S&P 500 hits new record high

Chris Beauchamp IG

Rate cuts are back on the table, a ceasefire holds in the Middle East and tariff deadlines seem not to matter, all of which helps to spur equity markets higher, says Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading platform IG.

S&P 500 pushes to new high

A week that began with such uncertainty has given way to a resurgent bull market for equities. Monday’s fears of a wider war in the Middle East have been rapidly discarded, and now that rate cuts are being discussed more freely it seems that a much more benign scenario is in place for stock markets. Growtn is back in fashion in seems, and once more it is the more value-oriented FTSE 100 that is the laggard today and over the past week.

Oil prices stabilise

Oil has had a turbulent week, but as hopes of a more positive economic outlook take hold the price has managed to push higher over the last two days. A scenario where the Fed resumes its rate-cutting programme would boost oil demand, so long as OPEC doesn’t spoil things by increasing production too quickly.

Author

Chris Beauchamp

EUR/USD hits two-day highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD picks up pace and reaches two-day tops around 1.1820 at the end of the week. The pair’s move higher comes on the back of renewed weakness in the US Dollar amid growing talk that the Fed could deliver an interest rate cut as early as March. On the docket, the flash US Consumer Sentiment improves to 57.3 in February.

GBP/USD reclaims 1.3600 and above

GBP/USD reverses two straight days of losses, surpassing the key 1.3600 yardstick on Friday. Cable’s rebound comes as the Greenback slips away from two-week highs in response to some profit-taking mood and speculation of Fed rate cuts. In addition, hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill are also collaborating with the quid’s improvement.

Gold climbs further, focus is back to 45,000

Gold regains upside traction and surpasses the $4,900 mark per troy ounce at the end of the week, shifting its attention to the critical $5,000 region. The move reflects a shift in risk sentiment, driving flows back towards traditional safe haven assets and supporting the yellow metal.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid risk-off, $2.6 billion liquidation wave

Bitcoin edges up above $65,000 at the time of writing on Friday, as dust from the recent macro-triggered sell-off settles. The leading altcoin, Ethereum, hovers above $1,900, but resistance at $2,000 caps the upside. Meanwhile, Ripple has recorded the largest intraday jump among the three assets, up over 10% to $1.35.

Three scenarios for Japanese Yen ahead of snap election

The latest polls point to a dominant win for the ruling bloc at the upcoming Japanese snap election. The larger Sanae Takaichi’s mandate, the more investors fear faster implementation of tax cuts and spending plans.

XRP rally extends as modest ETF inflows support recovery

Ripple is accelerating its recovery, trading above $1.36 at the time of writing on Friday, as investors adjust their positions following a turbulent week in the broader crypto market. The remittance token is up over 21% from its intraday low of $1.12.