Welcome to this week’s market review, where we decode last week’s economic numbers and chart movements to anticipate what the coming week holds for traders. The highlight? An eye-popping 4.9% U.S. GDP growth, which has got everyone talking.
Last Week’s Economic Highlights
United States
A week full of action in the U.S., with unemployment claims hitting 198K, well below the projected 210K. But what grabbed headlines was the 4.9% GDP growth rate, smashing forecasts and hinting at an economy in overdrive.
Eurozone
The Eurozone painted a more muted picture with weakening Manufacturing PMIs. Germany’s industrial sector, in particular, seems to be slowing down, a possible red flag for the Eurozone economy.
United Kingdom
The UK market was surprised with a jump in the Claimant Count Change to 20.4K, way off the 2.3K forecast. This could impact Sterling in the coming days.
What the Charts Say
Commodities saw a slight uptick this week, while Indices trended downwards. The majors (EURUSD, GBPUSD, etc.) showed mixed reactions. Bitcoin broke the mold, becoming the best performer of the week, something traders hadn’t seen for a while.
Here’s the SP500 showing another week down, but not as bearish as the previous week.
The UK100 did not have as bearish a week as the U.S. markets. Another positive sign.
US Oil is still operating within a range for now.
Gold has so far not closed any higher and is still within the previous week’s range.
AUDUSD is quite strong, with a small green/bullish candle formed here.
And finally, the EURUSD seems intent on closing slightly lower after a range-bound week.
Bitcoin displays the biggest move of the week, with a clear and solid push higher.
What to Look For This Week
United States
Keep an eye on the Federal Funds Rate, which is expected to hold steady at 5.5%. The Employment Cost Index and consumer confidence data should also offer insights into the U.S. economy’s health.
Eurozone
Don’t ignore Germany’s Prelim CPI expected at 0.3%. It can signal how the Eurozone’s economic engine is running.
Asia
For those trading the yen, watch out for the BOJ Press Conference and the Monetary Policy Statement which could offer clues on Japan’s economic outlook.
As we head into another week, the American GDP figures set an optimistic tone. But will this optimism spill over to other markets? Only time will tell. Keep your eyes peeled, and happy trading!
That’s it for this week’s market review. Remember, the key to successful trading is to keep calm and carry on!
