|

S&P 500 Futures, Treasury bond yields print mild gains as banking optimism prevails amid sluggish session

  • Global markets remain dicey as traders await this week’s key data/events.
  • Mixed concerns about banking sector risk, US-China woes and Fed bets also limit trading activities.
  • S&P 500 Futures snap two-day losing streak, yields rise for the third consecutive day.
  • Risk catalysts are the key for clear directions, banking news, geopolitics are important for fresh impetus.

Risk appetite stays firmer despite early Wednesday’s inactive markets as traders seek confirmation of banking optimism amid an unimpressive calendar in Asia.

While portraying the mood, US Treasury bond yields print a three-day uptrend while the S&P 500 Futures print mild gains, the first in three. That said, the US 10-year and two-year Treasury bond yields recently refreshed intraday high around 3.58% and 4.12% in that order.

It should be noted that the receding fears of a banking crisis and hopes of less aggressive rate hikes from the top-tier central banks seem to gain the market’s attention. Also keeping the traders positive are chatters that the likely recession in some of the developed countries will be less severe than initially expected.

Furthermore, recently mixed US data and challenges for the Fed hawks also keep the market players optimistic, which in turn weigh on the US Dollar even as the yields recover of late.

Alternatively, headlines from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) suggest that the US has added 5 Chinese firms to its trade blacklist, which in turn should have probed the market’s optimism.

On the same line is the news that Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers will convene a meeting of the country's top financial regulators to check how the latest volatility in global financial markets could affect the country, an official in the treasurer's office said on Tuesday per Reuters, prod the optimism. Furthermore, a discussion revealing the US and European regulators’ dislike for the latest banking fallouts and risks associated with it joined the much-debated $5.4 million Credit Default Swap (CDS) trade of Deutsche Bank to prod the risk-on mood.

Moving on, the second-tier US housing numbers may entertain market players but more important will be the headlines surrounding the global banking sector's health and easing fears of more rate hikes by the top-tier central banks.

Also read: Forex Today: Dollar keeps moving south as markets settle down

Author

Anil Panchal

Anil Panchal

FXStreet

Anil Panchal has nearly 15 years of experience in tracking financial markets. With a keen interest in macroeconomics, Anil aptly tracks global news/updates and stays well-informed about the global financial moves and their implications.

More from Anil Panchal
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD gathers recovery momentum, trades near 1.1750

Following the correction seen in the second half of the previous week, EUR/USD gathers bullish momentum and trades in positive territory near 1.1750. The US Dollar (USD) struggles to attract buyers and supports the pair as investors await Tuesday's GDP data ahead of the Christmas holiday. 

GBP/USD rises toward 1.3450 on renewed USD weakness

GBP/USD turns north on Monday and avances to the 1.3450 region. The US Dollar (USD) stays on the back foot to begin the new week as investors adjust their positions before tomorrow's third-quarter growth data, helping the pair stretch higher.

Gold not done with record highs

Gold extends its rally in the American session on Monday and trades at a new all-time-high above $4,420, gaining nearly 2% on a daily basis. The potential for a re-escalation of the tensions in the Middle East on news of Israel planning to attack Iran allows Gold to capitalize on safe-haven flows.

Top 10 crypto predictions for 2026: Institutional demand and big banks could lift Bitcoin

Bitcoin could hit record highs in 2026, according to Grayscale and top crypto asset managers. Institutional demand and digital-asset treasury companies set to catalyze gains in Bitcoin.

Ten questions that matter going into 2026

2026 may be less about a neat “base case” and more about a regime shift—the market can reprice what matters most (growth, inflation, fiscal, geopolitics, concentration). The biggest trap is false comfort: the same trades can look defensive… right up until they become crowded.

XRP steadies above $1.90 support as fund inflows and retail demand rise

Ripple (XRP) is stable above support at $1.90 at the time of writing on Monday, after several attempts to break above the $2.00 hurdle failed to materialize last week. Meanwhile, institutional interest in the cross-border remittance token has remained steady.