Market Insights

In-depth insights on market events and major trades

Can gold beat the S&P 500 in 2026? Is the path to $5,000 clearer?

Gold has climbed almost 13% from its June low and is again approaching the levels needed to challenge the S&P 500’s 2026 return.

US-Iran ceasefire expires as Hormuz shipping disruption threatens Oil prices

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire framework has reached its deadline without producing the broader agreement markets were expecting. The 60-day memorandum expired on August 17, while negotiations remain stuck over sanctions, Iran’s nuclear program, military arrangements and, increasingly, the future of the Strait of Hormuz.

Moving averages explained: A guide for traders

Moving averages are widely used in technical analysis to help traders understand trends, momentum and potential changes in market direction. Learn how moving averages work, when traders use them and how SMA and EMA compare.

14 Aug 2026, 00:00

Yen bears are testing Tokyo again as policy and politics pull in opposite directions

Yen’s post-intervention rebound is fading, and investors are beginning to challenge Tokyo’s resolve once again. After the coordinated action by Japan and the United States in July, markets initially pulled back from aggressive short-yen positions. That caution is now disappearing. So far in August, the yen has been the only major G10 currency to weaken against the dollar, a sign that traders are rebuilding positions that had been reduced after the intervention.

Fed bets, inflation and Iran risk move back to the center of the market

After several weeks in which investors focused mainly on softer U.S. economic data, markets are once again being pulled between two competing forces: a cooling labour market and the risk that higher energy prices could keep inflation elevated. The combination matters because it directly affects expectations for the Federal Reserve, the U.S. dollar, and broader risk sentiment across equities, bonds.

Inflation-protected bonds: what they are and how they work

Inflation-protected bonds can help investors protect the real value of their income and capital when prices rise. They are often used as part of a diversified portfolio, but they still carry risks that should be understood.

10 Aug 2026, 11:00

Gold heads for best week since January as dip-buyers return

Gold is heading for its strongest weekly gain since late January after buyers returned aggressively around key technical levels. Bullion has climbed nearly 6% this week and briefly traded above $4,300 an ounce, although growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike remain a major near-term risk.

Yen’s move below 155 could decide whether historic intervention succeeds

The first coordinated US-Japan yen-buying intervention since 1998 has pulled the currency sharply away from a four-decade low, but the rally now faces its most important test at 155 per dollar. A sustained break through that level could trigger a short squeeze and change trading behavior, while failure may reinforce expectations that the yen will eventually return toward 160.

Iran talks resume: oil market shift focus away from conflict

Oil prices have retreated sharply after President Donald Trump said the United States would hold off on a planned strike against Iran, citing what he described as agreed "parameters" for a rapid diplomatic deal. The announcement eased fears of an immediate military escalation, prompting traders to unwind much of the geopolitical premium that had been built into crude prices during recent weeks.

Why Japan's verbal intervention is losing its grip on the yen

Japanese officials have once again warned that they are prepared to act against excessive moves in the currency market, but investors appear increasingly unconvinced that words alone will be enough to halt the yen's decline. The warning came after USD/JPY climbed above 163, pushing the currency back towards levels that have previously triggered official intervention.