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Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD: The world gyrates around the United States at the beginning of 2026 Premium
The EUR/USD pair started the new year with a soft tone, falling for a second consecutive week to settle around 1.1640, its lowest in a month. The US Dollar (USD) stands victorious across the FX board, backed by geopolitical uncertainty and pretty solid United States (US) employment data.
GBP/USD: Will Pound Sterling extend the corrective downside? Premium
The Pound Sterling (GBP) witnessed a steep correction against the US Dollar (USD), sending GBP/USD down from four-month highs of 1.3568 to test the weekly low near 1.3400.
Gold: Volatile start to 2026 as markets assess US data, geopolitics Premium
After losing more than 4% in the last week of the year, Gold (XAU/USD) gathered bullish momentum as trading conditions normalized. Although XAU/USD entered a consolidation phase following the rally seen earlier in the week, it managed to register weekly gains.
Bitcoin: Early-2026 rally falters as BTC investors await key catalyst
Bitcoin (BTC) is trading lower toward $90,000 on Friday after encountering rejection at a key resistance zone. The price pullback in BTC is supported by fading institutional demand, as spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have recorded net outflows so far this week.
US Dollar: Greenback or Greenland? Premium
Another positive week for the US Dollar (USD) saw the US Dollar Index (DXY) extend a promising start to the new trading year, managing to at least scare away the spectre of being one of the worst-performing currencies during the last year.
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S&P 500
The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is a stock market index tracking the stock performance of 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States (US). It is seen as a leading indicator of US equities and includes approximately 80% of the total market capitalization of US public companies.
The S&P 500, operated by S&P Dow Jones Indices, is weighted by free-float market capitalization, meaning that larger companies have a greater impact on the index. Constituents and their weights are regularly updated based on rules set by S&P Dow Jones Indices.
The S&P Index Committee, comprising analysts and economists at Standard & Poor's, selects the companies based on criteria such as market size, liquidity, and industry grouping.
Over time, the S&P 500 serves as a key benchmark for the US economy.
HISTORIC HIGHS AND LOWS FOR S&P 500
- All-time records: Max: 6,001.35 on 11/11/2024 – Min: 4.40 on 05/1932
- Last 5 years: Max: 6,001.35 on 11/11/2024 – Min: 2,237.40 on 23/03/2020
* Data as of November 2024
ASSETS THAT INFLUENCE THE S&P 500
- Currencies: US Dollar (USD).
- Commodities: Oil and Gold.
- Bonds: US Treasury Bonds.
ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE, AND ECONOMIC DATA THAT INFLUENCE THE S&P 500
Since the S&P 500 is a benchmark of US stocks, its value is influenced by a variety of decisions and indicators affecting major companies, including:
- Economic indicators inflation – Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) –, consumer confidence (University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index), economic growth (GDP), employment (Nonfarm Payrolls), and salaries (Average Weekly Earnings).
- Interest rates, decided by the Federal Reserve (Fed), the central banking system of the US. Jerome Powell, the 16th Chair of the Fed, has held the position since February 2018 after being nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate.
- Fiscal policy, trade deals, and business laws decided by the US president, the Treasury Department and the Department of Commerce. The Treasury focuses on fostering economic stability, growth and financial integrity, while the Department of Commerce supports economic growth and established industrial standards.
- Energy prices such as electricity and Oil directly impact production costs for companies within the S&P 500.