Abstract:Global markets begin the trading week on a mildly positive front as US policymakers managed to avoid the debt payment default, despite the initial ruckus. Adding strength to the cautious optimism is the firmer China Caixin Services PMI and hopes of slower rate hikes from the key central banks ex-Fed.

Global markets begin the trading week on a mildly positive front as US policymakers managed to avoid the debt payment default, despite the initial ruckus. Adding strength to the cautious optimism is the firmer China Caixin Services PMI and hopes of slower rate hikes from the key central banks ex-Fed.
The upbeat sentiment joins the OPEC+ verdict to cut more output in 2024, as well as Saudi Arabia‘s push for the same, to allow the Oil price to kick-start the week with a gap-up. It’s worth noting, however, that the firmer US Dollar and the geopolitical fears challenged the energy bulls afterward and trimmed some of the gains around a one-week high.
That said, the US Dollar Index cheers a fresh boost to the hawkish Fed bets, mainly due to Fridays upbeat US NFP, as well as a recovery in the US Treasury bond yields. With this, the USDJPY and USDCNY remain on the front foot whereas GBPUSD and EURUSD stay depressed at the latest.
Gold price fails to cheer upbeat risk profile and drops for the second consecutive day amid firmer US Dollar. Further, equities in the Asia-Pacific edged higher while shares from Europe and the UK begin the week on a firmer footing.
Elsewhere, Cryptocurrencies bears the burden of the US Dollar even as fundamentals in the industry suggest a rebound in asset prices.
Following are the latest moves of the key assets:
• Brent oil rises for the third consecutive day to around $78.00 at the latest.
• Gold price extends post-NFP losses towards $1,940, down 0.50% intraday as we write.
• USD Index remains firmer around 104.25, stretching the previous day gains towards the multi-week top marked the last week.
• Wall Street closed in green zone and so did Asia-Pacific shares, as well as the equities in the UK and Europe.
• BTCUSD and ETHUSD drop nearly 1.0% to around $26,800 and $1,870 by the press time.


Hong Kong’s financial watchdog, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), has issued a public warning against CoinCola, adding the platform to its Alert List of suspicious virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs). According to the SFC, CoinCola operates through the website and is suspected of conducting unlicensed virtual asset activities while appearing to target or operate in Hong Kong.

The Malaysian ringgit extended its rally, reaching a five-year high against the US dollar, trading in a narrow range of RM4.04-RM4.05.

WikiFX has launched the “Inside the Elite” Interview Series, featuring outstanding members of the newly formed Elite Committee. During the committee’s first offline gathering in Dubai, we conducted exclusive interviews and gained deeper insights into regional market dynamics and industry developments. Through this series, WikiFX aims to highlight the voices of professionals who are shaping the future of forex trading — from education and compliance to risk control, technology, and trader empowerment.

As WikiEXPO Dubai concludes successfully, we had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Hahm, the Founder and CEO of Algorada. Robert Hahm is a seasoned financial executive who has successfully transitioned from managing traditional assets to founding a cutting-edge fintech platform. As the Founder and CEO of Algorada, he leverages decades of experience in portfolio management to bridge the gap between financial domain knowledge and the power of AI.