|

Ethereum up before Altair upgrade [Video]

Ethereum is up before today’s network upgrade which should make its network faster and more energy-efficient, and may even lead to lower fees for users. The so-called Altair upgrade is another step in helping Ethereum transition away from the energy-hungry proof-of-work to energy-light proof-of-stake protocol when Ethereum 2.0 will be up and running next year.

Elsewhere, the earnings from US Big Tech continue flowing in and keep investors in a sweet mood. Google, Twitter and Microsoft announced mostly encouraging results, though the global shortages and Apple’s changes on privacy rules, which impact the ads business, threw some shadow on the optimism.

Elsewhere, the inflation fears and rising tensions between the US and China kept appetite contained in Asia, Chinese tech stocks remained on the crossfire, yet again.

Inflation in Australia eased, Bank of Canada is expected to maintain its policy unchanged at today’s meeting and the US durable goods orders may have fallen in September. But there is little to get the Federal Reserve (Fed) change its mind on the upcoming QE taper.

US crude is just a touch below the $85pb.

Author

Ipek Ozkardeskaya

Ipek Ozkardeskaya began her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked in HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

More from Ipek Ozkardeskaya
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD hangs near three-week low, below 0.6950 as traders await US NFP report

AUD/USD hits a three-week low during the Asian session on Friday as the RBA’s dovish shift and a rout in equity markets weigh on the risk-sensitive Aussie. However, the recent slump in US bond yields to a two-month low keeps US Dollar bulls on the back foot and limits losses for the currency pair as traders look to the US NFP report for a fresh impetus.

USD/JPY bounces off three-week low; keeps the red near 157.65 as focus remains on US NFP

USD/JPY bounces off the weekly low set during the Asian session, as bears turn cautious ahead of the US NFP report due later this Friday. The upside seems limited as the recent slump in US bond yields and hopes of Iran war de-escalation undermine the US Dollar. Moreover, a hawkish BoJ and intervention risks support the Japanese Yen, capping the pair.

Gold weakens further below $4,050; looks to US NFP for fresh impetus

Gold extends the previous day's retracement slide from a two-week high, weakening further below $4,050 during Friday’s Asian session amid modest US Dollar strength. The USD Index builds on its recovery from the lowest level since late September, and is seen weighing on the commodity. The downside, however, seems limited as traders await the release of the closely watched US monthly employment details before placing aggressive directional bets.

Zcash defies crypto market sell-off as NU7 upgrade fuels breakout hopes
Zcash (ZEC) shows resilience above $1,300 on Friday, defying the broader cryptocurrency market sell-off, which saw over $1 billion in liquidations the previous day. This strength aligns with Network Upgrade 7 (NU7), scheduled for Friday, which enables faster payments and disables older transaction pools.
Neither the election nor the US Dollar: Why Friday's payrolls hold the key to Gold's next move

Gold has climbed back above $4,000 as the US Dollar weakened following a Democratic sweep in the US midterm elections. However, with every Gold rally facing heavy selling throughout the year, investors are looking to Friday's Nonfarm Payrolls report to determine whether this move marks a sustainable breakout or just another temporary rebound.

US Dollar breaks below 101.50 as Democrats sweep Congress
The US Dollar (USD) comes under heavy selling pressure on Wednesday, with the US Dollar Index (DXY) falling around 0.5% to trade near 101.35 after sliding below the 101.50 level. The Greenback retreats to its lowest level in four weeks as investors reassess the political and economic outlook following the Democratic Party's sweeping victory in the United States (US) midterm elections.