markets treat the shock as temporary, tighter monetary policy could weigh on European equities in the near term.
Japan is particularly sensitive, with roughly 88% of its oil imports coming from the Middle East. Still, Japanese stocks have shown some resilience, supported by a rebound in technology shares. A similar pattern is visible across emerging Asia: markets with strong tech sectors, such as South Korea and Taiwan, have held up better, while countries like Thailand and Indonesia—less driven by tech—have been more negatively affected by rising oil prices and supply constraints.
Conclusion
This unprecedented shock to global energy supply is something investors should keep a close eye on. Current market signals point to oil prices staying elevated, while tightness in the physical market could persist as supply takes time to normalize—potentially marking a more structural shift in how energy markets operate.
That said, the situation does not appear catastrophic for either the U.S. dollar or global equities. The dollar index has actually strengthened since the conflict began, reinforcing its role as the world’s primary reserve currency. Similarly, concerns about the collapse of the petrodollar system seem exaggerated.
With both Washington and Tehran signaling a willingness to maintain the temporary ceasefire and continue negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, equity markets are likely to shift their focus back to underlying fundamentals. The disruption from the effective closure of the waterway may remain a background factor rather than a dominant driver.
In the near term, U.S. equities are expected to outperform both developed and emerging markets, as strong earnings—particularly from the technology sector—should more than offset the relatively limited drag from higher oil prices.
The “rising oil pushes the Fed toward rate hikes, so gold has to drop” narrative is circulating—it holds up… until it doesn’t.
At certain oil and inflation levels, people start rushing into gold, but those tipping points remain unclear for now.
As long as that (misguided) narrative persists, declining oil prices tend to support gold.
The chart shows a clear head-and-shoulders top formation, though there’s no certainty it will unfold exactly as the technical setup suggests.
The “scenario #2” outlook for oil comes down to one key takeaway: whether the move happens now or later, oil is highly likely headed much higher.
While Americans face less immediate risk of fuel shortages than those in Asia or Europe, global pricing means they’re still exposed to similar inflation pressures—just with a delay.
Because the oil–gold–interest rate narrative heavily influences bank algorithms and institutional capital, disciplined gold investors should maintain enough liquidity to stay composed during the sharp pullbacks this narrative can trigger in gold, silver, and mining equities.
Gold may ultimately reach $20,000, but the path won’t be linear. Price corrections can bring equally sharp emotional swings—especially for investors whose exposure is misaligned with their true risk tolerance.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve argued that the bears have the upper hand on the daily chart.
Four short-term technical factors are driving this view. First, the RSI has struggled to break decisively above the 50 level. Second, strong resistance remains around $4,900.
Third, the key 14,7,7 Stochastics oscillator has flashed a sell signal and hasn’t yet reached oversold territory. Finally, the 20,40,10 MACD is showing weakness—the recent buy signal barely pushed the histogram above zero and has since faded significantly.
As for tactics, the approach is straightforward: look to accumulate in the $4,100 and $3,900 zones (or both) if the current pullback reaches those levels. On the upside, consider trimming positions modestly in the $5,400–$5,600 range.
As U.S. debt pressures deepen and reliance on fiat intensifies, more countries and institutions may continue reducing their bond exposure. In that environment, new narratives will likely emerge arguing for lower gold prices. For gold investors, fiat acts as a buffer.
Gold serves as money, while fiat provides the flexibility to navigate shifting narratives and the short- to medium-term volatility they can create in gold, silver, and mining stocks.
Here’s a clean paraphrase:
A look at the key weekly chart for gold shows a much stronger setup than the daily timeframe, and weekly signals typically carry greater weight for forecasting price direction.
The 14,5,5 Stochastics oscillator is currently flashing a buy signal, while a large, flag-like consolidation pattern is forming—resembling a drifting bullish rectangle.
The tactical approach remains unchanged from the daily view: consider buying in the $4,100 and $3,900 zones, and look to take profits in the $5,400–$5,600 range.
What about the miners? Looking at the long-term CDNX chart, I had anticipated a multi-month consolidation as the index approached the neckline of its massive inverse head-and-shoulders pattern—and that scenario is now unfolding.
Turning to the senior miners through the GDX ETF, the picture suggests patience is still needed. The Stochastics oscillator hasn’t yet reached oversold territory, indicating there may be further downside or consolidation before a stronger entry point emerges.
The preferred buy zones for senior gold miners mirror those for gold itself—around $4,100 and $3,900.
As emphasized, gold represents money, while fiat serves as insurance. Investors in gold equities should maintain sufficient cash reserves to confidently accumulate their preferred miners at these levels, while viewing the $5,400–$5,600 range as an opportunity to lock in substantial gains and step back from the market during what remains a broader gold bull cycle.
GBP/USD could extend gains toward the two-month peak at 1.3599.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index, hovering around 56, suggests bullish momentum while still avoiding overbought territory.
The pair is currently retesting the lower edge of its upward channel near 1.3510.
GBP/USD edges slightly higher after a mild pullback in the previous session, trading near 1.3520 during Asian hours on Wednesday. The daily chart suggests a possible bearish reversal setup as the pair sits close to the lower boundary of its ascending channel.
Despite this, the broader bias remains modestly bullish, with price holding above both the nine-day and 50-day EMAs. Their positioning below the current level points to an underlying supportive structure following the recent rally. Meanwhile, the 14-day RSI near 56 reflects constructive momentum without entering overbought territory, leaving scope for additional upside.
On the upside, GBP/USD could retest the key resistance at 1.3599, the two-month high set on April 17. A break above this level would open the path toward the upper channel boundary near 1.3869, the highest level since September 2021, last seen in late January.
On the downside, immediate support lies around the lower channel boundary at 1.3510, closely aligned with the nine-day EMA at 1.3509. A deeper decline would bring the 50-day EMA at 1.3440 into focus. A decisive break below this support cluster could trigger further losses toward 1.3159, the March 31 low, and subsequently 1.3010, a multi-month low recorded in November 2025.
AUD/USD faces selling pressure after the release of Australia’s consumer inflation data. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty continues to support demand for the safe-haven US dollar, adding downside pressure on the pair. However, expectations of a hawkish Reserve Bank of Australia stance may help cushion losses for the Australian dollar, as markets now turn their attention to the upcoming FOMC decision.
The AUD/USD pair remains unable to break above the 0.7200 level, edging lower during Wednesday’s Asian session after the release of Australia’s consumer inflation data. Spot prices slipped toward the 0.7170 area in recent trading, although downside momentum appears limited ahead of the key FOMC policy announcement later today.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the headline CPI rose 1.4% in Q1, pushing the annual rate up to 4.1%. The Trimmed Mean CPI increased 0.3% over the quarter and 3.5% year-on-year. Despite the inflation figures coming in largely in line with expectations, the Australian dollar saw some selling pressure amid cautious market sentiment driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions.
At the same time, the data has not significantly altered expectations for a more hawkish Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), with markets now assigning a higher probability of a 25-basis-point rate hike at the May meeting. Combined with relatively subdued US dollar movements, this helps cushion losses in AUD/USD and prevents a deeper decline. Traders, however, remain on the sidelines, awaiting clearer signals from the Federal Reserve’s policy decision.
Markets will closely monitor the FOMC statement for guidance on the Fed’s policy outlook, particularly amid concerns that rising energy prices linked to geopolitical risks could reignite inflation. Meanwhile, continued uncertainty around US-Iran relations and tensions over the Strait of Hormuz may keep demand for the US dollar supported as a safe-haven currency, potentially limiting further gains in AUD/USD and encouraging caution before positioning for a continuation of its month-long uptrend.
The US Dollar Index hovered around 98.65 in early Wednesday Asian trading, showing little change. The Fed is broadly expected to keep rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% at its April meeting. Market focus will then turn to Thursday’s US Q1 GDP and PCE inflation data.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the value of the US Dollar (USD) against a basket of six major currencies, is trading around 98.65 during Wednesday’s Asian session. The index remains stable as investors await the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later in the day.
The Fed is widely anticipated to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, a level maintained since January. This meeting may also be Chair Jerome Powell’s last before a potential transition to nominee Kevin Warsh.
Market participants will pay close attention to Powell’s post-meeting press conference for guidance on the Fed’s outlook amid ongoing economic risks. A more hawkish stance on persistent inflation could provide short-term support for the US Dollar against other major currencies.
According to Carol Kong, currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, uncertainty remains over Powell’s future role, including whether he will step down as Chair or continue serving as a governor beyond his term.
Looking ahead to Thursday, investors will focus on the preliminary US Q1 GDP data and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index. Weaker-than-expected results from these reports could put downward pressure on the DXY.
EUR/USD Price Forecast
EUR/USD remains steady around 1.1700 ahead of upcoming Fed and ECB policy decisions, with both central banks expected to keep rates unchanged. Meanwhile, German HICP is projected to rise at a faster annual rate of 3% in April.
EUR/USD trades sideways around 1.1700 in Wednesday’s Asian session, as markets await key Fed and ECB policy decisions. Both central banks are expected to keep rates unchanged while flagging inflation risks linked to higher energy prices amid ongoing Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Investors will closely watch commentary from Jerome Powell and Christine Lagarde for signals on future policy direction. Ahead of the meetings, attention also turns to German April HICP data, expected to show inflation rising to 3% YoY from 2.7%.
EUR/USD technical outlook
EUR/USD is trading flat around 1.1700, showing a sideways bias as it continues to hover near the 20-day EMA at 1.1698, while still holding above the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at 1.1666.
The RSI has moved back into the 40–60 neutral zone after failing to sustain levels above 60, signaling fading upside momentum, although the broader bullish bias is still in place.
On the upside, immediate resistance is seen at the 50% Fibonacci level near 1.1745, followed by 1.1825 (61.8% retracement), then 1.1938 and the recent cycle high around 1.2082. On the downside, initial support lies at 1.1666; a break below this level could open the way toward 1.1567 (23.6% retracement) and further down to the key structural support near 1.1408.
The conflict involving Iran has disrupted many asset classes—except for Bitcoin. In recent weeks, the leading cryptocurrency has shown notable resilience, with far less volatility than other risk-sensitive assets like U.S. equities. While some argue that Bitcoin is becoming less sensitive to geopolitical events, other factors are also at play.
Last week, Bitcoin climbed to a two-month high above $78,000 and has largely maintained those gains, continuing its upward momentum.
Historically, Bitcoin hasn’t been insulated from geopolitical shocks. Its price has tended to drop during sharp escalations—such as the Iranian strikes on Israel in April 2024—and it still behaves like a risk asset, often moving in tandem with equities during periods of extreme market fear. Yet this pattern hasn’t played out in the current Middle East conflict.
That said, the US–Iran war began after Bitcoin had already undergone a steep correction of more than 50% from its all-time high prior to February 28.
This recent resilience could indicate that Bitcoin is in the process of forming a bottom, particularly if it continues to defend key support levels. Beyond the idea that the market had already priced in significant downside, Bitcoin’s stability during wartime may point to stronger underlying demand and a more robust market structure, driven by several supporting factors.
Institutional investors and corporations are increasing their exposure.
Institutional investors have poured more than $3 billion into spot Bitcoin ETFs from March to now, following a relatively modest $206 million outflow in February. This suggests that even after the conflict began at the end of February, net inflows stayed positive—helping support Bitcoin’s resilience as investors stick to a long-term outlook and continue building exposure.
On the corporate side, treasury heavyweight Strategy has maintained its aggressive accumulation strategy despite the geopolitical backdrop and an unrealized Q1 loss of $14.46 billion on its Bitcoin holdings. With its latest purchase, Strategy’s total holdings—now exceeding 815,000 BTC—have even surpassed those of major institutional player BlackRock.
Liquidity injection
Broader liquidity conditions have also been a key driver behind Bitcoin’s resilience, given that BTC remains highly sensitive to global liquidity cycles. Over the past six months, global M2 money supply has been on the rise. Historically, Bitcoin tends to follow this trend with a lag, as expanding liquidity often finds its way into risk assets. This backdrop of increasing global money supply helps explain—and support—Bitcoin’s recent strength.
Additionally, according to Barchart, the United States Department of the Treasury is expected to repurchase $15 billion of its own debt this week—marking the largest Treasury buyback on record. This broader backdrop of expanding liquidity, fueled by both Treasury buybacks and rising global M2, has created supportive conditions that help Bitcoin absorb war-related uncertainty more effectively than in earlier, less liquid market cycles.
Wall Street’s crypto presence keeps growing
Rising interest from major Wall Street banks is another factor underpinning Bitcoin’s resilience. Morgan Stanley launched its Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) on the New York Stock Exchange in early April, marking the first spot Bitcoin ETF introduced by a major U.S. bank. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs has also entered the ETF race.
This expanding presence of traditional financial institutions in the crypto space strengthens the narrative that Bitcoin is gradually evolving from a purely speculative instrument into a more established asset class.
Iran considers using Bitcoin for toll payments
The Middle East conflict may also be enhancing Bitcoin’s real-world utility. Iran has reportedly proposed that shipping companies pay transit tolls in cryptocurrency for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the plan, tanker operators would need to submit cargo details in advance for approval by Iranian authorities. Approved vessels would then pay a transit fee of roughly $1 per barrel, with payments accepted in Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, or the Chinese yuan. Empty vessels would be exempt.
Given Iran’s reliance on crypto to bypass U.S. sanctions, Bitcoin has already been used for import payments and trade settlement. This latest proposal signals a potentially expanding role for crypto in global commerce. If implemented, it could mark a meaningful step in adoption—especially in financially constrained regions—and may provide a near-term boost to demand, particularly as around 20% of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Technical Analysis: Is BTC bottoming out?
Bitcoin’s technical structure is starting to show constructive signals. The leading cryptocurrency gained 4.33% last week, reaching an 11-week high near $78,333, and has extended those gains by more than 5% this week. Price is այժմ approaching the key 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level around $78,490, measured from the August 2024 low (~$49,000) to the October 2025 all-time high (~$126,199).
A weekly close above this $78,490 resistance would be significant, opening the door for a move toward the 100-week Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near $82,568. Breaking and holding above that level would establish a higher high on the weekly chart—a strong signal that the broader trend may be turning bullish again.
Momentum indicators are also improving. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 46 on the weekly timeframe and is trending upward toward the neutral 50 level after rebounding from oversold conditions—suggesting that bearish pressure is fading. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has just printed a bullish crossover, with a positive histogram reinforcing the case for continued upside.
Taken together, these signals point to a market that may be in the early stages of forming a bottom—though confirmation will depend on whether key resistance levels are decisively broken.
Bitcoin still behaves primarily as a risk asset, and its role as an “inflation hedge” or “digital gold” remains premature—at least until the market matures further. Rather than acting as a clear safe haven during geopolitical turmoil, its recent resilience likely reflects a convergence of factors: capital inflows, improving liquidity conditions, and growing adoption, alongside the aftermath of a deep correction and deleveraging phase.
While headlines will continue to influence Bitcoin—as they do all asset classes—the market, for now, appears to be driven more by liquidity dynamics than by geopolitical shocks.
Liquidity rarely gets attention until it disappears. By the time equities are sliding and risk assets are being repriced, underlying market conditions have often been tightening for weeks. The key is knowing what signals to monitor early on.
This piece outlines how I view real-time liquidity. It’s not a step-by-step guide, but rather context for why I focus heavily on funding markets—and why shifts in those flows often appear in the data before they’re reflected in risk assets.
Why Liquidity Ultimately Matters
Markets don’t always react to underlying liquidity conditions right away. There are periods when liquidity is quietly tightening, yet equities continue to rally—often driven by falling volatility, dominant options flows, or a single macro catalyst overshadowing everything else.
Still, liquidity tends to lead over time. Many significant risk-off episodes I’ve observed—such as crypto weakening ahead of equities or the S&P 500 stalling despite positive headlines—have been preceded by clear signs of tightening funding conditions. These signals may not offer immediate trading opportunities, but they are informative.
The objective isn’t to generate a direct trade signal, but to bring visibility to forces that typically remain beneath the surface.
What I Track
Four key components tend to matter most: SOFR volumes, the Treasury General Account (TGA), bank reserves, and the reverse repo facility (RRP). Each offers a different lens on where cash sits, how it’s moving, and what it’s funding. Together, they form a real-time snapshot of liquidity across the U.S. financial system.
Looking at rates alone isn’t sufficient. Volumes, balances, and the direction of flows carry more weight. So do secondary signals—like credit spreads, equity repo financing, Bitcoin’s price action, and usage of the standing repo facility—which either reinforce or challenge the primary data.
The edge isn’t just understanding each piece in isolation, but integrating them into a cohesive, real-time view. That synthesis is what I focus on every day for subscribers.
Why Today Isn’t 2023
The most important structural change over the past two years is that the liquidity buffer the system leaned on in 2023 has largely been exhausted. Back then, when the Treasury issued debt to finance deficits, much of it was absorbed by idle cash sitting at the Fed—so the market impact was relatively muted.
That cushion is now gone. Today, similar issuance is more likely to be funded with cash that would otherwise support bank reserves. The deficit may be the same, and the volume of bills unchanged, but the effect is different because the funding source has shifted.
This is where much of the commentary falls short. Saying “the Fed isn’t doing QT anymore” misses the point. The real story lies in how the deficit is being financed—and those underlying mechanics can matter more than the Fed’s headline policy stance.
When the Plumbing Moved First
Three episodes are worth revisiting, because the order of events mattered: each time, stress showed up in the system’s plumbing before anything else.
Take September 2019
A widely documented reserve shortage unfolded as Treasury settlements and corporate tax payments landed in the same week, after reserves had already been declining for months. On September 17, overnight repo rates surged far above the Fed’s target range, forcing emergency liquidity operations. In the days prior, market price action looked calm—but beneath the surface, funding conditions had been tightening. The plumbing cracked first, rates reacted next, and equities only adjusted after the Fed stepped in, even though the strain had been building in funding markets for weeks.
March 2020
The COVID shock ultimately spread far beyond funding markets, but in the early phase, the stress began in the plumbing. A global dash for dollars triggered indiscriminate selling across assets — even Treasuries weren’t spared. Funding conditions deteriorated rapidly and markets seized up, forcing the Fed to roll out emergency measures. The key takeaway: once funding breaks, correlations snap into place almost immediately, and everything starts moving together.
November 2025
Bitcoin started to roll over a couple of weeks before equities followed. That sequencing — crypto weakening ahead of broader risk-off — has shown up often enough across cycles to be useful as a confirming signal in liquidity analysis, even if it’s not a primary driver.
Not every bout of market stress originates in the plumbing. Some are driven by earnings shocks, geopolitics, or policy shifts. Still, a notable portion of the larger equity drawdowns since 2018 have left clear traces in funding conditions—visible if you’re watching the right indicators.
Where the Model Falls Short
This framework isn’t a crystal ball, and it has some clear limitations:
Market price action can diverge from liquidity signals for extended periods. Short-term forces — like zero-DTE options flows, single-name earnings catalysts, or volatility compression — can dominate and mask underlying funding stress.
Central bank intervention can quickly reset the landscape. If the Fed steps in to support reserves or tweaks facilities like the standing repo, signals can reverse abruptly.
Bitcoin doesn’t always behave as a pure risk asset. While it often tracks liquidity, there are moments — particularly when traditional safe havens lose credibility — where it decouples and complicates the read.
Finally, the Fed’s “ample reserves” narrative can lag reality. Policymakers may maintain that reserves are sufficient even as overnight funding markets begin to tighten, making real-time data a more reliable guide than official messaging.
Why This May Matter Now
A new Fed Chair is set to take over in mid-May. His stated preferences — lower rates, a smaller balance sheet, and less reliance on forward guidance — suggest a potential shift away from the reflexive “Fed put” mindset that has shaped markets for over a decade. If that transition plays out, the assumption that any funding stress will be met immediately with balance sheet support deserves a fresh look.
At the same time, recent data points to tightening funding conditions. The direction mirrors setups seen ahead of past stress episodes — with September 2019 as a key reference, when a plumbing issue beneath an otherwise calm market quickly escalated within days.
None of this guarantees an equity drawdown. But it may help explain why recent rallies feel flow-driven, why credit markets are showing subtle divergences, and why assets like precious metals and crypto have been soft.
This is the framework I rely on day to day.
For Daily Application
The edge isn’t in the components themselves — it’s in reading them in real time and understanding when their interaction starts to matter for markets. Watching how SOFR, the TGA, and reserve levels are evolving right now, how they line up with signals from credit and FX basis, and how all of that compares with the price action in the tape. Then looking for the confirming cues that indicate whether a liquidity drain has already been absorbed — or is still ahead.
GBP/USD edges lower to around 1.3525 during early Asian trading on Tuesday. The Fed is broadly expected to hold interest rates steady at 3.50%–3.75% at its April meeting on Wednesday, while the BoE is also anticipated to keep rates unchanged on Thursday.
GBP/USD remains under pressure, trading near 1.3525 in early Asian dealings on Tuesday as the Pound Sterling weakens against the US Dollar. Market participants are staying cautious ahead of key policy decisions from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England later this week.
The Fed is expected to leave its benchmark rate unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, a level maintained since January. Analysts at Deutsche Bank point to a shift in expectations toward a more hawkish Fed stance, largely driven by persistent inflation linked to rising oil prices.
Attention will turn to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s post-meeting press conference, where any hawkish signals could boost the US Dollar and weigh further on the pair.
Meanwhile, the Bank of England is also widely anticipated to keep rates steady on Thursday. Investors will look for clues on whether the central bank is leaning toward future tightening. Economists highlight that the UK economy remains particularly exposed to higher energy costs due to its reliance on natural gas.
According to Edward Allenby, senior UK economist at Oxford Economics, the base-case scenario is for rates to remain unchanged for the rest of the year, with policymakers likely to gain clearer insight into the impact of the energy shock by the end of July.
WTI advances as the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed, constraining Middle East supply. Oil’s upside could be limited as markets evaluate ceasefire chances and a possible reopening following Iran’s latest proposal to the US. Meanwhile, six Iranian tankers have been turned back under the US blockade, while an ADNOC LNG vessel has passed through Hormuz and is approaching India.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude extends its advance for a second straight day, trading near $95.20 per barrel during Tuesday’s Asian session. Prices are being supported as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, tightening energy supplies from the Middle East.
Still, further upside may be limited as investors assess the chances of a durable ceasefire and a possible reopening of the waterway following Iran’s latest proposal to the United States. Tehran has reportedly conveyed via Pakistan that it could de-escalate if Washington lifts its naval blockade, adjusts transit rules through Hormuz, and provides assurances against future military action.
A US official said Monday that President Donald Trump is not satisfied with the proposal, while Iranian sources indicated that Tehran is holding off on addressing its nuclear program until hostilities end and shipping disputes in the Gulf are resolved.
Now in its ninth week, the conflict has driven energy prices higher and disrupted key supply chains, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) warning of a potential supply shock alongside slowing demand risks.
The standoff remains unresolved, with Iran restricting flows through the Strait—responsible for roughly 20% of global oil and gas transit—while the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports.
Ship-tracking data cited by Reuters highlights the disruption, showing six Iranian tankers forced to turn back amid the blockade. However, an LNG vessel operated by ADNOC has managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and is reportedly approaching India.
USD/CAD ticks higher in Tuesday’s Asian trading, but gains remain restrained. Renewed uncertainty surrounding US–Iran negotiations boosts demand for the US Dollar, supporting the pair. However, firm oil prices continue to support the Canadian Dollar, limiting further upside ahead of key rate decisions from the Bank of Canada and the Federal Reserve.
USD/CAD rebounds from a slight dip in Tuesday’s Asian session, extending the previous day’s bounce from below 1.3600—its lowest level since March 12—and trades near 1.3630. However, further gains appear limited due to mixed underlying factors.
Uncertainty surrounding US–Iran peace negotiations supports the US Dollar through safe-haven demand, giving the pair some upward momentum. Reports suggest Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the conflict while delaying nuclear talks, though skepticism remains from US President Donald Trump regarding Iran’s intentions and willingness to halt nuclear enrichment.
At the same time, ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz keep crude oil prices elevated, which supports the oil-linked Canadian Dollar and caps USD/CAD’s upside. Traders are also cautious ahead of key central bank decisions, with the Bank of Canada set to announce its policy on Wednesday, followed by the Federal Reserve’s FOMC outcome.
Markets are watching closely for signals on future monetary policy, especially as rising energy prices could reignite inflation concerns. This mixed backdrop suggests waiting for stronger confirmation before concluding that the pair’s recent downtrend has ended or positioning for a sustained recovery.
AUD/USD picks up dip-buying interest on Monday, supported by a mildly weaker US Dollar.
A hawkish stance from the RBA helps offset concerns over US–Iran tensions, lending strength to the Aussie.
Meanwhile, the technical outlook remains bullish as traders turn their attention to the upcoming FOMC decision.
AUD/USD edges higher for a second straight session after a slight dip on Monday, reaching a three-day peak near the 0.7170 level during the Asian session. However, the pair continues to trade within a well-established range seen over the past couple of weeks, suggesting that bullish traders should remain cautious for now.
The US Dollar remains under pressure, failing to attract strong demand despite ongoing tensions between the US and Iran and the stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz. Market participants appear hesitant ahead of this week’s key FOMC meeting. At the same time, a broadly positive risk sentiment weakens the Greenback’s safe-haven appeal, while the Reserve Bank of Australia’s hawkish stance provides additional support to the Aussie.
From a technical standpoint, the recent sideways movement can be viewed as a bullish consolidation phase, following the rebound from the 100-day Simple Moving Average seen in March. Momentum indicators continue to support a constructive outlook, implying that the overall bias remains tilted to the upside and reinforcing expectations of a potential breakout.
The Relative Strength Index stays above 60 without entering overbought territory, indicating ongoing buying pressure. Meanwhile, the MACD remains in positive territory, confirming that the upward move is supported by solid momentum. Still, a clear break above the 0.7185–0.7190 resistance zone is needed to validate further gains.
On the downside, any pullback is likely to be viewed as a buying opportunity, with solid support expected ahead of the 0.7100 level. A decisive drop below this area, especially if accompanied by weakening momentum indicators, could signal the start of a corrective phase within the broader uptrend.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is set to release its FOMC statement this weekend, and no changes to the Federal Funds Rate are anticipated. With that largely priced in, short-term traders are likely to shift their attention toward evolving market sentiment. This is being shaped by ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, its impact on energy prices, and the increasingly delicate relationship between the EU and the U.S., which could carry broader economic implications.
As a result, the Fed’s upcoming policy remarks may take a secondary role, while financial institutions remain more focused on adjusting their medium-term outlooks in response to the uncertainties linked to the situation involving Iran.
Peaks and Troughs in a Shifting Environment
Short-term traders attempting to capture small movements in EUR/USD have found no shortage of opportunities, and this environment is likely to persist in the near term. The challenge, however, lies in identifying when prevailing market drivers will maintain their influence or abruptly reverse course. Rapidly shifting conditions have dealt heavy losses to retail Forex traders, while even large institutional players have likely felt the impact.
Although EUR/USD may appear oversold at current levels, geopolitical noise—particularly from the White House and developments involving Iran—remains elevated heading into the weekend. Early trading on Monday could face immediate pressure as global markets react. One potential support for traders is that markets already closed Friday on a cautious note, suggesting participants may be partially prepared for further volatility. Whether this leads to renewed selling in EUR/USD or a rebound driven by bargain buying remains uncertain.
Trading Gauge for the Week Ahead
A swift peace resolution in the conflict involving Iran appears unlikely in the near term. That said, the Trump administration has at times surprised global markets with unexpectedly optimistic signals, quickly shifting sentiment.
For now, the outlook offers little indication of imminent compromise, which could weigh on EUR/USD in the short term. However, before sellers become overly aggressive or bullish traders turn too pessimistic, a broader perspective is worth considering. A three-month view shows the pair still trading near the midpoint of its range.
EUR/USD has previously declined to similar levels only to rebound sharply—something traders should keep firmly in mind.
EUR/USD Weekly Outlook: Market Focus Turns to Uncertainty and Volatility
EUR/USD is expected to trade within a speculative range of 1.1610 to 1.1790.
Speculators should remain cautious about their expectations, as worst-case scenarios may already be priced in by financial institutions. This raises the possibility that EUR/USD might not revisit the lows seen in March, with the 1.1700 level potentially acting as support. However, if the pair breaks below 1.1700 early in the week, a move toward the 1.1670 support zone would not be unreasonable. Predicting near-term direction remains difficult, given the ongoing exchange of threats and rhetoric between the U.S. White House and Iran.
More broadly, the Forex market has been particularly challenging to navigate over the past two months, and these conditions are unlikely to ease soon. Rapid shifts in sentiment continue to drive sharp price swings in EUR/USD and other major currency pairs. While forming an opinion on current market dynamics is relatively straightforward, establishing a confident short-term outlook has proven far more difficult—contributing to the pronounced whipsaw price action seen in EUR/USD.
USD/JPY weakens below 159.50 during Monday’s Asian session, extending its pullback from near the key 160.00 psychological level. The pair is pressured by renewed US dollar softness and lingering fears of Japanese intervention, while a slight improvement in risk sentiment also supports the yen. Meanwhile, traders are largely looking past tensions between the US and Iran, turning their focus to this week’s monetary policy decisions from the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve.
Technical Analysis
Aside from a few brief knee-jerk moves, USD/JPY has been trading within a range since mid-March. Considering the recent solid rebound from the technically important 200-day EMA, this price action can still be seen as a phase of bullish consolidation, supporting a positive overall outlook.
Momentum indicators also point to a constructive setup rather than an overstretched market. The RSI sits near 57, indicating sustained upward pressure without entering overbought territory. Meanwhile, the MACD remains slightly below the zero line, suggesting only mild bearish momentum that has yet to threaten the broader uptrend.
That said, buyers should wait for a clear and sustained move above the 160.00 psychological level before targeting further upside. In the meantime, any pullbacks are likely to be viewed as corrective within the broader bullish structure, as long as USD/JPY stays above the key long-term support near 154.76. A decisive break below this level would be needed to indicate a more significant shift in trend.
Fundamental Analysis
USD/JPY extends last week’s rebound from the mid-157.00s, advancing for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday. The Japanese yen remains under pressure due to economic concerns tied to escalating Middle East tensions and expectations that the Bank of Japan may delay further rate hikes. At the same time, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty reinforces the US dollar’s safe-haven appeal, pushing the pair to a one-and-a-half-week high during the early European session.
Although US President Donald Trump announced a temporary extension of the Iran ceasefire just before its expiration, investors remain doubtful about any lasting de-escalation. Limited progress in negotiations, tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and continued friction—highlighted by the US naval blockade of Iranian ports—keep risks elevated. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that reopening the strategic waterway is not feasible under current conditions. These developments raise concerns about disruptions to energy supplies, posing potential strain on Japan’s economy and weighing further on the yen.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Bank of Japan is inclined to keep policy unchanged this month, as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict clouds the economic and inflation outlook. This adds to downward pressure on the yen, though the central bank is still expected to signal readiness to tighten policy as early as June amid rising inflation. Additionally, speculation that Japanese authorities could intervene to support the currency may limit further yen weakness and cap USD/JPY gains near the 160.00 psychological level. Even so, any meaningful pullback appears limited given the underlying strength of the US dollar.
Higher crude oil prices are also reviving inflation concerns, reducing expectations of a dovish stance from the Federal Reserve. This pushes US Treasury yields higher and continues to support the dollar, suggesting that the overall bias for USD/JPY remains tilted to the upside. Traders now turn to upcoming US data, including weekly jobless claims and flash PMI releases, though attention is likely to remain focused on developments in the US–Iran situation, which could drive further market volatility.
The US Dollar Index (DXY) edges lower, trading near 98.45 during Monday’s early Asian session.
The decline comes after Iran proposed a deal to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Investors are now focusing on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, scheduled for Wednesday.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of six major currencies, is hovering around 98.45 during Monday’s Asian session. The index is under slight pressure following reports that Iran has put forward a proposal to the United States aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Bloomberg, Iran’s latest proposal includes delaying nuclear negotiations while extending the ceasefire to allow both sides to work toward a more lasting resolution to the conflict. Optimism around a potential de-escalation in US–Iran tensions and broader stability in the Middle East could weigh on the US Dollar against its peers.
However, on Sunday, US President Donald Trump instructed Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to cancel their planned visit to Pakistan—currently mediating talks—remarking that Iran’s offer was “substantial, but insufficient.”
Meanwhile, market attention is firmly shifting to the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due on Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to hold interest rates steady in the 3.50%–3.75% range, where they have remained since January. Analysts at Deutsche Bank suggest that any shift toward a more hawkish policy outlook—particularly if driven by sustained oil-related inflation—could provide support for the DXY.
Silver ticks up as safe-haven demand strengthens amid stalled U.S.–Iran negotiations.
President Donald Trump canceled a planned diplomatic visit to Pakistan that could have enabled direct talks with Iran.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to proceed cautiously, with gradual rate cuts anticipated under incoming Chair Kevin Warsh.
Silver (XAG/USD) extends its gains for a second straight session, hovering near $76.00 per troy ounce during Monday’s Asian trading hours. The metal is being supported by rising safe-haven demand as US–Iran peace negotiations remain at an impasse.
Donald Trump canceled a planned delegation to Pakistan that could have facilitated direct discussions with Iran. Over the weekend, he instructed Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to skip the trip, noting that Iran had “offered a lot, but not enough.” Trump added that Iran could initiate talks directly, emphasizing the availability of secure communication channels.
On the other side, Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran would not engage in negotiations imposed under pressure or threats.
Meanwhile, shipping activity through a key strategic waterway remains heavily constrained due to Iran’s control and a US naval blockade, raising concerns about prolonged disruptions and lending support to crude oil prices.
Elevated energy costs are fueling inflation worries and reinforcing a more hawkish outlook among central banks, which may cap further gains in non-yielding assets like silver.
At the same time, the Federal Reserve is expected to remain cautious, with markets pricing in gradual rate cuts under incoming Chair Kevin Warsh. The Fed is widely anticipated to hold rates steady at its April meeting, while investors will closely monitor the post-meeting press conference for insights into how policymakers assess rising energy prices and their implications for the longer-term interest rate path.
Silver prices dropped sharply this week as interest rates remained the key driver. Ongoing uncertainty around Middle East tensions—despite some easing—continues to leave traders unsure, with no clear agreement yet between the U.S. and Iran.
The $80 level is acting as resistance; a break above it could push prices toward $90, while $70 appears to be the support floor.
Gold
Gold prices have fluctuated throughout the week, with the region just above $4,600 emerging as a key level. Similar to silver, the market has shown strong sensitivity to interest rate movements. In particular, the U.S. 10-year yield remains crucial, with the 4.30% mark acting as an important threshold. Generally, when yields rise above 4.3%, it tends to put downward pressure on gold.
EUR/USD
The euro moved erratically throughout the week, briefly testing the 1.18 level before finishing slightly lower. Overall, it remains near the upper boundary of the range it has traded in since around this time last year, so no major breakout is expected
That said, interest rates in both the United States and Germany are elevated beyond where they arguably should be, and combined with ongoing war-related news, they are creating significant market distortions. Even so, it’s notable that prices have remained within the same range for an extended period, and as we approach the upper boundary, selling pressure is beginning to re-emerge.
GBP/USD
The British pound traded within a relatively narrow range over the week, as traders weighed the potential end of the war and its implications for interest rates.
The 1.35 level stands out as a key area—not only as a major psychological round number, but also as a point many market participants are watching closely. Overall, the market appears to be searching for direction.
A break above last week’s high could open the door for a move toward the 1.3750 level. On the other hand, if the market pulls back, the 1.3350 area may become a likely target for sellers.
USD/MXN
The US dollar traded choppily against the Mexican peso during the week, testing the 17.5 level.
This zone has previously acted as both support and resistance, suggesting strong market memory. A break above 17.50 could pave the way for a move toward the 17.8 level.
A pullback from this point would likely signal continued consolidation for the US dollar between the 17 and 17.5 levels. While the interest rate differential still favors Mexico, any increase in risk aversion could boost demand for the dollar.
NASDAQ 100
The Nasdaq 100 posted another strong rally over the week, marking its fourth consecutive week of significant gains. Short-term pullbacks could present buying opportunities, especially on a bounce, for those looking to align with the upward momentum. The 26,250 level, which previously acted as resistance, is likely to serve as support if the market pulls back from here.
It’s worth noting that much of the Nasdaq 100’s movement is being driven by developments in artificial intelligence, along with ongoing headlines out of the Middle East.
BTC/USD
Bitcoin moved higher over the week, though it still faces some downward pressure. The climb appears to be gradual, with the market likely aiming toward the $84,000 level—an area that previously acted as support and may now serve as resistance.
USD/CAD
The $72,000 level remains a key area on pullbacks, where buyers may step back in and provide support to push the market higher.
The US dollar initially declined against the Canadian dollar but found support at the 200-week EMA, reversing course and forming a hammer pattern.
A break above the 1.37 level could open the way for a move toward 1.38. The interest rate differential continues to favor the US dollar, which should remain a key driver of direction.
The U.S. dollar rose on Thursday, supported by increased demand for safe-haven assets as tensions in the Middle East escalated.
Although the U.S. and Iran agreed to extend their ceasefire, continued attacks on vessels near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, along with strong rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran, dampened investor risk appetite.
By 15:56 ET (19:57 GMT), the U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, had gained 0.3% to 98.77.
Trump orders U.S. forces to destroy boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had instructed the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessels attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He added that American mine-clearing operations were already underway and would be intensified threefold. Meanwhile, Axios reported, citing a U.S. official, that Iran had deployed additional mines in the area.
Trump’s remarks followed escalating activity around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas. Its effective closure since the onset of the Middle East conflict has triggered what is being described as the largest oil supply disruption in history.
The U.S. military also announced it had seized an Iran-linked oil tanker, releasing footage that allegedly showed American forces boarding the vessel in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, Iran published a video appearing to show its troops taking control of a cargo ship near the strait.
Earlier, Tehran reportedly attacked three ships on Wednesday and seized two of them. Tensions have been fueled further by the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastline, with U.S. Central Command stating that 33 vessels had been redirected since the blockade began.
Uncertainty over future negotiations between Washington and Tehran continues to weigh on markets. While both sides remain deadlocked over the strait and the blockade, the Wall Street Journal reported that mediators from Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are attempting to arrange talks that could take place as early as Friday. Meanwhile, Israel’s N12 News reported that Iran’s Ghalibaf had stepped down from the negotiating team following pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Strong economic data and shifting Fed rate expectations support the dollar.
The U.S. dollar also gained support from stronger-than-expected preliminary PMI data. According to S&P Global, business activity in the U.S. picked up in April after slowing to near stagnation in March following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers, noted that economic conditions improved slightly, with consumer demand, production, employment, and business sentiment remaining resilient despite supply chain disruptions and rising prices that continue to weigh on performance and outlook.
He added that the manufacturing sector stood out, driven by proactive inventory building in response to the Strait of Hormuz closure, as well as policy incentives introduced last year, which helped push S&P Global’s Flash PMI above expectations.
At the same time, expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates unchanged this year have strengthened. A rebound in oil prices above $100 per barrel has heightened concerns about inflation, raising the possibility that central banks could even consider rate hikes instead of cuts.
Kevin Warsh, nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Fed, told lawmakers on Tuesday that he had made no promises to lower borrowing costs and stressed the importance of the central bank’s independence, despite Trump’s repeated calls for aggressive rate cuts to support economic growth.
Meanwhile, a Reuters poll indicated that investors expect the Fed to hold off on any rate cuts for at least six months.
Eurozone output hits a 17-month low, while South Korea records robust GDP growth.
Eurozone business activity fell to a 17-month low, pushing the euro down 0.2% to $1.1687 after S&P Global data showed the private sector slipping back into contraction in April, ending 15 months of expansion. According to Chris Williamson, the region is facing mounting economic strain from the Middle East conflict, which is both dragging growth and fueling inflation, while supply shortages risk worsening the outlook further.
Meanwhile, the British pound dropped 0.3% to $1.3467, and the Japanese yen weakened with USD/JPY edging up to 159.68. The South Korean won also declined, with USD/KRW rising 0.4% to 1,483.48, despite strong data showing South Korea’s economy recorded its fastest growth in nearly six years in Q1 2026, driven largely by a surge in AI-related chip exports.
Gold edged lower from around $4,750 in Thursday’s Asian session, giving back part of the previous day’s gains as renewed US–Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz kept the US Dollar supported and weighed on sentiment. However, expectations that the Federal Reserve may hold off on further rate hikes continued to limit downside pressure on the non-yielding metal.
Technical Analysis
Technically, XAU/USD shows a mildly bearish short-term bias as it remains below the 100-period SMA at $4,739.32, the 200-period SMA at $4,770.64, and the 20-period SMA at $4,776.89. The RSI, hovering near 44, points slightly lower, while the Momentum indicator also trends modestly below the midline, signaling weakening upside traction.
On the upside, immediate resistance is seen at the 100-period SMA, followed by stronger hurdles at the 200-period SMA and the 20-period SMA, creating a dense resistance cluster that bulls need to clear to neutralize bearish pressure. With limited nearby support from indicators, a further decline could expose gold to retesting recent lows around $4,668 if selling pressure intensifies.
On the daily timeframe, however, the broader outlook remains more constructive. Price continues to hold above the 20-day SMA at $4,693.12 and the 100-day SMA at $4,731.60, which acts as a key near-term support area. The much lower 200-day SMA at $4,236.91 underscores the longer-term uptrend. Meanwhile, the RSI near 48 and neutral Momentum readings suggest consolidation, with bullish momentum cooling rather than reversing decisively.
Fundamental Analysis
Spot Gold was little changed on the day, hovering near the $4,730 level as markets grappled with rising uncertainty stemming from fresh Middle East tensions that have pushed the situation into a stalemate.
After a series of back-and-forth developments, the United States and Iran failed to restart negotiations and missed the scheduled meeting in Pakistan. US President Donald Trump later said the ceasefire would remain in place until Iran presents a “unified proposal,” while Tehran dismissed the extension as “meaningless” and warned of a potential military response.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated around the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting renewed disruptions to shipping routes, including vessel seizures and attacks on oil transport. Midweek, Trump indicated that talks with Iran could still take place next Friday, though Iranian media quickly denied any such plans, stating there were no current intentions to negotiate with Washington.
With both the ceasefire and diplomatic prospects in doubt, markets remain directionless, further complicated by anticipation of key central bank meetings next week.
In this environment, crude oil has strengthened notably, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbing to around $92 per barrel, its highest level since last Friday. The rally reflects growing concerns over supply risks and skepticism that a swift resolution in the Middle East is forthcoming.
USD/JPY advances to its highest level in nearly two weeks during Thursday’s Asian session, supported by a mix of favorable factors. The Japanese Yen remains under pressure due to economic concerns linked to shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and expectations that the Bank of Japan may delay further rate hikes. At the same time, tensions between the United States and Iran over the key waterway continue to support the safe-haven US Dollar despite an extended ceasefire, providing an additional boost to the pair. Still, concerns about possible intervention limit further gains.
Technical analysis
The USD/JPY pair holds firm below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the recent rally from last week’s swing low near 157.60, finding support at the 100-period EMA on the 1-hour chart. However, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has dipped slightly into negative territory, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 48 points to neutral-to-mildly weak momentum.
Overall, momentum signals suggest that bullish strength is easing, though not enough to break the immediate intraday support near the 23.6% Fibonacci level at 159.15, which is reinforced by the 100-period EMA around 159.07. A deeper decline could bring the 38.2% retracement at 158.85 into focus, followed by additional Fibonacci support levels at 158.60, 158.36, and 158.01. If selling pressure intensifies further, the 157.57 swing low could emerge as a more significant downside support.
Fundamental Analysis
A short-term extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran triggers some selling pressure on the US Dollar (USD), weighing on USD/JPY. However, persistent economic concerns tied to the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz—where shipping disruptions and blockades continue despite the truce—help keep the Japanese Yen (JPY) under pressure and limit the pair’s downside.
AUD/USD advances to around 0.7155 in early Asian trading on Thursday. President Trump noted there is “no set timeline” for the Iran conflict, while Australia’s preliminary PMIs returned to expansion territory in April.
The AUD/USD pair strengthens to around 0.7155 in early Thursday Asian trading, supported by improved risk sentiment after US President Donald Trump extended the Iran ceasefire. The move has eased concerns over a renewed conflict that previously drove energy prices higher, lending support to the Australian Dollar against the US Dollar. Investors now await the preliminary S&P Global PMI data due later in the day.
Trump stated that the ceasefire extension comes at Pakistan’s request as Washington looks for a unified proposal from Iran, helping calm market tensions. However, risks persist as Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz and continues hostile actions in the region. Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that reopening the key shipping route would be “impossible” amid what he described as ongoing violations of the ceasefire by the US and Israel.
Lingering geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could still support the safe-haven US Dollar and limit further upside in the pair.
On the data front, Australia’s preliminary S&P Global PMIs showed a return to expansion in April. The Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.0 from 49.8, the Services PMI improved to 50.3 from 46.3, and the Composite PMI climbed to 50.1 from 46.6, indicating a modest recovery in business activity.
WTI extends its rally for a third consecutive session, climbing to its highest level in nearly two weeks.
Persistent risks around the Strait of Hormuz offset the impact of the extended US-Iran ceasefire, lending support to oil prices.
Overall, the underlying fundamentals remain supportive of the bullish outlook, suggesting further upside potential.
WTI crude briefly surged to the $95.80–$95.85 region during the Asian session—its highest level in about a week and a half—before losing momentum and pulling back toward the lower end of the daily range. It currently trades just above $92.00, still holding modest gains of around 0.30% on the day.
Although the US-Iran ceasefire has been temporarily extended, markets remain doubtful about any lasting easing of tensions given the lack of meaningful progress in negotiations. Ongoing clashes around the Strait of Hormuz continue to raise concerns about potential supply disruptions, keeping a geopolitical risk premium embedded in oil prices and supporting a third consecutive day of gains.
Further underpinning the market, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in place. At the same time, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that Revolutionary Guard naval forces seized two vessels and that multiple container ships came under fire in the Strait. Coupled with an unexpected drop in US crude inventories, these developments add to the bullish tone.
That said, the latest upward spike was partly driven by unverified reports of an attack on Tehran, and the rally quickly lost steam once no concrete news followed. This calls for some caution among bullish traders, even though the broader fundamental backdrop still points to a bias for further upside in crude prices.
GBP/USD could recover toward its two-month peak at 1.3599.
The 14-day RSI, hovering around 56, signals bullish momentum while remaining below overbought territory.
Nearby support is seen at the nine-day EMA, currently at 1.3493.
GBP/USD has edged lower for a third straight session, hovering around 1.3500 in Thursday’s Asian trading. Daily chart signals point to a possible bearish turn as the pair slips below its ascending channel.
Even so, the broader tone remains cautiously bullish. The pair is still holding just above the nine-period EMA and well above the 50-period EMA, suggesting underlying buying interest. Meanwhile, the 14-day RSI near 56 reflects healthy momentum without entering overbought territory, leaving scope for further gains on pullbacks.
If price re-enters the ascending channel, it could retest the two-month high at 1.3599 (April 17). A continued move higher may target the channel’s upper boundary near 1.3810, with a breakout potentially opening the door toward 1.3869, the highest level since September 2021.
On the downside, immediate support is seen at the nine-day EMA around 1.3493, followed by the 50-day EMA at 1.3427. A decisive break below these levels could shift momentum, exposing the March 31 low of 1.3159 and then 1.3010, the weakest level since April 2025.
Heightened geopolitical risks are weighing on gold’s short-term outlook.
Movements in oil, bond yields, and the US dollar continue to drive price action.
However, a decisive break above resistance could reignite bullish momentum.
Gold started the week under pressure, opening with a gap lower before gradually recovering toward Friday’s close. Recent developments in the Middle East have slightly shifted the near-term outlook, with risks now leaning modestly to the downside. The main concern is clear: a sharper increase in oil prices could strengthen the US dollar and lift bond yields—both factors that typically act as headwinds for gold.
So far, the rise in oil has been relatively moderate, with Brent crude up about 5% and trading near $95 per barrel. Even so, the broader environment remains fragile. The US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz has drawn strong warnings from Tehran, including threats of retaliation and the potential for further disruption to already strained negotiations. With a two-week ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday and little tangible progress achieved, uncertainty continues to weigh on the situation. Iran has also reversed its brief reopening of the strait, accusing the US of failing to uphold its commitments while maintaining pressure on Iranian ports.
Before diving deeper into the macro drivers, let’s first take a look at gold’s chart…
Gold Technical Analysis
As the chart illustrates, gold is currently testing a key resistance zone in the $4,800–$4,850 range. This area is significant, as it combines multiple technical factors: previous support and resistance levels, the underside of a broken upward trendline, and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level.
Since early April, prices have repeatedly tested this resistance zone without achieving a clear breakout. However, the lack of strong selling pressure is telling. When resistance is tested multiple times without a significant pullback, it often signals underlying strength—raising the probability of an eventual upside break, though confirmation is still needed.
A daily close above $4,850 would serve as that confirmation, indicating a bullish reversal and paving the way for further upside. In that case, the next focus would be the $5,000 level, which aligns with the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement and also stands out as a key psychological milestone.
On the downside, initial support is seen near $4,750, followed by $4,600 and then $4,500. The most critical level, however, is $4,400. This zone has demonstrated its significance before—acting as support in early February and quickly being reclaimed after a brief breakdown in late March.
As long as $4,400 holds, the broader bullish structure remains intact, even if short-term conditions appear somewhat uncertain.
Can Gold Still Find Its Footing?
Despite increasingly heated rhetoric, there are still tentative signs that diplomacy hasn’t been fully abandoned. Donald Trump has struck a cautiously optimistic tone about the prospects for a deal, even while warning that military action targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure remains an option if talks break down.
On the other side, Iran continues to stand firm. The removal of restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz remains a key precondition for meaningful engagement, while officials emphasize that major sticking points—especially around nuclear issues—are still unresolved. Even so, financial markets have so far absorbed these developments without major disruption.
Behind the scenes, quieter diplomatic efforts appear to be ongoing. Asim Munir has reportedly engaged with Trump, underscoring that the Hormuz situation remains a central obstacle. There are indications that this view has been acknowledged, though it’s unclear whether it will lead to concrete progress.
If negotiations resume and produce a breakthrough, improved risk sentiment could support gold and potentially drive it toward the $5,000 level. If not, investors should be prepared for a more volatile and uneven trajectory ahead.
A Waiting Game for Now
For the time being, gold’s outlook remains finely poised. Much depends on the direction of bond yields and the US dollar—both of which are closely linked to inflation expectations and, importantly, movements in oil prices. In that context, ongoing developments in the Middle East continue to be the primary catalyst.
For now, a patient approach appears to be the most sensible course.
The conflict with Iran appears to be moving toward some kind of negotiated outcome, though the timing and specifics remain unclear. As the war drags on—and as the Iranian regime endures—the likelihood of a decisive US victory, understood as Tehran’s full capitulation, seems to diminish. This suggests a prolonged, uneven phase of de-escalation, with ongoing disruptions to the global economy likely in the meantime.
From this perspective, Iran is unlikely to win militarily. The US, on the other hand, has the capability to secure a decisive victory, but achieving unconditional surrender would almost certainly require a large-scale ground invasion—an option that appears improbable given the political costs, as seen in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Vietnam.
While the US can continue to intensify air and missile strikes, the impact of such tactics may be waning after weeks of sustained bombardment by US and Israeli forces. Expanding attacks on Iran’s infrastructure could inflict significant economic damage, but it remains uncertain whether this would compel the regime to fully concede, especially as it views the conflict as existential.
Given these dynamics, the most likely outcome is a gradual shift toward negotiations shaped by realities on the ground. The timing and structure of any agreement will depend on internal pressures—such as resource constraints and public sentiment—which create different breaking points for each side.
For the US, key concerns include maintaining its global credibility and influence in the Middle East, as well as managing economic repercussions. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already driven energy prices sharply higher, highlighting Iran’s ability to disrupt a critical global supply route and the limited options available to the US to fully counter such actions.
A critical vulnerability for Iran is the risk of economic exhaustion. While Tehran may be able to disrupt energy flows from the Gulf, the US has the capacity to tighten restrictions on Iran’s own oil exports—its primary source of income.
Ultimately, the situation may hinge on which side yields first.
China could emerge as a key, if understated, influence. As the largest buyer of Iranian oil—accounting for over 80% of its exports in 2025, and roughly 13–14% of China’s seaborne crude imports, according to Kpler—Beijing holds significant economic leverage. At the same time, China maintains extensive trade ties with the US, despite ongoing tariffs, giving it strong incentives to balance relations with both sides.
This dual positioning suggests China could quietly shape the path toward negotiations. One important dynamic to watch is whether Beijing uses its leverage to keep Iran engaged in talks, even as it continues to support Tehran’s capacity to withstand US pressure.
For the US, the key issue is when mounting political and economic pressures might convince President Trump that negotiation is the most viable option. Another open question is how far Washington is prepared to go in further weakening Iran’s economy. While escalation may be tempting, it comes with clear trade-offs. A renewed military push would likely keep energy exports constrained, sustaining higher inflation and dampening economic growth both domestically and globally.
In the end, neither side may achieve the outcome it seeks—only a compromise that both can ultimately accept.
The latest decline in gold and silver has taken investors by surprise again, but for reasons quite different from the late-February correction. While that earlier drop was largely the result of positioning and technical factors, the current weakness is unfolding amid escalating geopolitical tensions and tighter financial conditions. Despite these differences, both episodes underscore how sensitive precious metals are to changes in interest rates, the US dollar, and overall liquidity. Here are five key takeaways shaping the current market move:
Macro Forces Are Now in Control
Unlike the February selloff, which stemmed mainly from position unwinding, this decline is being driven by broader macro dynamics. Rising tensions between the US and Iran have pushed oil prices higher, lifting inflation expectations and prompting markets to reassess the outlook for interest rates. As yields climb and the dollar strengthens, gold faces pressure as a non-yielding, dollar-priced asset. This marks a fundamentally driven shift rather than a technical correction.
The Dollar Is Overtaking Gold’s Safe-Haven Role
Although geopolitical risks typically support gold, the US dollar has emerged as the preferred safe haven this time. Instead of flowing into gold, capital is rotating into dollar-denominated assets as financial conditions tighten. This has created an unusual scenario where risk aversion rises even as gold prices fall, with the dollar absorbing most of the defensive demand.
Real Yields Remain the Critical Channel
Real yields have played a central role in both downturns. In February, a mild adjustment in rate-cut expectations weighed on gold. Now, higher energy prices are pushing up inflation expectations while reducing the likelihood of near-term rate cuts, keeping real yields elevated. This continues to exert downward pressure on precious metals.
Silver Is Amplifying Market Moves
Silver’s steeper drop highlights its higher volatility and dual identity as both a precious and industrial metal. Previously impacted by speculative positioning, it is now also facing concerns about slowing global growth as rising energy costs threaten demand. This combination makes silver more vulnerable and prone to larger swings than gold.
Stability Hinges on Multiple Uncertain Factors
The outlook for gold and silver remains unclear. While February’s stabilization depended on positioning resetting, the current trajectory will be shaped by a more complex mix of factors: the persistence of the energy shock, the Federal Reserve’s response, and the direction of the US dollar. A de-escalation in geopolitical tensions could spark a quick rebound, but if inflation stays elevated and delays rate cuts, precious metals may continue to face headwinds in the near term.
Daily Charts for Gold and Silver
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Gold prices climbed during Asian trading on Wednesday, rebounding from a one-week low after the U.S. extended its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, though uncertainty around future peace negotiations persisted.
The precious metal had come under pressure in the previous session after Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh indicated he had not assured President Donald Trump of any interest rate cuts if confirmed.
Spot gold gained 0.9% to $4,763.66 per ounce, while gold futures advanced 1.3% to $4,782.21/oz as of 02:45 ET (06:45 GMT). Prices continued to trade within the $4,700–$4,900 range observed over the past two weeks.
Other precious metals also posted gains, with spot silver rising 2.4% to $78.5335/oz and spot platinum increasing 2.3% to $2,087.15/oz.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, opening the door for further negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Despite the extension offering some near-term relief, the outlook for future peace talks remains unclear. Expected discussions between the U.S. and Iran, which were slated for Tuesday, collapsed at the last minute.
Trump also stated that a naval blockade against Iran would stay in place, prompting backlash from Iranian officials, who described the move as an “act of war.”
Gold has faced difficulties since the conflict began, as safe-haven demand has been outweighed by concerns over the war’s potential to drive inflation.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in late February, the metal has traded more like a risk-sensitive asset, often moving in line with equities as market sentiment shifts with developments in the situation.
Warsh signals no pledge on rate cuts, hints at major Fed policy changes
Precious metals came under pressure on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened, supported by market reaction to testimony from Kevin Warsh.
Warsh stressed the importance of the Federal Reserve’s independence from political influence, while also pointing to the possibility of a significant policy overhaul at the central bank if he is confirmed as chair.
A former Fed governor, Warsh is viewed as less dovish than markets had anticipated. His nomination in late January had already sparked sharp declines in gold and other precious metals.
Although his confirmation appears likely, the timeline remains uncertain. Several Republican leaders have opposed moving forward with Warsh’s appointment until the Trump administration ends its ongoing probe into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
As a result, Powell is expected to remain in his role beyond the scheduled end of his term on May 15, particularly if Congress delays Warsh’s confirmation.
Bitcoin climbed above $78,000 on Wednesday, supported by President Donald Trump’s extension of the Iran ceasefire and stronger institutional buying, lifting overall market sentiment.
The leading cryptocurrency was last up 2.7% at $78,018.4 around 02:49 ET (06:49 GMT), after touching a 24-hour high of $78,430.4. It was also on track for a third consecutive day of gains.
Trump announces an extension of the ceasefire with Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an open-ended extension of the Iran ceasefire, noting the decision was partly influenced by requests from Pakistani officials seeking additional time for peace talks in Islamabad.
The extension remains unilateral, however, leaving uncertainty over whether Tehran will formally agree.
While the ceasefire is in place, tensions persist. The U.S. continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have yet to fully subside.
Even so, markets viewed the move as a sign of near-term de-escalation. Oil prices declined, and the U.S. dollar weakened after recent gains.
Analysts note that Bitcoin is increasingly behaving as both a risk asset and a hedge against geopolitical tensions, attracting inflows as investors balance easing risks with ongoing uncertainty.
Strategy snapped up roughly $2.5 billion worth of Bitcoin last week, marking one of its largest purchases to date.
Strategy snapped up $2.5 billion in Bitcoin last week, reinforcing market momentum amid a fresh wave of institutional demand.
The firm, Strategy Inc (NASDAQ:MSTR), revealed it purchased 34,164 BTC in the week ending April 19 at an average price of roughly $74,395 per coin. This brings its total holdings to around 815,000 bitcoins, acquired at a cumulative cost of approximately $61.6 billion—marking one of the largest buys in its history.
To finance the acquisition, Strategy leaned heavily on capital markets, raising about $2.18 billion through the sale of high-yield preferred shares and another $366 million via common stock issuance. These preferred instruments, offering yields near 11.5%, have become a central funding mechanism, enabling the company to expand its Bitcoin position while aiming to minimize shareholder dilution.
In the broader crypto market, most altcoins also moved higher on Wednesday, though gains remained modest. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, climbed 3.2% to $2,391.53, while XRP added 1.3% to $1.46. Solana, Cardano, and Polygon each rose around 2.5%, and Dogecoin gained 2.3% among meme tokens.
Sterling and the euro inched slightly higher on Wednesday, as markets found reassurance in Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh’s Senate testimony. His remarks helped ease concerns about the Federal Reserve’s independence without significantly altering expectations for interest rates.
By 03:55 ET (07:55 GMT), GBP/USD had risen 0.16% to 1.3525, moving within a daily range of 1.3498–1.3535. Meanwhile, EUR/USD climbed 0.09% to 1.1754, staying comfortably within its session band of 1.1734–1.1763.
Appearing before the Senate on Tuesday, Warsh avoided outlining specific policy moves but strongly defended the Fed’s autonomy. Analysts noted that this was enough to prevent a Treasury-driven surge in the dollar. As a result, the greenback remained largely rangebound, with the DXY struggling to break back above 99 despite steady equity performance. The S&P 500 has advanced about 3% since the beginning of the US-Iran conflict, reducing a key support factor for a stronger dollar recovery.
According to ING, the dollar’s upside remains limited by resilient equities, as European markets have not weakened enough to push EUR/USD significantly lower. The firm expects the pair to consolidate around 1.172–1.177 in the absence of meaningful diplomatic developments, with buyers likely to emerge on dips near 1.167–1.170.
For sterling, the latest UK inflation figures brought no major surprises. Higher energy prices lifted headline CPI, while core services inflation stayed broadly unchanged, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of England will keep rates on hold next week. ING continues to anticipate that the BoE will maintain its current stance through year-end, with inflation peaking around 3.5–4%—not high enough to prompt policy tightening.
Political uncertainty still weighs on the pound, as markets monitor Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s domestic position ahead of the 7 May local elections, where Labour is expected to underperform.
Meanwhile, the broader geopolitical situation remains unsettled. President Trump announced a last-minute ceasefire extension, but tensions in the Strait of Hormuz persist, with the US blockade ongoing and new reports of an incident involving a UK container ship. Going forward, both currency pairs are likely to be driven by developments related to the conflict, oil price movements, and further signals from Fed officials.
Dow Jones futures climb as sentiment improves on Iran’s plan to hold a second round of US talks ahead of the ceasefire deadline.
Wall Street ended Monday on a softer note as renewed US–Iran tensions intensified over the weekend.
Trump signaled he is unlikely to extend the truce with Tehran if no agreement is reached.
Dow Jones futures rise 0.14% to above 49,700, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures also edge higher by 0.13% and 0.27% to around 7,160 and 26,820, respectively, during Tuesday’s European session ahead of the US market open.
US equity futures move higher as sentiment improves, driven by reports that Iran will send a delegation to Islamabad for a second round of talks with the US before the truce deadline. President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan to resume negotiations, “either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning,” according to Bloomberg.
In Monday’s regular session, Wall Street ended slightly lower. The Dow Jones slipped 0.01%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 declined 0.24% and 0.26%, retreating from record highs amid renewed US–Iran tensions over the weekend. Tech stocks led the pullback, with Broadcom and Meta dropping more than 2%, and Microsoft, Nvidia, and Alphabet falling over 1%.
Trump also indicated he is unlikely to extend the truce with Tehran if no deal is reached before its expiration this week, adding that the Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until an agreement is secured. The situation has pushed oil prices higher and increased inflation concerns, reducing expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Gold comes under renewed selling pressure in the Asian session, though losses appear contained.
Persistent inflation concerns keep U.S. bond yields elevated, supporting the dollar and pressuring the metal.
However, growing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts may limit further dollar strength and help support the non-yielding gold.
Gold (XAU/USD) remains under pressure and trades below the $4,800 level in the early European session on Tuesday, though it stays above the one-week low touched a day earlier. Market participants remain doubtful about a potential US–Iran deal as tensions persist around the Strait of Hormuz. The US Navy’s seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, followed by Iran’s renewed closure of the key shipping route, has supported crude oil prices. This, in turn, has reignited inflation concerns, boosted the US dollar, and weighed on gold.
That said, stronger gains in the dollar appear limited as expectations for further rate hikes by the Federal Reserve continue to fade. According to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, markets are now pricing in roughly a 45–50% chance of a rate cut by year-end, which could cap USD strength and provide underlying support for non-yielding gold. Meanwhile, traders are likely to remain cautious amid uncertainty over whether US–Iran peace talks will materialize, making it wise to wait for clear follow-through selling before expecting deeper losses in XAU/USD.
US President Donald Trump stated that American negotiators will travel to Pakistan for another round of discussions with Iran in an effort to extend a fragile ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday. However, Iranian officials remain reluctant to engage in talks under current conditions, citing the ongoing US blockade. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran will not negotiate under pressure, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pointed to continued US ceasefire violations as a key obstacle to diplomacy. Despite this, reports indicate that an Iranian delegation may still head to Islamabad for negotiations.
Going forward, markets will stay highly sensitive to developments in the US–Iran situation, which could drive volatility across asset classes. In addition, traders will look to testimony from Fed Chairman-designate Kevin Warsh for further direction. Given the mixed fundamental backdrop, caution remains warranted before taking strong directional positions in gold.
Gold (XAU/USD) – 4-hour timeframe chart
The bullish outlook for gold remains intact as long as price stays above the 200-period EMA and the 50% Fibonacci retracement, a zone that now acts as a confluence support after previously serving as resistance.
The metal continues to show a constructive short-term tone, holding above the 200 EMA at $4,784.25. Just below, the 50% retracement of the March decline at $4,762.13 reinforces this support area, suggesting underlying buying interest. However, momentum indicators are relatively neutral rather than strongly trending—RSI is hovering around 51, while MACD remains slightly in negative territory—indicating that although bulls are still in control structurally, upside momentum is not particularly strong at the moment.
In terms of levels, immediate support lies at the 200 EMA ($4,784.25), followed by the 50% retracement at $4,762.13. A decisive break below this zone could open the door to deeper Fibonacci support levels at $4,607.05 and $4,415.17, with the broader downside target near $4,105.01. On the upside, resistance begins at the 61.8% retracement level at $4,917.21, with further barriers at $5,138.01 (78.6%) and the cycle high around $5,419.25, where rejection could potentially limit further gains in the current bullish phase.
Oil prices dropped by more than $1 on Tuesday, giving back the previous session’s gains, as expectations grew that U.S.–Iran peace talks this week could ease tensions and allow more crude supply from the Middle East.
Brent crude fell $1.04 (1.1%) to $94.44 per barrel by 0600 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May declined $1.66 (1.9%) to $87.95, with the contract expiring Tuesday, while the more active June contract slipped $1.24 (1.4%) to $86.18.
This pullback followed a sharp rally on Monday, when Brent jumped 5.6% and WTI surged 6.9% after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again and the U.S. seized an Iranian cargo vessel as part of its blockade.
Despite ongoing risks, market sentiment is being driven by optimism that negotiations could extend the current ceasefire or even produce a broader agreement, though disruptions to supply remain a concern.
ING analysts noted that while prices spiked after the Strait of Hormuz closure, trading patterns still reflect confidence in diplomatic progress, warning that markets may be underestimating the scale of supply disruptions.
Iran is considering joining peace talks in Pakistan, according to a senior official, as Islamabad works to mediate and end the U.S. blockade. However, the blockade continues to complicate Tehran’s participation, especially with the current two-week ceasefire nearing its expiry.
Citi analysts expect a memorandum of understanding or a ceasefire extension this week, potentially leading to a wider deal, but caution that prolonged disruptions remain possible if negotiations fail.
Uncertainty persists, as Iranian officials emphasized no final decision has been made. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi cited ongoing U.S. ceasefire violations as a barrier, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reiterated that Iran will not negotiate under pressure.
Meanwhile, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—responsible for roughly 20% of global oil flows—remained constrained. Citi estimates that if disruptions last another month, losses could reach 1.3 billion barrels, pushing prices toward $110 per barrel in Q2 2026.
Kuwait has declared force majeure on oil exports due to the blockade, while higher prices have already reduced global demand by about 3%, according to Societe Generale. The bank warned that risks skew toward greater losses the longer supply disruptions persist, with full normalization unlikely before late 2026.
One by one, quietly and without public notice, central banks around the world are repatriating their gold reserves. From New Delhi to Belgrade, Frankfurt to Paris, institutions are arriving at similar conclusions independently. The trust that once supported the postwar reserve architecture is beginning to show visible cracks.
Introduction
The last time France withdrew its gold from American custody was in 1965. Under Charles de Gaulle, who viewed the Bretton Woods system as granting the United States an “exorbitant privilege,” France dispatched a warship to New York to exchange dollars for gold—directly challenging US monetary supremacy.
Six years later, President Richard Nixon ended the dollar’s convertibility into gold, effectively dismantling the Bretton Woods gold standard. Six decades on, France has again quietly reduced its gold holdings stored at the New York Federal Reserve. This time, instead of geopolitical confrontation, the move is executed through discreet financial transfers, driven by a €12.8 billion arbitrage opportunity.
Despite the change in method, the underlying motivation appears familiar: persistent skepticism toward dollar-centric financial systems and a renewed emphasis on monetary sovereignty. While history does not repeat exactly, developments in gold markets often echo earlier patterns with notable precision.
The Silent Return
For much of the postwar period, the physical location of gold reserves was rarely questioned. Many central banks—particularly in Europe and the developing world—kept their gold in custodial vaults such as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of England, assuming these locations were neutral, liquid, and politically secure. That long-standing assumption is now weakening.
Recent data supports this shift. The World Gold Council’s Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey 2025, based on responses from 73 institutions, shows that 59% of central banks now store at least part of their gold domestically, up from 41% in 2024 and 50% in 2020. Since 1972, approximately 6,900 tonnes of gold have been repatriated to national vaults.
This marks an 18-percentage-point increase in just five years, with most of the change occurring in the past year alone. The same survey also found that 95% of central banks expect global gold reserves to rise further over the next 12 months, indicating a broadly shared expectation of continued accumulation among monetary authorities.
The driver behind this shift is increasingly evident. The 2022 freezing of around $300 billion in Russian foreign currency reserves sent a powerful message: assets held abroad may not remain fully under the owner’s control in times of geopolitical stress. An updated 2025 Invesco survey of central banks shows that the share storing gold domestically has increased by 18 percentage points since that episode—suggesting a striking alignment between the event and changing reserve behavior.
Gold has traditionally been regarded as the ultimate safe-haven asset, but recent developments revealed a less discussed vulnerability: what was once framed as market risk has increasingly become jurisdictional and counterparty risk. In other words, even physical reserves held in trusted foreign vaults depend on political continuity and legal access—risks that were previously underappreciated.
The reaction has been broad-based and measured in substantial volumes. Bloomberg reports that India has repatriated roughly 280 tonnes of gold over the past four years, including a notable transfer from the Bank of England in 2024. In July 2025, it was also reported that Serbia brought back its entire gold holdings—worth about $6 billion—into domestic storage, deliberately avoiding reliance on established international custodial centers.
Other countries, including Poland, Turkey, and Nigeria, have followed similar paths. While much of this movement has been led by emerging markets, the trend is gradually extending into parts of Western Europe as well, pointing to a broader structural rethinking of where ultimate financial security resides.
The pace of accumulation further strengthens this trend. According to World Gold Council data, central banks purchased more than 1,000 tonnes of gold annually in 2022, 2023, and 2024—an unprecedented sustained buying cycle in modern history. Although this pace eased to 863 tonnes in 2025, it still remained exceptionally high by historical standards.
By early 2026, total gold held by central banks worldwide was estimated at around $4 trillion, overtaking, for the first time, the roughly $3.9 trillion in US Treasury securities held by the same institutions. According to the World Gold Council and Visual Capitalist, this shift reflects a meaningful rebalancing of global reserve preferences, with potential long-term implications for the international monetary system.
France’s Banque de France offers a particularly illustrative case. Between July 2025 and January 2026, it carried out a discreet program involving 129 tonnes of gold stored at the New York Federal Reserve—about 5% of its total 2,437-tonne holdings—executed through 26 separate transactions. However, this was not a straightforward physical repatriation.
Instead of transporting older bars across the Atlantic, the central bank sold legacy-format gold in New York and replaced it with modern London Good Delivery bars held in Paris. The result was effectively a swap in form rather than a logistical relocation.
As reported by La Tribune, the financial outcome was striking: a combined €12.8 billion gain—€11 billion in 2025 and €1.8 billion in 2026—achieved without physically moving the metal. While often described in the press as repatriation, the operation was more accurately a form of quality arbitrage that incidentally increased domestic holdings.
The End of the American Vault Illusion
Germany’s case underscores the strategic significance of this shift more clearly than France’s quieter financial maneuvers. The Bundesbank continues to hold 1,236 tonnes of gold at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York—around 36.6% of its total 3,378-tonne reserves—and this remains the largest single foreign gold position stored at the NY Fed.
Between 2013 and 2017, Germany conducted the largest gold repatriation operation in modern history, withdrawing 674 tonnes from both New York and Paris. This process was framed at the time as a technical modernization of reserve management rather than a strategic pivot.
For context, the New York Federal Reserve currently stores roughly 6,331 tonnes of foreign sovereign gold. Germany alone accounts for nearly one-fifth of all foreign-held gold in its vaults in lower Manhattan, highlighting how concentrated global trust once was in a single custodial hub.
From 2013 to 2021, Germany repatriated about 300 tonnes from New York and 283 tonnes from Paris, completing what was widely regarded as a normalization of storage practices. The remaining 1,236 tonnes were, at the time, still considered securely and appropriately held abroad.
What has changed since then is not necessarily the security of the vault itself, but the perception of what “secure custody” means in a more fragmented geopolitical environment.
This ruling is increasingly subject to political debate. In January 2026, former senior Bundesbank official Emanuel Mönch warned that, amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, concentrating large volumes of gold in the United States poses risks. He argued that the Bundesbank should consider further repatriation as a way to enhance strategic autonomy. His position echoes a widening political consensus in Germany, spanning parties from the AfD to figures within the Greens and FDP.
Despite this, the Bundesbank has not changed its official policy. It continues to regard New York as a safe and dependable storage hub, and no additional repatriation initiative is currently planned. Nevertheless, the divergence between institutional continuity and mounting political pressure is becoming more pronounced.
At a deeper level, the issue is structural. For many years, the rationale for keeping gold in New York rested on three foundations: liquidity, given the ability to quickly trade or mobilize gold in the world’s largest market; network advantages, driven by the scale and efficiency of the LBMA and New York Federal Reserve gold markets; and political confidence, based on the assumption that US custody would not be used as a geopolitical lever.
Each of these pillars has since been weakened to some extent. The 2022 sanctions episode demonstrated that the US and its allies are willing to deploy financial infrastructure as an instrument of geopolitical pressure. A more transactional approach in US foreign policy has further reinforced such concerns. At the same time, improvements in European gold markets and LBMA access have reduced the liquidity advantages of storing reserves in New York, making domestic storage increasingly viable without significant market disadvantage.
The Overlooked Gold Catalyst Markets Still Haven’t Factored In
Investment banks are largely aligned on a continued rise in gold prices, though their forecasts differ, reflecting varying views on how quickly central bank behavior is shifting.
Goldman Sachs has lifted its 2026–2027 outlook to $4,000–$5,400, pointing to sustained demand from emerging-market central banks. J.P. Morgan Private Bank is even more bullish, projecting $6,000–$6,300, attributing the upside to accelerating diversification away from the US dollar. UBS takes a more moderate stance at around $4,200, but similarly highlights a global trend of reducing dollar exposure.
Taken together, the wide forecast range of roughly $3,100 to $6,300 is less a sign of disagreement about direction and more about uncertainty over timing—particularly the speed of gold repatriation and reserve reallocation. The common thread across all projections is a shared conviction in a longer-term bullish trend, driven by evolving central bank strategies. Early 2026 pricing behavior already appears to be reinforcing this growing institutional confidence in gold.
Gold repatriation does not change the total global supply; it simply reallocates where and how gold is held and accessed. For example, when the Banque de France substituted New York-held ingots with London Good Delivery bars in Paris, global central bank reserves remained unchanged, with only a shift in classification and location. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), which clears roughly $30 billion in gold transactions daily, operates on the assumption that institutional gold is readily accessible regardless of storage location.
As the pool of immediately available gold tightens, borrowing costs tend to increase, price spreads widen, and physical gold can trade at a premium to paper claims. This reflects a scarcity of deliverable metal that is not captured in conventional supply-flow data and is often underrepresented in market models—highlighting that distribution can matter as much as total stock.
If Germany were to pursue a similar repatriation of its 1,236 tonnes held at the New York Fed, the effects on the physical market would be more pronounced. Such a move would require sourcing, refining to current delivery standards, and physically transporting the gold, generating real demand pressure within the LBMA system, even though global central bank holdings would remain unchanged.
This scenario is not currently priced in by markets. While the German repatriation debate remains largely political and the Bundesbank has given no indication of imminent action, the underlying drivers that prompted France’s earlier decision—bar standard considerations, proximity to European counterparties, and a geopolitical preference for domestic custody—are similarly relevant to Germany.
Understanding the De-Dollarisation Trend
Gold repatriation is frequently framed as a symbolic geopolitical gesture, but its implications are more tangible. When central banks repatriate gold, they also reduce their dependence on the dollar-based financial system, including its clearing mechanisms, custodial arrangements, and settlement infrastructure. Each tonne of gold brought back reduces exposure to dollar-linked channels and potential sanctions risk.
This shift is already becoming measurable. By early 2026, the value of gold held by central banks exceeded their holdings of US Treasuries—approximately $4 trillion compared with $3.9 trillion. This signals a gradual but persistent move away from the US dollar’s role as the dominant reserve asset. Unlike traditional currency diversification, this transition is difficult to capture fully in official statistics, yet it is ongoing, accelerating, and still not fully reflected in market pricing.
Historically, gold prices have tended to decline when the US dollar strengthens and real interest rates rise. However, this relationship has weakened since 2022, as central banks have emerged as significant buyers driven more by geopolitical considerations than by traditional market indicators such as yields or currency movements. This introduces a form of demand that is relatively insensitive to price.
Consequently, conventional gold valuation models are becoming less reliable and often understate price levels. This shift also helps explain why institutions such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and UBS are projecting significantly higher gold prices than would have been considered plausible prior to 2022. In effect, the pricing dynamics of gold have evolved, while many existing models have yet to fully adjust.
Conclusion
The structural argument for gold repatriation is compelling, but it is not without inconsistencies. Recent conflicts in the Middle East have added further complexity, at times pressuring both gold and the US dollar simultaneously and disrupting traditional market correlations. Central banks also do not act as a single coordinated group—some are accumulating gold, others are repatriating it, while some are still selling under financial or policy constraints.
Although data from the World Gold Council, analyst price targets, and observable repatriation flows support the broader trend, the pace is uneven and motivations vary significantly across institutions. Gold continues to function as a form of monetary insurance, but its behavior and underlying drivers are more nuanced and less linear than the prevailing narrative often implies.
Markets are increasingly betting that the conflict with Iran has come to an end. Yet even if that assumption holds, the economic repercussions are likely to persist for months—if not years.
While global attention tends to center on the immediate spectacle of war—airstrikes, blockades, and sanctions—the most disruptive consequences often emerge more slowly. In the Persian Gulf, the true impact is delayed, carried across the world through disrupted shipping routes and declining exports of oil, natural gas, and key agricultural inputs. Because of these lags, the global economy is only beginning to absorb the shock from reduced supply.
As Comfort Ero of the International Crisis Group observes, wars expose the fragile systems that quietly sustain everyday life. Strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz—normally overlooked—suddenly become critical when they falter.
Oil shipments from the Gulf typically take between 30 and 45 days to reach major markets. That delay means supply disruptions don’t show up immediately. Instead, countries draw down existing inventories while incoming supply gradually shrinks. By the time shortages become visible, the disruption has already been building for weeks.
Recent data underscores this dynamic. OPEC output plunged by 27% in March, signaling the first wave of global supply strain. Even under a sustained ceasefire, a rapid recovery appears unlikely. Industry leaders estimate it could take months for production in the region to return to normal levels.
At the same time, the easing of military tensions may create a false sense of stability. Beneath the surface, the economic damage continues to accumulate. Supply chain pressures are only now intensifying. Companies are beginning to feel the strain—illustrated by manufacturers halting orders due to shortages tied to disruptions in the energy supply chain.
The agricultural sector offers another clear example. With planting season nearing its end, rising fertilizer and fuel costs are forcing farmers to make difficult choices: cut back production or absorb significant financial losses. Many are already reporting deteriorating financial conditions.
Although limited shipping activity has resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, it remains uncertain how quickly normal export levels can be restored. Even if the passage reopens soon, the broader damage—to infrastructure, refining capacity, and logistics networks—will take far longer to repair, ensuring that the war’s economic aftershocks continue well into the future.
Oil isn’t the only export under threat. The Persian Gulf also supplies large volumes of natural gas liquids, ammonia, urea, and other petrochemical inputs that are vital to global fertilizer production. Prolonged disruptions to these flows could ripple through agricultural supply chains worldwide.
Even a short delay in shipments can trigger cascading effects—tightening fertilizer supplies, reducing crop yields, and driving up food prices months down the line.
In this sense, the war’s impact on oil and fertilizer inputs resembles a slow-building shockwave. For now, the global economy is cushioned by existing inventories and shipments made before the conflict. But as those buffers wear thin, declining exports from the Gulf are likely to place increasing strain on energy markets, food production, and overall economic stability.
The most significant consequences are not in the past—they are only starting to surface.
Geopolitical tensions involving Iran, fresh U.S. retail sales figures, and a surge in Q1 earnings reports are set to drive market sentiment in the coming week.
Tesla stands out as a potential buy, supported by improving turnaround momentum and closely watched forward guidance that could reshape investor expectations.
In contrast, Intel appears vulnerable after a strong recent rally, with downside risks emerging from stretched valuations and potential profit-taking.
U.S. equities surged on Friday after investors welcomed Iran’s move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each notched their third consecutive record close, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its strongest finish since late February.
For the week, the S&P 500 climbed 4.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 3.2%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite surged 6.8%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 gained 5.6%.
Looking ahead, market focus will once again center on developments in the Middle East and movements in oil prices, after Iran stated on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is now “under strict control” by its forces—marking a sharp shift from Friday’s stance.
Potential direct talks between the U.S. and Iran may take place in Pakistan on Monday, although Tehran indicated that no official date has been confirmed. Meanwhile, the current two-week ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday.
On the economic front, attention will also turn to U.S. data releases, including retail sales, initial jobless claims, and consumer sentiment, in what is expected to be a relatively quiet week for macroeconomic indicators.
The Senate Banking Committee is set to hold a confirmation hearing on Tuesday for Kevin Warsh regarding his nomination as Federal Reserve chair.
At the same time, earnings season is moving into full swing, with several major companies scheduled to report results in the week ahead, including Tesla, Intel, IBM, Boeing, GE Aerospace, UnitedHealth, AT&T, American Express, and United Airlines.
Regardless of how the broader market unfolds, the focus below highlights one stock that appears poised to attract buying interest and another that could face renewed downside pressure. Note that this outlook is strictly short-term, covering the trading week from Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24.
Stock to watch for buying: Tesla
Tesla heads into its Q1 2026 earnings with strong momentum. After breaking a prolonged losing streak, the stock posted its best weekly gain since last May and is now trading close to the $400 level ahead of the announcement.
Options markets are pricing in a move of around 6% following the earnings release—significant, though not unusual for Tesla. If results meet or exceed expectations, accompanied by positive forward guidance and convincing updates on long-term autonomy and product development, the stock could see an even larger upside move as investor sentiment shifts.
Wall Street forecasts adjusted earnings of $0.36 per share, marking an approximate 33% year-over-year increase from a weaker Q1 2025. Revenue is expected to rise 15% to $22.28 billion.
However, the spotlight will be on guidance and strategic commentary from CEO Elon Musk. Investors will closely watch developments in key areas such as the robotaxi initiative, Cybercab production plans, and the rollout timeline for Full Self-Driving technology.
Markets are also paying attention to any updates related to a potential SpaceX IPO and how it might connect to Tesla’s broader ecosystem. Positive signals on this front could further boost bullish sentiment.
As Tesla continues to be valued more as an AI and robotics company rather than purely an EV manufacturer, strong earnings or encouraging autonomy-related updates could drive additional upside.
Trade Setup:
Entry: ~$401
Target: $436 (+8.7%)
Stop-loss: $387 (-3.5%)
Stock to consider selling: Intel
Intel is heading into a more difficult earnings setup, making it a potential sell or avoid candidate this week. The company is scheduled to report Q1 results on Thursday at 4:00 PM ET, with options markets implying a sizable post-earnings move of around ±9%.
Wall Street expects adjusted earnings per share of roughly $0.02, representing a steep 87% decline compared to the same period last year. Revenue is projected to slip 2% to about $12.4 billion, pressured by ongoing softness in the PC market and continued losses in its foundry segment.
Looking forward, Intel is likely to guide revenue in the $11.7–$12.7 billion range. Despite its widely discussed turnaround strategy, tangible progress remains limited. The foundry business continues to burn cash while facing intense competition from TSMC and Samsung. Meanwhile, its GPU and AI accelerator products have yet to gain meaningful traction in the market.
Although INTC shares have surged about 85% year-to-date in 2026, this strong rally leaves the stock exposed to profit-taking, especially if earnings or guidance disappoint.
From a technical perspective, the RSI stands at an elevated 79.05, signaling overbought conditions. Additionally, declining volume during recent price increases suggests weakening buying momentum as the stock nears resistance in the $70.33–$72.33 range (upper Bollinger Band).
Given the likelihood of underwhelming results and cautious guidance, Intel may present a classic “sell-the-news” scenario. Investors could consider trimming positions ahead of the earnings release.
Silver remained under pressure as rising oil prices—driven by renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—intensified inflation concerns. Meanwhile, Iran accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire after firing on a commercial vessel and warned of imminent retaliation, while also reversing plans to reopen the strait after Washington refused to lift its blockade on Iranian ports.
Silver (XAG/USD) trimmed losses to trade near $80.50 per ounce in Asian hours, but remained under pressure as a surge in oil prices—driven by renewed Strait of Hormuz tensions—heightened inflation risks and expectations of further rate hikes.
The situation escalated after Iran accused the U.S. of breaching a ceasefire by attacking a commercial vessel, while Washington confirmed seizing an Iranian ship. Tehran also отказed to resume negotiations, reversed its brief plan to reopen the strait after the U.S. maintained its port blockade, and warned of retaliation as geopolitical tensions intensified.
Oil
WTI crude climbed to around $86.70 in early Asian trading, supported by the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which heightened supply concerns, while Iran warned of imminent retaliation following a U.S. naval seizure.
WTI crude traded near $86.70 in early Asian hours on Monday, supported by escalating U.S.–Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz that raised fears of supply disruptions. Iran accused the U.S. of breaching a ceasefire after attacking a commercial vessel and warned of retaliation, while also rejecting new peace talks despite Washington’s push for further negotiations.
Meanwhile, traders are awaiting Tuesday’s API inventory report, with a larger draw likely to support prices and a build potentially weighing on the market.
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market value, fell 2.02% to trade at 75,064.2 as of 5:46 ET (10:46 GMT), declining after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a broader risk-off mood across global markets.
Often described as “digital gold,” the asset has struggled to retain its safe-haven status amid the uncertainty, contributing to a wider crypto sell-off as investors move to reevaluate their portfolio exposure.
Geopolitical pressures and institutional flows
Bitcoin’s recent drop is closely tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East. With the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising concerns about a broader regional conflict, global markets have turned cautious, prompting investors to shift capital away from riskier, more volatile assets.
Even so, institutional activity tells a more layered story. Bitcoin ETFs have recently attracted $663.91 million in inflows, lifting total net assets in the segment beyond the $100 billion mark.
At the same time, Ether ETFs recorded $127.49 million in inflows, extending their streak to seven consecutive days and pointing to steady growth in institutional demand.
Wider fund participation also remains visible, as XRP saw $13.74 million in inflows while Solana drew $13.04 million, highlighting continued interest across a range of crypto ETF products.
Industry developments deepen the downturn
Beyond the immediate geopolitical shock, underlying structural challenges within the digital asset space have further weighed on investor sentiment.
Recent reports indicate continued regulatory uncertainty surrounding decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, dampening enthusiasm across ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana. This lack of clarity has created a feedback loop of caution, indirectly pressuring Bitcoin as investors adopt a more defensive, wait-and-see approach.
The cautious mood is reinforced by thin market conditions. Data shows a noticeable decline in stablecoin liquidity across major centralized exchanges, reducing depth in order books. In such an environment, price swings tend to be more pronounced, leaving Bitcoin increasingly exposed to sharp drops and forced liquidations during periods of heightened stress.
Adding to the pressure, persistent inflation concerns and evolving interest rate expectations continue to weigh on risk assets. With yields on safer instruments remaining relatively high, the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like Bitcoin increases, discouraging the kind of aggressive accumulation that previously supported its upward momentum.
Crypto prices today: altcoins decline after Strait closure
Altcoins also moved lower following Iran’s announcement, mirroring the broader market downturn triggered by renewed geopolitical tensions.
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, dropped 2.89% to $2,307.42, while XRP, ranked third, fell 2.12% to $1.4198.
Meanwhile, Solana and Cardano recorded steeper losses of 3.40% and 3.54%, respectively.
Among meme coins, Dogecoin slid 3.40%, reflecting widespread weakness across the altcoin segment.
The U.S. dollar climbed to a one-week high against major currencies on Monday, as renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran and fading hopes for a Middle East peace agreement pushed investors toward safe-haven assets.
Washington said it had seized an Iranian cargo vessel attempting to breach its blockade, while Tehran vowed retaliation, raising fears that hostilities could flare up again. Iran also announced it would not join a second round of talks the U.S. had aimed to begin before a two-week ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
According to Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, the weekend escalation has brought geopolitical risk back into focus just as markets had begun to price in a potential peace dividend. She added that rising oil prices are not only an energy concern but also have broader implications for economic growth and interest rates.
The euro slipped 0.14% to $1.1746, while the British pound dropped 0.29% to $1.3479. The Australian dollar, often seen as a risk-sensitive currency, declined 0.3% to $0.7145 in early trading.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the currency against six major peers, stood at 98.38, near a one-week high and recovering some recent losses. Despite this rebound, the index remains down 1.5% for April, as improving risk sentiment earlier in the month had weighed on the dollar. In contrast, it surged 2.3% in March amid strong safe-haven demand following the outbreak of war.
Barclays analysts noted that investor sentiment still favors the dollar, suggesting there may be room for further downside if Middle East tensions ease. They added that any short-term market volatility could present opportunities to rebuild short dollar positions, though uncertainty remains high.
Now in its eighth week, the conflict has triggered one of the most severe disruptions to global energy supply, driving oil prices sharply higher due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for roughly 20% of global oil shipments.
The U.S. has continued its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has alternated between lifting and reimposing restrictions on shipping through the strategic waterway. This uncertainty pushed oil prices higher on Monday, with Brent crude rising 7% to $96.8 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate gaining over 8% to $90.74.
Nick Twidale, chief market strategist at ATFX Global in Sydney, said the Strait of Hormuz remains the central concern, and hopes for renewed negotiations before the ceasefire ends now appear unlikely. He expects risk assets to face further downward pressure in the near term.
Elsewhere, the New Zealand dollar edged down slightly to $0.5876, while the Japanese yen weakened to 159.06 per dollar, approaching the key 160 level that could prompt intervention by authorities.
Attention is also turning to the Bank of Japan’s upcoming meeting later this month. Governor Kazuo Ueda has avoided firmly signaling an April rate hike due to uncertainty from the conflict but hinted at a more hawkish stance following last week’s IMF meetings, leaving open the possibility of policy tightening by June.
In cryptocurrency markets, bitcoin fell 0.56% to $74,229.65, while ether declined 0.2% to $2,276.04.
THE ETERNAL SOVEREIGN 