Gold pulls back, equities on ATHs, Dollar awaits Fed decision and NFP – What to expect this week [Video]

Jasper Osita Independent Analyst

This week’s session outlined the critical setups developing across stocks, bitcoin, and the U.S. Dollar as markets head into a high-impact week.

The US30, NAS100, and SPX500 have all pushed to fresh ATHs, extending the bullish momentum we highlighted in previous webinars. Strong earnings flows and improving risk sentiment have kept stocks supported, though volatility could rise with key event risks looming.

The spotlight is now on the Federal Reserve rate decision and Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) on Friday. A hawkish Fed tone could fuel further U.S. dollar strength, especially if Friday’s jobs report is strong. Rising jobs amid sticky inflation is viewed as a healthy sign for the economy, showing consumers are still spending despite higher prices, which could further justify the Fed’s cautious stance.

On the crypto front, Bitcoin remains under pressure, reflecting the risk-on rotation into equities. However, BTC is also forming a base for a potential leg higher, reinforcing its role as "digital gold" during shifting macro flows. Reclaiming key levels could confirm bullish continuation.

Roadmap for this week

Key levels on US30, NAS100, SPX500, Bitcoin, and the US Dollar.
High-probability breakout or rejection zones across equities and crypto.
Macro narrative ahead of the Fed decision and NFP and how they could shift sentiment.
Why a strong jobs report could boost the dollar even with sticky inflation.
Bitcoin’s next leg higher and how to position around its role as digital gold.

Looking to position ahead of the next big swing?

Author

Jasper Osita

Independent Analyst

Jasper has been in the markets since 2019 trading currencies, indices and commodities like Gold. His approach in the market is heavily accompanied by technical analysis, trading Smart Money Concepts (SMC) with fundamentals in mind.

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold clings to gains just above $5,000/oz

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The precious metal’s move higher is also underpinned by the slight pullback in the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.