Summary
When the global financial crisis hit, central banks the world over decided to cut interest rates quickly to flood the financial system with money and prevent a meltdown. Four years onwards the G7 CB's are facing different challenges and different mandates. Join Mark de la Paz as he discusses the effects of interest rate decisions to financial markets in a live coverage of the ECB's Interest Rate Decision.Latest Live Videos
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD holds steady below 0.7100 after Australian trade data
AUD/USD moves little following the release of Australian Trade Balance data and consolidates below 0.7100 on Thursday. A goodish recovery in the risk sentiment acts as a tailwind for the Aussie amid bets for another RBA rate hike in May, bolstered by the upbeat GDP print on Wednesday. However, rising geopolitical tensions help limit the safe-haven US Dollar's overnight corrective pullback and cap the currency pair.
USD/JPY retreats further from YTD peak amid intervention fears, softer USD
The USD/JPY drifts lower for the second consecutive day, moving further away from its highest level since January 23, around the 158.00 area, set earlier this week. Fears of intervention, along with expectations that the BoJ will stick to its policy normalization path, support the Japanese Yen and weigh on spot prices amid a softer US Dollar. However, geopolitical tensions could benefit the USD's reserve currency status amid reduced bets for more aggressive easing by the Fed and cap the currency pair.
Gold benefits from a retreating USD; reduced Fed rate cut bets cap gains
Gold attracts some buyers for the second consecutive day on Thursday amid a modest US Dollar pullback from an over three-month high, though it remains below the $5,200 mark. Wednesday's upbeat US macro data further tempered hopes for three rate cuts by the Fed in 2026. Furthermore, escalating Middle East tensions might continue to benefit the USD's status as the global reserve currency and contribute to capping the bullion.
Morgan Stanley files amended S-1 for spot Bitcoin ETF
Morgan Stanley submitted an amended S-1 filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, providing additional details on its proposed Bitcoin exchange-traded fund.
First Venezuela, now Iran: The US-China energy war escalates Premium
At first glance, the latest escalation involving the United States with both Iran and Venezuela looks like another chapter in a long-running geopolitical story. But viewed through a broader strategic lens, something else may be unfolding: Energy.
Here is what you need to know on Thursday, March 5:
The US Dollar (USD) eased on Wednesday after a two-day rally drove the US Dollar Index (DXY) near the 100.00 mark. The Greenback ignored the positive employment data and ISM Services PMI as the ongoing war between the US and Iran weights on sentiment.