GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.
Eurozone CFTC EUR NC Net Positions increased to €180.3K from previous €163.4K
GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.
Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions increased to $33.2K from previous $26.1K
GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.
Gold reclaims $5,000 as US inflation data ignites Fed cut speculation
Gold (XAU/USD) price makes a U-turn on Friday and trims some of Thursday’s losses, rising nearly 2% following the release of a softer-than-expected inflation report in the US, which increased speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could lower rates. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades above the $5,000 milestone.
XAU/USD rallies nearly 2% after cooler US inflation data fuels renewed expectations of a June rate reduction
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in January fell below estimates of 2.5%, coming at 2.4% YoY, down from December’s 2.7%. Initially, the print is good news for the economy, but the so-called core CPI remains sticky at 2.5% YoY, also aligned with forecasts and below the previous print of 2.6%.
Initially, Bullion edged towards $5,000 before reversing course, but buyers emerged and bought the dip at around $4,950 before the yellow metal rallied toward its daily high.
However, the broad US economic data revealed during the week was solid. A stellar Nonfarm Payrolls report revealing the creation of over 130K jobs in January and the dip in the Unemployment Rate to 4.3% eased pressure on the US central bank, in regard to the labor market.
The question arises: will the Fed cut rates? They usually strive to get further data that confirms the resumption of the disinflation process. After peaking last year at 3% in September, the last three readings are 2.7% in November and December of last year, and 2.4% in January. Therefore, the stage is set, but the current stance by most Federal Reserve officials, led by Jerome Powell, suggests that they would remain on hold until Kevin Warsh succeeds Powell in May.
Money markets have increased the chances of a rate reduction in June, with odds standing at 55% that the Fed will reduce rates by 25 basis points, according to Prime Market Terminal data.
Lower US yields boost Gold prices
In the meantime, US Treasury yields continued to dive during the week, underpinning Bullion’s advance. The US 10-year Treasury note plummets nearly three and a half basis points in the day, 14 bps in the week, down at 4.06%.
The US Dollar is poised to end the week with losses of 0.85%, according to the US Dollar Index (DXY). The DXY, which measures the buck’s value against a basket of six currencies, is down 0.07% in the day, at 96.84.
Focus shifts to FOMC minutes, Fed speeches and PCE data
Next week, the US economic docket will be busy with the release of Durable Goods Orders, housing data, speeches by Fed officials and the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes. Towards the second part of the week, traders will eye Initial Jobless Claims, GDP second estimate for the last quarter of 2025 and the release of the Fed’s favorite inflation gauge, the Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index.
XAU/USD Price Forecast: Gold climbs past $5,000 eyes on crucial $5,100 resistance level
Gold’s upward bias remains intact, with bulls regaining the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $4,971, exacerbating a rally past the $5,000 figure. Momentum as depicted by the Relative Strength Index (RSI) shows that buyers are gathering momentum.
However, XAU/USD must clear $5,100. Once done, the next key resistance is $5,200, followed by the January 30 high at $5,451, ahead of the record high near $5,600. Conversely, if Gold struggles to remain above $5,000, it opens the door for lower prices.
The first key support would be the 20-day EMA ahead of $4,900. Once surpassed, the next floor would be $4,800 ahead of the 50-day EMA at $4,618 as the next demand zone.
Gold FAQs
Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
XRP steadies above $1.35 as bulls attempt recovery amid mixed market signals
Ripple (XRP) edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.
A decisive break above the pivotal $1.40 level could ease bearish momentum and open the door to an extended recovery. However, traders should not lose sight of the next support at $1.25, as XRP is not out of the woods yet.
XRP MVRV-Z Score signals a potential bottom
XRP has sustained an overall downtrend amid price fluctuations since its record high of $3.66, reached in July. The token hit a yearly low at $1.12 on February 6 amid extremely oversold conditions. While an immediate recovery propelled XRP to $1.54 on the same day, headwinds continue to cap the upside.
Meanwhile, the MVRV-Z Score, a metric that gauges whether XRP is over or undervalued relative to its fair value, dropped into negative territory in early February, suggesting the token may have bottomed.
Although the duration of the MVRV-Z Score in the negative region varies, historical data show that sustained recoveries often precede such scenarios. For example, in July 2024, when the MVRV-Z Score hit -0.13, XRP surged from $0.45 to $2.91 in December of the same year. Hence, there’s a high probability that the remittance token has bottomed and is poised for an extended recovery, as the MVRV-Z Score remains at -0.13.
Despite the potential bullish outlook highlighted by the MVRV-Z Score, rising exchange reserves paint a conflicting picture that may hinder recovery. According to Glassnode data, the cumulative balance of the cross-border money transfer token increased to approximately 12.99 billion XRP on Thursday, following a brief dip to 12.93 billion XRP on February 8.
The upsurge, although relatively minor, warrants caution, as it increases the amount of XRP available for sale in the open market. Investors transfer their holdings to exchanges amid market volatility, intending to sell and reduce risk exposure.
Technical outlook: Can XRP steady its recovery?
XRP hovers at $1.36 and sits well below the falling 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $1.76, the 100-day EMA at $1.97 and the 200-day EMA at $2.16. All three moving averages are sloping downward, reinforcing a bearish setup.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains below the signal line and under the zero mark. Meanwhile, the red histogram bars have been contracting, suggesting downside momentum is fading.
Still, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 32 (near oversold) signals subdued strength, while the descending trend line from $3.66 (all-time high) limits rebounds, with resistance seen near $2.13, keeping recovery attempts in check.
Although the MACD remains below its signal line, it is poised to cross above it. Such a scenario would prompt traders to increase risk exposure and support a stable recovery toward this week’s open at $1.43. Nevertheless, XRP is not out of the woods and may extend the correction to the October 10 low at $1.25.
Crypto ETF FAQs
An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle or an index that tracks the price of an underlying asset. ETFs can not only track a single asset, but a group of assets and sectors. For example, a Bitcoin ETF tracks Bitcoin’s price. ETF is a tool used by investors to gain exposure to a certain asset.
Yes. The first Bitcoin futures ETF in the US was approved by the US Securities & Exchange Commission in October 2021. A total of seven Bitcoin futures ETFs have been approved, with more than 20 still waiting for the regulator’s permission. The SEC says that the cryptocurrency industry is new and subject to manipulation, which is why it has been delaying crypto-related futures ETFs for the last few years.
Yes. The SEC approved in January 2024 the listing and trading of several Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds, opening the door to institutional capital and mainstream investors to trade the main crypto currency. The decision was hailed by the industry as a game changer.
The main advantage of crypto ETFs is the possibility of gaining exposure to a cryptocurrency without ownership, reducing the risk and cost of holding the asset. Other pros are a lower learning curve and higher security for investors since ETFs take charge of securing the underlying asset holdings. As for the main drawbacks, the main one is that as an investor you can’t have direct ownership of the asset, or, as they say in crypto, “not your keys, not your coins.” Other disadvantages are higher costs associated with holding crypto since ETFs charge fees for active management. Finally, even though investing in ETFs reduces the risk of holding an asset, price swings in the underlying cryptocurrency are likely to be reflected in the investment vehicle too.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
Decred Price Forecast: DCR rebounds toward key resistance zone on volume spike
Decred (DCR) rebounds over 7% at press time on Friday after a three-day decline of almost 14%. Roughly 60% increase in trading volume over the last 24 hours supports the recovery, suggesting heightened spot-market demand. Technically, Decred remains under the shadow of the resistance zone near $26, which has been intact since late November.
Decred takes another breakout attempt at a key resistance zone
CoinMarketCap data show Decred’s trading volume is $6.3 million so far on Friday, up 57% in the last 24 hours, consistent with Friday’s recovery and reflecting a buy-side bias among traders.
Technical outlook: Will Decred extend rally above critical resistance?
Decred is trading above $24 at the time of writing on Friday, edging higher after three consecutive days of losses, for over 7% gains so far. The privacy token is trading above the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), suggesting a bullish tone.
Still, Decred continues to struggle to surpass the resistance zone near the 38.20% Fibonacci retracement at $26.13, measured from the November 4 high at $70.00 and the December 23 low at $14.21. If Decred clears this zone with a daily close, it could target higher resistances at the 50% and 61.8% Fibonacci retracement levels at $31.54 and $38.07, respectively.
The technical indicators on the daily chart remain mixed, consistent with the fluctuations near the critical resistance zone. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 60 shows an upward spike above the midline, suggesting a short-term increase in buying pressure, with further room on the upside before reaching the overbought zone.
However, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has flattened and is at risk of crossing below the signal line, which would reinstate a downward trend. Additionally, contracting green histogram bars indicate a decline in bullish momentum, suggesting further downside for Decred.
On the downside, the 50-day and 200-day EMAs at $20.82 and $19.54 could serve as initial support levels.
Gold: Sharp reversal after stellar rally – UOB
UOB Global Economics & Markets Research reports a steep selloff in Gold and other precious metals as AI-related risk aversion hit broader markets. They describe algorithmic trading and profit taking as factors behind the move, following a strong prior rally. The note details large percentage declines in Gold, Silver and Copper, underscoring fragile sentiment in the commodities complex.
Precious metals slump on risk aversion
“Gold plunged as concerns about AI spurred a selloff across financial markets with algorithmic traders appearing to amplify the precious metal’s sudden drop.”
“Bullion fell as much as 4.1% while silver plunged 11%.”
“Copper on the London Metal Exchange declined 2.9%.”
“Market talks also indicated some profit taking was done amidst the precious metal’s recent stellar rally.”
“Spot gold fell 3.2% to USD4,920.37/oz at NY close, silver dropped 11% to USD75.15/oz, while platinum and palladium fell and copper on the LME slid 2.2%.”
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)
WTI remains below $63.00 due to oversupply concerns
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price trades largely unchanged around $62.80 per barrel during the Asian session on Friday, after dropping more than 3% in the previous session. Crude Oil prices remain under pressure amid ongoing concerns about oversupply.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the market is projected to face a surplus of just over 3.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026, potentially the largest annual average glut on record, while also trimming its global Oil demand forecast for that year. In its monthly report, the agency noted that global inventories expanded in 2025 at the fastest pace since the 2020 pandemic.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran could continue for up to a month, lowering the immediate risk of military action that might disrupt supply. Trump is currently pursuing a diplomatic strategy aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking before departing Washington, said Trump appeared to be shaping a framework to resolve tensions with Iran over its nuclear activities.
Industry data and Reuters calculations indicated that Russia’s seaborne Oil product exports rose 0.7% in January from December to 9.12 million metric tons, supported by strong fuel output and seasonally weaker domestic demand.
Venezuela is reportedly preparing to allocate additional Oil production acreage to Chevron and Spain’s Repsol. Officials in Caracas could award new exploration and production blocks as early as this week, according to a Bloomberg report.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
New Zealand Business NZ PMI fell from previous 56.1 to 55.2 in January
Ripple (XRP) exhibits subtle recovery signs, trading slightly above $1.40 at the time of writing on Thursday, as crypto prices broadly edge higher. Despite the metered uptick, risk-off sentiment remains a concern across the crypto market, as retail and institutional interest dwindle.
United States 4-Week Bill Auction remains at 3.63%
EUR/USD has given up its earlier intraday gains on Thursday and is now struggling to hold above the 1.1850 area. The US Dollar is finding renewed support from a pick-up in risk aversion, while fresh market chatter suggesting Russia could be considering a return to the US Dollar system is also lending the Greenback an extra boost.