US economy grows at an annual rate of 1.6% in Q1 – LIVE
The US' real GDP expanded at an annual rate of 1.6% in the first quarter, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis' first estimate showed on Thursday. This reading came in worse than the market expectation for a growth of 2.5%.
EUR/USD retreats to 1.0700 after US GDP data
EUR/USD came under modest bearish pressure and retreated to the 1.0700 area. Although the US data showed that the economy grew at a softer pace than expected in Q1, strong inflation-related details provided a boost to the USD.
GBP/USD declines below 1.2500 with first reaction to US data
GBP/USD declined below 1.2500 and erased a portion of its daily gains with the immediate reaction to the US GDP report. The US economy expanded at a softer pace than expected in Q1 but the price deflator jumped to 3.4% from 1.8%.
Gold falls below $2,330 as US yields push higher
Gold came under modest bearish pressure and declined below $2,330. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield is up more than 1% on the day after US GDP report, making it difficult for XAU/USD to extend its daily recovery.
XRP extends its decline, crypto experts comment on Ripple stablecoin and benefits for XRP Ledger
Ripple extends decline to $0.52 on Thursday, wipes out weekly gains. Crypto expert asks Ripple CTO how the stablecoin will benefit the XRP Ledger and native token XRP.
DEEPER DIVE
Cyclical outlook: Known unknowns
In the US, the latest Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia paints a rather upbeat picture of the economic outlook. A similar survey of the ECB points towards a gradual pickup in growth this year.
Building the future
There is a construction boom underway that is quietly transforming the production capabilities and other aspects of the US economy. The fastest-growing category within nonresidential construction in recent years has been manufacturing.
Addressing the public debt challenge in the EU
Recently an agreement has been reached between representatives of the European Council, the European Parliament, and the European Commission on a new economic governance framework.
FXS Signals
Technical Confluences Detector
Gold closes below key $2,318 support, US GDP holds the key Premium
Gold price is breathing a sigh of relief early Thursday after testing offers near $2,315 once again. Broad risk-aversion seems to be helping Gold price find a floor, as traders refrain from placing any fresh directional bets on the bright metal ahead of the preliminary reading of the US first-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due later on Thursday.
Will US GDP data rescue Gold price?
Risk-off sentiment remains in full swing in Asia this Thursday, as market participants sulk following Meta’s weak revenue guidance even though the company’s first-quarter earnings results topped estimates. Meta shares plunged 16% in post-market trading after the company said it expects sales in the second quarter of $36.5 billion to $39 billion, below analysts’ estimate of $38.3 billion.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Ethereum dips slightly amid Renzo depeg, BlackRock spot ETH ETF amendment
Ethereum (ETH) suffered a brief decline on Wednesday afternoon despite increased accumulation from whales. This follows Ethereum restaking protocol Renzo restaked ETH (ezETH) crashing from its 1:1 peg with ETH and increased activities surrounding spot Ethereum ETFs.
Injective price weakness persists despite over 5.9 million INJ tokens burned
Injective (INJ) price is trading with a bearish bias, stuck in the lower section of the market range. The bearish outlook abounds despite the network's deflationary efforts to pump the price. Coupled with broader market gloom, INJ token’s doomed days may not be over yet.
US intensifies battle against crypto privacy protocols following crackdown on Samourai Wallet
CEO Keonne Rodriguez and CTO William Lonergan of Samourai Wallet were arrested by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday and charged with $100 million in money laundering on a count and illegal money transmitting on another count. This move could see privacy-focused cryptocurrencies take a dip.
Near Protocol Price Prediction: NEAR fulfills targets but a 10% correction may be on the horizon
Near Protocol price has completed a 55% mean reversal from the bottom of the market range at $4.27. Amid growing bearish activity, NEAR could drop 10% to the $6.00 psychological level before a potential recovery. A break and close above $7.95 would invalidate the downleg thesis.
THE STOCK OF THE DAY
META sinks 10% on lower Q2 revenue guidance Premium
Meta Platforms raised its capex guidance for 2024. META stock sinks 10% following the earnings release afterhours. Zuckerberg is focused on artficial intelligence developments. NASDAQ, S&P 500 traded flat to down for much of Wednesday regular session.
ECONOMIC CALENDAR
WEEKLY FORECAST
EUR/USD: Euro touches five-month low on growing expectations that ECB will ease before Fed Premium
EUR/USD managed to counter a poor start of the week and reverse course despite the European currency slipping back to the 1.0600 key support against the US Dollar (USD), or five-month lows.
GBP/USD: More downside for Pound Sterling remains on cards Premium
The Pound Sterling (GBP) accelerated its south run against the US Dollar (USD), knocking the GBP/USD pair to levels unseen since late November 2023.
US Dollar: Holding up gains amid hawkish Fed, geopolitical tensions Premium
The Greenback ended the week barely changed after the sharp increase recorded in the previous one, despite hitting new five-month peaks in the boundaries of 106.50 when tracked by the USD Index (DXY) on April 16.
Gold: Will geopolitics continue to drive XAU/USD? Premium
Gold (XAU/USD) price fluctuated in a relatively narrow range this week following the record-setting rally. Investors will continue to pay close attention to headlines surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict and scrutinize key macroeconomic data releases from the US next week.
Bitcoin: BTC post-halving rally could be partially priced in Premium
Bitcoin (BTC) price briefly slipped below the $60,000 level for the last three days, attracting buyers in this area as the fourth BTC halving is due in a few hours. Is the halving priced in for Bitcoin? Or will the pioneer crypto note more gains in the coming days?
Week ahead – US GDP and BoJ decision on top of next week’s agenda
US GDP, core PCE and PMIs the next tests for the Dollar. Investors await BoJ for guidance about next rate hike. EU and UK PMIs, as well as Australian CPIs also on tap. Earnings season heats up as tech giants report.