CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Financial market research and analysis

Our analysts have their fingers on the pulse of the world's financial market news.

CFD trading is high risk and may not be suitable for everyone.
EUR rangebound pre-ECB meeting
The European Central Bank (ECB) meeting is the major highlight of the day. The ECB is expected to maintain its rates unchanged, yet to hint at the future of its Quantitative Easing (QE) program. Expectations are dovish; hence traders are mainly positioned short into the meeting. If the ECB fails to meet the dovish expectations at today’s meeting, the EURUSD could resume its rise to the critical 1.0816 / 1.0830 area (major 38.2% retracement on post-Trump slump / 50-day moving average) and step into the mid-term bullish consolidation zone.

The US dollar softened against all of its G10 counterparts in Asia. The Kiwi (+0.57%) has been the leading gainer amid the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Wheeler hinted at no additional rate cutting in the future. Improved carry appetite sent the Kiwi to a one-month high against the Aussie.

The Australian dollar has struggled with additional bad news. On top of the 0.5% quarterly contraction announced on Wednesday, the trade deficit unexpectedly widened to AU$ -1541 million from AU -$ 1227 million in October, versus AU$ -610 million expected. Solid offers above 0.7500 capped the upside in AUDUSD. More resistance is eyed at 0.7445/0.7550 area. We could expect a possible pullback to 0.7475 (minor 23.6% retracement on Dec 1st to Dec 8th recovery), before 0.7455 (major 38.2% retrace).

Softer industrial data sent the GBPUSD to 1.2569 yesterday. The 200-hour moving average (1.2585) has acted as a solid support. The recovery is underway as the pair has cleared the 1.2625 level (major 38.2% retracement on Nov 28th to Dec 6th rise). Fading negative momentum on hourly basis suggests a further recovery to 1.2682 (minor 23.6% retrace), before 1.2725 (100-day moving average) and 1.2775 (weekly resistance).

The USDJPY slipped below its 200-hour moving average (113.45) for the first time in a month. We turn neutral until a stronger signal. Intra-day support is eyed at 111.58 (minor 23.6% retracement on Nov 9th to Dec 1st rise). The EURJPY remains capped at the hourly Ichimoku cloud top (122.60) heading into the ECB meeting.

Gold traded ranged within $1173/$1178. Softer US dollar is supportive of a minor recovery, yet firm US yields are expected to cap the appetite pre-$1180/1182 (weekly descending channel top).

Oil is under pressure despite a stronger than expected decline in US crude inventories. The 50-hour moving average in WTI, $51.20, escorts the downside trend for a deeper correction to $50.00/49.86 (major 38.2% retracement on Nov 29th to Dec 5th rise) and $49.60 (200-hour moving average).

14-12-2020

GBP jumps on Brexit talks extension
The British pound has jumped in early trading this week after the UK Prime Minister and EU Commission President agreed to extend Brexit talks beyond Sunday. MARKETSThe S&P 500 fell on Friday, wrapping up a losing week, as the outlook for additional fiscal… Read more

10-12-2020

AirBnB IPO today
At its IPO price of $6 per share, Airbnb ABNB, is expected to raise at least $3.5 billion with an initial market capitalization topping $40 billion. MARKETSStocks fell on Wednesday, retreating from the record highs set earlier in the day, as tech shares strug… Read more

9-12-2020

S&P 500 closes over 3,700
MARKETSThe S&P 500 closed above 3,700 for the first time ever on Tuesday as Pfizer started to roll out its coronavirus vaccine in the U.K., lifting hope of the economy recovering in the near future. The Dow Jones gained 0.4% while the Nasdaq Composite clim… Read more

8-12-2020

Global stock market cap reaches $100 trillion for 1st time
The value of all the stocks in the world put together has reached a giant $100 trillion for the first time. MARKETSThe Dow fell 0.69% Monday, led by Intel and broad-based weakness in value stocks as rising Covid-19 restrictions offset optimism over an imminen… Read more

4-12-2020

Pfizer vaccine supply chain problems
MARKETS The S&P 500 fell slightly from record high. Major U.S stocks indices cut gains quickly in the final hour of trading after Dow Jones reported Pfizer now expects to ship half of the doses it had previously planned this year after finding raw materia… Read more

2-12-2020

Dollar Purge Continues
The US dollar dropped to fresh two-and-a-half year lows on Tuesday, with EUR/USD rising above the widely-watched 1.20 handle. MARKETSNews• Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Wednesday morning trade after major indexes on Wall Street surged to record highs o… Read more

1-12-2020

Bitcoin hits record high
The price of Bitcoin climbed 8.7% on Monday to reach a fresh record high of $19,857.03 - overtaking its previous peak made in 2017. MARKETSNews• Asia stocks rise as the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for November came in at 54.9 — its… Read more

30-11-2020

OPEC meeting starts
Today OPEC+ begin a 2-day meeting to decide whether to begin producing an extra 2 million barrels per day of oil, or delay for another 3-6 months. MARKETSNews• Asia-Pacific markets are mixed this morning while S&P 500 futures are down half a per cent. Ind… Read more