China’s Dec Trade Balance: Surplus expands amid a slump in imports

EUR/USD attacks 1.1700 amid heavy selling interest in the European trading hours on Wednesday. A solid comeback staged by the US Dollar weighs heavily on the pair, as traders look to USD short covering ahead of US CPI on Thursday. However, the downside could be capped by hawkish ECB expectations. 

GBP/USD has come under intense selling pressure, eyeing 1.3300 in the European session on Wednesday. The UK annual headline and core CPI rose by 3.2% each, missing estimates of 3.5% and 3.4%, respectively, reaffirming dovish BoE expectations and smashing the Pound Sterling across the board. 

Gold attracts fresh buyers during the Asian session on Wednesday, though it remains confined in a multi-day-old trading range amid mixed fundamental cues. The global risk sentiment remains on the defensive amid economic woes and fears of the AI bubble burst. Moreover, dovish US Federal Reserve expectations lend support to the non-yielding yellow metal, though a modest US Dollar uptick might cap any further appreciating move.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple remain under pressure as the broader market continues its corrective phase into midweek. The weak price action of these top three cryptocurrencies by market capitalization suggests a deeper correction, as momentum indicators are beginning to tilt bearish.

Since the start of the week, gold’s price has moved lower, but has yet to erase the gains made last week. In today’s report we intend to focus on the newest round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, whilst noting the release of the US Employment data later on day and end our report with an update in regards to the tensions brewing in Venezuela.

Aave (AAVE) price continues its decline, trading below $186 at the time of writing on Wednesday after a rejection at the key resistance zone. Derivatives positioning and momentum indicators suggest that bearish forces still dominate in the near term.