Forex Trading Expert Advisors (EA or automated trading system) and Custom Indicators (CI) for MetaTrader Platform.

NordFX publishes regular statistics on the performance of its clients' trading transactions, as well as the profits received by the company's IB partners. The results of not only the last month, but the whole of 2022 have been summed up this time.

- The best result among traders was shown in December by a client from West Asia (account No. 1657XXX), whose profit amounted to 115,335 USD and was received mainly due to transactions with gold (XAU/USD).
- The second place in NordFX's top three highest-performing clients belongs to the holder of account No. 1637XXX, who earned 46,115 USD from transactions with Brent crude oil (Ukoil.c).
- And, finally, the third step of the December podium was occupied by another representative of the West Asian region (account No. 1644XXX) with a profit of 22,256 USD, who also traded gold (XAU/USD).

Now about the results of the entire 2022. The composition of the top three changed from month to month, with representatives from various countries and regions taking places on the trading podium. In total, the TOP-3 participants earned an impressive amount of 1,441,457 USD last year. Thus, the average income of a trader who was in the TOP-3 was 40,040 USD per month. The client from Southeast Asia (account No. 1620XXX) managed to get the maximum profit, having earned 146,396 USD on transactions with gold (XAU/USD) in April.

Note that gold occupies the top, golden step in the TOP-3 of the most profitable trading instruments. It was transactions with this noble metal that brought NordFX traders to the podium most often. The British pound is on the silver step. As for the most famous pair, EUR/USD, it managed to take only third place in this ranking, having hardly overtaken pairs with the Japanese yen, Canadian and Australian dollars.

Among the NordFX IB partners, December TOP-3 is as follows:
- the largest commission, 5,830 USD, was credited to a partner from South Asia, account No.1562ХXХ;
- the next is their compatriot (account No. 1618XXX), who received 5,692 USD in a month;
- and, finally, their colleague from Western Asia (account No. 1621XXX) closes the top three, having earned 3,525 USD in commissions in December.

Like traders, the composition of the top three was constantly updated. In total, its participants were paid 243,344 USD in 2022. The largest commission, 24,700 USD, was credited to a partner from Southeast Asia, account No.1371ХXХ in June.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- It was on January 3, 2009, that a person or a group of people known as Satoshi Nakamoto launched the main bitcoin network, mining a genesis block with 50 BTC. Shortly before the network was launched, on October 31, 2008, the white paper of the first cryptocurrency was published. The first bitcoin transaction took place on January 12, 2009: Satoshi Nakamoto sent 10 BTC to Hal Finney. A version of Bitcoin_0.1 software was published three days earlier.
Nakamoto's identity and motives for creating bitcoin are still a mystery that the crypto community and beyond are trying to unravel. One of the probable reasons for the creation of bitcoin was the global financial crisis that broke out in 2007-2008, accompanied by the collapse of the largest investment banks, a widespread decline in production, falling demand and prices for raw materials, rising unemployment and active state intervention in the economy.

- The Italian Parliament approved amendments to the 2023 budget, which involve the introduction of a 26% tax on capital gains received from the trading of digital assets. The tax will be levied if there is a profit of more than €2,000 ($2,145), and citizens will be obliged to inform tax authorities about such investments.
The UK, by contrast, has offered tax breaks for non-residents and foreign investors when buying digital assets through local investment managers or brokers. The new rule came into effect on January 1, 2023 and is part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to make the UK the world's crypto powerhouse.

- Sam Bankman-Fried, 30, founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which collapsed in November, causing billions of dollars in losses to investors, pleads not guilty. He faces eight criminal charges, including electronic fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and campaign finance violations, for which he could spend decades in prison.
According to Reuters, the court has set the first date for the Bankman-Fried trial on October 2, 2023. In the meantime, the defendant has been released to his parents' home in California on $250 million bail. Parents are two of the four people who have paid bail. Lawyers said they were threatened with harm, so two more names have not yet been disclosed.

- The past 12 months have been particularly difficult for the cryptocurrency market, which has lost more than 70% of its total capitalization. However, many analysts seem to be quite optimistic about the short-term outlook for BTC.
Tim Draper, third-generation venture capitalist and co-founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, believes bitcoin will be worth $250,000.
It will take a rally of about 1,400% upside to reach this cosmic mark. Draper is also positive about the halving, which should take place in 2024, believing that this event will have a big impact on the price of the main cryptocurrency.
Another expert with a positive outlook is Carol Alexander, professor of finance at the University of Sussex. She had been prone to BTC falling to $10,000 in 2022 in her previous forecast. This did not happen, although the forecast almost came true.
However, the financier predicts now that the first cryptocurrency can reach $50,000 in 2023. The professor believes that the catalyst will be the influx of more “dominoes” that fell apart after the collapse of the FTX exchange. “2023 will be a managed bull market, not a bubble,” she writes. - We will not see a jump in the rate, as before. But we will see a month or two of stable trending prices interspersed with periods of limited range, and perhaps a couple of short-term crashes.”
Alistair Milne, IT Director of the Altana Digital Currency Fund, is also among those who gave several high-profile forecasts about the bitcoin rate. In his opinion, “We should see bitcoin at least $45,000 by the end of 2023.” That being said, Milne warns that “if central banks decide to allow a higher inflation target […] to avoid a recession, hard assets could become fashionable again.” He also tweeted that BTC should reach $150,000-300,000 by the end of 2024, “and this is probably the peak of opportunity for the bulls.”
Another expert joining the bull train is Eric Wall, Chief Investment Officer at cryptocurrency hedge fund Arcane Assets. It is also called the "altcoin killer". However, his forecast for 2023 looks much more modest: the expert believes that the bitcoin rate may exceed $30,000. Eric Wall often bases his comments on the BTC Rainbow Price Chart, an analytical tool created by BlockchainCenter. And this time he said that the $15,400 exchange rate was the bottom for bitcoin.
Unlike previous forecasts, strategists at the British international financial conglomerate Standard Chartered believe that the BTC rate may, on the contrary, fall to $5,000. In their opinion, “more and more crypto companies and exchanges are facing insufficient liquidity, leading to further bankruptcies and the collapse of investor confidence in digital assets.”

- Luke Dashjr (alias Luke-Jr), one of the main developers of the first cryptocurrency core, who has made more than 200 proposals to the bitcoin code since 2011, is now the victim of hackers. Luke-Jr claims to have lost "virtually" all of his BTC in a brazen hack that took place on New Year's Eve. The programmer said in a January 1 message that hackers gained access to his Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) key, a common security method. As a result, more than 215 BTC ($3.6 million) were stolen.
Dashjr said he had "no idea" how the attackers got access to his key. He only noticed the recent hack after receiving emails from Coinbase and Kraken about login attempts, he said.

- Dante Disparte, Head of Strategic Development at Circle, shared his opinion on the developments in the cryptocurrency sector over the past year and the prospects for the industry in 2023. According to the specialist, digital assets and blockchain will still remain indispensable tools of the economy, despite the terrible events in 2022, which indicate not a crypto winter, but a whole “ice age” for the industry. However, despite these setbacks, many major banks and financial institutions will continue to introduce cryptocurrencies into their product lines. As for the bankruptcy of several crypto-lenders and the collapse of the FTX exchange, these events, according to Dispart, can be a boon for the industry, as they lay the foundation for more responsible and affordable investments.

- Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki revealed that he is buying more bitcoin (BTC) at current prices. Kiyosaki explained that, unlike altcoins, bitcoin is likely to be able to dodge the hammer of regulators: “Why? Because bitcoin is classified as a commodity much like gold, silver and oil. Most crypto tokens are classified as securities, and the US SEC will crush most of them.”

- As it turns out, Darren Nguyen, a 25-year-old crypto trader who traded nearly $2 billion worth of crypto in 2021, was running his crypto empire from the comfort of his parents' home in Sydney. This is evidenced by an article published on January 2 in The Australian. Until now, the family has kept quiet about the crypto business Nguyen runs, and his mother refused to answer the question of whether she knew about what the child was doing under her roof.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

We talked a week ago about how economists from the world's leading financial institutions see the future of EUR/USD in 2023. However, our reviews have included two more major pairs for many years, USD/JPY and GBP/USD. And it would be unfair to ignore them this time. Moreover, after the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound are the most significant components in the formation of the US Dollar Index DXY (13.6% and 11.9%, respectively).

But in addition to forecasts for the future, we will traditionally tell you what the experts' expectations were regarding the past, 2022, and how close they turned out to be.



USD/JPY: First North, Then South

We titled the forecast for this pair a year ago as “Japan Needs a Weak Yen”. And this was absolutely true: starting at 115.00 on January 1, thanks to ultra-soft monetary policy and a negative interest rate (minus 0.1%), the pair came close to 152.00 on October 21. The last time it was this high was 32 years ago. Even the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) were afraid of such a weakening of their national currency, and currency interventions were urgently launched to save it. The yen was also assisted by the expectations of the US Federal Reserve's transition from an extremely tough, hawkish policy to a softer one. As a result, the annual dynamics of USD/JPY took the following form (data are as of the end of each quarter): Q1 - 121.00, Q2 - 135.00, Q3 - 144.00 and Q4 - 131.00.

Almost none of the experts doubted a year ago that the differentiation between the approaches of the US and Japanese regulators would strengthen the dollar's position. But almost no one expected that the jump would be so powerful. The closest to reality (but still far enough) was the forecast of the Dutch banking ING Group (Internationale Nederlanden Groep), which looked like this: Q1 - 114.00, Q2 - 115.00, Q3 - 118.00 and Q4 - 120.00. Morgan Stanley (Q4 - 118.00) and Amundi (Q4 - 116.00) are next in descending order.

The French financial conglomerate Societe Generale, the British Barclays Bank and CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) also indicated a maximum of 116.00, but not at the end of the year, but in the Q2. Further, according to analysts of these financial institutions, the yen had to move the dollar to the zone of 114.00-115.00. Goldman Sachs missed the most, they believed that the pair would meet 2023 with a fall to 111.00.

The final statistics for the past year are not yet known. But it is expected that the final consumer inflation in 2022 will be 2.9%. This is slightly above the target, but well below the performance of other major countries whose regulators have been aggressively raising rates over the past year in an effort to curb price increases. Moreover, according to BoJ forecasts, this figure may fall to 1.6% by the end of 2023. And this raises a logical question: if everything is so good, why tighten the current monetary policy, raise the base rate and create problems for producers?

The Central Bank of Japan did just that at its last meeting last year, on December 20, leaving the rate unchanged. However, it still managed to surprise the market by expanding the range of fluctuations in government bond yields to 0.5%. This decision led to the growth of the national currency against the dollar by more than 3%.

Further, a period of calm is likely to come, and there will be no major changes in the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Japan during the Q1. Certain steps can be expected only after April 08. It is on this day that the term of office of BoJ head Haruhiko Kuroda ends, and a new candidate with a tougher position may take his place. However, despite the fact that there are candidates with more hawkish views among the candidates, we can hardly expect radical changes.

We described what the US Federal Reserve, counterpart for USD/JPY, plans for 2023 in the previous review. And if the Japanese regulator remains in its current positions, the interest rate gap will increase, but not by much. And then it stabilizes completely. Some experts suggest that the state of affairs in China may have a serious impact on the yen. If China's economic indicators continue to sag, the Japanese currency may become a "safe haven" for Asian investors, which will help strengthen it.

Perhaps it was the above factors that influenced the opinion of the strategists at the world's leading banks. Thus, ING assumes that USD/JPY may approach 125.00 at the end of 2023. Societe Generale gives a similar quarterly forecast: Q1 - 135.00, Q2 - 135.00, Q3 - 130.00 and Q4 - 125.00. HSBC also estimated that it will meet 2024 almost where it is now, around 130.00.

There are still 12 months to go until the end of December, and a lot of unexpected things can happen during this time. The previous three years have been clear evidence of this: the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's armed invasion of Ukraine have shattered many forecasts and calculations. That is why it is interesting to see what experts say in a shorter time period.

The range of opinions regarding the dynamics of the pair in Q1 is unusually wide. Some analysts (not many of them) expect the pair to further decline, now to the 124.00-125.00 zone. Goldman Sachs and Brown Brothers Harriman, on the contrary, expect the pair to test the 150.00 height again. Barclays Bank and Bank of America are also looking north at 146.00-147.00. And although the forecasts of ING, BNP Paribas and CIBC look somewhat more modest (136.00-138.00), it is obvious that most influencers expect the dollar to strengthen against the yen in January-March.


GBP/USD: Still at the Сrossroads

Last year's forecast for this pair was headlined "At the Crossroads of Three Roads." And this was due to the fact that the position of the Bank of England (BoE), unlike its counterpart from Japan, was much less predictable. There were three options: north, south, or east.

Although the UK's dependence on energy was incomparably lower than in the European Union, the global crisis associated with anti-Russian sanctions did not bypass it. Starting at 1.3500 on January 1, 2022, the pair moved as follows (the data are as of the end of each quarter): Q1 - 1.3100, Q2 - 1.2100, Q3 - 1.1100 and Q4 - 1.2000. GBP/USD reached a 37-year low on September 26, 2022, finding a bottom around 1.0350.

Analysts at ING had forecast that the pound would fall somewhere in the middle of a triangle of a stronger US dollar, stable commodity currencies and weaker low-yielding currencies. Therefore, according to their scenario, GBP/USD should have moved sideways: Q1 - 1.3300, Q2 - 1.3400, Q3 - 1.3400 and Q4 - 1.3400. However, they were wrong. But this mistake is nothing compared to the patriotic scenario of the British bank Barclays: Q1 - 1.3300, Q2 - 1.3700, Q3 - 1.4000 and Q4 - 1.4200. That is, instead of 1.4000, the pair was at 1.0350 at the end of Q3. An error of 3,850 points!

Thanks to the tightening of the BoE position and expectations of a softening of the Fed's position, the pound managed to win back part of the losses and rise to the 1.2000 zone in October-December 2022. However, specialists of the German Commerzbank consider the current situation only a temporary respite and expect increased pressure on the pound.

With the economic recovery from the crisis, the US is doing much better than the UK. Representatives of the Central Bank of the United Kingdom spoke openly about the difficult times. A recession began last year, which, according to the forecasts of the Central Bank, will last until mid-2024, while the economy will shrink by 2.9%. At the moment, the pound's vulnerability is also associated with a large current account deficit and galloping inflation, which shows multi-year highs. First of all, this situation has arisen due to the sharp increase in the cost of importing oil and gas.

It is likely that the Bank of England will continue to raise rates in 2023 in an attempt to bring price growth under control. At the moment, the Fed and BoE interest rates are 4.50% and 3.50%, respectively. The gap is not as big as it used to be, only 100 bp. This advantage of the dollar may continue, and rates may reach parity if the British regulator becomes even more hawkish. In the meantime, economists are talking about raising rates in Q1 and Q2 by 50 bps (basis points) and 25 bps, respectively, to 4.25%.

In such a situation, according to HSBC, one of the largest financial conglomerates in the UK, events in GBP/USD will develop as follows: Q1 - 1.2200, Q2 - 1.2300, Q3 - 1.2400 and Q4 - 1.2500. The French Societe Generale Group sees quotes as follows: Q1 - 1.2000, Q4 - 1.2400.

As in the case of USD/JPY, the forecast for GBP/USD for the next quarter looks more specific and varied: from 1.0700 at TD Securities Research to 1.2600 at Citi Bank. In the middle of this range are forecasts: BNP Paribas (1.0800), Barclays (1.1300), CIBC (1.1500), Scotiabank (1.2000) and Westpac Institutional Bank (1.2200).

***

We will traditionally switch from annual and quarterly forecasts to weekly ones starting next week. We think the guidelines will be much clearer there.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- Nine months before the collapse of the FTX bitcoin exchange, its top management spent $40 million on luxury hotels, flights and food. Business Insider writes about this with reference to court documents. Thus, the founder of the stock exchange, Sam Bankman-Fried, lived in a $30 million penthouse in the prestigious resort of Albany (New Providence, Bahamas) before his arrest. In addition, Bankman-Fried's parents, himself, and FTX executives have owned at least 19 luxury properties worth $121 million.

- The Hong Kong Financial Secretary announced that the jurisdiction is ready to accept cryptocurrency companies from around the world. The official noted that the authorities of this administrative region of China have recently completed work on a licensing regime for the industry. In accordance with the adopted rules, crypto companies are subject to the requirements that apply to the traditional financial sector. Earlier, the Hong Kong Financial Services and Treasury Bureau announced the introduction of regulatory mechanisms to protect investors.
Analysts expect that regulatory pressure on the crypto industry will increase in many countries in the coming year. The long-awaited law MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation) will come into force. Most likely, the SEC will also do something important in terms of regulating cryptocurrencies. And it is possible that such steps will help restore investors' interest and confidence in the industry, lost after the turmoil of 2022.

- Despite the recovery of cryptocurrency markets after the collapse of the FTX exchange, the situation with Binance has not yet returned to normal. According to a recent Forbes report, the exchange lost $12 billion in assets due to users continuing to withdraw money from the exchange. Despite statements from Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao that the situation has calmed down, the outflow of funds is now only increasing.
According to a Forbes study, Binance lost about 15% of its assets. According to analytical company Defillama, customers of this largest crypto exchange withdrew approximately $360 million last Friday alone.
The performance of Binance Coin (BNB) and Binance USD (BUSD), the exchange's own tokens, is the best indicator of investor mistrust. According to Forbes, BNB has lost 29% of its value in the last two months and more than 37% compared to last year. In addition, the exchange was losing about $3 billion a year as a result of the cessation of bitcoin spot trading fees.

- Bill Miller, an American investor and fund manager, has confirmed his belief in bitcoin and called it a completely different asset. According to him, the Fed intervened actively in the situation in order to save the markets during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the BTC network, without any support, worked continuously and without interruptions. Miller also noted that the global market has risen by only 70% since the crash in March 2020, while the price of bitcoin has risen by 190% over the same period. Thus, BTC is a more efficient asset.
The expert also believes that it is wrong to link BTC to the bankruptcy of crypto companies such as FTX and Celsius. He emphasized that these are all centralized organizations, which should not be confused with the decentralized bitcoin network. In addition, Miller advised the public not to confuse volatility with value, stating that the price of the main cryptocurrency will rise by the end of the year.

- Cryptocurrency analyst Dave the Wave, known for predicting the collapse of bitcoin in 2021, believes that the coin is now on track to break its “long-term resistance diagonal”. In his opinion, "a technical movement within the next month or two" may be enough to break this resistance. Dave the Wave has previously said that its Logarithmic Growth Curve (LGC) model indicates that bitcoin could rise to $160,000 by January 2025.

- Ukrainian startup Global Ledger has become a partner of the United Nations Department on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in launching a new educational course on cryptocurrencies. This will be the third such virtual resource program for UNODC.
Participants will be able to conduct real cybercrime investigations during the course, gain experience both on the basis of historical data and on "live" cases. In the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the program is designed to train representatives of the Ukrainian Cyber Police and other services to identify and prevent the use of cryptocurrencies in criminal and terrorist activities and circumvent international sanctions.

- The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has issued an official warning about the new Godfather malware that collects user data in banking and cryptocurrency apps. Experts discovered the Trojan back in 2021, but the program was underdeveloped then. The improved and finished build of The Godfather was discovered on Android devices in December 2022 for the first time.
BaFin said that the program targets more than 400 apps operating not only in Germany but throughout the world. The principle of operation of The Godfather is simple: the program simulates banking and cryptocurrency application websites, stealing user data at the time of entry. Moreover, the software can send push notifications to receive two-factor authentication codes. BaFin experts are trying to figure out how the malware gets on users' devices.

- Blockchain security company CertiK reported earlier that the level of fraud and hacking in the cryptocurrency industry will increase significantly this year as the industry becomes more popular. Another computer security company, Kaspersky Lab, believes that “a major cyber epidemic of unprecedented proportions may occur in 2023”, as the BlueNoroff cybergroup has again intensified its attacks on organizations working with cryptocurrencies, such as venture funds, banks and startups.
Kaspersky Lab experts discovered new BlueNoroff traps for startup employees in autumn 2022: 70 fake domains masquerading as well-known venture funds and banks from Japan, the USA, Vietnam, and the UAE. In addition, hackers are now experimenting with new file types to inject malware. For example, it can be an email with an allegedly important document in the “doc” format attached. If you open this file, the device will be immediately infected with malware, and attackers can monitor all daily operations and plan to steal funds.

– Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said in a recent interview with CNBC that the prospects for cryptocurrencies are not so good, but everything is not so bad either. Bitcoin and Ethereum prices have remained stable lately despite the bad news. Leveraged traders closed out their positions in December 2022, creating what the entrepreneur called a “clean market.” In addition, market participants have significantly reduced their spending and will continue to do so in order to get through the transition period.
Novogratz also stressed that 2023 will be a defining year for the future development of the industry. At the same time, he pointed to the problems that exist between Gemini and Genesis, which could create an unpleasant situation for the entire digital asset market.

- The founder and CEO of BTC.TOP & B.TOP crypto projects, Jiang Zhuoer, studied the historical charts of the bitcoin and ethereum rates. All three previous bear markets took the same amount of time to go from the previous high to the bottom. Thus, the expert concludes that the four-year cycle is still working.
Based on this, Zhiang Zhuoer believes that we are now in the last sideways period of the bear market bottom. Events such as bankruptcies of crypto companies will no longer have a significant impact on prices. The optimistic estimate suggests that if the 2018 scenario repeats, BTC price could stay flat for another two months before the next bullish rally begins.
The analyst emphasized that Ethereum now looks much stronger than bitcoin. Currency freedom and increased opportunities for smart contracts have attracted new users and encouraged the creation of innovative apps. Zhiang Zhuoer noted that the decline in ETH was no more than that of BTC, and the ETH/BTC ratio was kept at a high level. Bitcoin's inflation rate was 1.72%, while after switching to the PoS algorithm, the same rate for ETH was only 0.01%. According to the expert, ETH deflation will have a very positive effect on its future price, and Ethereum will begin to grow in value earlier than bitcoin and will become the leader of the next bullish market. This should happen between March and May 2023.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Low Inflation Has Dropped the Dollar

The main event of the past week, which dealt another blow to the dollar, was the publication on Thursday, January 12, of data on consumer inflation in the US. The actual figures were fully in line with market expectations. The consumer price index (CPI) in annual terms fell to its lowest level since October 2021 in December: from 7.1% to 6.5%, and excluding food products and energy, from 6.0% to 5.7%. Thus, the US inflation rate has been slowing down for 6 months in a row, and core inflation has been slowing down for 3 consecutive months, which is a strong catalyst for easing the Fed's current monetary policy.

Market participants are firmly convinced that the interest rate will be increased by no more than 25 basis points (bp) at the February meeting of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee). In particular, Michelle Bowman, a member of the Board of Governors, and Mary Deli, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of San Francisco, spoke about this. The head of the Philadelphia Fed, Patrick Harker, left the camp of the hawks as well, also saying that the rate should be raised only by 25 bp.

Fed chief Jerome Powell noted a month ago that the regulator would keep rates at their peak until they were sure that the decline in inflation has become a sustainable trend. According to him, the base rate may be increased to 5.1% in 2023 and stay that high until 2024. However, the latest macro statistics, including data on inflation, business activity and the labor market, suggests that the peak value of the rate will be 4.75%. Moreover, it can even be lowered to 4.50% by the end of 2023.

As a result of these forecasts, the US currency depreciated against all G10 currencies. The DXY dollar index updated the June 2022 low, falling to 102.08 (it climbed above 114.00 at the end of September). The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to a monthly low of 3.42%, while EUR/USD jumped to 1.0867, the highest since last April.

The yield spread between 10-year US and German bonds is at its lowest level since April 2020, with smaller European countries narrowing their spreads. This dynamic indicates a decrease in the likelihood of the EU economy falling into a deep recession. Moreover, the winter in Europe turned out to be quite warm and energy prices went down, despite problems with their supply from Russia. And this put pressure on the US currency as well.

China could help the dollar. According to various estimates, China's GDP growth may reach 4.8-5.0%, or even higher in 2023. Such economic activity will add 1.0-1.2% to global inflation, which will give Fed hawks certain advantages in maintaining tight monetary policy. But all this is in the future. The market is currently waiting for the next meeting of the FOMC on February 01 and for the statements that will be made by the US Federal Reserve officials on its results.

EUR/USD closed last week at 1.0833. 20% of analysts expect further strengthening of the euro and the growth of the pair in the coming days, 50% expect that the US currency will be able to win back part of the losses. The remaining 30% of experts do not expect either the first or the second from the pair. The picture among the indicators on D1 is different: all 100% are colored green, but 25% of the oscillators are in the overbought zone. The nearest support for the pair is at 1.0800, then there are levels and zones 1.0740-1.0775, 1.0700, 1.0620-1.0680, 1.0560 and 1.0480-1.0500. The bulls will meet resistance at the levels of 1.0865, 1.0935, 1.0985-1.1010, 1.1130, after which they will try to gain a foothold in the 1.1260-1.1360 echelon.

Next week, traders should take into account that Monday is a holiday in the US, Martin Luther King Day. The calendar can highlight Tuesday, January 17, when the values of the Consumer Price Indices (CPI) and Economic Sentiment (ZEW) in Germany will become known. Data on Eurozone consumer prices and US retail sales will be released on Wednesday, January 18. The December value of the American Producer Price Index (PPI) will also become known the same day.

GBP/USD: Surprise from UK GDP

GBP/USD took advantage of broad pressure on the dollar on Thursday, January 12 to rise to its highest level since December 15, reaching 1.2246. The UK GDP gave the pound bulls a pleasant surprise the next day, on Friday, December 13: it suddenly turned out that the country's economy expanded by 0.1% over the month against expectations of its fall by 0.3%. However, in annual terms, GDP was significantly lower than the previous value: 0.2% against 1.5% a month earlier. As a result, the pair ended the five-day period a little lower than the local high, at the level of 1.2234.

An important day for the pound may be February 02, when the next meeting of the Bank of England (BoE) will take place. And while investors expect the Fed to slow down the rate of interest rate hikes, the Bank of England, on the contrary, will further tighten monetary policy. It is predicted that the rate may rise from the current 3.50% to the level of 4.50% by the summer, which will serve as a certain support for the British currency.

As for the short term, here the median forecast for GBP/USD looks as uncertain as possible: 10% of experts side with the bulls, 25% side with the bears, and the vast majority (65%) have taken a neutral position. Among the oscillators on D1, 90% are colored green, of which a third gives signals that the pair is overbought, the color of the remaining 10% is neutral gray. Trend indicators are 100% on the green side. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2200-1.2210, 1.2145, 1.2085-1.2115, 1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2250-1.2270, 1.2330-1.2345, 1.2425-1.2450 and 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700 and 1.2750.

As for the developments regarding the UK economy in the coming week, we can highlight Tuesday January 17, when we find out what is happening in the country's labor market. The value of such an important inflation indicator as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be published the same day, which will certainly have an impact on the BoE's decision on the interest rate. Data on December retail sales in the UK will also be published at the very end of the working week, on Friday, January 20. It is expected that they will rise by 0.4% compared to the fall of 0.4% in November thanks to the pre-Christmas hype.

USD/JPY: Should We Expect Surprises from the Bank of Japan

The yen turned out to be the favorite of the week, and even on Friday, January 13, it continued to put pressure on the dollar, fixing a local low at 127.45. It put the last chord of the week a little higher, at the level of 127.85.

Why did this happen? First, the yen strengthened against the background of a falling dollar and a decrease in US bond yields (the US/Japan spread fell to its lowest level since August 2022). Being the most sensitive to the dynamics of treasuries, it managed to win back 2.5% from the dollar. And second, the press seriously helped it. Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, citing confidential sources, reported that Bank of Japan (BoJ) officials plan to discuss the implications of their ultra-dove approach to monetary policy and consider adjusting their bond-buying program to "reduce its negative effects" on January 17-18. Other adjustments in the actions of the regulator are not ruled out.

The Bank of Japan is the latest major central bank to keep interest rates at a negative level of -0.1%. We wrote Earlier that a radical change in monetary policy can be expected only after April 8. It is on this day that Haruhiko Kuroda, the head of the Bank of Japan, will end hs term, and he may be replaced by a new candidate with a tougher position. And now, almost all experts interviewed by Bloomberg believe that the Japanese Central Bank will not change the main parameters of its policy next week but will limit itself to discussing them. At the same time, 38% of respondents expect real changes either in April or June.

Of course, it will be possible to give more accurate forecasts after the January meeting of the Bank of Japan. So far, the opinion of analysts regarding the near future is distributed as follows: 50% of analysts vote for the correction of the pair to the north, and 50% simply decline to comment. The number of votes cast for the continuation of the downtrend turns out to be 0 this time. For indicators on D1, the picture mirrors the readings for GBP/USD. Among the oscillators, 90% are colored red, of which a third gives signals that the pair is oversold, the color of the remaining 10% is neutral gray. Trend indicators have 100% on the red side. The nearest support level is located in the zone 127.00-127.45, followed by the levels and zones 126.35-126.55, 125.00, 121.65-121.85. Levels and resistance zones are 128.00-128.25, 129.60-130.00, 131.25-131.70, 132.85, 133.60, 134.40 and then 137.50.

From the events of the coming week, in addition to the mentioned meeting of the Bank of Japan and its interest rate decision, the market's attention will be drawn to the subsequent press conferences and comments from the regulator's officials regarding its monetary policy.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Thaw or Crypto Spring?



BTC/USD has once again returned to the $18,500-20,000 area. This zone acted as support since last June, and it turned into resistance in November. The pair traded there in December 2017 as well, after which a protracted crypto winter followed. Bitcoin was able to return to these values only three years later, at the end of November-December 2020. This rise marked the beginning of a powerful bullish rally then: the coin rose in price by 3.5 times in less than six months, reaching $64,750 in April 2021. This was followed by another collapse.

How will bitcoin behave this time: will it collapse like in 2017, or will it take off like in 2020? Is this the onset of crypto spring or just a small thaw? There is no consensus on this matter. It is possible that the pair's current rise is due not to the growing strength of digital gold, but to the dollar, which has been weakening for 16 consecutive weeks. Bitcoin received a powerful boost after the publication of the US CPI. Against this background, the voices of bitcoin optimists sound more confident and louder. Moreover, the liquidators of the FTX exchange found liquid assets worth $5 billion, which will be used to pay off part of the debts to creditors. According to some analysts, along with the decline in CPI, this makes it possible for crypto markets not to worry too much about the macroeconomic picture, which is still bearish.

Dante Disparte, Head of Strategic Development at Circle, believes that despite the 2022 Ice Age, digital assets and blockchain will continue to be integral tools of the economy. Major banks and financial institutions will continue to introduce cryptocurrencies into their product lines. As for the bankruptcy of several crypto-lenders and the collapse of the FTX exchange, these events, according to Dispart, can be a boon for the industry, as they lay the foundation for more responsible and affordable investments.

Increasing regulatory pressure can help restore investor interest and confidence in the industry. The long-awaited MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation) is expected to come into force this year. The SEC is highly likely to take a number of important steps in this direction as well.

Another expert with a positive outlook is University of Sussex finance professor Carol Alexander. She had been prone to BTC falling to $10,000 in 2022 in her previous forecast. This did not happen, although the forecast almost came true. However, the financier predicts now that the first cryptocurrency can reach $50,000 in 2023. The professor believes that the catalyst will be the influx of more “dominoes” that fell apart after the collapse of the FTX exchange. “2023 will be a managed bull market, not a bubble,” she writes. - We will not see a jump in the rate, as before. But we will see a month or two of stable trending prices interspersed with periods of limited range, and perhaps a couple of short-term crashes.”

Bill Miller, an American investor, and fund manager, also defended bitcoin. He believes it is wrong to link BTC to the bankruptcy of crypto companies such as FTX and Celsius, since these are centralized entities that should not be confused with the decentralized bitcoin network. Miller has once again confirmed his belief in the main cryptocurrency and said that its price will definitely increase by the end of the year.

According to Alistair Milne, Chief Information Officer of the Altana Digital Currency Fund, “we should see bitcoin at least at $45,000 by the end of 2023.” However, the specialist warns that “if central banks decide to allow a higher inflation target […] to avoid a recession, hard assets could become fashionable again.” As for the longer-term outlook, Milne believes that BTC should reach $150,000-300,000 by the end of 2024, “and this is probably the peak of opportunities for the bulls.”

Tim Draper, a third-generation venture capitalist and co-founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, is also hoping for 2024. He believes that the halving planned for this year will have a big impact on the price of the main cryptocurrency, which will eventually reach $250,000.

Another expert who joined the bull train was analyst Dave the Wave, known for predicting the 2021 bitcoin crash. He believes that the coin is now on its way to breaking through its “long-term resistance diagonal.” In his opinion, "a technical movement over the next month or two may be enough to break this resistance." Dave the Wave has previously said that its Logarithmic Growth Curve (LGC) model indicates that bitcoin could rise to $160,000 by January 2025.

Eric Wall, Chief Investment Officer at crypto-currency hedge fund Arcane Assets, gives a much more modest forecast: the expert believes that the price of bitcoin may exceed $30,000 in the coming year. Eric Wall often bases his comments on the BTC Rainbow Price Chart, an analytical tool created by BlockchainCenter. And this time he said that the $15,400 exchange rate was the bottom for bitcoin.

Jiang Zhuoer, founder and CEO of a number of crypto projects, agrees with Eric Wall. By his calculations, all three previous bear markets took the same amount of time to go from the previous high to the bottom. Based on this, Jiang Zhuoer concludes that we are now in the last sideways period of the bear market bottom. His optimistic estimate suggests that if the 2018 scenario repeats, BTC price could be flat for another two months before the next bull run begins. At the same time, events such as bankruptcies of crypto companies will no longer have a significant impact on the prices of major digital assets.

The strategists of the British international financial conglomerate Standard Chartered strongly disagree with this statement. According to them, “more and more crypto companies and exchanges are facing insufficient liquidity, leading to further bankruptcies and the collapse of investor confidence,” which could lead to BTC falling to $5,000 this year.

It is said that the truth lies in the middle. This is exactly the “optimistic-pessimistic” position taken by Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz. He said in a recent interview with CNBC that the prospects for cryptocurrencies are not so good, but everything is not so bad either. Leveraged traders closed out their positions in December 2022, creating what the entrepreneur called a “clean market.” In addition, market participants have significantly reduced their spending and will continue to do so in order to get through the transition period. Novogratz also stressed that 2023 will be a defining year for the future development of the industry. At the same time, he pointed to the problems that exist between Gemini and Genesis, which could create an unpleasant situation for the entire digital asset market.

Another source of nervousness is the Binance situation. According to a recent Forbes report, the exchange lost $12 billion in assets due to users continuing to withdraw money from the exchange. And despite statements from Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao that the situation has calmed down, the outflow of funds is now only increasing.

The new year 2023 has just come. There are still eleven and a half months ahead, which will show which of the forecasts will turn out to be closer to reality. In the meantime, at the time of writing the review (Saturday January 13), BTC/USD has broken through the $20,000 horizon and is trading in the $20,500 zone. The total crypto market capitalization is $0.968 trillion ($0.790 trillion at the low of December 30). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose from 25 to 46 points in a week, but still remains in the Fear zone, although it is already close to the Neutral state.


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CryptoNews of the Week



- Texas A&M University (USA) will launch an educational program dedicated to bitcoin in spring 2023. The Bitcoin Protocol course will be included in the educational program of students at such university schools as as May Business School and College Engineering. The initiative is based on the book Programming Bitcoin by Bitcoin Core developer Jimmy Song.

- Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), said during a speech at the BT Banking & Economy summit that digital assets should be completely banned in the country. “The position of the RBI is extremely clear: all cryptocurrencies should be banned. However, blockchain technology needs to be supported as it has many other uses,” he explained.
Das emphasized the unreliability of cryptocurrency due to constant price changes and the “ambiguity” of the definition. According to him, some consider it an asset, others consider it a financial product. However, according to the manager, “disguising a cryptocurrency as a financial product or asset” is inappropriate. As for changing the price of coins, this is 100% speculation and gambling, which, by the way, are prohibited in India.

- Unlike India, the US has a more loyal attitude towards cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Thus, the country's Congress has created a new subcommittee that will deal with new rules for regulators regarding digital currencies, as well as develop policies to further promote digital financial technologies.
The new organization will be led by Republican Congressman French Hill, who previously led the Fintech and Artificial Intelligence Task Forces. Hill noted in his statement that at a time of significant technological advancement and change in the financial sector, the subcommittee's job is to promote responsible innovation by encouraging the development of FinTech in the country.

- Bank of America (BAC) researchers believe that digital currencies, CBDCs and stablecoins are a natural evolution of money and payments. Central bank digital currencies can “revolutionize global financial systems and may become the most significant technological achievement in the history of money.”
BAC researchers believe that monetary regulators in developed and developing countries will focus on the efficiency of payments and their availability. However, some countries will not issue such means of payment even in the next ten years. But their central banks will have to “either innovate technologically or become irrelevant in the long term.”

- Kevin O'Leary, head of O'Leary Ventures and host of the TV show Shark Tank, expects even more crypto exchanges to crash in the industry. The reason for this, in his opinion, is people's ignorance. “If you ask me if there's going to be another crash to zero, 100% that's going to happen. And this is going to happen again and again... I don't think it's about regulation. It will not change the scale of fraud,” the investor said. Legislators are likely to put in place a solid regulatory framework soon, O'Leary said, but that won't do the industry any good.

- The value of bitcoin could increase to $50,000-100,000 over the next two to three years. This opinion was expressed in an interview with CNBC by the founder of the hedge fund SkyBridge Capital Anthony Scaramucci. The businessman called 2023 a “recovery year” for the main cryptocurrency.
Of course, the decisions of the US Federal Reserve will influence the digital gold rate. And if the financial regulator takes measures to stimulate the economy in the middle of the year, this will be a good impetus for the rise in the bitcoin price. This is evidenced by the January price jump caused by US inflation data for December. The market decided based on this data that the Fed could significantly ease its monetary policy, as a result, BTC quotes went up sharply.

- Positive sentiment dominates the cryptocurrency market, and its total capitalization reached $1 trillion on January 16, for the first time in a long time. In turn, bitcoin is firmly held above $20,000. Analyst Craig Erlam noted that digital assets have become the main beneficiary during the current increase in risk appetite.
In his opinion, it is also possible to say that the industry has recovered from the recent FTX collapse. On the other hand, there are no specific fundamental grounds for the development of a bullish trend at the moment. In the current conditions, it is necessary to monitor the macroeconomic situation, as it will have a strong impact on the dynamics of digital assets. At the moment, the consensus forecast of market participants is based on the fact that following the results of the February meeting, the Fed will raise the refinancing rate by only 0.25%. In this case, the bullish mood in the cryptocurrency market is likely to receive serious support.

- Bloomberg Intelligence senior strategist Mike McGlone believes that the bottom in the cryptocurrency market has already been passed. But his opinion on the Fed's monetary policy differs from that of other analysts.
McGlone has noted that the charts are reminiscent of the 2018 dynamics, when the price of the first cryptocurrency rebounded from $5,000. However, the macroeconomic situation is now completely different, which is why the bitcoin growth may stop at current values. Thus, the NASDAQ index may continue to fall, and the correlation between bitcoin and the stock market has been quite significant in recent years. “We are still pulling liquidity from global markets, and there are reasons for this. And even if equities and other risky assets rise, liquidity will remain limited by central banks. The big difference from 2018 is that the Fed had already begun to ease its policy then, and we do not see any easing today,” the Bloomberg strategist explained.
“Look at the NASDAQ, the chart is breaking through the 200-week SMA. This has only happened 3 times in history, and the Fed has always eased its monetary policy. But the US Central Bank is aggressively tightening it now. The overall picture is optimistic for bitcoin, but the situation is unprecedented now, so anything can happen,” McGlone said.

- Legendary stock trader and analyst Peter Brandt, who, among other things, predicted the 2018 BTC correction accurately, gave a fresh forecast for the bitcoin movement in the short and long term.
According to the specialist, BTC will be able to realize growth to levels near $25,000 in the near future. After that, a correction is not ruled out by the end of spring, that will give the cryptocurrency strength for a new rally. As a result, the coin will reach its previous highs near $68,000 in the second half of 2023. After that, another correction and a subsequent update of the absolute high are possible.
Peter Brandt does not rule out bitcoin rising to $150,000 by early 2025. However, he warns that this is nothing more than his guess. Nobody knows how the main cryptocurrency will actually behave, according to the eminent trader.

- Peter Brandt was supported in this opinion by artificial intelligence (AI) of the ChatGPT test platform. This platform has become popular due to its ability to solve a wide range of tasks with high accuracy, including asset trading.
Experts from Finbold asked the artificial intelligence what the bitcoin price will be in 2030. Finbold suggested that ChatGPT would be able to provide a fairly accurate forecast based on historical BTC price data, market data, technical and fundamental analysis, and other indicators. But the AI didn't live up to expectations. It was never able to predict the exact rate and admitted that it is hard to name the price of the coin in the long term. The AI cited high market volatility and unclear regulatory rules as the reasons. However, the AI, like Peter Brandt, believes that the flagship cryptocurrency has potential for growth in the coming years. This will be possible due to the development of technology, the maturation of the cryptocurrency market and their massive
distribution.

- Ben Armstrong, a popular cryptocurrency YouTuber, believes that the price of the flagship cryptocurrency will jump to $30,000 by the end of February 2023. However, analyst and investor Ali Martinez disagrees. According to him, miners have recently been actively selling their assets to lock in profits. In addition, according to the expert, traders trading on the world's largest crypto exchange, Binance, massively opened short positions on BTC. According to analytical resources, as of the morning of January 17, 51% of the users of the trading platform had bitcoin shorts. This number then increased to 57%.


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EUR/USD: The Calm Before the Storm



The DXY Dollar Index (the ratio of the USD to a basket of six other major foreign currencies) has been moving in a fairly narrow sideways channel since January 12. A small surge in volatility was caused by the publication of data on retail sales in the US on Wednesday, January 18. However, everything returned to normal quickly, and DXY continued its eastward journey, sandwiched in the 102.00-102.50 range. EUR/USD behaved similarly, which, having started on Monday at 1.0833, completed the five-day period at 1.0855.

This behavior suggests that the market has already taken into account everything that is possible in quotes. This includes a slowdown in inflation, a possible recession, and prospects for changes in the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy. A trigger is needed In order for a jump to occur, which, most likely, will be the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting on February 01 and the comments of the Fed management following it. Only US GDP data will be released until then as for important macro statistics. This indicator will be announced on February 26, and it is very likely to show a slowdown in the country's economic growth (the forecast is 2.6-2.8% against 3.2% a quarter earlier).

Market participants continue to wonder how much the interest rate will be raised at the February FOMC meeting. There are two options: either by 25 or 50 basis points (bp). Michelle Bowman, member of the Board of Governors, Mary Dehli, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of San Francisco, and Patrick Harker, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, spoke about 25 bp. Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard did not express a clear preference for either of these options on Thursday, January 19. She did not say what peak rate she expects to see in 2023 either. However, she said the regulator's policy should remain restrictive to ensure a return to the 2.0% inflation target.

Her words coincide with the opinion of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who said a month ago that the regulator will keep rates at their peak until they are sure that the decline in inflation has become a sustainable trend. In his opinion, the base rate can be increased in 2023 to 5.1% and stay that high until 2024.

The market consensus forecast in December indicated the same value, 5.10%. However, the market has now stopped trusting the Federal Reserve, and expectations have fallen to 4.90%. And some analysts believe that the peak value of the rate will not rise above 4.75% at all. Moreover, it can even be lowered to 4.50% by the end of 2023. Given that the rate has already reached 4.50% at the moment, such a slight increase will clearly not benefit the dollar, but it will push up the competing currencies from the DXY basket and risky assets.

As for the common European currency, the swap market believes at the moment that with a probability close to 100%, the ECB rate will be increased by 50 bp on February 02, and the probability of the same rise in March is estimated at 70%.

Christine Lagarde, the head of the European regulator, speaking on Thursday, January 19 at the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), stressed that inflation remains too high, so the ECB will not relax its efforts to bring inflation under control. Ms Lagarde's colleague, ECB Governing Board member and Dutch Central Bank Governor Klaas Knot said on Thursday that the inflation situation remains unsatisfactory and that the market is wrong to expect only one 50bp rate hike in the future. There will be several such increases, according to Klaas Knot.

Such statements give euro bulls some hope. However, there are also those among European officials who take a more cautious position. Thus, Francois Villeroy, the head of the Bank of France, said in Davos that it is too early to talk about raising rates in March. And his words fell into rumors that the ECB is ready to move to 25 bps.

It is clear that the future of EUR/USD will be decided on February 01-02. In the meantime, 40% of analysts are counting on further strengthening of the euro, and the growth of the pair in the coming days. 50% expect that the US currency will be able to win back part of the losses. The remaining 10% of experts take a break in anticipation of the meetings of the Fed and the ECB. Among the indicators on D1, the picture is different: all 100% of the trend indicators are colored green. Among the oscillators, those are 65% of them, 20% signal that the pair is overbought, and the remaining 15% are painted in neutral gray. The nearest support for the pair is at 1.0800, then there are levels and zones 1.0740-1.0775, 1.0700, 1.0620-1.0680, 1.0560 and 1.0480-1.0500. The bulls will meet resistance at the levels of 1.0865, 1.0935, 1.0985-1.1010, 1.1130, after which they will try to gain a foothold in the 1.1260-1.1360 echelon.

China is celebrating the New Year next week, so we are happy to congratulate Chinese traders. As for the US and the Eurozone, the following events can be noted on the calendar. The ECB President Christine Lagarde will deliver a speech on Monday, January 23. Business activity indices (PMI and S&P Global) in the manufacturing sectors of Germany and the Eurozone as a whole will be published the next day. We will find out the value of the Business Climate Index (IFO) in Germany on Wednesday, January 25. As already mentioned, the value of the US GDP will become known on Thursday, in addition, a number of data from the consumer market and the labor market of this country will also come the same day. And the value of the Basic index of US household spending on personal consumption will be published at the very end of the working week, on Friday, January 27.

GBP/USD: Pound Counts on the Best

As in the US, retail sales in the UK also went down. They fell­ -1.0% (mom) in December, which is significantly lower than the forecast +0.5%. Analysts note that real spending in the country was significantly ahead of GDP in 2020-2022, but the rise in inflation led to a sharp halt in this process. And it is predicted that 2023 will be a period of retribution for this waste.

However, according to economists at HSBC, one of the world's largest financial conglomerates, things are not so bad. “With UK inflation likely to have peaked and could potentially slow more than the consensus forecast,” they write, “a less aggressive tone of tightening from the BoE now could mean a less dramatic reversal later in the year. And this may eventually become a minor positive factor for the British pound in the coming months. The shift towards better-than-expected domestic data should also be positive for the British pound." Economic performance is improving rapidly, experts say, thanks to a combination of a cheaper currency and higher interest rates. Suffice it to say that the UK trade balance for Q3 of last year showed the lowest deficit since December 2021. HSBC also believes that the growth of global market risk appetite will benefit the British currency as well.

In contrast to the EUR/USD flat trend, the British currency showed growth last week: GBP/USD approached the local December highs on January 18, reaching a height of 1.2435. Pound bulls are inspired by expectations that the Bank of England (BoE), in contrast to the fading activity of the Fed, on the contrary, will continue to vigorously tighten its monetary policy. It is predicted that from the current 3.50%, the rate may rise to 4.50 by summer. And an important day on this path may be February 02, when the next meeting of the BoE will take place.

The last chord of the week sounded at 1.2395. The median forecast for GBP/USD in the near future looks like this: 50% of experts believe that it is time for the pound to slow down its growth and are waiting for a correction to the south. Only 15% of experts side with the bulls, and 35% have taken a neutral position. Among the oscillators on D1, 85% are colored green, 15% signal that the pair is overbought. Trend indicators have 100% on the green side. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2330, 1.2250-1.2270, 1.2200-1.2210, 1.2145, 1.2085-1.2115, 1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2435-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

Highlights for the UK economy in the coming week include Tuesday January 24, when a pool of UK business activity (PMI) data will be released.

USD/JPY: Yen Outlook Is Positive as Well

Despite the fact that the Bank of Japan left its key rate unchanged at a negative level of -0.1% at its meeting on January 18, the yen is still among the favorites among the DXY currencies. USD/JPY fixed a low at 127.21 on Monday. It hasn't dropped this low since last May. Recall that this happened against the backdrop of a fall in the dollar and a decrease in the yield of US bonds (the US/Japan spread is at the lows of August-September 2022).

However, the pair corrected to the north and finished at 129.57 at the end of the week. However, according to many experts, data on the acceleration of inflation in the country will still force the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to tighten its monetary policy.

In general, inflation in the country in December amounted to 4.0% (y/y), accelerating from 3.8% in November. These rates are the highest since January 1991. Consumer prices in Japan excluding fresh food (a key indicator monitored by the country's central bank) rose 4.0% last month compared to the same month of the previous year. And this is the highest rate since December 1981. The indicator has remained above the BoJ's 2% target for 9 consecutive months.

Markets expect serious changes in monetary policy after April 08. It is on this day that Haruhiko Kuroda, the head of the Bank of Japan, will end his term, and he may be replaced by a new candidate with a tougher position. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to nominate this candidate in February. Kuroda will hold his last meeting on March 10, and the next BoJ meeting on April 28 will be held by the new head of the Central Bank.

Factors that could lead to further appreciation of the yen, in addition to a change in the BoJ, include improving Japan's balance of payments due to the devaluation of the yen and the resumption of tourism, as well as the revival of the safe-haven status of the yen and currency hedging by resident investors of their foreign investments. Economists at Danske Bank expect USD/JPY to fall towards 125.00 in the coming months. And according to the strategists of the international financial group Nordea, it may fall below 120.00 by the end of 2023.

Analysts' median forecast is also in line with Danske Bank and Nordea's forecasts. Their opinion on the near future of USD/JPY is distributed as follows: 75% of them vote for the pair to fall further. The remaining 25% have taken a neutral position. Not a single vote was given for the pair's growth this time. Among the oscillators on D1, 10% point north, 75% look south, and 15% point east. For trend indicators, 15% look north, 85% look in the opposite direction. The nearest support level is located at 129.30 zone, followed by levels and zones 128.90, 127.75-128.00, 127.00-127.25, 126.35-126.55, 125.00, 121.65-121.85. Levels and resistance zones are 130.45, 131.25, 132.00, 132.80, 133.60, 134.40 and then 137.50.

Among the events of the coming week, the report on the Meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Japan, which will be published on Monday, January 23, is of interest.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Bitcoin Victory Over Artificial Intelligence

If you look at last week's chart, you can clearly see that the explosive growth of bullish optimism has almost come to naught. Recall that bitcoin received a powerful boost from January 09 to January 14 amid the publication of data on lower US inflation (CPI). Another contribution to the bulls' piggy bank was the news that FTX liquidators found liquid assets worth $5 billion. According to a number of bitcoin enthusiasts, this should allow crypto markets not to worry too much about the macroeconomic picture, which is still bearish.

But most likely, the last statement is wrong, and we should still worry. The growth of digital assets has been the result of an increase in the general global appetite of investors for risky assets. This can be seen if we compare the quotes of BTC/USD and stock indices S&P500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq. And while bitcoin has become the main beneficiary in this case, it was due of its increased volatility. And as we have repeatedly noted, the main factor determining the dynamics of both the stock and crypto markets in this situation is the monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve, including the change in the dollar interest rate.

Bitcoin has risen in price by more than 37% from January 01 to 18 2023, reaching a high of $22,715. The total market capitalization has exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in a long time. The enthusiasm of market participants has led to an increase in BTC trading volume twice in a week: the figure rose to $11 billion in the spot market. But, according to analyst Craig Erlam, there are no specific fundamental reasons for the further development of the bullish trend now.

Market growth in the first half of January came as a surprise to the bears. According to the statistics, they have lost about $1.2 billion in the last week alone. And this is only in BTC. The volume of liquidated short positions exceeded long positions by six times at some points. But all this happened at the expense of small and medium-sized investors. The number of bitcoin addresses that hold up to 1,000 BTC has increased dramatically. But institutional whales (more than 1000 BTC) practically did not react to what was happening and watched the bustle of shrimp with their characteristic grandeur and calmness. Suffice it to say that the inflow into bitcoin funds has been only about $10 million since January 10, and the number of wallets owned by whales continues to fall.

We have already written that many institutional investors are deterred from the crypto market by the lack of sufficient regulation. And now the US Congress has even created a new special subcommittee to solve this problem. However, Kevin O'Leary, CEO of venture capital firm O'Leary and host of the Shark Tank TV show, believes that adopting a strong regulatory framework will not solve the industry's problems or change the scale of fraud. The expert believes that even more crypto companies and exchanges will collapse this year. The reason for this, in his opinion, is people's ignorance.

Now let's talk about forecasts expressed in numbers. Ben Armstrong, a popular cryptocurrency YouTuber, believes that the price of the flagship cryptocurrency will jump to $30,000 by the end of February. And this will happen despite the fact that miners have been actively selling their assets lately in order to fix profits.

Legendary stock trader and analyst Peter Brandt, who, among other things, predicted the 2018 BTC correction accurately, also gave a fresh forecast for bitcoin’s movement. According to the specialist, BTC will be able to realize growth to levels near $25,000 in the near future. After that, a correction is not ruled out by the end of spring, that will give the cryptocurrency strength for a new rally. As a result, the coin will reach its previous highs near $68,000 in the second half of 2023. After that, another correction and a subsequent update of the absolute high are possible. In the longer term, Peter Brandt does not rule out bitcoin rising to $150,000 by early 2025. However, he warns that this is nothing more than his guess. Nobody knows how the main cryptocurrency will actually behave, according to the eminent trader.

The value of bitcoin could increase to $50,000-100,000 over the next two to three years. This opinion was expressed in an interview with CNBC by the founder of the hedge fund SkyBridge Capital Anthony Scaramucci. The businessman called 2023 a “recovery year” for the main cryptocurrency. Of course, the decisions of the US Federal Reserve will influence the digital gold rate. And if the financial regulator takes measures to stimulate the economy in the middle of the year, this will be a good impetus for the rise in the bitcoin price. Will it take the measures?

Bloomberg Intelligence senior strategist Mike McGlone agrees that the bottom in the cryptocurrency market has already been passed. But his opinion on the Fed's monetary policy is very different. McGlone has noted that the charts are reminiscent of the 2018 dynamics, when the price of the first cryptocurrency rebounded from $5,000. However, the macroeconomic situation is now completely different, which is why the bitcoin growth may stop at current values. Thus, the NASDAQ index may continue to fall, and the correlation between bitcoin and the stock market has been quite significant in recent years. “We are still pulling liquidity from global markets, and there are reasons for this. And even if equities and other risky assets rise, liquidity will remain limited by central banks. The big difference from 2018 is that the Fed had already begun to ease its policy then, and we do not see any easing today,” the Bloomberg strategist explained.

“Look at the NASDAQ, the chart breaks through the 200-week SMA. This has only happened 3 times in history, and the Fed has always eased its monetary policy. But the US Central Bank is tightening it now. The overall picture is optimistic for bitcoin, but the situation is unprecedented now, so anything can happen,” McGlone said.

Peter Brand admitted Above that it is almost impossible to accurately predict the behavior of bitcoin. The artificial intelligence (AI) of the ChatGPT test platform supported him in this opinion. This platform has become popular due to its ability to solve a wide range of tasks with high accuracy, including asset trading.

Experts from Finbold asked the artificial intelligence what the bitcoin price will be in 2030. Finbold suggested that ChatGPT would be able to provide a fairly accurate forecast based on historical BTC price data, market data, technical and fundamental analysis, and other indicators. But the AI didn't live up to expectations. It was never able to predict the exact rate and admitted that it is hard to name the price of the coin in the long term. The AI cited high market volatility and unclear regulatory rules as the reasons. However, the AI, like Peter Brandt, believes that the flagship cryptocurrency has potential for growth in the coming years. This will be possible due to the development of technology, the maturation of the cryptocurrency market and their mass distribution.

The future of the digital market is indeed vague. However, we can tell exactly what is happening in the present. So, at the time of writing the review (Friday evening, January 20), BTC/USD is trading in the $22,700 zone. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.038 trillion ($0.968 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has left the Fear Zone and is now in a Neutral state at 51 points (46 a week ago).


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- Jamie Dimon, the head of JPMorgan said on CNBC that he was not sure that the bitcoin issuance is really limited to 21 million coins. "How do you know? Maybe it will go up to 21 million, and Satoshi's photo will pop up and laugh at all of you,” he suggested. The top manager already publicly expressed skepticism in October 2022 regarding the code embedded in the algorithm of the first cryptocurrency. “Have you all read the algorithms? Guys, do you believe in all this?” Damon grinned at the time.
Given the programmed halvings, reaching the bar of 21 million should occur by 2141. At the same time, experts say that the limit on bitcoin emissions is provided by only five lines of the code. It is open for study, and anyone can verify this.

- According to Cathy Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, the cryptocurrency market will enter a new phase in 2023. The growth of bitcoin and other virtual currencies will be the result of the US Federal Reserve's easing of monetary policy in the second half of this year. It is this move that will become a trigger for investors testing stock markets and digital currencies. Earlier, Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone expressed a similar point of view, pointing to the possibility of BTC rising to $30,000.

- Adam Farthing, Chief Risk Officer at crypto company B2C2, noted that the first cryptocurrency needs to overcome the key level at around $25,000 in order to continue the rally. “It will be a tough nut to crack,” the expert shared his opinion. According to him, after passing the designated milestone, interest will resume from outsiders who want to return to the market.
Analysts at the brokerage company Bernstein are convinced that such a rally is unlikely to continue at the moment, as there are no signs of “any new injections” into the industry. However, in their opinion, institutional capital will still begin to show more interest in cryptocurrency this year, as it becomes an increasingly regulated asset class.

- Brian Armstrong, head of crypto exchange Coinbase, called bitcoin “the right long-term bet” for Brazil and Argentina. According to the Financial Times, the two countries intend to create a single currency to reduce dependence on the US dollar and stimulate regional trade. The Argentine Minister of Economy spoke about plans to offer participation in the bloc to other Latin American countries. The FT estimates that the new union will cover approximately 5% of global GDP and will be the second largest in the world after the EU (14%). “I wonder if they would consider switching to bitcoin. That would probably be the right long-term bet,” Armstrong said.
Former Goldman Sachs executive and macro investor Raoul Pal criticized Armstrong's idea because of the volatility of the first cryptocurrency. “No one can currently afford a national currency with 100% volatility, which falls by 65% and rises tenfold. Businesses are fighting to plan and hedge this,” he wrote.

- The Binance exchange press service said that an unknown artist under the nickname Sabunir tried to sell his digital image for bitcoins for the first time in the world. This happened 13 years ago, on January 24, 2010. The picture was a desktop wallpaper for a personal computer and was designed in a resolution of 1280x960 pixels. Sabunir tweeted at the time that he wanted to try to earn some bitcoins. He priced his picture at $1 and stressed that he plans to get 500 BTC for it. It is not known whether this deal took place, but if it did, Sabunir would now be a wealthy man, as these coins are worth more than $11 million.

- Carley Garner, senior commodity strategist & broker at DeCarley Trading, recommended staying away from virtual currencies and choosing gold instead as a hedge against rising inflation and economic chaos. Garner studied the daily chart of BTC and Nasdaq 100 futures since March 2021 carefully, and noted that the picture was almost identical, and the price movements were in sync. According to her, this indicated that bitcoin is more of a risky asset than a means of saving capital.
Garner's opinion was referred to by Jim Cramer of CNBC. “Mad Money” TV presenter also highlighted the risks associated with the flagship cryptocurrency in light of the collapse of the FTX marketplace. He noted that a similar situation could happen at any time with any other large crypto company. In his opinion, no one knows what the big players in the industry are really hiding. And there are no guarantees that they are actually honest with their customers. Any new scandal will cause a sharp drop in bitcoin quotes, which means that investors' assets are at risk.

- The first nuclear-powered bitcoin mining center will open in Pennsylvania (USA). Cumulus Data has completed construction of the country's first zero-carbon data center. The new data center will have a capacity of more than 40 MW, achieved through a direct connection to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in northeast Pennsylvania. In addition to server equipment for cloud computing, the data center will house equipment for mining the main cryptocurrency.
Cumulus Susquehanna is the first in Cumulus Data's future network of 18 combined data centers with a combined capacity of more than 470 MW. They will be used to deploy the first Nautilus Cryptomine mining complex in the United States, which operates exclusively on nuclear energy and produces “carbon-free crypto assets”.

- “Buying bitcoin at the end of the first day of the Chinese New Year and selling it ten trading days later guarantees an average profit of more than 9%,” Markus Thielen, director of research and strategy at Matrixport, found out. The scheme has been profitable in 100% of cases for the last eight years, from 2015 to 2022. Such an operation would bring the greatest profit in 2017: 15%. Even in 2018, against the backdrop of the previous crypto winter, the investor received income, although only 1%.
To implement the scheme In 2023, it was necessary to buy digital gold on January 22, and sell the assets 10 days later, on February 1. Bitcoin was trading near the $22,900 mark on the day of the proposed purchase, January 22. Thielen believes its price should approach $25,000 by the beginning of February.
We will soon find out whether the phenomenon will be justified this time. And if anyone decides to follow Thielen's recommendations in the future, we would like to inform you that the next Chinese New Year begins on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

- Nicholas Merten, a cryptocurrency analyst and creator of the DataDash channel, noted that cryptocurrencies have a bright future, but many people underestimate the global situation. The damage done by FTX, Celsius, Three Arrows Capital and Terraform Labs has left an indelible mark on the industry. In addition, the macroeconomic component should also be taken into account, since many countries are struggling with rapid inflation, and supply chains have not fully recovered after the coronavirus pandemic. According to the expert, investors need to understand that the long-term bullish trend is over. Unfortunately, the digital asset industry needs to prepare for new challenges, and the current bullish trend in the market is only a local correction within the overall bearish trend.

- Thanks to the recent bullish rally, the capitalization of the flagship cryptocurrency has exceeded $443 billion, and has surpassed all key traditional financial institutions, including global world banks, in this indicator. For example, the capitalization of the American banking giant JPMorgan Chase is $406.42 billion, while Bank of America has a capitalization of $277.56 billion. In addition, BTC is ahead of companies such as Alibaba ($317.01 billion), Samsung ($335.37 billion), Mastercard ($365.09 billion) and Walmart ($385.15 billion). However, it has slightly lost to Tesla ($454.72 billion).
According to CompaniesMarketCap, bitcoin is the 16th most valuable asset in the world. The leaders of the rating are gold ($12.77 trillion), Apple ($2.25 trillion) and Saudi Aramco ($1.94 trillion).


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Next week: Five Days of Storms and Tsunamis



It seems that the whole world celebrated the Chinese New Year last week. There was some volatility in all major currency pairs of course, but we got an almost perfect sideways trend in the end. We will not deny the importance of the New Year holidays, but the reason for the lull, of course, is not in this, but in the key events that are coming next week.

On February 1, when it will be late at night in Europe and dawn in Asia, the US Federal Reserve will announce its key interest rate decision, and the regulator's management will tell (or at least give a hint) about its future monetary policy. The European Central Bank will make its decision on the rate a few hours later, on Thursday, February 02.

But, before giving forecasts, let's turn to the events of the past five days. Data released on Thursday, January 26 showed that the US economy is doing better than expected. The country's GDP, according to preliminary estimates, grew by 2.9% y/y in Q4 against the forecast of 2.6%. At the same time, initial claims for unemployment benefits for the week to January 21 fell to 186K (forecast 205K, the previous value of 192K). This is the lowest weekly figure since April 2022. Underlying durable goods orders also beat estimates, dropping by -0.1% instead of the expected -0.2%. New home sales are also doing well, with sales up to 616K in December from 602K in November.

Looking at these figures, we can conclude that not everything is so bad and there is no recession in the United States. And that the Fed's 2022 aggressive monetary policy (QT) has not had a suffocating effect on the economy. Therefore, it is possible to move on to its easing (QE). However, some economists point out that consumer demand is losing its momentum (2.1% in Q4 against the forecast of 2.9% and 2.3% a quarter earlier). Based on this, they conclude that the chances of a mild recession remain.

For now, the market believes the Fed will raise rates by 25 basis points (bps) at its February meeting. It is currently 4.50%, and the market consensus indicates its peak value at the level of 4.90-5.00% in 2023. The probability that the rate will be raised by another 25 bp in March is estimated at 85%. Although some analysts believe that the peak value will stop at around 4.75%. Moreover, the rate may even be lowered to 4.25-4.50% by the end of 2023. Such dynamics will obviously not benefit the dollar, but it will push up the competing currencies from the DXY basket and risky assets.

As for the common European currency, the market is sure that the ECB will raise the rate by 50 bp on February 02. But, according to analysts, the difference in the rises in USD and EUR rates has already been taken into account by the market in the pair's quotes, which is why it keeps in the range of 1.0845-1.0925. And its foreseeable future will depend on the comments and signals that the leaders of the Fed and the ECB will give at the end of their meetings.

Starting at 1.0855 on Monday, January 23, the pair ended last week at 1.0875. At the time of writing the forecast (Friday evening, January 27), the votes of supporters of bulls and bears are divided almost equally. 50% of analysts expect further strengthening of the euro and the growth of the pair. 45% expect that the US currency will be able to win back part of the losses. The remaining 5% of experts, in anticipation of the meetings of the Central Banks, prefer not to make forecasts at all. Among the indicators on D1, the picture is different: 90% of the oscillators are colored green, 5% indicate that the pair is overbought, and 5% are colored gray neutral. Among trend indicators, 80% recommend buying, 20% recommend selling. The nearest support for the pair is in the zone 1.0835-1.0845, then there are levels and zones 1.0800, 1.0740-1.0775, 1.0700-1.0710, 1.0620-1.0680, 1.0560 and 1.0480-1.0500. The bulls will meet resistance at the levels of 1.0895-1.0935, 1.0985-1.1010, 1.1130, after which they will try to gain a foothold in the 1.1260-1.1360 echelon.

The coming week will undoubtedly be stormy and filled with events. In addition to these Fed and ECB meetings, it should be noted that data on GDP were published on January 30, on the unemployment rate and inflation rate (CPI) on January 31, and on business activity (PMI) in the German manufacturing sector on February 01. We will find out what is the situation with consumer prices ( CPI ) in the Eurozone and what is happening with business activity (PMI) in the USA also on Wednesday, February 01. In addition, we are traditionally waiting for an impressive portion of statistics from the US labor market on February 01, 02 and 03, including the unemployment rate and the number of new jobs created outside the agricultural sector (NFP).

GBP/USD: The Future of the Pound Is in a Thick Fog

The Bank of England (BoE) will also make its decision on the interest rate on Thursday, February 02. And if the probability that the Fed and the ECB will raise their rates is close to 100%, everything is not so simple with the pound. According to some analysts, the BoE may surprise the markets by pausing and slowing down the tightening of its monetary policy.

Although there may not be a pause, we will see a new round of QT instead of QE. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said on Friday, February 27 that “the weak recovery in the public sector after the pandemic reinforces the need for reforms” and that “the best tax cut right now is lower inflation.” And the best (if not the only) cure for inflation, as the experience of overseas colleagues shows, is to raise interest rates.

Pound bulls hope that the Bank of England will raise the pound rate by 50 bp, and it will rise to at least 4.50% from the current 3.50% by the summer. As for the bears, they believe that the threat of an economic downturn and recession will prevent the Central Bank from raising it by more than 25 bps now, and it will do so for the last time, and then be forced to ease monetary policy despite high inflation.

In general, the future is shrouded in fog. But the fact that the country's economy has big problems is very clear. This is evidenced by the fall in the Composite Business Activity Index (PMI) from 49.0 to 47.8 points, instead of the expected increase to 49.3.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has recently said that the British economy after Brexit has faced a shortage of more than 300,000 workers due to the cessation of the free movement of labor from the EU. Such a deficit has become an obstacle to the fight against inflation, as it entails an increase in wages. In addition, the country's economy continues to be pressured by high energy prices and supply disruptions, as well as other problems related to sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

The quotes of GBP/USD have not changed much over the past five days: starting from 1.2395, it set the final chord there. The median forecast for the near future also looks vague: 35% of experts believe that it is time for the pair to turn south, just as many point to the north, and the remaining 30% look east. Among the oscillators on D1, 85% are colored green, 15% signal that the pair is overbought. Trend indicators are 100% on the green side. Support levels and zones for the pair are1.2360, 1.2300-1.2330, 1.2250-1.2270, 1.2200-1.2210, 1.2145, 1.2085-1.2115, 1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

Among the events related to the economy of the United Kingdom in the coming week, apart from the meeting of the Bank of England, one can note February 01 and 03, when fresh January data on business activity (PMI) in the country will be published.

USD/JPY: The Future of the Pair Depends on the Fed

Unlike its counterparts, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) left its key rate unchanged at a negative level of -0.1% at its meeting on January 18. The next meeting is not soon, on March 10. The current head of BoJ chapter Haruhiko Kuroda will preside over it for the last time. His powers will end on April 08, and the meeting of the BoJ on April 28 will be held by the new head of the Central Bank. It is with this event that markets associate a possible change in monetary policy in the country. In the meantime, the views of market participants are focused on the US Federal Reserve.

As with the previous pairs, USD/JPY was not much active last week, starting at 129.57 and finishing at 129.85. Analysts' forecasts do not give any guidance until the next Fed meeting: 50% of them side with the bulls, 40% with the bears, and 10% have decided not to make predictions at all. Among the oscillators on D1, 10% point north, 35% look south, and 55% point east. For trend indicators, 15% look north, 85% look in the opposite direction. The nearest support level is located at 129.50 zone, followed by levels and zones 128.90-129.00, 127.75-128.10, 127.00-127.25, 126.35-126.55, 125.00, 121.65-121.85. Levels and resistance zones are 130.50, 131.25, 132.00, 132.80, 133.60, 134.40 and then 137.50.

No important events regarding the Japanese economy are expected this week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: New Trading Strategy: Chinese New Year

Bitcoin behaves even more calmly than the S&P500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq stock indices on the eve of the Fed meeting on February 01. Of course, a certain correlation between them remains, but the volatility of the main cryptocurrency has become noticeably less. Although, it is quite possible that this is just the calm before the storm. Which, as usual, will be arranged by the American regulator with its monetary policy and the key rate for USD.

According to Ark Invest CEO Cathy Wood, the cryptocurrency market will enter a new phase in 2023. The rise in bitcoin and other virtual currencies will be the result of the Fed's monetary easing in the second half of this year. It is this move that will become a trigger for investors testing stock markets and digital currencies. (Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone expressed a similar point of view earlier, pointing out the possibility of BTC rising to $30,000).

Adam Farthing, Chief Risk Officer at crypto company B2C2, noted that the first cryptocurrency needs to overcome the key level at around $25,000 in order to continue the rally. “It will be a tough nut to crack,” the expert shared his opinion. According to him, after passing the designated milestone, interest will resume from outsiders who want to return to the market.

However, analysts at the brokerage company Bernstein are convinced that such a rally is unlikely to continue at the moment, as there are no signs of “any new injections” into the industry. However, in their opinion, institutional capital will still begin to show more interest in cryptocurrency this year, as it becomes an increasingly regulated asset class. (We have also repeatedly raised the topic of regulation and its conflict with the main idea of cryptocurrencies in our reviews).

And DataDash analyst and channel creator Nicholas Merten also believes that while cryptocurrencies have a bright future, many underestimate the current global environment. In his opinion, the damage caused by FTX, Celsius, Three Arrows Capital and Terraform Labs has left an indelible mark on the industry. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the macroeconomic component, since many countries are struggling with rapid inflation, and supply chains have not fully recovered after the coronavirus pandemic. According to the expert, investors need to understand that the long-term bullish trend is over. Unfortunately, the digital asset industry needs to prepare for new challenges, and the current bullish trend in the market is only a local correction within the overall bearish trend.

Jim Cramer of CNBC agrees with Nicholas Merten. The “Mad Money” TV presenter has also focused on the risks in light of the FTX crash. He noted that a similar situation could happen at any time with any other large crypto company. In his opinion, no one knows what the big players in the industry are really hiding. And there are no guarantees that they are actually honest with their customers. Any new scandal, according to him, will cause a sharp drop in bitcoin quotes, which means that investors' assets are at risk. Citing Carley Garner, senior commodity strategist & broker at DeCarley Trading, he recommended staying away from virtual currencies and opting for physical gold instead as a hedge against rising inflation and economic chaos.

Such an authority as Jamie Dimon, the head of the American banking giant JPMorgan, has also gone with a heavy roller on digital gold. He doubted on the air of CNBC that the supply of bitcoin is really limited to 21 million coins. "How do you know? Maybe it will go up to 21 million, and Satoshi's photo will pop up and laugh at all of you,” he suggested. This top manager already publicly expressed skepticism in October 2022 regarding the code embedded in the algorithm of the first cryptocurrency. “Have you all read the algorithms? Guys, do you believe in all this? ”Dimon grinned at the time.

For your information. Given the programmed halvings, the bar of 21 million should be reached by 2141. At the same time, experts say that the limit on bitcoin emissions is provided by only five lines of the code. It is open for study, and anyone can verify this.

And here the question arises: what if Jamie Dimon's raids on bitcoin are connected with the desire to eliminate this successful competitor? After all, thanks to the recent bullish rally, the capitalization of the flagship cryptocurrency has exceeded $443 billion, and has surpassed all key traditional financial institutions, including global world banks, in this indicator. For example, the capitalization of the American banking giant JPMorgan Chase is $406.42 billion, while Bank of America has a capitalization of $277.56 billion. In addition, BTC is ahead of companies such as Alibaba ($317.01 billion), Samsung ($335.37 billion), Mastercard ($365.09 billion) and Walmart ($385.15 billion). However, it has slightly lost to Tesla ($454.72 billion).

According to CompaniesMarketCap, bitcoin is the 16th most valuable asset in the world. The leaders of the rating are gold ($12.77 trillion), Apple ($2.25 trillion) and Saudi Aramco ($1.94 trillion).

At the time of writing this review (Friday evening, January 27th), BTC/USD is trading in the $23,070 zone. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.060 trillion ($1.038 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has grown from 51 to 55 points over the week and has moved from the Neutral zone to the Greed zone, where, according to the creators of the index, it is already dangerous to open short positions.

And at the end of the review, our half-forgotten half-joking column of crypto life hacks. This time we will talk about one interesting observation. Of course, if you decide to adopt it, the whole responsibility will fall on you. But if you can earn money thanks to it, be sure to tell us about it. And don't forget to say thank you.

So, it turns out that buying bitcoin at the end of the first day of the Chinese New Year and selling it after ten trading days guarantees an average profit of more than 9%. This was found out by Matrixport Research and Strategy Director Markus Thielen. According to his observations, the scheme has generated income in 100% of cases for the last eight years, from 2015 to 2022. Such an operation would bring the greatest profit in 2017: 15%. Even in 2018, against the backdrop of the previous crypto winter, the investor received income, although only 1%.

To implement the scheme In 2023, it was necessary to buy digital gold on January 22, and sell the assets 10 days later, on February 1. Bitcoin was trading near the $22,900 mark on the day of the proposed purchase. Thielen believes its price should approach $25,000 by the beginning of February. We will soon find out whether the phenomenon will be justified this time. And if anyone decides to follow Thielen's recommendations in the future, we would like to inform you that the next Chinese New Year begins on Saturday, February 10, 2024.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- Bitcoin has had its best start to the year since January 2013. The rate rose by 51% then, the growth was 40% last month. It happened against the backdrop of the weakness of the US dollar. “At the same time, 85% of the contribution to the rally is associated with investors from the United States,” says Markus Thielen, head of research at crypto services provider Matrixport. The bullish stance of US companies is also confirmed by the renewed premium in bitcoin futures listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. “We interpret this as a sign that faster institutional traders and hedge funds are actively buying back the recent fall in the cryptocurrency markets,” Thielen said.
Deutsche Digital Assets made a similar observation earlier, on January 20, drawing attention to the increase in Coinbase's premium as evidence of increased buying interest from sophisticated US investors. An institutional-led bullish reversal in bitcoin could be a good sign for the US stock market, given that the cryptocurrency bottomed a few weeks before the S&P 500.

- Binance Bitcoin Exchange reported that user interest in digital assets remains high. According to the survey, more than 88% of Binance customers plan to continue investing in cryptocurrencies, and only 3.3% do not consider this possibility. Bitcoin is still the dominant asset, owned by 21.7% of those surveyed. The top three also include Tether (17.8%) and BUSD (10.3%).
Over 40% of respondents bought digital assets last year for investment purposes. Other motives were the decline in the value of bitcoin and the general bearish trend. Almost 8% cited the geopolitical situation in the world as a reason for the purchase, and 11.5% expressed distrust of the traditional financial system. 40.8% do not use traditional investment opportunities (buying shares, investing in real estate, mutual funds), while 32.4% do use them. At the same time, 79.7% are sure that cryptocurrencies are necessary for the development of the global economy, and 59.4% of respondents believe that deposits in cryptocurrencies will be able to replace bank deposits over time.
According to statistics, the total number of digital wallets with a balance of $1,000 or more in bitcoin or ethereum has increased by 27% in 2022.

- Despite the fact that 2022 was a challenging year for the crypto industry, 82% of millionaires considered investing in digital assets like bitcoin. This follows from a survey conducted by financial consulting company deVere Group. The results of the survey, published on January 30, show that 8 out of 10 surveyed clients of the company, with assets to invest from $1.2 to $6.1 million, turned to financial advisers for cryptocurrency advice.
Nigel Green, CEO and Founder of the deVere Group, believes that while the group surveyed is “generally more conservative,” its interest stems from the core values of bitcoin: “digital, global, borderless, decentralized, and secure from unauthorized access". Green also notes a growing interest in crypto services from older financial institutions such as Fidelity, BlackRock and JPMorgan, and considers this a good sign for the industry. He predicts that the momentum of interest will build as the “crypto winter” of 2022 thaws due to changing conditions in the traditional financial system.
For the record: A June 2022 report by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers found that roughly a third of 89 traditional hedge funds surveyed had already invested in digital assets like bitcoin.

- The Fear and Greed Index, a metric showing the community's general attitude towards bitcoin, entered the “Greed” zone for the first time since March 30, 2022. This is due to the increase in the bitcoin rate in the first month of the year and the general revival of the entire market. It is worth noting, however, that the increased confidence among crypto investors should not be directly viewed as a catalyst for the resumption of bullish growth in the bitcoin price. In fact, a Fear or Extreme Fear metric could indicate a good buying opportunity, and too high a Greed reading could mean the market is headed for a downward correction.

- Tron founder Justin Sun said that the legalization of cryptocurrency will not only make it easier to buy and sell goods and services but will also give the public more control over their financial future. “Cryptocurrency can become a powerful tool for financial inclusion and improving the lives of people in all corners of the world. […] Let's work together to create a more inclusive and equal future for all,” wrote Justin Sun.
For the record: TRON is a decentralized entertainment content platform based on blockchain and using the TRX token. The platform also offers tools that allow developers to build and launch their own dApps.

- Jordan Belfort, a former stockbroker widely known as “The Wolf of Wall Street”, also believes that regulation of the digital asset segment may be a bullish catalyst for bitcoin in the future. According to the entrepreneur, the flagship cryptocurrency will only benefit from this. He also emphasized that if world governments continue to print money uncontrollably, more and more users will see bitcoin as a reliable tool to protect against inflation.

- The price of bitcoin on Nigeria's popular NairaEx exchange jumped in terms of local currency to almost $40,000, which is about 70% higher than the global market. The discrepancy is due to the limit imposed by the country's Central Bank on withdrawing funds from ATMs. The regulator took this step in order to reduce the share of cash in cash turnover.

- Arizona Senate Member Wendy Rogers has once again proposed approving bitcoin as legal tender in the state. In a tweet, Rogers quoted Goldman Sachs data that the first cryptocurrency is “the world's most profitable asset this year.” If the law is passed, the cryptocurrency will receive the same status as the US dollar.

- Billionaire founder of Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd Mike Novogratz, having endured a challenging 2022, is now determined to increase investment in bitcoin mining. His focus is Texas, where Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd is buying the Helios mining operation from Argo Blockchain for $65 million.
There are currently almost 30 mining companies in Texas. In total, they have already created about 2,000 new jobs directly, and indirectly, about 20,000 more. The Governor's Blockchain Working Group believes that Texas, which leads in oil production, is able to maintain leadership in the US in bitcoin mining as well.

- According to Matrixport experts, the flagship cryptocurrency rate may reach $45,000 by Christmas 2023. Researchers released a report in which they shared a historical observation: when January's bitcoin quotes on the chart were in the “green” zone, the price rally usually continued in the following months of the year.

- A popular analyst Plan B has outlined a scenario that, in his opinion, could raise the bitcoin price to $1 million by 2025. As for this year, he predicts the price will rise above $100,000. The analyst also said that the January bitcoin pump confirms that the asset's 4-year cyclical price bottom is over.
Plan B is known for the "Stock-to-Flow" model, which attempts to model the price of bitcoin based on its scarcity. His concept involves a parabolic jump in the price of an asset every 4 years due to halving. That being said, the analyst was heavily criticized in 2022 due to an unfortunate prediction that BTC would rise well above $100,000 at the end of 2021. After that, he adjusted his model based on 18-month statistics, as a result of which a smoother growth of the main cryptocurrency was incorporated into it.

- Cryptocurrency analyst Benjamin Cowen said that bitcoin has a “long year” to look forward to. According to the expert, it may appear that BTC has significant strength, while in fact the asset is likely to be in the process of forming a wide sideways range as a base. Cowen explained that sideways movement is not always an indicator of the growth of the first cryptocurrency and may also signal a fall in quotes.
The analyst reminded traders that a bearish cycle is usually followed by a year of sideways movement. Thus, there were three upward impulses in 2015, and only the last one turned into a real rally. There were also periods of growth in quotes in 2019, then their active fall followed, and a cycle that brought the crypto market to new highs started only after that.
The analyst noted that 2023 can be seen as a year of accumulation and that investors can take advantage of this period to increase their holdings of BTC. In addition, Cowan believes that the US Federal Reserve should ease monetary policy in order to increase cryptocurrency prices.

- Peter Brand, a well-known cryptocurrency trader, has a bearish forecast for the near future, as BTC has not been able to gain a foothold above $23,500 for a long time and is in consolidation. As the expert noted, many traders and investors are now waiting for a certain pullback in order to enter the market at better prices. The specialist believes that the flagship of the crypto market may reach the level of $25,000 in the near future, after which there will be a correction closer to $19,000. Brand remains optimistic from a medium-term perspective, predicting bitcoin to rise to $65,000 in the middle of this year.

- This release of CryptoNews was prepared a few hours before the meeting of the US Federal Reserve, following which the decision on the key rate will be announced. If the rate, according to forecasts, increases by 0.25%, and at the same time the head of the Fed, Jerome Powell, clearly hints at the dovish attitude of the regulator, this will most likely weaken the dollar and push the quotes of risky assets, including cryptocurrencies, up. On the other hand, if, contrary to the expectations of investors, the refinancing rate rises by 0.50%, a wave of panic sales in the crypto market cannot be ruled out. You can find out what will actually happen in NordFX's regular analytical review, which, as usual, will be published at the end of the week.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

NordFX Brokerage company has summed up the performance of its clients' trade transactions in January 2023. The services of social trading, CopyTrading and PAMM, as well as the profit received by the company's IB-partners have also been assessed.

- The best result among traders was shown in January by a client from West Asia (account #1644XXX), whose profit amounted to 71,280 USD and was received mainly due to transactions with gold (XAU/USD) and Japanese yen (USD/JPY).
- The second place in the top three NordFX top performing clients belongs to the holder of account No.1543XXX from East Asia, who earned 19,983 USD. In addition to gold (XAU/USD) and yen (USD/JPY), this trader's arsenal has been supplemented with such an exotic pair as USD/ZAR (American dollar/South African rand),
- Finally, another representative of the West Asian region (account No. 1672XXX) took the third place on the January podium with a profit of 17,059 USD, whose trading instruments, in addition to gold (XAU/USD) and the Japanese yen (USD/JPY), also included the European currency (EUR/USD).

The passive investment services:

- In CopyTrading, the "veteran" signal - KennyFXPRO - Prismo 2K continues to increase profits. It increased its profit to 307% in 637 days. But given the relative stability, it should be borne in mind that this supplier's trade failed seriously last November, when the maximum drawdown on this signal was close to 67%. Bull trader is another interesting signal. True, it is much younger, it is only 183 days old. It has increased the deposit by 183% during this time, since July 25, 2022, while the maximum drawdown has not exceeded 23%.

Fans of algorithmic trading can look out for a startup called ATFOREXACADEMY ALGO 1. This signal has shown a profitability of 93% in just 41 days, although its drawdown was not small, 38%. Here, as usual, it is appropriate to recall that, in addition to a short life span, aggressive trading is a serious risk factor, which carries increased risks. Therefore, we urge you to be extremely cautious when working on financial markets.

- However, as practice shows, a long lifespan and good trading performance in the past do not guarantee against future losses. Thus, two leading accounts in the PAMM service suffered significant losses last November.

The KennyFXPRO-The Multi 3000 EA account has existed since January 2021, and the maximum drawdown on it did not exceed 20% for a long time. However, the situation became more complicated in mid-November 2022, the drawdown exceeded 42%, and the account manager decided to close unprofitable positions. As a result, profits fell from 170% to 70%. The TranquilityFX-The Genesis v3 account found itself in a similar situation: its maximum drawdown doubled as well, while profits fell from 130% to 44%. It should be noted to the credit of both managers that they did not allow a complete zeroing of deposits, and now they are moving forward again, although very cautiously. The yield on the first signal rose to 80% by January 31, 2023, and to 50% on the second one.

Among the NordFX IB partners, December TOP-3 is as follows:
- the largest commission, 8,141 USD, was credited to a partner from South Asia, account No.1618ХXХ;
- the next is their colleague from Southeast Asia (account No. 1656XXX), who received 6,196 USD during the month;
- and, finally, their colleague from Western Asia (account No. 1645XXX) closes the top three, earning 4,526 USD in commissions in January.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

According to Forex-Awards expert council, NordFX won a convincing victory in the Best CFD Broker Asia 2022 nomination.

The past year was very fruitful for NordFX, as a result of which the company was awarded several prestigious professional awards recognizing its achievements both in specific regions and its success in general. THE BIZZ Business Excellence Award from the World Confederation of Businesses, Best Execution Broker LATAM from International Business Magazine Awards, Best Crypto Broker from AllForexRating Awards, Most Reliable Forex Broker Asia from Finance Derivative Awards, Best Broker Middle East from Forexing Awards were added to NordFX titles in 2022. NordFX is now also named Best CFD Broker Asia by Forex-Awards.

This honorary title was awarded to the company by the Forex-Awards Expert Council based on the opinions of both independent experts and the trading community. A unique team of expert professionals headquartered in Hong Kong honor the most remarkable solution and innovation in almost 30 nominations since 2010, reward market participants featuring breakthrough initiatives and excellent results in the Forex industry.

The Forex-Awards Expert Council has previously noted the merits of NordFX. This time, the Best CFD Broker Asia award is due to the company's achievements in online CFD trading, including an impressive range of trading instruments, instant order execution, as well as the lowest spreads and commissions, which have allowed clients from the Asian region to achieve outstanding success. Suffice it to say that the total earnings of traders from the TOP-3 NordFX in 2022 amounted to almost $1,500,000, and most of these traders are from Asia.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Three Weeks of Uncertainty

The meetings of the Central Banks were held strictly according to plan last week. As expected, the key rate was raised by 25 bps (basis points) at the US Federal Reserve meeting and reached 4.75%, and by 50 bps at the European Central Bank meeting, up to 3.00%. Since the decisions themselves did not bring surprises, market participants focused on the regulators' plans for the future.

The next meeting of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) of the US Federal Reserve will not be held soon: on March 22, that is, in almost two months. Markets are likely to expect that it will announce another rate hike by 25 bps to 5.00%, after which it will hold it at this level.

The DXY Dollar Index fell to a new 9-month low of 100.80 on Thursday, February 02. This happened after the Federal Reserve made it clear that the end of the wave of rate hikes was near. Statistics show that the regulator's efforts to solve economic problems are yielding results: the inflation rate was 9.1% (the highest figure in 40 years) in June, and it fell to 6.5% in December. This makes it possible to put the brake on quantitative tightening (QT). Investors understood the dovish hints of the head of the Fed, Jerome Powell, who, during the press conference following the meeting, admitted for the first time that "the deflationary process has begun." He also assumed that the peak rate would not exceed 5.00% and reiterated that the US Central Bank can achieve a slowdown in inflation without causing significant damage to the economy.

As for the Eurozone, inflation, as shown by data for January, has been falling for the third month in a row. But the basic price increase remains at the same level, despite the fall in energy prices. According to forecasts, inflation in the Eurozone is expected to reach 5.9% in 2023, to fall to 2.7% in 2024, and to fall even lower to 2.1% in 2025. Unemployment growth is also projected to decline further, while GDP growth expectations remain at the same level. According to preliminary data published on Wednesday, February 01, the growth of the European economy will be 1.9% in 2022, which is lower than the previous value (2.3%), but higher than the forecast (1.8%).

Following the last meeting, ECB President Christine Lagarde said that the risks to both economic growth and inflation in the Eurozone have become more balanced. And that the ECB will assess economic development after the next rate hike in March. (It is also expected to be 50 bps). When asked about the possibility of further rate hikes after March 16, Ms Lagarde refrained from making any commitments. This put downward pressure on the euro, and EUR/USD turned around and went down without rising above 1.1031.

The dollar received an additional boost of strength after the publication of impressive data from the US labor market on Friday, February 03. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that the country's unemployment rate, instead of the expected increase to 3.6%, fell from 3.5% to 3.4%, and the number of jobs created outside the agricultural sector (NFP) in January increased by 517K, which is 2.8 times higher than the 185K forecast, and almost twice higher than December's 260K growth.

As a result, EUR/USD finished at 1.0794. Recall that it ended the week at 1.0833 on Friday, January 13, at 1.0855 on January 20, and at 1.0875 on January 27. This proximity of all these values (within 100 points) suggests that the market has not received clear signals about where it should aim in the foreseeable future. Although, at the time of writing the review (Friday evening, February 03), the US currency has a certain advantage.

Economists at Singapore's financial UOB Group suggest that the euro is not yet ready to move towards the resistance of 1.1120, and the pair may trade in the range of 1.0820-1.1020 for the next 1-3 weeks. As for the median forecast, 45% of analysts expect further strengthening of the euro, the same number (45%) expect the dollar to strengthen, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral position. The picture is different among the indicators on D1. 35% of the oscillators are colored red (one third of them are in the oversold zone), 25% are looking up and 40% are colored gray neutral. As for trend indicators, 50% recommend buying, 50% selling. The nearest support for the pair is in the zone 1.0740-1.0775, then there are levels and zones, 1.0700-1.0710, 1.0620-1.0680, 1.0560 and 1.0480-1.0500. The bulls will meet resistance at the levels of 1.0800, 1.0835-1.0850, 1.0895-1.0925, 1.0985-1.1030, 1.1120, after which they will try to gain a foothold in the 1.1260-1.1360 echelon.

Next week's calendar may mark Monday February 06, when preliminary data on consumer prices in Germany and final data on January retail sales in the Eurozone will be published. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to speak on Tuesday. The final data on inflation (CPI) in Germany and unemployment in the US will arrive on Thursday, February 09. And the value of the Consumer Confidence Index from the University of Michigan USA will be known on Friday, February 10.

GBP/USD: Riddles from BoE

The famous London fog continues to haze the monetary policy of the Bank of England (BoE). Like the ECB, this regulator raised the key rate by 50 bp. to 4.00% on Thursday, February 02, but at the same time it softened its message noticeably. This pushed the British currency back from its highs since mid-June 2022. values (1.2450) down, to the level of 1.2100. At the week's low, after the publication of the US NFP, the GBP/USD pair traded even lower at 1.2046, and ended the five-day period almost there, at 1.2050.

As already mentioned, the future of the UK's finances is vague and uncertain. We have tried to make sense of what the chief economist said BoE Hugh Pill, giving an interview for Times Radio on Friday February 03. Here are just a few quotes. “We must admit that we have already achieved a lot” - “There are many more steps in the pipeline.” “A number of news stories have improved recently” - “We must be prepared for shocks.” "We have a fairly high degree of confidence that inflation will fall this year" - "The focus is on whether inflation will fall further." And like the icing on the cake, Hugh Pill's remark that it's important for the Bank of England not to do "too much" in monetary policy.

To be honest, we were unable to determine from this statement where the line between "little", "much" and "too much" is drawn. Therefore, here is the opinion of Commerzbank strategists. “It has become clear that the Bank of England is nearing the end of its rate hike cycle,” they conclude. And they continue: “While the Bank of England has left the door open for further rate hikes, a more assertive approach would be desirable from a currency market perspective due to high uncertainty. Against this background, it is not surprising that the sterling has weakened, and its further decline seems likely to us.”

This point of view of Commerzbank economists has been supported by 55% of analysts, who also "thought probable" a further fall in GBP/USD. The opposite view is held by 45% of experts. Among the trend indicators on D1, the balance of power is 75% to 25% in favor of the reds. Among the oscillators, the reds win as well: their advantage is 85% versus 15%. However, among the reds, 20% signals that the pair is oversold. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at the levels 1.2085, 1.2145, 1.2185-1.2210, 1.2270, 1.2335, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

Among the developments regarding the UK economy in the coming week, Friday 10 February will attract attention with the release of UK GDP data for the past 2022. It is expected that, despite some growth in Q4 (from -0.3% to 0.0%), the annual rate will show a drop from 1.9% to 0.4%.

USD/JPY: Non-Farm Payrolls Knocks the Yen Down



In general, the Japanese yen moved in the same way as its counterparts against the dollar last week, the euro and the British pound. However, its volatility was practically not affected by the decisions of the ECB and the Bank of England. In this case, the determining factor was the difference between interest rates on the dollar (+4.75%) and the yen (-0.1%). As a result, having found a local bottom at 128.08, USD/JPY moved sideways after the Fed meeting, and data from the US labor market (NFP) sent it on a space flight on Friday, with a length of almost 300 points, to the height of 131.18. The flight of investors from the dollar to the safe haven of Japan has stopped, and they have again decided to choose the American currency as a safe haven. USD/JPY set the last chord of the week at the level of 131.12.

Markets will now wait for March 10 for the current Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda to hold his last meeting. His powers will end on April 8, and the meeting of the BoJ on April 28 will be held by the new head of the Central Bank. It is with this event that the markets associate a possible change in the monetary policy of the regulator. Although, until that moment, interventions from the BoJ, similar to those that the regulator undertook in October-November 2022, cannot be ruled out to stop the fall of the national currency.

So far, analysts' forecasts do not provide any clear guidelines: 40% of them side with the bulls, 40% with the bears, and 20% have decided not to make predictions at all.

Among the oscillators on D1, 75% point north (15% are in the oversold zone), 15% look south and 10% look east. For trend indicators, 50% look north, exactly the same number in the opposite direction. The nearest support level is located at -130.85 zone, followed by the levels and zones of 130.50, 129.70-130.00, 128.90-129.00, 128.50, 127.75-128.10, 127.00-127.25 and 125.00. Levels and resistance zones are 131.25, 131.65, 132.00, 132.80, 133.60, 134.40 and then 137.50.

No important events regarding the Japanese economy are expected this week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: BTC Has Become a Risk Protective Asset

The past week proved once again that the top cryptocurrencies, and primarily bitcoin, have long ceased to be independent. Their quotes, as well as risky assets in general, are firmly tied to the decisions of the US Federal Reserve: the US dollar is on the opposite side of the scale in BTC/USD. If it weakens, bitcoin gets heavier, and vice versa. Of course, decisions by other regulators, such as the ECB or the People's Bank of China, also influence the price of virtual assets, and internal crises such as the FTX collapse may also shake it up. But the Fed is still the main trend creator of BTC/USD.

Bitcoin is still an amazing asset. It managed, as they say, to sit on two chairs last year. On the one hand, its correlation with the stock market and stock indices S&P500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq allows it to be classified as a risky asset. But on the other hand, analysts at the crypto media site CryptoSlate draw attention to the correlation of cryptocurrency with... gold, which has been considered insurance against inflation and other financial risks since ancient times. The coincidence in movement between the two assets has reached, according to CryptoSlate, an absolute maximum,­ 83% since February 2022. It turns out that bitcoin is both a risky and protective asset at the same time. As they say, a friend among strangers and a stranger among friends.

According to Goldman Sachs economists, even after adjusting for risk, bitcoin has already significantly outperformed gold, stock markets and the real estate sector in terms of profitability and continues to do so. The main cryptocurrency is now showing its best start to the year since January 2013. Its rate rose by 51% then, the growth was 40% last month. It happened against the backdrop of the weakness of the US dollar. “At the same time, 85% of the contribution to the rally is associated with investors from the United States,” says Markus Thielen, head of research at crypto services provider Matrixport. The bullish stance of US companies is also confirmed by the renewed premium in bitcoin futures listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Open interest in BTC futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) is significantly outperforming the price, with a 77% month-on-month rise to $2.3 billion. “We interpret this as a sign that faster institutional traders and hedge funds are actively buying back the recent fall in the cryptocurrency markets,” Thielen said.

Deutsche Digital Assets made a similar observation earlier, on January 20, drawing attention to the increase in Coinbase's premium as evidence of increased buying interest from sophisticated US institutional­ investors.

A survey by financial advisory firm deVere Group showed that despite the challenges of 2022, 82% of millionaires were considering investing in digital assets. 8 out of 10 surveyed clients of the company, with assets to invest from $1.2 to $6.1 million, turned to financial advisers for cryptocurrency advice.

Nigel Green, CEO and Founder of the deVere Group, believes that while the group surveyed is “generally more conservative,” its interest stems from the core values of bitcoin: “digital, global, borderless, decentralized, and secure from unauthorized access". Green also notes a growing interest in crypto services from older financial institutions such as Fidelity, BlackRock and JPMorgan, and considers this a good sign for the industry. He predicts that the momentum of interest will build as the “crypto winter” of 2022 thaws due to changing conditions in the traditional financial system. (For reference, a June 2022 Pricewaterhouse-Coopers report showed that roughly a third of the 89 traditional hedge funds surveyed had already invested in digital assets.)

Similar results were obtained by analysts from Pureprofile. Their study involved 200 institutional investors and asset managers from the US, the EU, Singapore, the UAE and Brazil. The total amount of funds managed by respondents was $2.85 trillion. Nine out of ten investors in the survey were in favor of the growth of the flagship cryptocurrency in 2023, and 23% believe that the value of BTC will exceed $30,000 by the end of the year. In the longer term, 65% of respondents agree that the coin will break the $100,000 mark.

Not only whales, but also smaller investors remain optimistic, despite the dramatic events of the last year. According to statistics, the total number of digital wallets with a balance of $1,000 or more in bitcoin or ethereum increased by 27% in 2022. According to the survey, more than 88% of Binance crypto exchange customers plan to continue investing in cryptocurrencies, and only 3.3% do not consider this possibility. Bitcoin is still the dominant asset, owned by 21.7% of those surveyed.

Over 40% of respondents bought digital assets last year for investment purposes. Other motives were the decline in the value of bitcoin and the general bearish trend. Almost 8% cited the geopolitical situation in the world as a reason for the purchase, and 11.5% expressed distrust of the traditional financial system. 40.8% do not use traditional investment opportunities (buying shares, investing in real estate, mutual funds), while 32.4% do use them. At the same time, 79.7% are sure that cryptocurrencies are necessary for the development of the global economy, and 59.4% of respondents believe that deposits in cryptocurrencies will be able to replace bank deposits over time.

Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd founder billionaire Mike Novogratz, having weathered a challenging 2022, is now committed to long-term investment in bitcoin mining with a $65 million acquisition of a Helios mining facility in Texas, USA. And according to estimates by a popular analyst aka Plan B, known for his “Stock-to-Flow” model, the price of bitcoin will reach $1 million by 2025, which will more than recoup Mike Novogratz's costs. As for this year, Plan B expects it to rise above $100,000. The analyst also said that the January bitcoin pump confirms that the asset's 4-year cyclical price bottom is over.

According to historical observations by Matrixport experts, while January bitcoin quotes were in the “green” zone on the chart (and they were there), the price rally usually continued in the following months of the year. Based on this, they predict that the flagship cryptocurrency could reach $45,000 by Christmas 2023.

And the well-known cryptocurrency trader Peter Brand considers the bulls' joy a little premature and sticks to the bearish forecast for the near future. As the expert noted, many traders and investors are now waiting for a certain pullback in order to enter the market at better prices. The specialist believes that the flagship of the crypto market may reach the level of $25,000 in the near future, after which there will be a correction closer to $19,000. However, in the medium term, Brand is still optimistic and predicts bitcoin to rise to $65,000 in the middle of this year.

Crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen, who said that bitcoin has a “long year” ahead of time, also warns against premature glee. According to the expert, it may appear that BTC has significant strength, while in fact the asset is likely to be in the process of forming a wide sideways range as a base. Cowen explained that sideways movement is not always an indicator of the growth of the first cryptocurrency and may also signal a fall in quotes.

The analyst reminded traders that a bearish cycle is usually followed by a year of sideways movement. Thus, there were three upward impulses in 2015, and only the last one turned into a real rally. There were also periods of growth in quotes in 2019, then their active fall followed, and a cycle that brought the crypto market to new highs started only after that. Cowen noted that 2023 can be seen as a year of accumulation and that investors can take advantage of this period to increase their holdings of BTC. In addition, he believes that the US Federal Reserve should ease monetary policy for cryptocurrency prices to grow. (The last meeting of the regulator gives hope for this).

At the time of writing this review (Friday evening, February 03), BTC/USD is trading in the $23,400 zone. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.082 trillion ($1.060 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, a metric showing the general attitude of the community towards bitcoin, entered the Greed zone for the first time since March 30, 2022, reaching 60 points (55 a week ago). It is clear that this is due to the growth of the coin rate in the first month of the year and the general revival of the market. It is worth noting, however, that the increased confidence among crypto investors should not be directly viewed as a catalyst for the resumption of bullish growth in the bitcoin price. In fact, a Fear or Extreme Fear metric could indicate a good buying opportunity, and too high a Greed reading could mean the market is headed for a downward correction.

And at the end of the review, our half-joking column of crypto life hacks. This time we want to draw the attention of BTC holders to Nigeria. It turns out that this is where you could earn. News releases say that the price of bitcoin on the popular NairaEX exchange in this country, in terms of local currency, jumped to almost $40,000, which is about 70% higher than the global market quotes. As it turned out, the discrepancy is due to the limit imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria on withdrawing funds from ATMs. So, ladies and gentlemen, do not forget about arbitrage deals, they can also bring good profits. The main thing is to know what, where, when and at what price to buy and then sell.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- North Korean hackers stole a record amount in cryptocurrencies in 2022 and targeted the networks of foreign aerospace and defense companies. This is reported by Reuters with reference to a UN report. Cybersecurity specialists estimate the damage at more than $1 billion. At the same time, Chainalysis analysts believe that the attacks have brought the DPRK about $1.7 billion in cryptocurrencies over the past year.
Most of the attacks were carried out by cybercriminals controlled by North Korea's Main Intelligence Bureau. These include Kimsuky, Lazarus Group and Andariel. They distributed malware in various ways, including phishing. “Initial contacts with individuals were made through LinkedIn, and once a level of trust with the targets was established, the malware was delivered via WhatsApp,” the UN notes, adding that the methods of hackers have become more sophisticated, making it more difficult to trace the stolen assets.

- Morgan Creek investment company CEO Mark W. Yusko, said in an interview with Cointelegraph that the next bull market could start as early as Q2 2023. This will be facilitated by favorable macroeconomic conditions and expectations of bitcoin halving.
According to the top manager, the US Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut the key rate in the near future. However, even a slowdown or pause in this process will be perceived as a positive signal for risky assets, which include cryptocurrencies.
The CEO of Morgan Creek indicated the expectations of the next bitcoin halving, which is expected to take place around April 19-21, 2024, as an additional reason for the bull market He believes that the recovery of the digital asset market usually begins nine months before this event, that is, it is the end of summer 2023 this time.

- Cathy Wood, the head of ARK Invest, still considers the first cryptocurrency the best form of protection against financial losses and an insurance policy for developing countries. “We're seeing hyperinflation around the world as fiat currencies crash. All segments of the population need a fallback, an insurance policy like bitcoin,” she said in an interview with Yahoo Finance.
According to Cathy Wood, all segments of the population, both the poor and the wealthy, will benefit from the use of digital gold. As for the latter, she pointed to bitcoin as a hedge against capital forfeiture in countries like China or Russia.

- MicroStrategy, a developer of analytical software and one of the largest crypto investors, recorded a balance sheet loss for 2022 in the amount of $1.3 billion. This is due to its long-term investment in bitcoin. (As of December 31, 2022, MicroStrategy held a total of 132,500 BTC worth $1.84 billion).
At the same time, the company's management states that it does not plan to stop trading the digital asset. According to Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor, it has “managed to surpass bitcoin as an index” since the company first announced its purchase of BTC in August 2020: its shares have risen by 117% during this time, while the value of bitcoin has increased by 98%.

- Commenting on the collapse of Alameda and FTX, Michael Saylor said that he sees this as a kind of manifestation of Darwin's theory: weak and bad players left the market, and this pushed the industry forward in the long run. At the same time, according to the co-founder of MicroStrategy, cryptocurrencies need a clear regulatory framework for companies to comply with certain standards and protect customers. “What is really needed is supervision. Clear guidance from Congress is needed for the industry to have its own Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock. We need clear rules of conduct from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) of the United States.”

- David Marcus, former head of Meta's blockchain division and former PayPal president, suggested that crypto winter will only end by 2025, when the market recovers from last year's turmoil. He believes that the time will soon pass when you can create a token out of thin air and earn millions of dollars from it. Much more value will be given to decentralized applications that have practical value for the real world. Marcus expects big breakthroughs in payments, asset tokenization, and decentralized finance (DeFi). However, the specialist doubts that the legislature will be able to develop rules for regulating cryptocurrencies in the near future, therefore, crypto companies will continue to operate in a "vacuum" in 2023, at their own peril and risk.

- Charlie Munger, an associate of Warren Buffett, vice president of the Berkshire Hathaway holding company, called on the US authorities to destroy bitcoin, which the billionaire compares investing in to gambling. He said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that the cryptocurrency industry is undermining the stability of the global financial sector. And that BTC cannot be considered an asset class as it has no value.
Munger has been expressing this point of view over the past few years. And now he calls on the US authorities to deal a devastating blow to the crypto market. In his opinion, it is necessary to push it into the strictest regulatory framework, as a result of which the industry will simply not withstand the pressure and die.

- Crypto trader and investor Tone Vays stated that bitcoin “has risen very fast and very high.” BTC rose from a low of $16,272 in November 2022 to $24,229 in early February 2023 and is now facing major resistance as it approaches the $25,000 level. The specialist believes that BTC will eventually break through the resistance zone, but the asset probably “should take a break” at the moment. Weiss clarified that he expects either consolidation of the rate in a narrow range, or a small pullback.
Many experts are also keeping a close eye on the $25,000 level. For example, analyst Benjamin Cowen believes that bitcoin is on the verge of a potential trend change that could lead to a rise in quotes, as it did in 2019. The legendary trader Peter Brandt predicted earlier that the exit from the “double bottom support” technical analysis pattern would lead the coin to rise above $25,000.

- According to statistics, the media forecast of crypto community members accurately predicted the value of bitcoin by the end of each month, over the past six months with a probability of up to 75%. Finbold experts note that the forecasts obtained from a survey of more than 15 thousand traders, and the predictions of machine learning algorithms, are seriously different at the moment. Real people expect BTC quotes to fall to $20,250 by February 28, 2023, while artificial intelligence points to $24,342.

- Swiss Rehabilitation Center The Balance has offered a course of treatment for addiction to crypto trading. According to some reports, about 1% of crypto traders have such a serious pathological addiction. The course is designed for a four-week stay in the center itself or in its branches in Mallorca, London or Zurich. The cost of treatment exceeds $75,000. Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, said the course is similar to treating a gambling addiction. At the same time, she called such a high cost of treatment unjustified.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: The Fed's Doves Have Turned into Hawks Again

After the US Federal Reserve and ECB meetings, the DXY Dollar Index fell to a new 9-month low of 100.80 on February 02. This happened after the dovish hints of the head of the Fed, Jerome Powell, who, during a press conference following the meeting, admitted for the first time that "the deflationary process has begun." The market has decided that this is the beginning of the end, and that the end of the bullish wave is near.

But hints aren't specific promises. Especially from the heads of the US Central Bank. And now, speaking at the Washington Economic Club, Jerome Powell is saying that interest rates must continue to rise in order to control inflation. And he makes a hawkish hint that the peak rates may be higher than the markets expect. And even higher than the Fed's own forecasts, announced in December.

Powell's hawkish attitude was supported by New York Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) President John Williams, Fed Board of Governors Christopher Waller, and Minneapolis Fed Chairman Neil Kashkari. The latter said that the Fed still has a lot of work to do to curb inflation. This could mean that the interest rate could be raised from the current 4.75% all the way up to 5.40% or higher and stay at that high for quite some time.

This time, the market decided that it was not worth waiting for an early easing of monetary policy, and the dollar began to gain strength. The DXY index reached a five-week high at 103.96 points on Tuesday, February 07. However, it could not rise higher, as it met several fairly strong resistance levels at once: 1) the 50-day SMA, 2) the former trend line from 2021, 3) the upper limit of the descending channel, which began in November 2022, as well as horizontal resistance in the 104.00 zone.

The past five days were stingy with macro statistics, but rich in statements by both American and European officials (the EU leaders summit took place on February 09-10). The next week promises to be richer in economic data. January data on US consumer inflation (CPI) will be published on Tuesday, February 14. The forecast assumes that prices rose by 0.4-0.5% in January (0.1% in December). At the same time, annual data may turn out to be lower than the previous value (6.2% vs. 6.5%). If the CPI shows that inflation is stable, this will confirm the latest hawkish statements by Fed officials and support the dollar. (Scotiabank economists believe that EUR/USD may fall to 1.0500-1.0600). If there is a steady decline in inflation, the US currency will be under serious pressure.

Having reached a high of 1.1032 on February 02 (the highest since April 2022), EUR/USD reversed and ended the week at 1.0679. 35% of analysts expect a further strengthening of the dollar at the time of writing the review (on the evening of February 10), 20% expect the euro to strengthen, and the remaining 45% have taken a neutral position. The picture is different among the indicators on D1. 85% of the oscillators are colored red (a third are in the oversold zone), while the remaining 15% are green. Among trend indicators, 40% recommend buying, 60% - selling. The nearest support for the pair is in the zone 1.0670, then there are levels and zones 1.0620, 1.0560, 1.0500, 1.0440 and 1.0370-1.0400. The bulls will meet resistance in the area of 1.0700-1.0710, 1.0745-1.0760, 1.0800, 1.0865, 1.0895-1.0925, 1.0985-1.1030, 1.1110, after which they will try to gain a foothold in the 1.1260-1.1360 echelon.

Among the events of the upcoming week, in addition to the release of the inflation data mentioned above, we can note the publication of preliminary data on Eurozone GDP on Tuesday, February 14. (And of course, we must not forget that February 14 is St. Valentine's Day, the most romantic holiday celebrated in most countries of the world. People confess their love to each other on this day, for more than one and a half thousand years). Retail sales in the US will become known on Wednesday, February 15, and data on US unemployment will come on Thursday, February 16. The January US Producer Price Index (PPI) will also be released on February 16.

GBP/USD: Coming Week: Volatility Guaranteed

The pound tried to win back part of its losses last week. GBP/USD, having rebounded on February 07 from the level of 1.1961 (the lowest level since January 06), reached a weekly high of 1.2193 on February 09. Then, the pound began to gradually retreat against the dollar along with other currencies included in the DXY Index. As a result, GBP/USD ended the week at 1.2055, that is, almost where it started (1.2050).

The news background still looks vague and uncertain. Economic problems continue to put pressure on the British currency. Recall that in the fight against inflation, the Bank of England (BoE) raised the key rate by 50 bp on February 2 to 4.00%, but at the same time softened its message noticeably. This pushed the British currency down from its highest values since mid-June 2022 (1.2450) by more than 250 points.

Market participants believe that the BoE may be afraid of further sharp rate hikes. It is another question how its growth will affect inflation. But it may well provoke a crisis in the economy and, above all, in the construction sector. January data on the index of business activity in the construction sector of the country were published on Monday, January 06, having shown a drop in this indicator from 48.8 to 48.4 points. The Office for National Statistics of the United Kingdom reported on Friday, February 10 that the entire economy of the country in December, with a forecast of minus -0.3%, actually shrank by -0.5% (there was an increase of +0.1% in November). GDP stagnated at 0% in Q4, after falling by -0.2% a quarter earlier. GDP fell from +1.9% to +0.4% in annual terms.

Against this background, the triumphant reports and optimistic forecasts from the UK Treasury Secretary Jeremy Hunt sounded somewhat strange. The high official said that "the UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 last year and avoided a recession as well". This shows that "the economy has proven to be more resilient than many feared." And “if we stick to our plan to cut inflation by half this year,” continued Jeremy Hunt, “we can be sure that we will have some of the best growth prospects of any country in Europe.”

Unlike Mr. Hunt, Commerzbank strategists believe that uncertainty about future inflation in the UK remains high. The dynamics and values of the Consumer Price Index, which will be published on Wednesday, February 15, can bring some clarity. It is the CPI that is the key indicator that determines the future monetary policy of the Bank of England. Of course, data on the state of the labor market, which will be released the day before, on Tuesday, February 14, and on retail sales in the UK, which will become known on February 17, will also be important.

All these macroeconomic statistics are sure to cause increased volatility in GBP/USD. In the meantime, 40% of analysts expect further weakening of the pound, the same number prefer to refrain from forecasts and wait for the release of specific indicators. Only 20% of experts vote for the strengthening of the pound and the growth of the pair. Among the trend indicators on D1, the balance of power is 75% to 25% in favor of the reds. Among the oscillators, the red ones have a 100% advantage, however, 10% of them give signals that the pair is oversold. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at the levels 1.2085, 1.2145, 1.2185-1.2210, 1.2270, 1.2335, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

USD/JPY: The Head of BOJ Is New, the Policy Is Old.

The Japanese yen, like its DXY counterparts, reacted both to the hawkish statements of the US Federal Reserve and to fluctuations in US Treasury yields last week. However, the biggest surge in volatility was the news that the Cabinet of Ministers intends to nominate 71-year-old Kazuo Ueda as the new governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ).

This former professor at the University of Tokyo is a well-known monetary policy expert. He joined the Board of Governors of BOJ a quarter of a century ago, in April 1998 and remained there until April 2005. Ueda spoke out against the Central Bank's abandonment of the policy of zero rates in 2000, and the choice of his candidacy was probably due to the desire of the authorities to see a person at the head of the Bank of Japan who would not rush to curtail the ultra-soft monetary policy. This is confirmed by Ueda himself, who stated on February 10 that the current policy of the regulator is adequate, and that it is necessary to continue to adhere to it.

USD/JPY ended last week at 131.39, where it has been many times since December 20, 2022. According to the majority of analysts (55%), the yen may strengthen somewhat in the three-month period, but the range of targets here is quite large. Some believe that the Fed will finally return to the doves' camp, and then USD/JPY will be able to reach the 120.00 zone, while others consider the range of 127.00-128.00 to be the limit of the fall.

As for the short term, only 20% of experts vote for the pair to go down, 30% vote for its growth, and 50% have decided not to make any predictions at all. Among the oscillators on D1, 80% point north, 10% look south, and 10% point east. For trend indicators, 40% look north, and 60% look in the opposite direction. The nearest support level is located at 131.25 zone, followed by levels and zones 130.50, 129.70-130.00, 128.90-129.00, 128.50, 127.75-128.10, 127.00-127.25 and 125.00. Levels and resistance zones are 131.85-132.00, 132.80-133.00, 133.60, 134.40 and then 137.50.

Japan's preliminary GDP data will be released next week, on Tuesday, February 14. It is expected that the country's economy will grow +0.5% in Q4 2022 (down -+0.2% a quarter earlier). The data already published also look positive. Bank lending in January was higher than expected (+2.6%) and actually increased by +3.1% (+2.7% in December). The Eco Watchers Current Situation Index also increased, rising from 47.9 to 48.5 points by the end of January.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Should Bitcoin “Take a Break”?



Bitcoin's correlation with the stock market (S&P500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq) and other risky assets is nothing new. But digital gold unexpectedly showed not an inverse, but a direct correlation with the US currency last week. This is clearly seen if we compare the BTC/USD and EUR/USD charts. Both assets were getting heavier or lighter, at the same time. Drawing an analogy with a balance scale, we observed a physical paradox where both bowls go up and fall down at the same time. It was only at the end of the working week that the laws of physics began to work again: the dollar strengthened a little, bitcoin weakened.

The upward momentum that raised the main cryptocurrency from a low of $16,272 in November 2022 to $24,244 in the first days of February 2023 has gradually faded away. BTC/USD has returned to where it was in the second half of January, and the result of the last three and a half weeks can be considered close to zero.

As noted by well-known trader and investor Tone Vays, bitcoin has “grown very fast and very high” and is now facing serious resistance as it approaches the $25,000 level. The specialist believes that the asset will eventually break through this resistance zone, but it probably "should take a break now." Vays clarified that he expects either the consolidation of the rate in a narrow range, or a small pullback.

This expert is not alone in his assessment. According to statistics, the media forecast of crypto community members accurately predicted the value of bitcoin by the end of each month, over the past six months with a probability of up to 75%. Finbold experts released the results of the latest survey of more than 15 thousand traders and predictions of machine learning algorithms. Real people expect BTC quotes to fall to $20,250 by February 28, 2023, artificial intelligence points to $24,342.

Such a small (by bitcoin standards) range of fluctuations corresponds quite accurately to Vays’ prediction of a “breather”. The market situation is quite uncertain at the moment, and while short-term holders have returned to the profitable zone, long-term holders (holding for six months) still remain in the red zone. It took 291 days for all the metrics to turn green in the last bearish phase, only 268 have passed now.

Most investors went into the red at the end of last year. Thus, MicroStrategy recorded a balance sheet (unrealized) loss of $1.3 billion for 2022, due to its long-term investments in bitcoin. (As of December 31, 2022, MicroStrategy held a total of 132,500 BTC worth $1.84 billion). At the same time, the company's management does not plan to stop operations with a digital asset. Commenting on last year's turmoil, MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor said he sees this as a kind of Darwinian theory: weak and bad players have left the market, and this should push the industry forward in the long run. At the same time, according to Saylor, cryptocurrencies need a clear regulatory framework for companies to comply with certain standards and protect customers. “What is really needed is supervision. Clear guidance from Congress is needed for the industry to have its own Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock. We need clear rules of conduct from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) of the United States.”

However, David Marcus, former Meta blockchain executive and former PayPal president, for example, doubts that legislatures will be able to develop such rules anytime soon. Based on this, he believes that crypto companies will continue to operate in a "vacuum" in 2023, at their own peril and risk, and the crypto winter will end only by 2025, when the market recovers from last year's shocks.

Surprisingly, not only supporters of cryptocurrencies, but also their fierce opponents advocate increased regulatory pressure. Thus, Charlie Munger, an associate of Warren Buffett, vice president of the Berkshire Hathaway holding company, called on the US authorities to destroy bitcoin, which the billionaire compares investing in to gambling. He said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that the cryptocurrency industry is undermining the stability of the global financial sector. And that BTC cannot be considered an asset class as it has no value.

Munger has been expressing this point of view over the past few years. And now he calls on the US authorities to deal a devastating blow to the crypto market. In his opinion, it is necessary to drive it into such a strict framework of regulation that will finally strangle this industry.

Note that Charlie Munger is 99 years old, which, perhaps, explains his radical conservatism. The younger generation of businessmen is more loyal to digital innovations. Suffice it to recall the results of a survey conducted by the financial consulting company deVere Group. They showed that despite the challenges of 2022, 82% of millionaires were considering investing in digital assets. According to Nigel Green, CEO of the deVere Group, the momentum for such interest will increase as conditions in the traditional financial system change.

Morgan Creek investment company CEO Mark W. Yusko believes that favorable macroeconomic conditions will lead to the fact that the next bull market could begin as early as Q2 2023. According to the top manager, the US Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut the key rate in the near future. However, even a slowdown or pause in this process will be perceived as a positive signal for risky assets, which include cryptocurrencies. The CEO of Morgan Creek pointed to the expectations of the next bitcoin halving, which will tentatively take place on April 19-21, 2024, as an additional reason for the growth of the crypto market. According to Yusko's calculations, the recovery of the digital asset market usually begins nine months before this event, which means that the rally will start at the end of the summer of 2023 this time.

Cathie Wood, the head of ARK Invest, is even more optimistic about the future, she still considers the first cryptocurrency to be the best form of protection against financial losses. In her opinion, all segments of the population, both the poor and the wealthy, will benefit from the use of digital gold. In confirmation of the words of their manager, Ark Invest analysts make just a cosmic forecast. Their pessimistic scenario assumes that the BTC price will rise to $259,000, and the optimistic one - up to $1.5 million per coin. (we wonder what Charlie Munger would say about this?)

At the time of writing this review (Friday evening, February 10), BTC/USD is trading in the $21,600 zone. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.010 trillion ($1.082 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell from 60 to 48 points over the week, and ended up in the Neutral zone, almost in the very center of the scale. The situation is uncertain, and perhaps traders, like bitcoin, “should take a break”?


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- Cryptocurrency entrepreneurs should consider moving to a country with favorable regulation of the bitcoin industry. This was stated by Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. He considers Dubai (UAE), Bahrain and France to be such jurisdictions. Zhao added that newcomers to the industry will definitely need legal advice in order to "not cross any of the red lines" set by regulators.
This advice came against the background of tightening regulation of the industry by the US authorities. In particular, we are talking about an investigation launched by the New York State Department of Financial Services against infrastructure company Paxos. The regulator later ordered the firm to stop issuing the Binance USD (BUSD) stablecoin. The SEC (US Securities and Exchange Commission) also announced its readiness to sue Paxos.
The CEO of Binance was supported by Uniswap founder Hayden Adams. “It is a shame to watch the US efforts in the cryptosphere. Innovative companies get an additional incentive to go abroad. It's like if the government banned the development of the Internet 30 years ago,” he wrote.

- According to Politico, Senator Elizabeth Warren has begun building a coalition against cryptocurrencies and is actively recruiting conservative Republicans in the US Senate. By doing so, she wants to support her bills, which could have serious consequences for the crypto industry, and which imply tighter restrictions in the fight against money laundering, including additional requirements for verifying the identity of consumers. Warren positions herself as a leading digital asset legislator and enjoys the backing of the banking lobby.
The US Department of the Treasury is currently actively monitoring cases of illegal funding using cryptocurrencies. The Warren bill will extend these obligations to other agencies and entities, including service providers in the digital asset segment.

- Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sent 99 ETH (~$155,000 at the time of writing) to Ahbap, a non-profit organization that raises money to help earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. According to Ahbap's official website, the organization has already raised over $4.2 million in cryptocurrencies.
According to the latest data, the disaster has claimed the lives of more than 25,000 people. More than 80,000 people have been injured in Turkey alone. The series of earthquakes has become the largest since 2010 in terms of the number of victims.

- Investor and star of the TV show Shark Tank, Kevin O'Leary, said on The Wolf of All Streets podcast that most of the 10,000 digital assets are worthless. “They will eventually fall to zero due to the lack of volatility and [trading] volume. They are not needed,” he announced his verdict. O'Leary also talked about losing all of his crypto investments after the FTX crash in November 2022. However, after that, he has already opened new positions in bitcoin, ethereum and 5 other assets (previously his portfolio included 32 positions).

- The South Korean authorities have included in the sanctions list a number of North Korean hacker groups and individuals associated with cyber attacks and cryptocurrency theft. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Seoul. The sanctions came just hours after South Korea and the United States announced a cybersecurity joint venture.
In particular, hackers working in the information technology sector at the North Korean company Chosun Expo Joint Venture were blacklisted. It is alleged to be a shell company associated with the Lazarus Group. North Korean hackers have stolen more than $1.2 billion worth of virtual assets since 2017, including $626 million in 2022, according to information provided by the Foreign Ministry.

- Former Goldman Sachs CEO Raoul Pal believes Ethereum is destined to reach a five-digit price in the next bull market. The macro expert has set a target price for ethereum around $10,000, primarily due to the good potential of the token. However, he believes that some of the main competitors will surpass him. “ETH is the money of the internet. And I do not think that it will lose this status, but this does not mean that this is the best player, - said the financier. - Solana, I think, aims for the widest possible adoption, making it convenient for the consumer. […] However, ETH is the easiest way because it probably has the least risk.”

- According to technical analysis by CryptoQuant expert Grizzly, BTC/USD has formed a unique pattern that has previously been observed at market lows. The specialist added the 200-day SMA and the realized price to the long-term chart and concluded that this could be a sign of a long-term uptrend. According to his observations, this was especially evident in 2019, 2015 and 2012.
At the same time, Grizzly noted that macroeconomic factors that put pressure on high-risk asset markets should not be overlooked. It is not known whether bitcoin will be able to “separate” from assets such as stocks and demonstrate “decent behavior” as a reliable hedge against inflation. According to the expert, only time will tell if the largest cryptocurrency maintains its upward trajectory.

- Another popular Twitter analyst, Kaleo, with 563,000 followers, also shared his prediction about the near future of bitcoin and ethereum. The analyst believes that a price of $30,000 is still possible for bitcoin. Ethereum, in his opinion, will repeat the movement of 2018-2020. The price of this altcoin rose from $80 to $480 then. At the time of writing the review, the ETH exchange rate is $1,580. According to Kaleo's calculations, the target level is located almost twice as high: around $3,000.

- The number of users of the first cryptocurrency will grow from the current over 300 million to 1 billion in the next three years. This would be riughly 12% of the world's population. This forecast was given by well-known analyst Willy Woo. He recalled that it took six months for bitcoin to form an audience of the first 1,000 users. It took five years for that number to rise to 1 million. The network achieved its current figures of more than 300 million, 13.8 years after the formation of the genesis block. For comparison, Woo cited the audience of PayPal (430 million people) and Twitter (400 million, most of which, he believes, are bots).

- Robert Kiyosaki, author of the bestselling book Rich Dad Poor Dad, stated that the price of bitcoin will rise to $500,000 by 2025. “A giant crash is coming. Depression is possible. The Fed has been forced to print billions in counterfeit money. Gold at $5,000, silver at $500, and bitcoin at $500,000 by 2025,” he wrote. And he added that gold and silver are the money of the gods, and bitcoin is like a dollar for ordinary people.
Prior to this, Anthony Scaramucci, founder of the hedge fund SkyBridge Capital, said that the value of one bitcoin on the exchange could double to $50,000 over the next two to three years. Scaramucci called 2023 a “recovery year” for bitcoin.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: The Fed Doesn't Hinder the US Economy

January data released on Tuesday, February 14 showed that the US Federal Reserve's victory over inflation is still very, very far away. The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained unchanged on a monthly basis at +0.4%. At the same time, although the annual data were slightly lower than the previous value: +6.4% against +6.5%, they exceeded the forecast of +6.2%. Another portion of American statistics came out the next day, February 15. After two months of decline, retail sales in the US showed the highest growth rate in almost 2 years, jumping from -1.1% in December to +3.0% in January (against the forecast of +1.8%).

The initial reaction to this was the strengthening of the dollar (the DXY index reached 104.1 points, the maximum since January 09), and a sharp drop in stock indices. Market participants decided that such macro statistics will force the Fed to further tighten monetary policy actively. If the peak value of the interest rate was predicted at 4.9% in early February with a subsequent decrease by 50 basis points (bp) by the end of the year, the peak is seen now at 5.25%, and a possible decrease only by 25 b.p. in 2023. At the same time, the probability that the rate will be increased three more times, in March, May and June, is 50%.

As already mentioned, the strengthening of the dollar and the sharp fall in stock indices was the first reaction of the market. But then there was an equally sharp reversal and the return of investor risk appetite. Stock indices went up. The market decided that if the US economy coped with the most aggressive interest rate hike in decades quite easily, it would cope with it in the future. Not only retail sales, but also other economic indicators show a convincing rise at the moment. Thus, employment grew by an impressive 517K new jobs, and the country's GDP, according to the leading indicator from the Atlanta Fed, may grow not by 2.2%, but by 2.4% in Q1 2023.

Then the market sentiment changed again. Another piece of statistics showed that the number of Americans who filed new applications for unemployment benefits fell unexpectedly, while producer prices (PPI) rose to a 7-month high in January. In this situation, market expectations regarding the further cycle of monetary restriction have again increased. S&P500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq headed south together, while DXY headed north to a six-week high of 104.58. After that, on the eve of a long weekend in the US, the Dollar Index fell again to 103.85 points.

EUR/USD reacted accordingly to the volatile DXY fluctuations. As a result, having started last week at 1.0679, it ended it at 1.0694, that is, with almost zero results. At the time of writing the review (evening of February 17), 80% of analysts expect further strengthening of the dollar, 10% expect the strengthening of the euro, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral position.

This time, the readings of the oscillators on D1 coincide with the opinion of analysts almost completely. 80% of them are colored red (20% signal that the pair is oversold), the remaining 20% are colored gray neutral. Among trend indicators, 60% recommend selling, 40% - buying. The nearest support for the pair is located in the zone 1.0600-1.0620, then there are levels and zones, 1.0560, 1.0500, 1.0440 and 1.0370-1.0400. The bulls will meet resistance in the area of 1.0700-1.0710, 1.0745-1.0760, 1.0800, 1.0865, 1.0895-1.0925, 1.0985-1.1030, 1.1110, after which they will try to gain a foothold in the 1.1260-1.1360 echelon.

The events of the coming week include the publication of business activity indicators (PMI) in Germany and the Eurozone on Tuesday, February 21. The value of the German Harmonized Consumer Price Index (CPI) will become known on Wednesday, February 22. Also on this day, the minutes of the last FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting will be published late in the evening. Volatility will be provided by data on inflation (CPI) of the Eurozone, as well as on unemployment and US GDP, on Thursday, February 23. We will find out German GDP indicators and statistics on consumer spending by American citizens at the very end of the working week, on Friday, February 24. Traders also need to keep in mind that Monday, February 20 is a day off in the US: the country celebrates President's Day.

GBP/USD: BoE Could Crash the Pound

The pound tried to win back part of its losses at the beginning of last week. GBP/USD, having bounced off the level of 1.2030 on February 13, reached a two-week high of 1.2270 the next day. Then, along with other currencies included in the DXY Index, the pound began to retreat against the dollar. As a result, the local minimum was fixed at 1.1915. This was followed by a return to the initial positions and GBP/USD ended the week at 1.2040.

Neither Inflation data nor data on unemployment in the UK helped the British currency (CPI fell to +10.1% in January against the forecast of +10.3% and +10.5% in December). The market also ignored retail sales statistics, although they rose by +0.5% in January against the forecast of -0.3% and the previous result of -1.2%. The news that the UK and the EU have achieved good results in the protracted Brexit negotiations did not have a noticeable effect on the dynamics of the pound either.

Much more important for the quotes of the British currency was macro statistics from the US, as well as expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) may soon reach the end of the rate hike cycle. “The Bank of England is clearly concerned that a significant rate hike could slow down the economy too much,” Commerzbank economists wrote, explaining their bearish view of GBP's prospects, and colleagues from Singapore's United Overseas Bank agreed, according to them GBP/USD may retest the 1.1900 level in the near future.

If we talk about the median forecast of experts, 70% of them vote for the further weakening of the pound, 10% prefer to refrain from forecasts. Only 20% of analysts vote for the strengthening of the pound and the growth of the pair. Among the trend indicators on D1, the balance of power is 85% to 15% in favor of the reds. Reds have a 100% advantage among oscillators. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.1990-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1915, 1.1840, 1.1800, 1.1720 and 1.1600. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at the levels 1.2085, 1.2145, 1.2185-1.2210, 1.2270, 1.2335, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

As far as the UK economy is concerned, Tuesday February 21 is of interest on the calendar for the upcoming week, when the country's business activity statistics (PMI) are released.

USD/JPY: Hopes for QT Remain

“The Japanese government has chosen Academician Kazuo Ueda as the new head of the Central Bank based on expectations of a stable inflation target along with a structural increase in wages,” said Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki. And it doesn't seem that this choice went in favor of the Japanese currency. Having started the week at 131.39, USD/JPY fixed a local high at 135.15, and set the last chord of the five-day period at 134.17.

Recall that 71-year-old Kazuo Ueda, a former professor at the University of Tokyo, joined the board of governors of BOJ a quarter of a century ago, in April 1998, and remained there until April 2005. Back in 2000, Ueda spoke out against the Central Bank's abandonment of the zero-rate policy. It seems that even now he will not rush to curtail the ultra-soft monetary policy. This is confirmed by Ueda himself, who stated on February 10 that the current policy of the regulator is adequate, and that it is necessary to continue to adhere to it.

Despite such statements, the question of what this policy will be like under the new leader remains open at the moment. The majority of experts (60%) have taken a wait-and-see attitude. 15% are counting on the growth of USD/JPY in the near future, and 25% expect it to fall. If we talk about a three-month perspective, only 10% of analysts talk about a further weakening of the Japanese currency, 25% are still neutral, but 65% are waiting for tightening monetary policy (QT) and strengthening the yen, contrary to the statements of Kazuo Ueda.

For example, Danske Bank economists predict that the USD/JPY rate will fall and reach 125.00 in three months. A similar position is shared by strategists at BNP Paribas Research. “We expect the strength of the US dollar to end up short-lived,” they say. “We believe that the US dollar has entered a multi-year bearish trend, and portfolio flows are becoming increasingly negative for the currency.” BNP Paribas predicts that positive yields in Japan could encourage the repatriation of funds by local investors, as a result of which USD/JPY will fall to 121.00 by the end of 2023.

Among the oscillators on D1, 100% points north (15% of them are in the overbought zone). For trend indicators, 75% look north, and 25% look in the opposite direction. The nearest level of support is located in zone 134.00, followed by levels and zones 133.60, 132.80-133.20, 131.85-132.00, 131.25 130.50, 129.70-130.00, 128.90-129.00, 128.50, 127.75-128.10, 127.00-127.25 and 125.00. Levels and resistance zones are 134.40, 134.75-135.10, 135.60, 136.00, 137.50, 139.35, 140.60, 143.75.

No important macro data on the state of the Japanese economy is expected this week. In addition, it must be borne in mind that Thursday, February 23, is a day off in Japan, the country celebrates the Emperor's Birthday.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Five Reasons for BTC's Growth



The topic of regulating the cryptocurrency market has been getting louder and louder since last spring. Many influencers argue that one can count on a massive influx of funds from institutional investors only if a clear regulatory framework is in place. Here is just one of the latest statements by MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor. “What is really needed,” he said, “is oversight. [...] Clear guidance from Congress is needed. We need clear rules of conduct from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) of the United States.” And it must be said that such calls from representatives of big capital respond to the minds and actions of government officials. For example, Senator Elizabeth Warren is already actively recruiting conservative Republicans in the US Senate to support her bills, which significantly tighten the regulation of the crypto industry.

We note that the tragic events of 2022, caused by the collapse of a number of leading representatives of the industry, caused a sharp surge in the activity of US supervisory authorities. And the regulators began to work with redoubled energy this year. To begin with, they attacked the Kraken crypto exchange, which was actually banned from providing staking services. But the truck did not stop there and ran into the infrastructure company Paxos, which is responsible for issuing USDP, PAXG and Binance BUSD stablecoin. This is an investigation launched by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) against this company. The regulator later ordered the firm to stop issuing the BUSD stablecoin. The SEC also announced its readiness to sue Paxos.

This situation led to a massive outflow of funds from the stablecoin. Many users have started exchanging BUSD for USDT. But it's still half the trouble. Some frightened users simply decided to leave Binance. On February 14 alone, the net outflow of funds from this exchange amounted to $831 million, a record since the collapse of FTX.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao responded to pressure from the US authorities by calling on industry participants to consider moving to another country. He considers Dubai (UAE), Bahrain and France to be jurisdictions with favorable regulation. The CEO of Binance was supported by Uniswap founder Hayden Adams. “It's a shame to watch the US efforts in the cryptosphere,” he wrote. “Innovative companies get an additional incentive to go abroad. It’s as if the government banned the development of the Internet 30 years ago.”

Surprisingly, against this frankly negative background, the price of bitcoin went up, reaching $25.241 on February 16. The last time BTC/USD climbed this high was in mid-August 2022. There have been several reasons for the current rally.

The first of these, paradoxically, is the mentioned attack by the NYFDS and SEC on Kraken and Paxos. US regulators treat PoS coins as toxic assets due to passive income from staking (expectation of profit). Based on this, such coins can receive the status of a security, with all the ensuing legal consequences. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is still the result of the work of miners, which allows it to avoid (at least for now) a similar fate. The network hashrate continues to set records.

Another driver for the growth (and subsequent fall) of digital “gold” quotes is its correlation with the stock market ( S&P500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq).

The third reason is that the main cryptocurrency was oversold in 2022, which caused the average production cost to fall below the market price. And most of the miners were forced to sell off BTC stocks in order to cover operating costs and ensure payments on accounts payable.

The next reason is the Ordinals protocol launched at the end of January, which allows not only to conduct financial transactions in the bitcoin network, but also to transfer any digital objects, including images, audio and video files. The launch of this protocol also resulted in an increase in network activity. The number of non-zero wallets set a new record, and miners received $876,000 in additional income in the form of commissions in less than a month.

The beginning of the BTC rally forced short-term speculators to close short positions, which further stimulated the growth of bitcoin. And that was reason number five.

According to Glassnode specialists, the current fair value of the flagship cryptocurrency is $33,000. This is the figure bitcoin should aim for. A similar figure of $30,000 is cited by Kaleo, a popular analyst with 563,000 Twitter followers. His forecast for the leading altcoin was also quite optimistic. According to Kaleo calculations, the target level for ETH/USD is located in the $3,000 area. Former Goldman Sachs CEO Raoul Pal also gave his forecast for ethereum, setting a target price of this coin around $10,000. Although, such growth will take more time of course.

If we talk about a three-year horizon, according to well-known analyst Willy Woo, the number of users of the first cryptocurrency will grow from the current over 300 million to 1 billion during this time. This will approximately correspond to 12% of the world's population. Willy Woo recalled that it took six months for bitcoin to form an audience of the first 1,000 users. It took five years for that number to rise to 1 million. The network achieved its current figures of more than 300 million, 13.8 years after the formation of the genesis block.

SkyBridge Capital hedge fund founder Anthony Scaramucci called 2023 a “recovery year” for bitcoin. However, his forecast looks rather modest. In his opinion, the value of BTC may “only” double over the next two to three years, up to $50,000.

As for another influencer, best-selling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, he claims that bitcoin will rise to a fantastic $500,000 by 2025. “A giant crash is coming. Depression is possible. The Fed has been forced to print billions in counterfeit money. Gold will be at $5,000, silver at $500, and bitcoin at $500,000 by 2025,” Kiyosaki wrote. And he added that gold and silver are the money of the gods, and bitcoin is like a dollar for ordinary people.

Risky assets sank sharply down in the last days of the past week. Following the stock indices, the quotes of crypto-currencies also fell, but then recovered quite quickly. At the time of writing this review (Friday evening, February 16), BTC/USD is trading in the $24,600 zone. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.106 trillion ($1.010 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose from 48 to 61 points in a week and moved from the Neutral zone to the Greed zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week



- FTX CTO Nishad Singh plans to plead guilty to fraud for his role in the crashed exchange and is discussing a possible deal with prosecutors, Bloomberg reports. Two other associates pleaded guilty to charges related to the collapse of FTX in December, but the head of the exchange, Sam Bankman-Freed, has not made a deal with the investigators.
Singh created the platform software and played an important role in the daily operations of FTX. He was part of Bankman-Freed's inner circle, living with him in a penthouse in the Bahamas. Singh has donated over $9.3 million to US Democratic candidates since 2020 and has also received hundreds of millions of dollars in loans from Alameda.

- The number of addresses with a balance of 1000 BTC or more has dropped to August 2019 levels. According to the analytical company Glassnode, there are 2,024 such whales (as of February 20, 2023). The number of addresses in this category peaked in February 2021, about 2,500. Then, despite the rally of bitcoin to an all-time high near $69,000, the indicator began to decline.
The number of addresses with a balance of 10,000 BTC or more (from $240 million at current prices) is stable near the peaks corresponding to the values of November 2022 and October 2018. There are currently 115 such “mega-whale” wallets in total. But the number of smaller addresses (from 1 BTC) keeps to update the highs. Their number increased by 20% during the year, approaching 982,000.

- The Russian Bureau of Interpol officers, at the request from the United States, detained in Moscow a 31-year-old Briton who helped North Korea circumvent sanctions and advised members of the DPRK government on ways to withdraw funds abroad using cryptocurrencies.

- Vice Chairman of the legendary holding company Berkshire Hathaway Charlie Munger, who is Warren Buffett's right-hand man, called those who disagree with him on the cryptocurrencies ban "idiots". “I'm not proud of my country [USA] for allowing this crap. It's just ridiculous that someone is buying this [digital assets]," the 99-year-old billionaire said. - This is not good. It's crazy. It only hurts. And it's antisocial." Munger has previously urged the US authorities to follow China's lead and ban digital assets. In his opinion, they cannot be attributed either to currencies, or to goods, or to securities.

- Kevin O'Leary, investor, journalist and host of the hit show Shark Tank, called on crypto exchanges to work more closely with government regulatory agencies. He stated that “American financial regulators are tired” of watching the wave of company bankruptcies in the cryptocurrency industry. And they treat such firms much more harshly now. Therefore, any business in this area should be more careful.
“You should work with regulators. No need to stand in the way of the SEC and other agencies. These guys in Washington are pretty mean. The collapse of FTX kicked the bear. It woke up and was furious. Senators are really tired: they are tired of meeting every six months when another large cryptocurrency firm collapses. They are fed up with the fact that the industry is not regulated, and everyone can issue their own useless tokens,” said this Canadian entrepreneur.
Kevin O'Leary believes that regulated companies will attract significantly more investment than their unregulated rivals. And in general, unregulated companies run the risk of going bankrupt through the actions of officials. Kevin O'Leary had earlier stated that most crypto assets have no intrinsic value and will collapse to zero in the near future.

- Alex Gladstein, the director of the Human Rights Foundation, said In a recent interview that the first cryptocurrency is able to limit the power of states with "collapsed democracy" and deprive them of the ability to control people. According to him, bitcoin prevents "tyrannical governments" from imposing their will on the people. “Bitcoin restores democracy. Bitcoin is about free speech, property rights, and open capital markets. What do authoritarian countries need? Quite the opposite: censorship, confiscation and closed capital markets,” Gladstein said.

- Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist and creator of the Internet, URL, HTTP and HTML, has criticized cryptocurrencies as dangerous speculative tools for market manipulation. According to the inventor, the Internet should exist without blockchain. The engineer is sure that this technology is not so fast and safe.
In his opinion, crypto assets are very similar to the dot-com bubble, when a large number of Internet companies closed 20 years ago without a fundamental basis for business development. Berners-Lee believes that digital currencies can only be suitable for money transfers if they are immediately converted into fiat currencies upon receipt.

- Bitcoin has the potential to become the digital gold of the 21st century, Deutsche Bank analyst Marion Laboure says, adding that it is important to be mindful of the risks associated with the first cryptocurrency. She recalls that people have always looked for assets that were not controlled by governments, and gold has played this role for centuries.
Laboure is sure that the main problems of cryptocurrencies are the lack of regulation and the environmental consequences of mining. “For example, bitcoin mining requires about the same amount of electricity in a year as the entire population of Pakistan uses, about 217 million people!”

- Asian investors may push bitcoin quotes up, Cameron Winklevoss, co-founder of the Gemini crypto exchange, thinks. His thesis is that the next phase of price growth will occur in the East, and the US will have to adjust to new conditions. Recall that according to Chainalysis, the Asia-Pacific region already ranks third in the world in terms of cryptocurrency investments.

- According to Matrix analysts, the price of bitcoin is able to rise to $29,000 by the summer and to $45,000 by the end of this year. However, this will happen under the condition of a further slowdown in the growth rate of consumer inflation in the United States. Matrix notes that the price of the cryptocurrency has recently risen above $25,000 several times. Analysts see this as a positive signal, as BTC's rise has taken place despite the negative news on the tightening of cryptocurrency regulations in the US and Europe.
Speaking about their forecast, Matrix also refers to the “January effect”: price success in the first month often predetermines the movement of the main cryptocurrency throughout the year. In addition, experts recalled that historically, the price of bitcoin tests the lows 12-15 months before the next halving. This time, such period was December 2022 - March 2023.
Plan B also speaks about a possible rally. According to his estimates, bitcoin could test the $42,000 level as early as March.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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EUR/USD: FOMC Protocol Strengthens the Dollar



Macroeconomic statistics in both the US and the Eurozone look mixed. In both regions, inflation is slowing down (which is good), but GDP growth is also decreasing (which is bad for the economy). According to the US Department of Commerce, the pace of consumer spending growth in the country for Q4 was +1.4% after +2.3% in Q3 (forecasted at +2.1%). The US GDP growth rate on an annual basis, according to preliminary estimates, will be lower than expected, +2.7% (forecast and previous value +2.9%). However, despite this, labour market statistics look positive enough. The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits, forecasted at 200K, actually decreased from 195K to 192K. According to final data from Eurostat, inflation in the Eurozone slowed down to +8.6% YoY in January (+9.2% a month earlier). Things are becoming more difficult in Germany, the main locomotive of the European economy. According to January data, the annual inflation rate was +9.2% compared to +9.6% in December, but at the same time, the country's GDP also went down, with a decline of -0.4% (forecast and previous value -0.2%). The very fresh February CPI data did not please either, showing an increase from +8.1% to +8.7%.

Against this backdrop, market sentiment remains in favour of the US dollar. This is primarily due to the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) meeting minutes, which were published on Wednesday, February 22 by the US Federal Reserve. The minutes did not bring any surprises. However, market participants saw once again that the regulator is not going to stop its fight against inflation.

United Overseas Bank (UOB) summarized the main conclusions from the minutes as follows: 1) Despite progress in the fight against inflation, it remains significantly above the target level of 2%. 2) All Committee members agreed that achieving inflation targets will require more interest rate hikes and keeping it at a high level until the Fed is confident that inflation is sustainably going down. 3) Although the FOMC voted in February to raise the rate by 25 basis points (bps), several participants wanted it to be increased by 50 bps. 4) The Fed is still more concerned about inflation than slowing economic growth.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen confirmed these conclusions. She stated at the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting on Friday, February 24 that "inflation is coming down, measured on a 12-month basis, but core inflation is still above 2%". According to Janet Yellen, a "soft landing" for the economy without a recession is possible thanks to the strong labour market and strong US balances.

All of the above has led to the US dollar index, DXY, continuing its rise, reaching a local high of 105.26 points, while EUR/USD ended the workweek at the level of 1.0546 (week low at 1.0535).

Most likely, the main factor determining the dynamics of the dollar until the next FOMC meeting on March 21-22 will be speculations on how far the regulator is willing to go in its "crusade" against inflation. According to UOB's forecast, the rate may be raised by 25 bps in March and May, ultimately reaching 5.25%, and remain at this level until the end of the year. According to some other estimates, the peak federal funds rate by July could be 5.38%.

According to specialists at ING, the largest banking group in the Netherlands, February and March are seasonally strong months for the dollar, and the rate of 4.50% for overnight deposits may still slightly support the dollar. However, according to their colleagues at Commerzbank, it will become increasingly difficult for the US currency to strengthen against the euro. Much has already been priced in, and there are no strong new drivers in sight. Especially since the ECB is not standing still in tightening its monetary policy. The final data on consumer prices in the Eurozone, which were revised upwards to 5.3% in the core index, published on February 23, will be the next stimulus for such QT.

At the time of writing this review (evening of February 24), 40% of analysts expect further strengthening of the dollar (half as many as a week ago), 50% expect a correction of EUR/USD to the north, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral position.

All 100% of D1 oscillators are painted red, although a quarter of them are signalling the pair is oversold. Among trend indicators, 75% recommend selling and 25% buying. The nearest support for the pair is located in the zone of 1.5000-1.0525, then come levels and zones of 1.0440 and 1.0370-1.0400, 1.0300, 1.0220-1.0255. Bulls will encounter resistance in the region of 1.0560-1.0575, 1.0600-1.0620, 1.0680-1.0710, 1.0745-1.0760, 1.0800, 1.0865.

Events of the upcoming week include the publication of data on orders for capital goods and durable goods in the US on Monday, February 27. Wednesday, the first day of March, will bring a large volume of macro statistics from Germany. This includes the Harmonized Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in the manufacturing sector, as well as the change in the number of unemployed in the country. In addition, the value of the PMI in the US manufacturing sector will be announced on this day. We are expecting the February CPI for the Eurozone, the ECB's statement on monetary policy, and data on unemployment in the US on Thursday, March 2. And there will be another portion of American statistics, including the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in the service sector, at the very end of the workweek.

GBP/USD: Business Activity Grows, but the Pound Falls

The British pound is struggling to resist the advance of the dollar. Despite regular counterattacks, it is retreating step by step. Starting the week at 1.2040, GBP/USD reached a local peak at 1.2147, but then went down and ended the five-day period at 1.1942.

It is worth noting that the UK economy managed to avoid a recession at the end of 2022, and the data on business activity in the United Kingdom, published on Tuesday, February 21, is quite optimistic. The Composite PMI Index, with a forecast of 49.0, should grow from 48.5 to 53.0 points over the month. However, these are only preliminary data, with the final ones becoming available on March 1 and 3. At the same time, the confidence of British consumers is lower than during the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s.

Although inflation in the country is decreasing, it remains in double digits and is five times higher than the Bank of England's target rate. (CPI fell to +10.1% in January, with a forecast of +10.3%, and +10.5% in December). Inflation is being kept high in part due to the labour market, and there is currently no reason to believe that wage growth in the UK is slowing down.

The market expects that the Bank of England, like the Federal Reserve, will raise the key interest rate twice by 25 basis points in March and April, bringing it to a peak of 4.5%. However, many in the BoE leadership are very concerned that a significant increase in rates could overly slow down the economy. Therefore, the regulator's monetary policy, which is already ambiguous, could be adjusted at any time.

As for the median forecast of experts, 45% of them vote for further weakening of the pound, 25% expect GBP/USD to rise, and 30% prefer to refrain from making predictions. Among the trend indicators on D1, the balance of power is 85% to 15% in favour of the red. Among the oscillators, the red has a 100% advantage, 15% of which are in the oversold zone. The support levels and zones for the pair are 1.1900-1.1915, 1.1840, 1.1800, 1.1720, and 1.1600. If the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.1960, 1.1990-1.2025, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2145, 1.2185-1.2210, 1.2270, 1.2335, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750, and 1.2940.

As for the economy of the United Kingdom, in addition to the final data on business activity (PMI) in the UK, which will be released on March 1 and 3, we can note the speech of the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, scheduled for Wednesday, March 1.

USD/JPY: Hopes for QT Are Weakening, but Still Remain

"It seems that the appointment of academic Kadsuo Wada as the new head of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) has not benefited the Japanese currency," we wrote in our previous review. And now, looking at the USD/JPY chart, we can only confirm this statement. In addition to the strengthening dollar, another blow to the yen was dealt by Kadsuo Wada himself. His speech on Friday, February 24, helped the pair to rise from the level of 134.04 to a height of 136.41. The comments of the future head of the central bank, who spoke in the lower house of the Japanese Parliament, in general corresponded to the current BoJ policy, and only exacerbated the disappointment of those who hoped for significant changes in the regulator's monetary policy. Investors could not discern in these comments a clear "hawkish" signal that would boost the resumption of speculative demand for the yen, which was already weakening against the backdrop of the rise of the DXY and the increase in the yield of 10-year treasuries. It should be reminded that there is a direct correlation between USD/JPY and U.S. Treasury bills. If the yield of securities rises, then the dollar rises against the Japanese yen.

We already wrote a week ago that some experts expect a serious strengthening of the Japanese currency in the future. For example, economists at Danske Bank predict that the USD/JPY rate will fall and reach the level of 125.00 in three months. BNP Paribas Research strategists hold a similar position. According to their forecasts, in the event of a tightening of monetary policy, positive yields in Japan may stimulate the repatriation of funds by local investors, resulting in USD/JPY falling to 121.00 by the end of 2023. But all of these are still quite shaky assumptions, although 75% of analysts share them. As for the near-term prospects, currently only 35% of experts expect a southward movement of the pair, while an equal number look in the opposite direction, and the remaining 20% remain neutral. Among the oscillators on the D1 chart, 100% indicate a northward movement (15% of which are in the overbought zone). Among the trend indicators, 75% point to the north and 25% to the south. The nearest support level is located in the 135.90 zone, followed by levels and zones of 134.90-135.15, 134.40, 134.00, 133.60, 132.80-133.20, 131.85-132.00, 131.25, 130.50, 129.70-130.00. Resistance levels and zones are at 136.70, 136.00, 137.50, 139.00-139.35, 140.60, 143.75.

No important macroeconomic statistics regarding the state of the Japanese economy are expected next week. However, Kadsuo Wada will give another speech on Monday, February 27, but it is unlikely to contain anything new and revolutionary.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Bitcoin Is Under Pressure, but It Doesn't Give Up. Not yet

Regarding the past week, we can say this: bitcoin is under pressure, but it is holding up. Among the main pressure factors, we can name the financial report of the Coinbase exchange for Q4 2022 and the strengthening of the dollar. Coinbase's revenue plummeted by 75% in the last quarter of last year, which was unusually difficult for the cryptocurrency market. The reason for such a collapse is clear: customer outflows due to a series of scandals and bankruptcies of major and not-so-major industry players. As a result, Coinbase's losses amounted to $2.46 per share. (For comparison, the profit per share of this crypto giant was $3.32 a year ago). It is unknown whether Coinbase will explode like FTX. But in any case, investors should not forget about the risks associated with this market.
As for the second pressure factor, it's all about the Federal Reserve System (FRS) of the United States, as always. Increased market expectations regarding the interest rate have strengthened the quoted currency in BTC/USD and, accordingly, weakened its base part. And it should be noted that bitcoin has shown itself to be a stronger asset in this situation than stock indices, with which it usually correlates. Thus, the S&P500 returned to mid-January values, and the Dow Jones even fell to December values, while the flagship cryptocurrency has grown by 40% since January 1, 2023.

Debate over the future of digital assets continues. Vice Chairman of legendary holding company Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffet's right-hand man, Charlie Munger, still calls on US authorities to completely ban cryptocurrencies. The 99-year-old billionaire called anyone who disagrees with him "idiots" and added, "I'm not proud of my country for allowing this filth. It's just ridiculous that anyone buys this [digital assets]. It's no good. It's crazy. It only does harm." Kevin O’Leary, investor, journalist, and host of the popular show Shark Tank recalled this as well. He said that "American financial regulators are tired" of watching waves of bankruptcies in the cryptocurrency industry. "These guys in Washington are very angry. The FTX collapse woke up the bear. It woke up in a rage. Senators are really tired of having to gather every six months when another major cryptocurrency firm collapses. They're tired of the industry being unregulated and anyone being able to issue their absolutely useless tokens," said the Canadian entrepreneur. His conclusion was much softer than Charles Munger's choking calls. O'Leary called on all industry participants to cooperate with the SEC and other government agencies and said that regulated companies would attract significantly more investment than their unregulated competitors.

Bitcoin quotes are mainly supported by small and medium investors at the moment. According to the analytics company Glassnode, the number of wallets with a volume of at least 1 BTC is constantly reaching new highs. Their number has increased by 20% over the past year, approaching 982,000. As for addresses with a balance of 1000 BTC or more, it has fallen from its peak in February 2021 (about 2,500) to levels in August 2019. And now (as of 20.02.2023) there are only 2,024 such whales. However, the number of addresses with a balance of 10,000 BTC or more (worth $240 million at current prices) has consistently remained near peak levels, corresponding to November 2022 and October 2018 values. Currently, there are 115 such "mega-whale" wallets.

According to co-founder of the Gemini crypto exchange Cameron Winklevoss, Asian investors may push bitcoin prices up. Winklevoss believes that the next phase of price growth will occur in the East, and the US will have to adapt to the new conditions. According to Chainalysis, the Asia-Pacific region already ranks third in the world in terms of cryptocurrency investment volume.

Several experts believe that it is crucial for the market for bitcoin to maintain levels above the intermediate resistance at $24,500. This will allow the coin to rise to $25,000 first and then to the $29,000-30,000 range. According to analysts at Matrix, the rise to $29,000 is possible by the summer, and BTC could reach $45,000 by the end of this year. However, they note that this will happen only if the pace of consumer inflation in the US continues to slow. Matrix analysts also point out that the cryptocurrency's price has already risen above $25,000 several times in recent days, despite negative news about tightening cryptocurrency regulations in the US and Europe, which they see as a positive sign.

Speaking of their forecast, Matrix also refers to the "January effect": a price success in the first month often determines the movement of the main cryptocurrency price for the entire year. In addition, experts note that historically, 12-15 months before the next halving, bitcoin's price tests its minimums. This time, such a period fell on December 2022 - March 2023.

Well-known analyst Plan B also suggests a possible rally, estimating that bitcoin may test the $42,000 level in March. As of the time of writing (Friday evening, February 24), BTC/USD is trading around $23,100. The total market capitalization of the crypto market is $1.059 trillion ($1.106 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell from 61 to 53 points over the week and returned from the Greed zone to the Neutral zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

On March 1 of this year, broker company NordFX launched another Mega Super Lottery for its clients. The lottery will run until the end of 2023 and will offer a variety of cash prizes ranging from $250 to $5000, with a total prize pool of $100,000.

The slogan "Your 202+3 Chances to Win in 2023" was chosen for the lottery because winners will receive 202 prizes, including three super prizes of $5000 each, in addition to smaller prizes. The total prize pool of $100,000 will be divided into three parts: $40,000 will be given away in the first and second draws, and $60,000 in the third, New Year's draw.

In 2021 and 2022, NordFX clients had already won $200,000 through the lottery, and the participation terms lottery remain the same for the 2023. To become a participant, clients simply need a NordFX Pro account (or to register and open a new account), deposit at least $200, and start trading.

Clients who trade just two lots in Forex currency pairs or gold (or four lots in silver) will receive a virtual lottery ticket. There is no limit to the number of tickets each participant can receive. The more deposits and the more actively clients trade, the more lottery tickets they will have and the greater their chances of winning a prize.

The chances of winning also depend on the date of receiving the lottery ticket. Tickets awarded from March 1 to June 30 will be entered into the first draw, tickets awarded from March 1 to September 30 will be entered into the second draw, and tickets awarded from March 1 to December 31, 2023, will be entered into the third, New Year's draw. Tickets received earlier will have a chance to participate in all three draws, which increases the probability of winning.

It's worth noting that trading experience and success do not affect a client's chances of winning. The draw is conducted with a random numbers’ generator, so both professional traders and beginners have an equal chance of winning.

Each draw is conducted online and recorded, and anyone with internet access can monitor it from anywhere in the world. The correctness of ticket awards can be checked on NordFX's official website https://nordfx.com/promo...-lottery-third-draw.html  where clients can also read the detailed rules for the 2023 Lottery.

Finally, it's important to note that lottery winners receive their winnings as real money, which they can use for trading or withdraw without restrictions.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- Regulation of the crypto market was one of the topics finance ministers and central bankers discussed at the G20 meeting chaired by India last weekend. As a result, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that regulation of the crypto industry is important, while Washington is not considering a complete ban. “It is very important to create a reliable regulatory framework. And we are working [on this] with other governments,” she said in an interview with Reuters. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva agrees with her colleague: her organization also advocates for adequate regulation of digital assets and against their complete ban.

- Michael van de Poppe, the CEO of Eight, believes that bitcoin is currently the most undervalued asset. He has released a video review in which he predicts the growth of the coin to $40,000 this year. This forecast has been made against the background of recent news, according to which inflation in the US showed its teeth again: the Personal Consumption Expenditure Index (PCE) was 4.7% against the forecast of 4.3%. It has already been said that because of this, the Fed may raise the interest rate by 50 basis points in March and not by 25 bps, as previously expected.
According to cryptocurrency screener Cryptovizor, bitcoin reached a local high on February 21, and then began to fall. However, both the aggravation of macroeconomic data and the rollback of BTC quotes failed to dampen Van de Poppe's optimism. From his point of view, a pronounced bullish divergence on the weekly chart indicates that we have already reached the bottom. What is happening now is just a bounce off the 200-week moving average and consolidating. According to the trader, a sideways movement is most likely at this stage. In the worst case scenario, BTC/USD will fall to the low of the $18,000 range, and this fall will be a great investment opportunity.
According to Van de Poppe, there is no recession at the moment, but it may begin due to the collapse of the debt market and the real estate market. But before that happens, bitcoin could rise to $40,000, as the crisis usually unfolds 6-12 months after the Fed's significant rate hike. The signal for the start of a new bull rally could be either the lifting of the mining ban in China, or the adoption of cryptocurrency in Hong Kong.

- “Despite the tumultuous events of the past year, US cryptocurrency ownership has remained largely unchanged since hitting an all-time high in early 2022. More than 50 million people in the country own cryptocurrencies, and 76% of them believe that this type of asset and blockchain technology are the future. 67% believe that the current financial system needs a major reboot. These conclusions were reached by Morning Consult experts based on the results of a survey commissioned by Coinbase.
Based on the survey results, Coinbase plans to focus on the development of the industry. The exchange intends to work with politicians and companies in the field of traditional finance, as well as launch an educational campaign explaining the role that cryptocurrencies can play in the renewal of the financial system. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has previously stated that he wants to increase the global cryptocurrency user base to one billion people.

- Investors are again showing an active interest in cryptocurrencies. According to the analytical company Glassnode, the 30-day inflow of capital into the market has exceeded the outflow for the first time in 9 months and has returned to the “green” zone. The cumulative net realized market value position has also turned positive for the first time since April 2022. Over the past nine months, the metric has shown negative values.
According to analysts, another positive indicator is the fall in the number of bitcoin whale wallets to a three-year low. This means that the asset has become more distributed and less concentrated among a handful of large holders. This option is preferable for the entire ecosystem, as it eliminates the possibility of market manipulation by several players.
Glassnode also reported On February 27 that the percentage of active BTC supply just hit an all-time high of 28.2%. This suggests that the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies is steadily increasing despite the bear market and challenging times for the global economy.

- A 51-year-old American admitted during the trial that he tried to shoot down a bitcoin ATM for the benefit of the people. Last year, Matthew K. walked into the Vapor Maven store in Jefferson City, pulled out a gun, and fired five bullets at the ATM. Returning home, he told his wife about his act and called the police himself. Matthew explained his stunt by the hatred he feels for bitcoin ATMs. The unfortunate killer said that he decided to shoot the device so that "it could no longer take money from anyone." Despite such noble intentions, the court found Matthew guilty of damaging property and sentenced him to five years of probation. (For reference: the first Bitcoin ATM appeared in the US in October 2013, and there are now more than 35,000 of them).

- Robert Kiyosaki, author of a number of books on investing, including the bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad, has long been a critic of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy and expressed concerns about dollar devaluation. And now the writer has made a bold statement that, in his opinion, the fake dollar is leading to the decline of the American empire. This stance of Kiyosaki has drawn approval from the crypto community as it shows the benefits of bitcoin. Experts note that digital assets such as BTC, unlike fiat currencies, are not subject to inflationary pressure, since their supply is limited and predetermined by appropriate algorithms.
Recall that Kiyosaki has recently predicted that the bitcoin rate will rise to $500,000 by 2025. “A giant crash is coming. Depression is possible. The Fed has been forced to print billions in counterfeit money. Gold at $5,000, silver at $500, and bitcoin at $500,000 by 2025,” he wrote. And he added that gold and silver are the money of the gods, and bitcoin is like a dollar for ordinary people.

- Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, said in a recent interview that he is “epically optimistic for the next three years.” In his opinion, there will be a massive adoption of cryptocurrency in 2023-2025 and its prices will grow. “This bull market cycle is going to be the biggest cycle in terms of user adoption, in terms of the cumulative increase in market capitalization, in terms of just about every other thing we care about,” the financier says. “But it won’t happen perfectly up and to the right.” Also, “I'm actually optimistic about regulation,” Matt Hougan added.

– Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has changed his mind about bitcoin over the past few years. He called BTC "digital gold" in 2018. However, he said a year later that the fall of the crypto market reminded him of the dot-com crisis of the early 2000s.
Steve Wozniak was once again bullish this week. He predicted a BTC surge to $100,000. In his opinion, the main cryptocurrency has a huge potential and will increase in value in the coming years. “Currently, only a small percentage of the world’s population owns bitcoin, so the infrastructure is expanding at an extremely slow pace. However, its adoption will accelerate in the future, both the number of BTC holders and users of projects deployed in the DeFi and NFT markets will increase,” Wozniak believes. At the same time, the co-founder of Apple admitted that he has less than 1 BTC, and he does not plan to make money on investments in cryptocurrency.

- The government of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), one of the UAE's emirates, plans to create a free zone for companies in the digital asset industry. The National News writes about this. According to the statement, RAK Digital Assets Oasis will become a hub for unregulated activities of industry participants. Applications will be accepted as early as Q2 2023.

- The correlation of cryptocurrencies with US stocks and macroeconomic indicators is weakening against the backdrop of the current flat movement in the price of bitcoin. It is reported by The Block, referring to the opinion of analysts from the investment company Bernstein. According to them, the market is balancing between bulls and bears, "waiting for further catalysts", and its susceptibility to events in the world of traditional finance "is not the same as before." The first cryptocurrency's correlation with the Nasdaq Composite index has fallen from 0.94 to 0.58 since early February.
The analysts also point out that the hurdles created by regulators are bearish for the market, as is the lack of institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. On the other hand, the weakening of the correlation with the stock market is a bullish signal.

- The crypto market performed much better at the beginning of 2023 than most of its participants and experts expected. These are the findings of Bank of America researchers. They have published a report in which they emphasize that the market capitalization of digital coins and tokens has grown by 42% to $1.1 trillion. At the same time, Bank of America strategists remain cautious about further capitalization growth, as high dollar interest rates could put serious pressure on digital assets.

- We wrote earlier that Charles Munger, vice chairman of the holding company Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett's right-hand man, called “idiots” anyone who disagrees with him regarding a complete ban on cryptocurrencies. The 99-year-old billionaire said that crypto assets are nothing more than gambling and called them “rat poison”. He also urged the US authorities to follow in the footsteps of China and ban cryptocurrencies.
And now he received an answer from Elon Musk. The Tesla founder said that Munger considered investing in the company in 2008, when it was valued at just $200 million, but declined. Now, Tesla's current capitalization is about 3,000 times that amount. In this regard, Chris Burniske, an analyst and former head of cryptography at ARK Invest, noted caustically that Munger knows exactly how to miss the chance to make 1000x profit.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

The brokerage firm NordFX has released the results of its clients' trading performance for February 2023. In addition, the company evaluated its social trading services, PAMM and CopyTrading, as well as the profits obtained by its IB partners.

The top spot in the ranking of the most successful traders was taken by a client from East Asia, account number 1677XXX, who earned a profit of 49,130 USD on trades, with the majority conducted on EUR/USD and USD/CHF pairs. The second place belongs to the owner of account number 1597XXX from South Asia, who earned 37,244 USD in a month, with the source of their earnings coming from operations with gold (XAU/USD).

The XAU/USD currency pair allows NordFX traders to occupy positions in the top three more often than any other pair. This time, thanks to this precious metal, not only the second but also the third position on the podium of honour went to a client from South Asia, account number 1678XXX, whose profit in February was 23,994 USD. It is worth noting that this trader also showed an impressive result on their other account (number 1624XXX), earning almost 18,000 USD in profit. Therefore, in total, they may well switch places with their compatriot in second and third place in the top three.

In passive investment services:

- In CopyTrading, the signal provider KennyFXPRO - Prismo 2K continues to increase profits and delight fans. In 665 days, it has increased profits by 310%. However, despite its relative stability, it should be noted that this provider suffered a serious setback last November, with the maximum drawdown on this signal approaching 67%. This can be considered an extraordinary situation, but it is always necessary to keep in mind that trading in financial markets is a risky activity, and no one is immune to such events.
Fans of algorithmic trading may be interested in a startup called ATFOREXACADEMY ALGO 1. In just 68 days, this signal showed a return of 171%, although its drawdown was not small, 38%.
- In the PAMM service, the two leading accounts, which suffered significant losses last November, continue to recover. To the credit of both managers, they did not allow their deposits to be completely wiped out, closed losing positions, and now, albeit very cautiously, are moving forward again. The profit for KennyFXPRO-The Multi 3000 EA at the moment is 81%, and for TranquilityFX-The Genesis v3 it is 50%. The drawdown, except for that fateful November, looks quite moderate and does not exceed 20%.

Among NordFX's IB partners, representatives from Asian regions made it into the top three as well:
- The largest commission of 5,827 USD was credited to a partner from South Asia with account number 434XXX.
- Next is a partner from West Asia with account number 1645XXX, who received 5,684 USD.
- Finally, another partner from West Asia with account number 1652XXX closes the top three leaders, receiving 5,337 USD as compensation.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Pause in the 1.0600 Zone



On Thursday, March 02, the DXY dollar index broke again through the bar at 105.00 points but could not stay there. As usual, the dollar was supported by an increase in US government bond yields. The yield on 10-year securities rose to its high since November 10 at 4.09%, the yield on 2-year securities rose to 4.91% and updated its maximum since 2007. The revision of US labor market statistics in Q4 2022 and the ISM Manufacturing Business Activity Index (PMI) in the country's manufacturing sector also supported the US currency. On the other hand, the dollar was pressured by the yuan, which is getting stronger against the backdrop of macro-economic statistics from China. The PMI manufacturing index in China was the highest since 2012. Activity in the service sector has also increased, and the Chinese real estate market has stabilized.

However, the main factor determining the dynamics of the USD is still the expectation of the Fed's further actions in an attempt to curb inflation. Since the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose more than expected in January, reaching 6.4%, market participants started talking about the fact that the regulator may raise the rate not by 25 basis points (bp) in March, but immediately by 50. (At the moment, CME's FedWatch tool estimates the probability of such a move at 23%).

This forecast was supported by hawkish comments by some FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) members. The head of the Atlanta Fed, Rafael Bostic, said that the key interest rate should eventually be raised to 5.00-5.25% and kept at this level until 2024. Minneapolis Fed chief Neil Kashkari has yet to decide whether he will vote for a 25bp or 50bp rate hike in March, but hinted that the Fed's own dot plot could be raised. At the same time, both officials stressed the need to fight inflation, emphasizing that a strong labor market and the US economy are able to withstand the pressure caused by the aggressive monetary policy of the Central Bank. However, Rafael Bostic then softened his hawkish mood and said that the regulator may suspend the rate hike cycle in the summer. After that, the dollar slightly retreated from its gains.

Some analysts do not rule out that the peak USD rate will reach 5.5% in September, and maybe even 6.0%. There is no question of reducing it at the end of the year at all. And these expectations play on the side of the US currency, which is confirmed by the futures market. But when talking about EUR/USD, one cannot focus only on the actions of the Fed. They don't sleep on the other side of the Atlantic either. Inflation data for a number of European countries suggest that the ECB will also be forced to maintain a hawkish position for longer than previously expected. The opening of the Chinese economy could put pressure not only on the US, but also on Europe, making it difficult for both regulators to curb inflation. Therefore, market participants expect further tightening of monetary policy on the part of the European Central Bank, which currently keeps the pair in the 1.0600 area.

Last week's finish was at 1.0632. At the time of writing this review (the evening of March 03), the analysts' forecast looks as uncertain as the flat quotes of EUR/USD: 50% of them have taken a neutral position, 30% of experts are counting on further strengthening of the dollar, and the remaining 20% side with the euro. Among the oscillators on D1, 50% are colored red, 15% are green and 35% are neutral gray. Among trend indicators, 35% recommend selling, 65% - buying. The nearest support for the pair is located at 1.0575-1.0605, then there are levels and zones 1.5000-1.0530, 1.0440, 1.0375-1.0400, 1.0300 and 1.0220-1.0255. Bulls will meet resistance in the area of 1.0680-1.0710, 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0800, 1.0865, 1.0930, 1.0985-1.1030.

There will be quite a lot of economic statistics and events in the coming week. Data on retail sales in the Eurozone will be released on Monday, March 06. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will address the US Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday. Also, there will be data on retail sales in Germany, Eurozone GDP and employment in the US on Wednesday, March 08. The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits in the US and the inflation rate (CPI) in China will be known on Thursday. Friday 10 March will show what is happening with consumer prices in Germany. We are traditionally waiting for a portion of important statistics from the US labor market on the same day, including the unemployment rate and the number of new jobs created outside the agricultural sector (NFP).

GBP/USD: Sentiment Color Is Red

GBP/USD has been in a sideways channel for the second week in a row, although it has demonstrated rather high volatility. The range of its fluctuations (1.1942-1.2147) exceeded 200 points, and the last chord of the week was placed in the middle of this channel, at the level of 1.2040. We described above what gives strength to the dollar. The British currency received some support from information received last week that an agreement was reached between the UK and the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Trade disputes have now been resolved, and while this is positive for the UK economy as a whole, many experts believe that the positive effect of this agreement for the pound will be short-term.

Quotes of the pair are still determined by the actions of the Central Banks. And the head of the Bank of England (BoE), Andrew Bailey, speaking on Wednesday, March 01, further fogged the issue., saying that the final decision on the prospects for the monetary policy of the British Central Bank has not yet been made, and that the regulator should be flexible in the coming months so as not to scare the markets.

Experts' median forecast for the near future is as follows: 70% of experts vote for the further weakening of the pound and the fall of GBP/USD, only 10% expect the pair to grow, and 20% prefer to refrain from forecasts. Among the trend indicators on D1, the balance of power is 65% to 35% in favor of the greens. The picture is different among oscillators. The reds have a convincing advantage here, 70%, 10% side with the greens, and 20% have taken a neutral position. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.1985-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1925, 1.1840, 1.1800, 1.1720 and 1.1600. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at the levels 1.2055, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2145, 1.2185-1.2210, 1.2270, 1.2335, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

As for next week's economic calendar, no important macro data from the UK is expected until Friday March 10, when UK GDP and industrial production data for January are released.

USD/JPY: Patience and Only Patience

USD/JPY rose to 137.10 on Thursday, March 02 after the release of US economic data. This is the highest level since December 20, 2022. The yen was opposed by the divergence between Fed and BoJ politicians, as well as the yield spread between 10-year US and Japanese bonds, which rose to its highs in March since November 2022.

Another blow to the Japanese currency was dealt by Kazuo Ueda, who was elected as the new head of the Bank of Japan (BoJ). His position only exacerbated the disappointment of those who hoped for major changes in the regulator's monetary policy. Investors have failed to pick up a clear "hawkish" signal in his speeches, which would have spurred the resumption of speculative demand for the yen, which was already weakening against the background of the growth of DXY and the rise in yields of 10-year treasuries.

USD/JPY met the beginning of February at the level of 130.08, and now it ends at 135.84 on March 03. However, a number of experts do not lose hope that the Japanese currency will strengthen. “Since the dollar peaked at the end of September, the yen became the second best-performing G10 currency by the end of January,” economists at MUFG Bank wrote. - Some backtracking in this context is quite understandable. But we believe that inflation will decline and yields around the world are close to peaks, which indicates a recovery in the yen, especially since the policy of the Bank of Japan will also change.”

Strategists from HSBC, the largest financial conglomerate, echo their colleagues. “We will remain yen bulls in the medium term,” their forecast sounds, "but we suspect that it will take some patience for the currency to gain independent strength thanks to the Bank of Japan. For now, USD/JPY is likely to remain influenced by developments in the US, where we see the balance of risk tilting towards a weaker dollar.”

The next meeting of the Bank of Japan will take place on Friday March 10. It will last be chaired by the former head, Haruhiko Kuroda, after which he will hand the reins over to Kazuo Ueda. Analysts at JPMorgan (like most others) do not expect BoJ policy to change or signal correction at this meeting. It is unlikely that Kuroda will slam the door loudly when he leaves; most likely, the interest rate will remain at the same negative level of -0.1%. Therefore, yen supporters can only follow HSBC's advice and be patient.

So, as already mentioned, a number of experts expect a serious strengthening of the Japanese currency in the future. In addition to MUFG Bank and HSBC strategists listed above, BNP Paribas Research has a similar position, while Danske Bank economists predict that USD/JPY rate will fall to the level of 125.00 in three months. In their opinion, in the event of a tightening of monetary policy, positive yields in Japan could stimulate the repatriation of funds by local investors, as a result of which USD/JPY will be around 121.00 by the end of 2023. But these are still rather shaky assumptions, although 60% of analysts agree with them. As for the immediate prospects, only 10% of experts are counting on the movement of the pair to the south at the moment, 45% are looking in the opposite direction, and the remaining 45% stay neutral.

Among the oscillators on D1, 85% point north, the remaining 15% look in the opposite direction. For trend indicators, 65% look north and 35% look south. The nearest support level is located in the zone 134.90-135.20, followed by the levels and zones 134.40, 134.00, 133.60, 132.80-133.20, 131.85-132.00, 131.25 130.50, 129.70-130.00. Levels and resistance zones are 136.00-136.30, 136.70-137.10, 137.50, 139.00-139.35, 140.60, 143.75.

Among the events of the coming week, in addition to the above-mentioned meeting of the Bank of Japan, the calendar includes Thursday, March 9, when the country's GDP data for Q4 2022 will be published.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Bitcoin Awaiting a New Catalyst

The first sentence of the previous review was: “Bitcoin is under pressure, but it is holding up”. Starting the current review, we can only repeat: bitcoin is under pressure, but it is holding up. Let's talk about global news now. The good news is that the leading regulators will not completely ban cryptocurrencies. The bad news is that regulatory pressure on the industry will continue to grow.

The regulation of the crypto market was one of the topics that finance ministers and central bank representatives discussed at the G20 meeting. As a result, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that regulation of the crypto industry is important, while Washington is not considering a complete ban. “It is very important to create a reliable regulatory framework. And we are working [on this] with other governments,” she said in an interview with Reuters. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva agrees with her colleague: her organization also advocates for adequate regulation of digital assets and against their complete ban.

It should be noted here that the increase in regulatory control, while forcing a number of players out of their comfort zone, could ultimately have a positive impact on the industry, relieving shocks like the collapse of FTX. In addition, clear rules will attract a significant number of new institutional investors, raising the capitalization of the crypto market to unprecedented heights.

But this is in the future. In the present, the “herd” of whales (more than 1,000 BTC) continues to decline, reaching a three-year low of 1,663 individuals. There were almost 2,500 of them at its peak in February 2021. And this despite the fact that the crypto market showed a much better result at the beginning of 2023 than most of its participants and experts expected. These are the findings of Bank of America researchers.

At the moment, bitcoin quotes are supported mainly by small and medium-sized investors. According to analytics company Glassnode, the number of wallets with a volume of 1 BTC is constantly updating highs, approaching 1 million. The 30-day capital inflow to the market exceeded the outflow for the first time in 9 months and returned to the "green" zone. The cumulative net realized market value position also turned positive for the first time since April 2022 (the metric has been negative for the past nine months). Long-term holders have also updated their four-month high in savings.

By the way, according to Glassnode analysts, the drop in the number of whale wallets can be considered a positive factor. This means that the asset has become more distributed and less concentrated among a handful of large holders. This option is preferable for the entire ecosystem, as it eliminates the possibility of market manipulation by several players.

Another positive factor, according to some experts, is the weakening of the correlation of cryptocurrencies with US stocks and macroeconomic indicators. The flagship cryptocurrency was moving in a narrow range of $23,000-24,000 for almost the entire past week, and it sank a little only on Friday, March 03. Perhaps this was facilitated by the news that another representative of the crypto industry, Silvergate Bank from California (USA), was on the verge of bankruptcy.

According to analysts at the investment company Bernstein, the correlation of the first cryptocurrency with the Nasdaq Composite index has fallen from 0.94 to 0.58 since early February. According to them, the market is balancing between bulls and bears, "waiting for further catalysts", and its susceptibility to events in the world of traditional finance "is not the same as before."

We could also observe a weakening and then strengthening of the correlation with the stock market last August-September. And it is quite possible that the current “decoupling” of BTC from stock indices is a temporary phenomenon. It is clear that the main concerns for all risky assets are related to the continued increase in the key rate by the US Federal Reserve, which could become a catalyst for the resumption of the bearish trend of BTC/USD.

The Eight CEO Michael van de Poppe, a well-known trader, believes that bitcoin is currently the most undervalued asset. He has released a video review in which he predicts the growth of the coin to $40,000 this year. At the same time, both worsening macroeconomic data and the forecast for the Fed's rate failed to dampen Van de Poppe's optimism. From his point of view, a pronounced bullish divergence on the weekly chart indicates that we have already reached the bottom. What is happening now is just a bounce off the 200-week moving average and consolidating. According to the trader, a sideways movement is most likely at this stage. In the worst-case scenario, BTC/USD will fall to the low of the $18,000 range, and this fall will be a great investment opportunity.

According to Van de Poppe, there is no recession at the moment, but it may begin due to the collapse of the debt market and the real estate market. But before that happens, bitcoin could rise to $40,000, as the crisis usually unfolds 6-12 months after the Fed's significant rate hike. The signal for the start of a new bull rally could be either the lifting of the mining ban in China, or the adoption of cryptocurrency in Hong Kong.

Global financial disaster is also predicted by Robert Kiyosaki, author of a number of books on investing, including the bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad. He has long been a critic of the Fed's monetary policy and has expressed concern about the devaluation of the dollar. And now the economics writer has made a bold statement that, in his opinion, the fake dollar is leading to the decline of the American empire. This stance of Kiyosaki has drawn approval from the crypto community as it shows the benefits of bitcoin. Experts note that digital assets such as BTC, unlike fiat currencies, are not subject to inflationary pressure, since their supply is limited and predetermined by appropriate algorithms.

Recall that Kiyosaki has recently predicted that the bitcoin rate will rise to $500,000 by 2025. “A giant crash is coming. Depression is possible. The Fed has been forced to print billions in counterfeit money. Gold at $5,000, silver at $500, and bitcoin at $500,000 by 2025,” he wrote. And he added that gold and silver are the money of the gods, and bitcoin is like a dollar for ordinary people.

Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, said in a recent interview that he is “epically optimistic for the next three years.” In his opinion, there will be a massive adoption of cryptocurrency in 2023-2025 and its prices will grow. “This bull market cycle is going to be the biggest cycle in terms of user adoption, in terms of the cumulative increase in market capitalization, in terms of just about every other thing we care about,” the financier says. “But it won’t happen perfectly up and to the right.” Also, “I'm actually optimistic about regulation,” Matt Hougan added.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was also bullish last week. In his opinion, the main cryptocurrency has a huge potential and will increase in value in the coming years, reaching $100,000.

In the meantime, at the time of writing this review (Friday evening, March 03), BTC/USD is trading in the $22,250 zone. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.024 trillion ($1.059 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell from 53 to 50 points in a week and is in the very center of the Neutral zone.

And finally, news that can be attributed to our crypto life hacks section. It concerns those who do not like the regulatory press, which we talked about at the beginning of the review. So, it became known that the government of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), one of the UAE's emirates, plans to create a free zone for companies in the digital asset industry. According to the announcement, RAK Digital Assets Oasis will become a hub for unregulated industry activity, with applications open as early as Q2 2023.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week



- Numerous studies show that despite the unpredictability of the cryptocurrency market, the number of active female investors is only growing every year. The volume of crypto assets traded by women increased from 15.2% in 2021 to 18.5% in 2022. And this happened at a time when the market was facing massive bankruptcies, liquidations and tightening of monetary policy by Central Banks.
According to statistics, female investors choose bitcoin in 21.6% of cases, followed by Tether USD with 21%. Ethereum, Shiba Inu and Dogecoin have also become popular assets. The most active age group is between 25 and 35 years old. The average net worth of a female investor in the UK is estimated at £9,650. And women cite the desire for financial independence as a key reason for investing in digital assets.

- Egyptian authorities arrested 29 people, including 13 foreign nationals, who stole more than $600,000 using the HoggPool scam network. The attackers launched an online platform in August 2022 and lured customers with the promise of “great financial gains” from cryptocurrency transactions. HoggPool went out of business in February, its organizers disappeared with clients' money. But then, the attackers were arrested when they reappeared with the intention of launching the Riot platform.
Back in early 2018, Egypt's chief mufti, Sheikh Shawki Allam, banned trading in crypto assets. It is illegal to engage in such activities in Egypt: you can get a prison term and a fine of up to $325,000. Despite this, Egyptian interest in cryptocurrencies remains high due to economic problems in the country.

- Michael Van De Poppe, CEO and founder of Eight Global, noted the importance of the next few weeks for bitcoin and allowed it to fall below $20,000.
Digital gold is holding in the $22,000-25,000 range so far. Crypto market capitalization has tested the highs of 2017, with the result that, according to van de Poppe, he is now “looking for a higher bottom.” According to the expert’s forecast, if the indicator falls below the 200-week moving average, the price of bitcoin will fall to $19,700.
“Capitalization could drop to $860 million, pulling the entire market down by another 15%,” he warned.

- The executives of S&P Solutions, which operated under the Bitcoin of America brand, were accused of manufacturing and installing unlicensed Bitcoin ATMs used for fraud. According to the US Attorney's Office, the company's ATMs were not protected against money laundering, which is why they were actively used by various intruders. “S&P Solutions received a 20% commission for each transfer and continued to do so even after learning about fraudulent transactions,” the prosecutor’s office noted.
For reference, Bitcoin of America operates over 2,600 cryptocurrency ATMs in 35 states and is the fourth largest manufacturer of these devices in the country.

- The lack of clear regulation of the crypto industry in the United States threatens that companies will go abroad and offshore. This, in turn, will have a negative impact on users who “will remain vulnerable to fraudsters.” This opinion was expressed in an interview with Bloomberg by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. He emphasized the importance of adopting a legislative framework and clear regulation of cryptocurrencies, which, in his opinion, will contribute to the growth of the industry. Garlinghouse cited Ripple's legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an example of the imperfection of the law, which showed how much the United States lags behind other countries in this direction.

- Arthur Hayes, former CEO and co-founder of the BitMEX crypto exchange, believes that the bitcoin rally will start at a time when the global economy is in an oil crisis. In his opinion, a sharp increase in hydrocarbon prices will create conditions for the growth of digital assets and, first of all, bitcoin.
Hayes's logic is as follows: against the background of geopolitical tensions in the world, demand for energy resources will increase, as oil exporters are likely to reduce production. In this situation, the United States, as a leading economic power, will have to increase its own oil production. The Fed will need to ease the monetary rate to stimulate business activity in the energy sector. As soon as the regulator starts lowering rates, capital will return to risky assets, including cryptocurrencies. In addition, the former head of BitMEX recalled that the limited supply of BTC will also contribute to its growth, as the US dollar will lose ground.
For the record: Arthur Hayes was charged with violating the Bank Secrecy Act in 2022 and sentenced to six months of house arrest, two years of probation, and a $10 million fine.

- More than 90% of bitcoins are currently in circulation, but the asset's inflation rate has dropped significantly in recent years. It is now at least three times lower than that of the US dollar. This allows BTC to act as a possible hedge against capital depreciation and economic uncertainty. According to the WooBull analytical platform, the inflation rate of the first cryptocurrency has been steadily decreasing since its creation in 2009 and amounted to 1.79% as of March 4. At the same time, the same indicator for USD reached 6.4% in 2023, which is 3.57 times higher than that of BTC.
The decrease in bitcoin inflation is due to the asset's deflationary model, supported by halvings, which reduce the speed of coin mining and halve miners' rewards. Experts also believe that this figure remains low due to the decentralization of BTC, which avoids most of the political and economic risks typical for the US dollar. On the contrary, the USD inflation rate will grow. This is primarily due to an excessive increase in the money supply, a decrease in demand and/or a reduction in production.

- Nicholas Merten, a well-known crypto analyst and presenter of the DataDash YouTube channel, has not ruled out a new major fall in ethereum. In his opinion, if we take into account previous bear markets when forecasting, ETH could fall by more than 90% from its historical high, that is, find itself at the level of several hundred dollars.
“ETH/USD has a long way to go. “We're only 67% from the record,” Merten says. “And if we see again what we had in previous bear markets, say, a 92 percent correction or a 94 percent correction, then the price of ETH will drop to several hundred dollars. The difference is huge, from $870 to about $500.”
Merten added that the current ETH price action looks very weak, as the altcoin has been stuck in a fairly narrow range for several months and cannot overcome the significant resistance at $1,800.

- Analysts at Santiment have identified massive negative sentiment towards cryptocurrencies. Experts find it difficult to establish the main reason for achieving such high levels. The researchers have noted that the cryptocrash hashtag trended on Twitter long before the 5% drop in the price of bitcoin, which occurred last Friday, March 03. Some members of the crypto community attributed the negative sentiment to problems with the Silvergate crypto bank and the recent SEC statement that all altcoins could be classified as securities.
The good news for investors, according to Santiment analysts, is that the total negative led to a noticeable rebound in prices previously. Felix Zulauf, the founder of hedge fund Zulauf Consulting, has suggested that bitcoin will move into a clear bullish rally sometime in late spring. The expert does not rule out that the asset could reach $100,000 on a sharp uptrend. He emphasized that bitcoin is now in the initial phase of a bullish cycle, which is confirmed by numerous on-chain metrics.

- Despite the bearish dynamics, Credible Crypto experts also remain optimistic about the medium-term prospects for the flagship crypto asset. In their opinion, bitcoin may update its historical extremum this year. However, the asset will face several hurdles before a steady bullish trend begins. Credible Crypto agrees that last year's bankruptcies are having a negative impact on the industry. However, about 73% of all BTC coins are concentrated in the hands of experienced holders who can withstand difficult times.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



- Robert Kiyosaki, author of the bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and entrepreneur, has once again called for investing in gold, silver and bitcoin amid problems with US banks. In his opinion, regulators will print “even more counterfeit money” to save the “sick economy”. “Take care of yourself. Crash landing is ahead,” Kiyosaki wrote.
Kiyosaki made his announcement amid the recent collapse of major US banks Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, which were taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The latter, together with the Treasury and the US Federal Reserve, said that SVB and Signature Bank depositors will have access to all funds in full. In addition, the Fed announced the creation of the Bank Term Funding Program for banks that may face similar problems (BTFP). $25 billion will be allocated for this purpose. Interestingly, both of these banks were actively used by cryptocurrency companies as fiat gateways.

- Aggressive rate hikes by the Fed and balance sheet cuts have led to bank failures in the US. According to a number of experts, this has become an excellent advertisement for bitcoin, the rate of which is expected to skyrocket. Observers draw parallels to the 2013 Cyprus crisis, which highlighted the shortcomings in the fractional reserve system and drew attention to decentralized hedging as opposed to centralized banking.
“The 18th largest bank [SVB] has collapsed. We have learned how a record sell-off in US Treasuries resulted in billions of dollars of unrealized losses in the banking sector. Thus, we have received another example of the fact that a fractional reserve system has no savers, but only creditors,” writes The Bitcoin Layer.

- Bitcoin reacted with a bullish rally to the news that the US authorities provided liquidity to rescue depositors of Silicon Valley and Signature banks. Market analyst Tedtalksmacro called this move by the Fed the beginning of unofficial quantitative easing. Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes was even more blunt: “Get ready for a rally in risk assets. Money Printer Launched! - he wrote. - Helping the depositors to burst banks means injecting money into the economy, from which liquidity was only withdrawn during the year. This is a great fuel for risky assets.”

- After the aforementioned bankruptcy of these two banks, the BTC rate jumped by more than 30%. This made market participants think again about the potential of cryptocurrency as a tool for capital protection. Meanwhile, CNBC Mad Money host Jim Cramer continued to criticize the cryptocurrency industry. In the latest episode of his show, he expressed his skepticism regarding the coin's latest price rally. The host also called bitcoin a "strange animal". In his opinion, cryptocurrencies are secretly manipulated by large financial institutions and wealthy investors. “Please don’t think that everything happens by itself,” Cramer warned the audience, adding that he never believed in bitcoin.

- The US Treasury has called for the introduction of an excise duty for mining companies in the amount of 30% of the cost of electricity consumed. This is stated in the Green Book of the department. The tax is planned to be introduced in stages over the next three years, increasing by 10% each year. In addition, miners will be required to report how much electricity and what power they use. The new excise is expected to reduce the total number of mining devices in the US.
Another provision concerns individuals. The US Treasury is proposing that people with foreign financial accounts holding more than $50,000 worth of cryptocurrencies report those assets on their tax returns. Among other things, the agency is discussing the possibility of assessing the market value of digital assets and is proposing to expand the rules for securities lending to include cryptocurrencies.

- Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, one of the largest crypto exchanges, has revealed the content of her investment portfolio. “I have a cryptocurrency portfolio. About 41% is in BTC and ETH, 38% in USDT and USDC, 12% in BGB (this is the Bitget platform token). The rest is small amounts in such altcoins as BLUR, SHIB/DOGE, MANA/SAND, DODO, AVAX, YFI. I look forward to buying more BGB and BTC when the price drops. I have some NFTs, but they are not avatar pictures. I bought artistic NFTs, for example, VR paintings by French artist Anna Zhilyaeva. They are exclusively for my personal collections and not for speculation,” she admitted.
According to Gracy Chen, ethereum will face increased volatility and a pullback in the next 2-7 months after a short-term market rise. Due to the lack of external liquidity, as well as the fact that current investors are more speculative, in the medium term, the ethereum price may move in the range from $1,200 to $2,000. “Capital inflows into the cryptocurrency market will begin to increase ahead of the bitcoin halving. ETH is expected to reach strong resistance in the $2,400-$3,500 range in 2024,” the expert believes.

- The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned of scammers who create fake mobile gaming apps and use them to steal crypto assets. Criminals position their apps as blockchain games based on the Play-to-Earn concept. Attackers contact victims online and invite them to play online games where players can be rewarded in crypto assets for certain actions (Play-to-Earn). For example, for growing crops on a virtual farm.
To take part in the game, victims need to download the game app, create a cryptocurrency wallet and buy assets. The more funds a user keeps in their gaming account, the greater their reward will be in the game, the scammers convince. When users stop topping up their account, criminals empty their wallets with malware that is activated when the game is downloaded.

- US Congressman Tom Emmer has once again opposed the launch of the state cryptocurrency. According to him, the digital dollar can be "easily weaponized" and used to spy on US citizens and to "crush politically unpopular activities."
The congressman noted that the cryptocurrency economy worries the US authorities, as it “takes power from centralized government institutions and returns it to the people.” Therefore, the idea of a controlled state cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly popular with regulators and law enforcement agencies.

- Henrik Zeberg, a trader and well-known macro analyst, has assessed the correlation between the US unemployment rate, the NAHB housing index, the stock market index and cryptocurrencies. The expert has noted the frightening similarity of the current scenario with the crisis of 1929, and has added that the markets are approaching an economic collapse that will drag on for several years. According to him, all markets were "extremely overheated, and the next recession could be much more serious than in 2007-2009." According to the analyst, the cryptocurrency market will also be hit very hard, and many digital coins will not withstand the pressure.
Zeberg has presented a forecast for a macroeconomic recession based on the Elliott wave theory. According to the study, wave 4 could reach its maximum level in early 2024. After that, large financial markets will be doomed to collapse. The specialist has emphasized that all attention should be focused on the economic performance of the third and fourth quarters of 2023, which could be the last bullish period of this market cycle.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

Over its 15 years in the financial markets, brokerage firm NordFX has accumulated more than 70 professional awards. In March this year, the company added two prestigious accolades from International Business Magazine to its collection. NordFX was honored as the "Most Reliable Forex Broker LATAM 2023" and the "Best CFD Broker Asia 2023".

International Business Magazine is a respected publication based in the United Arab Emirates, with global recognition and a substantial readership comprising professionals from various industries and regions. In 2019, the magazine was nominated for the esteemed European Digital Media Awards in the "Best News Publication" category. Receiving awards from such a renowned publication reaffirms NordFX's dominant position in areas like Latin America and Asia. The company offers its clients In these regions a comprehensive range of services, adhering to the highest industry standards in the Forex and CFD markets.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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EUR/USD: ECB Not Fazed by Banking Crisis



The past week was marked by a large black candle when EUR/USD plummeted from 1.0759 to 1.0515. And this happened not on Thursday, March 16, when the ECB made a decision on the interest rate, but the day before. The reason for the weakening of the European currency was none other than the head of the National Bank of Saudi Arabia.

Here's what happened. Following the collapse of three banks in the United States, Silvergate, Silicon Valley, and Signature, the banking crisis spread to Europe, hitting Credit Suisse. This largest Swiss financial conglomerate has long been experiencing serious liquidity problems amid corruption scandals in Mozambique and rumors of dirty money from Bulgarian drug lords fueled by the media. And on Wednesday, March 15, it became known that the National Bank of Saudi Arabia, which is the largest shareholder of Credit Suisse, decided not to help the troubled Swiss with money anymore.

Credit Suisse's stocks fell more than 30%. But it didn't end there, and a wave of panic hit other major European banks. Societe Generale's shares fell by 12%, BNP Paribas - by 10%, Commerzbank - by 9%. In this situation, investors decided that the ECB would not dare to raise the rate by 50 basis points (bp), the likelihood of such a move dropped from 90% to 20%, which led to euro sales.

But as often happens, investors were wrong. Thursday came, and the European Central Bank did what it promised a month ago: raised the rate by 50 bp. In addition, concerns about the banking sector began to decline. The National Bank of Switzerland took on the salvation of Credit Suisse, and US authorities extended a helping hand to American banks, including the Treasury and the Federal Reserve. In addition, 11 more private banks joined the rescue operation, allocating $30 billion for these purposes. As a result, the storm subsided, EUR/USD returned to its comfortable zone of 1.0650, and market participants began discussing how much the US regulator would raise the interest rate on Wednesday.

Let's remind that the nearest FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting of the US Federal Reserve is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22. However, despite the hawkish statements of Jerome Powell and his colleagues, macroeconomic statistics suggest rather easing than further tightening of the Fed's monetary policy.

The data from the US labor market published on March 9 and 10 vividly demonstrate the slowdown of the country's economy. Thus, the number of initial jobless claims was 211K, exceeding the expected 195K and 190K a month earlier. This indicator exceeded the 200K mark for the first time and reached a maximum since December 2022. As for the number of new jobs created outside the agricultural sector (NFP), it was 311K, significantly less than in January - 503K. Together with the rise in unemployment to 3.6% (3.4% in January), the decrease in retail sales growth rates, and the banking crisis, these data may cool down the hawkish fervor of FOMC members. Currently, the likelihood of raising the federal funds rate by 25 basis points (from the current 4.75% to 5.00%) on March 22 is 80%. Moreover, derivatives predict a drop in the rate below 4% by the end of 2023, which is bad news for the dollar.

However, the European economy is not doing well either, which could prompt the ECB to take a less aggressive step. The swap market is almost 100% sure that on May 4, the euro regulator will raise the rate only by 25 basis points - from 3.00% to 3.25%.

EUR/USD closed the past five-day period at 1.0664. At the time of writing this review, on Friday evening, March 17, 40% of analysts expect the strengthening of the dollar, while the same percentage predicts its weakening, and the remaining 20% take a neutral position. Among the oscillators on D1, 75% are painted in green, another 10% are in red, and 15% are in neutral gray. Among the trend indicators, 90% recommend buying and 10% recommend selling. The nearest support for the pair is located in the area of 1.0590-1.0620, followed by levels and zones of 1.5000-1.0530, 1.0440, 1.0375-1.0400, 1.0300, and 1.0220-1.0255. Bulls will face resistance in the area of 1.0680-1.0700, 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0800, 1.0865, 1.0930, 1.0985-1.1030.

It is clear that the main event of the upcoming week will be the Fed meeting on March 22, the summary of forecasts, and the subsequent press conference of the organization's leadership. In addition, on Monday, March 20, the People's Bank of China will make its decision on the interest rate, which may affect the dynamics of the DXY dollar index. As for the end of the working week, on Thursday, March 23, another batch of data from the US labor market will be released, and on Friday, March 24, the indicators of business activity (PMI) in Germany and the Eurozone, as well as the volume of orders for capital goods and durable goods in the United States, will become known.

GBP/USD: UK Treasury Boosts the Pound

GBP/USD also marked a black candle on March 15, albeit slightly shorter at 170 pips. However, by the end of the week, the pound had fully recovered and even strengthened compared to the first ten days of March, finishing at 1.2175. This was due to increased optimism about the prospects of the British economy. The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented the budget for the current year, the main goal of which, he said, was to stabilize the country's economy. It is expected that the UK GDP will decrease by only 0.2% this year, rather than 1.5% as previously expected, thus avoiding a technical recession. In addition, the inflation rate should decrease to 2.9% by the end of 2023, which is almost 3.5 times less than the peak value of 10.1%. Furthermore, the Chancellor announced a package of measures and benefits for individuals to help compensate for the shortage of labor.

Following the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates next week, the Bank of England (BoE) will announce its own decision just 18 hours later. It should be noted that the head of the BoE, Andrew Bailey, speaking on Wednesday, March 1, was vague, stating that a final decision regarding the prospects of the monetary policy of the British central bank had not yet been made, and that the bank should be flexible in the coming months to avoid alarming the markets. Now, the regulator's caution will be further exacerbated by the banking crisis initiated primarily by the aggressive actions of colleagues on the other side of the Atlantic. And if previously, market participants were confident in raising interest rates by at least 25 basis points from the current 4.00% (and perhaps even by 50 basis points), now they have doubts – what if the BoE decides to take a pause to assess the situation and avoid making any mistakes?

At the moment, the majority of experts (50%) are on the side of the dollar, with only 10% voting for the rise of the British currency, while the remaining 40% remain in a wait-and-see position. Among the oscillators on D1, the balance of power is as follows: 85% voted in favor of the greenback (a quarter of them are in the overbought zone) and 15% in favor of the red. Among the trend indicators, the absolute advantage is on the side of the greenback, with 100%. The support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1,2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, 1.1800-1.1840, 1.1720, and 1.1600. If the pair moves north, it will encounter resistance at levels 1.2200-1.2210, 1.2270, 1.2335, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2430-1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750, and 1.2940.

As for events related to the UK economy, in addition to the BoE meeting, the next week's calendar includes Friday, March 24, when data on retail sales and business activity in the country's service sector will be released.

USD/JPY: Will the Interest Rate Go Even Lower?

The yen is the currency that is absolutely unaffected by the banking crisis in the US and Europe, on the contrary, it adds attractiveness to the Japanese currency as a quiet harbor capable of protecting against financial storms. Not even the statement by the departing governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ), Haruhiko Kuroda, about the possible further reduction of the interest rate, which is already negative at -0.1%, has discouraged investors. As a result, USD/JPY ended the trading session where it had already been in early February, at the level of 131.80.

As for the nearest prospects, currently, 50% of experts have voted for the pair to move north, 25% have pointed in the opposite direction, and another 25% have refrained from making any forecasts. Among the oscillators on D1, 90% are pointing south (a third of them are signaling oversold), while 10% are looking in the opposite direction. All trend indicators are pointing south. The nearest support level is located in the zone of 131.25, followed by levels and zones of 130.50, 129.70-130.00, 128.00-128.15, and 127.20. Resistance levels and zones are at 132.80-133.20, 134.00-134.35, 135.00-135.35, 135.90-136.00, 137.00, 137.50, and 137.90-138.00.

No significant macro statistics related to Japan's economy are expected to be released next week. However, traders should keep in mind that Tuesday, March 21is a holiday in Japan: the Spring Equinox Day. And, of course, it should not be forgotten that the FOMC meeting of the US Federal Reserve is scheduled for March 22.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: What's Bad for Banks Is Good for Bitcoin

In our last review, we listed a number of factors that negatively affect the crypto market. Among them are crypto repressions by US authorities, including the Treasury Department, SEC, Federal Reserve, Attorney General, Senate, and even the Biden administration. However, problems with altcoins and even upcoming changes in tax legislation pale in comparison to the crisis in the American banking sector. On March 8, the crypto bank Silvergate announced voluntary liquidation, followed by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, which were actively used by crypto companies as fiat gateways. And last week, European banks were added to the list, as discussed above.

Silvergate suffered due to the debts of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX, while SVB and Signature were sunk by the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, including aggressive interest rate hikes and balance sheet reductions. "The 18th largest bank [SVB] has collapsed. We learned how the record sale of US Treasury bonds led to billions of dollars in unrealized losses in the banking sector. Thus, we received another example that a partial reserve system has creditors, not depositors," commented The Bitcoin Layer on the event. According to FDIC data, just in the last year, unrealized losses of US banks increased from $3 billion to $652 billion.

So, regulators first sent banks to the bottom, and then set about saving them. SVB and Signature have come under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The latter, along with the Treasury and the Federal Reserve, stated that SVB and Signature Bank depositors will have access to all funds in full. In addition, the Federal Reserve announced the creation of the Bank Term Funding Facility (BTFP) to provide emergency financing to banks that may face similar problems, with $25 billion allocated for this purpose.

Against this background, the author of the bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki once again called for investment in gold, silver, and bitcoin. In his opinion, to save the "sick economy," regulators will print "even more fake money." "Take care of yourself. An emergency landing is ahead," Kiyosaki wrote.

Market analyst Tedtalksmacro called this move by the Fed the beginning of unofficial quantitative easing. And former CEO of BitMEX, Arthur Hayes, was even more categorical: "Get ready for a rapid rally in risky assets. The money printer is on! - he wrote. - Helping depositors of failed banks means injecting money into an economy from which liquidity has only been withdrawn over the course of a year. This is excellent fuel for risky assets."

Recall that at the beginning of March, we saw active outflows from institutional investors, who were scared off by regulators. In just one week, outflows from bitcoin funds amounted to a record $244 million. And now everything has changed: the BTC rate has jumped by more than 30%, and the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization has once again risen above $1 trillion. Market participants have remembered the potential of cryptocurrency as a capital protection tool and that Bitcoin was created precisely to withstand such shocks. Observers draw parallels with the Cypriot crisis of 2013, which highlighted the shortcomings of the fractional reserve system and drew attention to decentralized hedging in opposition to centralized banking.

According to some experts, what happened has been excellent advertising for bitcoin, whose price is expected to soar. However, there are skeptical voices as well. For example, CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer continued to criticize the crypto industry, calling bitcoin a "strange animal." In his opinion, large financial institutions and wealthy investors manipulate cryptocurrencies in secret. "Please don't think everything is happening on its own," Cramer warned the audience, adding that he never believed in bitcoin.

The forecast given by well-known macro analyst and trader Henrik Zeberg also looks bleak. He evaluated the correlation between the level of unemployment in the US, the NAHB housing index, the stock market index, and cryptocurrencies, and noted the scary similarity of the current scenario to the 1929 crisis. According to the expert, all markets were "extremely overheated" and are now approaching an economic collapse that will last for several years. The impending recession may be much more severe than in 2007-2009. According to the analyst, the cryptocurrency market will also suffer greatly, and many digital coins will not withstand the pressure.

Zeberg presented a forecast for the macroeconomic recession based on Elliott wave theory. According to the research, wave 4 may reach its maximum level in early 2024. After that, major financial markets will be doomed to collapse. The specialist emphasized that all attention should be focused on the economic indicators of the third and fourth quarters of 2023, which may become the last "bullish" period of this market cycle.

As of the writing of this review on the evening of March 17, BTC/USD is trading around $27,500. The total market capitalization of the crypto market rose from $0.937 trillion to $1.155 trillion over the week. The Bitcoin fear and greed index increased from 34 to 51 points in seven days and moved from the Fear zone to the Neutral zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- Cane Island Alternative Advisors analyst Timothy Peterson stated that 6 million of the 19.3 million bitcoins mined are irretrievably lost. “This means that there are only 13.3 million BTC left, and only 1.7 million BTC to be mined over 100 years. Another million [coins] will almost certainly be lost during this time,” he wrote. According to Peterson, as new bitcoins are mined, old ones are lost. He called the 13 million BTC circulating today “everything we are likely to have access to.”
Coinmetrics analysts calculated in April 2020 that 2.3 million BTC out of the 18.3 million BTC mined at that time were lost forever.

- Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong, who created the Satoshi Skull mascot for Greenpeace, said his work was “never intended to fight bitcoin.” “I created the Skull believing that bitcoin mining was a classic black and white problem. I've dedicated my entire career to reducing hazardous waste emissions, and PoW intuitively felt insecure. Of course, I was wrong,” Von Wong wrote.
The artist noted that after talking with experts from the crypto sphere, he realized the prospects of blockchain technology. In his opinion, bitcoin “could potentially become more environmentally friendly” without changing the algorithm. “I am excited to hear from the bitcoin community that the first cryptocurrency could achieve negative CO2 emissions by the end of the decade,” added von Wong. And now, instead of fighting mining, the artist calls to join the crypto community and improve it from the inside.
On March 23, Greenpeace unveiled a mascot that represents the "dangerous amounts of pollution" caused by bitcoin mining. Will Foxley, director of media strategy at mining company Compass Mining, called the installation “really cool” and put a skull image on the profile avatar.

- Venture investor and billionaire Tim Draper has published recommendations for asset diversification, including using cryptocurrencies. Draper wrote in a report aimed at entrepreneurs that companies "can no longer rely" on just one bank or regulator. “For the first time in many years, governments are taking over banks at the risk of becoming insolvent. Bitcoin is a defense against the financial domino effect and mismanagement with excessive control,” the businessman said. He added that "many startups" turned to him for emergency help after the closure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Silvergate Bank and Signature Bank.
Draper suggested keeping short-term deposits for no more than six months in two separate accounts, at a local bank and an international bank. In his opinion, organizations should also transfer an amount equal to two salary funds into bitcoin or other digital assets. The billionaire stressed the importance of such a contingency cushion, as management is responsible for meeting payroll deadlines "even in times of crisis."

- Oliver Linch, CEO of Bittrex Global, links the recent bitcoin rally to the US banking crisis caused by the collapse of Silvergate Bank, Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank. At the same time, according to a CNBC survey among influential figures in the industry, the market remains bullish about the future of the first cryptocurrency. So Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino believes that bitcoin can “retest” the all-time high of $69,000. And Marshall Beard, strategic director of the Gemini crypto exchange, predicts that the coin may reach $100,000 this year. In his opinion, if the first cryptocurrency manages to overcome the previous maximum, it “would not take much time to rise even higher.”

- Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone believes that gold and bitcoin will be the most popular instruments for investors in 2023. The precious metal will confirm the status of the safest asset. The cost of a troy ounce of gold will soon exceed $2,000. At the same time, the attractiveness of bitcoin, which is seen as an instrument independent of the traditional banking system, will increase. As the global economy worsens, the number of investors who prefer to keep their capital in BTC, gold, as well as in treasuries, will grow, according to a note prepared by McGlone.
The collapse of the banking sector is reminiscent of the crisis of 1929, so the Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy. After the latest rate hike, investment in bitcoin has increased, although many observers expected its value to fall, Bloomberg strategist emphasized. In his opinion, the BTC rebound can be seen as a positive signal, as more traders continue to buy cryptocurrency even amid global uncertainty.

- Place Holder partner and former head of Ark Invest crypto company Chris Burniske, like Mike McGlone, believes now is the time to buy bitcoin and ethereum, as they are created for precisely such crisis moments.

- An analyst with the nickname The Wolf of Crypto found the history of the posts of the famous “gold bug” and bitcoin critic Peter Schiff and recalled that he buried BTC back in 2017. At the time, the coin was trading at $5,000, and Schiff promised that it would soon be completely worthless. Despite the past 6 years, the entrepreneur has not changed his position. And now, in March 2023, he stated that “Bitcoin’s zero price hike just dragged on a bit.”
Analysts recalled that bitcoin quotes rose by 47% after Schiff announced the need to sell assets amid fears caused by a banking collapse caused by the fall of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).

- Steve Hanke, professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, criticized bitcoin, saying that the fundamental value of the first cryptocurrency is zero. He called bitcoin a highly speculative asset with no economic value or utility. It should be noted that Hanke himself is promoting initiatives related to the dollarization of Latin American countries.
Cake Defi CEO Julian Hosp responded to Hanke that BTC can be argued endlessly, but bitcoin definitely has value. According to Hosp, there are undoubtedly people who need bitcoin, so the claim that the first cryptocurrency has zero value is fundamentally wrong.

- The Central African Republic (CAR) will be the next country to legalize cryptocurrency at the state level, writes BeInCrypto. This decision was made after the discussion of the issue in the National Assembly. The debates were held behind closed doors, and after them, the President of the country, Faustin-Archange Touadera, supported the Central Bank's opinion regarding the FCFA cryptocurrency, which will have the status of legal tender in the CAR.

- Analyst Cory Swan has theorized that it was the founder of the Binance Changpeng Zhao (CZ) crypto exchange who was all this time the bear who tried to crash bitcoin to $12,000. “CZ held a large short position against BTC, hoping for $12,000, and paying for his personal big trade with unsecured BUSD and unsecured altcoins,” Swann writes.
A user under the nickname Grinding Poet believes that “Bitcoin at $12,000 is too optimistic. This is a big black swan and a retest of the 2018 lows is imminent. The new target is $3,150.”


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

NordFX Brokerage company has summed up the performance of its clients' trade transactions in March 2023. The services of social trading, PAMM and CopyTrading, as well as the profit received by the company's IB-partners have also been assessed.

- The maximum monthly profit of 38,150 USD was received by a client from East Asia, account No. 286XX, on transactions with USD/CHF, USD/CAD and USD/JPY.
- This time, the second step was taken by their compatriot, account No. 1505XXX, who earned 26,955 USD trading the USD/JPY pair.
- And finally, a trader from South Asia, account No. 9605XXX, came in third place with a profit of 18,347 USD, their main trading instrument was the GBP/JPY pair.

The situation in NordFX passive investment services is as follows:

CopyTrading still pleases fans with a "veteran" signal, KennyFXPRO - Prismo 2K. It increased its profit to 355% in 697 days. Recall that despite the relative stability of the results, this supplier had a serious failure last November: the maximum drawdown on this signal approached 67% then. This can be called force majeure, but you should always keep in mind that trading in financial markets is a risky business, and can lead not only to impressive profits, but also to a complete loss of funds.

Another signal is Bull trader, which started on July 22, 2022, it has reached a profit of 183% over the past 248 days, with a drawdown of less than 23%. In addition, we drew the attention of algo trading fans a month ago to a startup called ATFOREXACADEMY ALGO 1. It celebrated a round date on March 31: it turned exactly 100 days old. It showed a very good profitability of 202% during this time, although its maximum drawdown turned out to be rather big, 38%.

In the PAMM service, two accounts continue to struggle in the financial markets, which we have repeatedly mentioned in previous reviews. These are KennyFXPRO-The Multi 3000 EA and TranquilityFX-The Genesis v3. They suffered serious losses in mid-November 2022: the drawdown at that moment approached 43%. However, PAMM managers managed to stabilize the situation, and profit on the first of these accounts reached 91% as of March 31, 2023, on the second - 58%, which is approximately the same as a year ago. |

This time, the Trade and earn account also attracted attention. It was opened more than a year ago, but was in a state of hibernation, waking up only in November. As a result, the yield on it has exceeded 55% over the past 5 months with a very small drawdown of less than 10%.

Among the IB partners of NordFX, the TOP-3 include representatives of East, South, and West Asia:
- the largest commission, 8,418 USD, was credited to a partner with account No.1259ХXХ;
- the next is the partner (account No. 1621ХХХ), who received 5,701 USD;
- and, finally, the partner with account No. 1618xxx, who received 4,536 USD as a reward, closes the top three.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Why the Dollar Fell

Last week passed without sharp jumps. The dollar continued to fall in price, and EUR/USD returned by March 30 to where it was traded seven days before. The local maximum was fixed at 1.0925, and the five-day period finished at 1.0842.

The dollar continues to be pressured by the growth of investors' risk appetite: American and European stock indices have been going up since mid-March. Asian markets are not lagging behind: they were supported by statistics on business activity (PMI) in the manufacturing industry in China.

As for US macro statistics, it did not look good. The country's GDP growth for Q4 2022 was 2.6%, which is lower than both the forecast and the previous value (2.7%). But the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits, on the contrary, increased from 191K to 198K against the forecast of 196K. Both of these indicators indicate a slowdown in the US economy.

In addition, it has become obvious to market participants that the crisis, which knocked out American Silvergate Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and European Credit Suisse, will cool the Fed's hawkish ardor and make it act much more cautiously. This opinion was confirmed on March 30 by the head of the Richmond Fed, Thomas Barkin, who said that the bankruptcy of Credit Suisse ruled out the option of further raising interest rates by 50 basis points (bp).

European macro statistics turned out to be quite diverse. On Thursday, March 30, the value of the Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HICP) in Germany became known, which rose in March by 7.8% y/y. This is less than a month ago (9.3%), but higher than the forecast (7.5%). As a result, looking at these figures, the market decided that the ECB would have to continue actively tightening monetary policy and raising euro rates in order to fight inflation. The yield of German government bonds outperformed the yield of similar US bills, and EUR/USD reached weekly highs. Friday's statistics, on the contrary, reassured bears on the dollar to a certain extent, as Eurostat reported that the Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HICP) fell in March in the euro area from 8.5% in February to 6.9% year-on-year (with a forecast of 7.1%).

The market reaction to this and other statistics on Friday (such as the US Personal Consumption Expenditure Index) was rather sluggish, as this day coincided with the last day of the Q1 2023, when many market participants have already recorded quarterly results in their reports.

Regarding the medium- and long-term prospects for EUR/USD, Bank of America (BoA) economists believe that “the market is again running ahead of the locomotive, incorporating early Fed rate cuts into prices, and reassessing these expectations is likely to put pressure on the pair in the short term.” According to the BoA forecast, “the EUR/USD rate will be 1.05 in the first half of the year, it will rise to 1.10 by the end of this year, and to 1.15 by the end of 2024, which is still below the long-term equilibrium value.” “We assume that the worst of the recent banking turmoil is behind us, but we remain concerned about two risks for the euro: the ongoing conflict over Ukraine and possible pressure on the Italian market from a hawkish ECB,” BoA explained.

If we talk about the outlook for the near term, at the time of writing, the evening of Friday, March 31, 55% of analysts expect further weakening of the dollar, 35% - its strengthening, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral position. Of the oscillators on D1, 90% are colored green, and another 10% are colored red. Among trend indicators, 80% recommend buying, 20% - selling. The nearest support for the pair is located at 1.0800, then 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0680-1.0710, 1.0620 and 1.0500-1.0530. Bulls will meet resistance in the area of 1.0865, 1.0925, 1.0985-1.1030, 1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280 and 1.1355-1.1390.

Of the upcoming week's events, the publication on Monday, April 03, of data on business activity (PMI) in the manufacturing sectors of Germany and the USA is of interest. This will be followed by a whole stream of information from the US labor market. This will be statistics on the number of open JOLTS vacancies on Tuesday, April 4, the change in the number of people employed in the non-agricultural sector from ADP on Wednesday, and the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits on Thursday. And on Friday, April 7, we will have data on the unemployment rate and the number of new jobs created outside the US agricultural sector (NFP). It must be borne in mind that April 07 is Good Friday in Europe, the USA and a number of other countries, a day off, so the reaction to these figures will follow next week, on Monday April 10.

GBP/USD: Will the Pair Continue to Grow?

The dollar weakened not only against the euro, but also against the British pound. GBP/USD has risen by more than 600 points since March 08, in just three weeks. Only the key resistance in the area of 1.2425-1.2450 could stop its growth. But does the pound have the strength to climb further?

On March 23, the Bank of England (BoE) raised its key interest rate by 25 bp. to 4.25% (for comparison, the current rate of the US Federal Reserve is 5.00%). At the same time, the situation with inflation in the country is not improving. The United Kingdom remains the only developed economy where inflation has hardly fallen throughout the year and remains at double-digit multi-year highs. The main Consumer Price Index (CPI) in March was 10.4%, and the basic CPI was 6.2%. Therefore, many analysts expect that the increase in interest rates will be one of the main steps taken by the BoE at the upcoming meetings. Moreover, the regulator will have to keep the rate at high values for a long time, even though this will stifle the country's economy. (GDP growth rates are now at near-zero levels. Thus, the data published on March 31 showed GDP growth in Q4 2022 by only 0.1%).

Pressure on the economy makes a number of analysts talk about the pound's limited potential. However, despite this, many strategists believe that a recession will be avoided, and the rate hike will continue to push the pound higher. Thus, ANZ Bank economists expect the pair to rise to 1.26 by the end of the year. The forecast of their colleagues from the French Societe Generale looks even bolder: in their opinion, GBP/USD will follow EUR/GBP and gradually move up to 1.30.

The pair closed last week at 1.2330. At the moment, 45% of experts side with the dollar, the same number (45%) side with the pound, the remaining 10% have taken a wait-and-see attitude. Among the oscillators on D1, the balance of power is as follows: 85% vote in favor of green and 15% have turned neutral gray. Among the trend indicators, the absolute advantage is on the side of the green ones, those are 100%. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2270, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2390-1.2425, 1.2450, 1.2510, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

Statistics on the UK economy include the publication of the Business Activity Index (PMI) in the country's manufacturing sector on Monday, April 3. The values of PMI in the services sector, as well as the composite value of this Index, will become known on Wednesday. And we remind you that Friday is a day off in the Kingdom.

USD/JPY: Will BoJ Change Course in the Summer?

Unlike its DXY “colleagues”, the Japanese currency has shown absolutely the opposite trend against the dollar. While the euro and pound were strengthening their positions last week, the yen was losing them. There are two reasons for this, in our opinion. First, the yen was pressured by the fact that March 31 is not only the end of the quarter, but also the end of the fiscal year in Japan. The second one, which has been said many times already, is the ultra-soft policy of the Bank of Japan (BoJ).

Kazuo Ueda, the new head of the regulator, who takes office on April 09, has repeatedly spoken out in favor of continuing the dovish course of his predecessor Haruhiko Kuroda. And of course, such statements do not contribute to the attractiveness of the national currency.

Since November 2022, concerns about financial instability have led to a surge in purchases of the yen as a safe haven. However, as Societe Generale strategists write, even the "safe harbor" needs change. USD/JPY needs more action from the BoJ to justify its big decline. If the Central Bank does nothing, USD/JPY is likely to rise even more. Societe Generale expects that any moves to change the monetary policy of BoJ will be made in June, which could send the pair to the 125.00 level. A sharp easing of the US Federal Reserve's policy can also help the Japanese currency.

The comments of economists from ANZ Bank look similar. “In the short term, [BoJ] policy change looks unlikely,” they write. “If it does change, which we expect to happen after the second quarter of this year, the Japanese yen will rise on more favorable yield differentials. We expect USD/JPY to fall gradually to 124.00 by the end of the year.”

Here, however, one must take into account the statement of the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan, Shinichi Uchida, made on Wednesday, March 29. According to him, the adjustment of the regulator's monetary policy to control bond yields is possible only if economic conditions and price stability improve, which will justify a gradual reduction in monetary stimulus.

So, the fall of USD/JPY to the zone of 124.00-125.00 is still a big question. It finished the last week at the level of 132.80. And as for the immediate prospects, at the moment, 40% of experts vote for the further movement of the pair to the north, 30% point in the opposite direction, and another 30% have abstained from forecasts. Among the oscillators on D1, 15% point south, 40% look in the opposite direction, and 35% are neutral. For trend indicators, 40% point to the north, the remaining 60% point to the south. The nearest support level is located in the zone 131.25, then there are levels and zones 130.50, 129.70-130.00, 128.00-128.15 and 127.20. Resistance levels and zones are 133.00, 133.60, 134.00-134.35, 135.00-135.35, 135.90-136.00, 137.00, 137.50 and 137.90-138.00.

No important macro data on the Japanese economy is expected to be released this week. The only thing that can be noted in the calendar is Monday, April 03, when the Tankan Major Producers Sentiment Index for Q1 2023 will be published.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: What Will Happen to Binance?



The crisis that crippled Silvergate, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature and hit Credit Suisse has certainly helped the crypto market by reminding what decentralized finance was created for. However, investors' fears about a new wave of the banking crisis in the US and Europe are gradually fading away, which is clearly seen on the BTC/USD chart. If during the March 10-17 rally, digital gold gained almost 45% in weight, it has been unsuccessfully trying to storm the important $29,000 resistance for the last two weeks. Bitcoin needs not only to rise, but to sustainably gain a foothold above this horizon. Then, according to a number of experts, starting from this, it will be able to reach the next goal of $35,000. In the meantime, BTC is supported by the $26,500 level.

This support survived even when the CFTC (U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission) filed a lawsuit against Binance on Monday, March 27, accusing the crypto exchange of conducting unregistered futures and options transactions, serving US customers bypassing restrictions, illegal operations (in including in favor of Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization in many countries) and market manipulation.

In relation to the last accusation, analyst Cory Swan has theorized that it was the founder of the Binance Changpeng Zhao (CZ) crypto exchange who was all this time the bear who tried to crash bitcoin to $12,000. “CZ held a large short position against BTC, hoping for $12,000, and paying for his personal big trade with unsecured BUSD and unsecured altcoins,” Swann writes.

At the moment, opinions are divided regarding the future of Binance. Some believe that no one needs the funeral of such a giant, as this will be a collapse for the entire crypto industry. Others are confident that the CFTC will seek the most severe punishment for the exchange. Even in the event of a pre-trial settlement, she will face billions in fines and a ban on work in the United States. If the court nevertheless takes place and finds Binance and its management guilty, both many clients and financial counterparties around the world will immediately turn away from them.

According to a CNBC survey of industry influencers, the market remains bullish on the future of the first cryptocurrency at this stage. So Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino believes that bitcoin can “retest” the all-time high of $69,000. And Marshall Beard, strategic director of the Gemini crypto exchange, predicts that the coin may reach $100,000 this year. In his opinion, if the first cryptocurrency manages to overcome the previous maximum, it “would not take much time to rise even higher.” However, a new bullish rally requires powerful new triggers, both economic and news. But neither the first nor the second has yet been observed.

Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone believes that gold and bitcoin will be the most popular instruments for investors in 2023. The precious metal will confirm the status of the safest asset. The cost of a troy ounce of gold will soon exceed $2,000. At the same time, the attractiveness of bitcoin, which is seen as an instrument independent of the traditional banking system, will increase. As the global economy worsens, the number of investors who prefer to keep their capital in BTC, gold, as well as in treasuries, will grow, according to a note prepared by McGlone.

The collapse of the banking sector is reminiscent of the crisis of 1929, so the Fed is tightening monetary policy. After the latest rate hike, investment in bitcoin has increased, although many observers expected its value to fall, Bloomberg strategist emphasized. In his opinion, the BTC rebound can be seen as a positive signal, as more traders continue to buy cryptocurrency even amid global uncertainty.

Place Holder partner and former head of Ark Invest crypto company Chris Burniske, like Mike McGlone, believes now is the time to buy bitcoin and ethereum, as they are created for precisely such crisis moments.

Venture capitalist and billionaire Tim Draper made similar recommendations. Draper wrote in a report aimed at entrepreneurs that companies "can no longer rely" on just one bank or regulator. “For the first time in many years, governments are taking over banks at the risk of becoming insolvent. Bitcoin is a hedge against the financial domino effect and over-control mismanagement.”

Draper suggested keeping short-term deposits for no more than six months in two separate accounts, at a local bank and an international bank. In his opinion, organizations should also transfer an amount equal to two salary funds into bitcoin or other digital assets. The billionaire stressed the importance of such a contingency cushion, as management is responsible for meeting payroll deadlines "even in times of crisis."

Of course, as always, the voices of "crypto gravediggers" are heard. Thus, the analyst under the nickname Grinding Poet believes that “a retest of the 2018 lows is inevitable” and “the new target is $3,150.” The well-known gold bug and bitcoin critic Peter Schiff continues to stand his ground. Back in 2017, Schiff promised that the coin would soon be completely worthless. Despite the past 6 years, the entrepreneur has not changed his position. And now, in March 2023, he stated that “bitcoin’s zero price hike just dragged on a bit.”

Steve Hanke, professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, criticized bitcoin again, saying that the fundamental value of the first cryptocurrency is zero. He called BTC a highly speculative asset with no economic value or utility.

Cake Defi CEO Julian Hosp told Hanke that bitcoin is debatable, but it certainly has value. According to Hosp, there are undoubtedly people who need bitcoin, so the claim that the first cryptocurrency has zero value is fundamentally wrong.

We tend to agree with Hosp, because at the time of writing the review, on the evening of Friday, March 31, BTC definitely has value and is expressed in a very specific figure of $28,375 per coin. The total capitalization of the crypto market has grown slightly over the week, from $1.169 trillion to $1.185 trillion. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index also rose from 61 to 63 points in seven days and is still in the Greed zone.

NordFX Analytical Group

Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- UK-based crypto companies are having difficulty accessing banking services. According to Bloomberg sources, banks have begun to reject applications, block accounts and request more information regarding customer transactions.
The agency recalled the decision of HSBC and the Nationwide Building Society to prohibit retail customers from purchasing digital assets using credit cards. Payment service provider Paysafe has announced the termination of its partnership with Binance, citing a “difficult” regulatory environment.
In response to the deteriorating situation, CryptoUK representatives have approached the government with a proposal to create a "whitelist" of companies registered in the country to ease restrictions. And according to Coinpass co-founder and CEO Jeff Hancock, problems with access to banking are contrary to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to turn the country into a cryptohub.

- Cryptocurrency companies may change their jurisdiction from the US to Hong Kong amid increased supervision by US regulators. This was stated to The Wall Street Journal by Ambre Soubiran, the head of the Paris-based crypto asset data provider Kaiko. “Today, the US is tougher on cryptocurrencies than ever, and Hong Kong's regulation [looks] more favorable, which is clearly shifting the center of gravity in investing and trading crypto assets towards it. We want to be where our customers are,” she said. According to Subiran, Kaiko plans to organize a team in Hong Kong, including through access to Chinese institutional investors.

- A cryptocurrency analyst known as Stockmoney Lizards analyzed the dynamics of the flagship crypto asset. In his opinion, the asset's monthly chart looks promising and indicates the potential for further growth. The expert's assumptions are supported by the readings of the RSI indicator. Stockmoney Lizards believes that the current market situation is very similar to the period from 2017 to 2020, when a steady upward trend began to form, and that bitcoin will soon be able to reach the key $47,000 mark.
Another well-known analyst, Michael Van De Poppe, shares this view. According to the expert, buyers are still in control of the situation. If bitcoin quotes remain above $25,000 for some time, we can count on a potential increase up to the level of $40,000.
In turn, representatives of the Derebit platform informed that open interest in bitcoin derivatives continues to grow steadily. They stressed that most of the positions are open to buy, as investors continue to believe in the potential of the crypto market's flagship.

- Experts from the analytical company Glassnode spoke about the friendliest countries in terms of cryptocurrency taxation in 2023. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) turned out to be the leader. This came as no surprise, as Dubai has made a lot of efforts over the past year to attract crypto companies and other industry participants. In a short period of time, special commissions to regulate cryptocurrencies, separate tax legislation for the digital asset sector, and many other innovations have been created there. All this allows Dubai to claim the title of the world's crypto capital.
The honorable second and third places in the Glassnode list were taken by such states as Malta and Belarus. Next came Monaco, Panama and Malaysia. Among the major countries of the European Union, Germany ranked 7th. Singapore, Switzerland and El Salvador followed closely behind.

- Charles Edwards, founder of digital asset hedge fund Capriole Investments, noted a “familiar” bullish signal on the SLRV Ribbons metric in his tweet. SLRV Ribbons is a tool to measure the potential return of bitcoin. It analyzes the interaction of two moving averages. When the short-term 30-day MA crosses the long-term 150-day MA, bitcoin is in the beginning of a bullish phase. This metric is “as simple as it gets,” Edwards wrote. “It is currently repeating classic bullish behavior with a crossover in early 2023.” The specialist added that SLRV Ribbons, although a relatively new tool, has been tested and shown to be reliable and able to increase the return on investments in BTC.
SLRV is not the only metric that gave the founder of Capriole Investments a sense of déjà vu this month. The Bitcoin Yardstick tool shows a retracement of bitcoin's market value relative to hashrate, but still classifies BTC as "cheap" at current prices. “Bitcoin Yardstick is drawing a very familiar signature to the 2019 lows,” Edwards commented on the indicator readings. At the beginning of that year, after exiting the “cheap” zone, BTC/USD saw only one brief drop during the crisis caused by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. At the moment, according to indicators, price targets for BTC are fixed at $35,000.

- The head of largest crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), believes that competitors to the trading platform pay news agencies and opinion leaders to increase fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) about his company. Zhao shared this sentiment as reports surfaced online that he had received an Interpol Red Notice (International Arrest Request). According to the head of Binance, the rumors are not true and are the next wave of FUD.
“All this looks like news leak paid for by another crypto exchange. Amazing. Thus, they [the organizers of the attacks] harm the industry and themselves. We have enough of those who attack us from the outside. At such moments, the cryptocurrency industry should [on the contrary] unite [rather than attack other market players],” Changpeng Zhao wrote in his blog. He did not specify which crypto exchange Zhao believes is attacking Binance.

- According to the analytical company Glassnode, despite the fall in the value of the leading digital currency, its attractiveness as an asset class continues to grow. Thus, the number of unique addresses on the bitcoin network with a balance of at least one coin has reached 992,243. The number of addresses controlling from 100 to 1000 BTC is 14,004. The four largest whales hold between 100,000 and 1 million BTC, including the Binance and Bitfinex exchanges, which control 248,597 and 178,010 bitcoins, respectively. At the same time, it is possible that one of these four whales is the US government. According to the Dune analysts, the total stock of the first cryptocurrency by the US authorities is 205,515 BTC: more than 1% of the coin supply. Most of these assets were obtained when they were confiscated from criminals.
Glassnode experts note that a surge in trader activity was recorded in the second half of last year, when bitcoin fell to $15,000. It was at this time that the number of BTC wallets with a non-zero balance increased sharply, a similar trend is observed in 2023.

- Cybercriminals have stolen $255.8 million in digital currencies since the beginning of the year. "Only" $8.8 million was stolen in January, 3.5 times more - $35.5 million in February, and the figure rose to $211.5 million in March. In total, hackers committed 26 hacks during the first month of spring. The largest amount was stolen during the attack on the Euler Finance DeFi platform, about $197 million, but later the hacker apologized and returned $182.7 million to the project. The reasons for this "nobility" remain unknown. He may have decided that the remaining $14 million would be enough for him.
In addition to cryptocurrencies, $31.5 million worth of NFTs were stolen in three months. A significant part of the stolen tokens was sold on the Blur and OpenSea marketplaces within the first two hours after the theft.

- Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX crypto exchange, has made a bold prediction about the rise in the price of bitcoin to $1 million. He was prompted to do so by the news that the People's Bank of China lowered the required reserve ratios (RRR) for all banks by 0.25%.
For reference: The required reserve ratio is the statutory share of a commercial bank's liabilities on attracted deposits. When this rate is lowered, the amount of funds that commercial banks can provide for lending or investment increases.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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EUR/USD: Fed rate Divination Continues



The dollar seems to be either weakening or not. On the one hand, the DXY dollar index updated a two-month low on April 4, falling below the support of 101.50, and EUR/USD rose to a new high of 1.0972. On the other hand, the pair returned by the end of last week to where it had already been on March 23 and 31.

DXY continues to be pressured by poor US macro statistics. The country's GDP growth for Q4 2022 was 2.6%, which is lower than both the forecast and the previous value (2.7%). Business activity in March continued to decline at an accelerated pace: the PMI index in the manufacturing sector fell to 46.3 against the forecast of 47.5 and 47.7 in February, and it fell to 51.2 in the services sector (forecast 54.5, February value 55.1). New orders for industrial goods fell by 0.7% in February, worse than the forecast of 0.5% once again. And this despite the fact that they had already fallen by 2.1% a month earlier. The JOLTs job market report showed a decline in the number of open vacancies to 9.9 million, the lowest figure in the last two years.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its March employment report on Friday, March 07. The number of new jobs created outside the agricultural sector (NFP) in the United States, with a forecast of 240K, in reality fell to 236K. This figure was significantly higher in February and amounted to 326K. But the unemployment rate fell from 3.6% to 3.5%, which slightly supported the US currency (on the thin market, DXY rose above 102.00). However, the main reaction of the market to these data will follow only next week. April 07 in Europe, the USA and a number of other countries was a day off, Good Friday. Europe takes a break on Easter Monday, April 10 as well. The last time NFP was released on Good Friday was in 2021, and then, despite a sharp jump in this indicator, the delayed market response was very restrained.

Of course, all of the above indicators may lead to adjustments in market expectations for the US Federal Reserve rate. However, the next FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting will be held only on May 03, and many more significant statistics will be released before then. The weak state of the economy may cool the hawkish ardor of the FOMC members and force them to take a break in tightening monetary policy, leaving the rate at the same level of 5.00%. At the moment, according to the CME Group FedWatch Tool, there is a 52.7% chance of another rate hike of 25 basis points (bp).

EUR/USD closed last week at 1.0901. At the time of writing this review, on the evening of Friday, April 07, the opinions of analysts are divided almost equally: 35% of them expect further weakening of the dollar, 35% - its strengthening, and the remaining 30% have taken a neutral position. Among the oscillators on D1, 90% are colored green, another 10% are gray neutral. Among trend indicators, 75% recommend buying, 15% - selling. The nearest support for the pair is located at 1.0885, 1.0860, then 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0675-1.0710, 1.0620 and 1.0490-1.0530. Bulls will meet resistance at 1.0925, then 1.0955, 1.0985-1.1030, 1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280 and 1.1355-1.1390.

Retail sales in the Eurozone will be announced this week on Monday April 11. The next day, important data on consumer inflation (CPI ) in the US will be released. The minutes of the March FOMC meeting will also be published on Wednesday. On Thursday, the CPI values in Germany, the number of initial jobless claims in the US and the US Producer Price Index (PPI) will be known. On Friday, we will have a whole package of statistics on retail sales in the US.

GBP/USD: PMI Gives Investors Hope

Against the backdrop of a weakened dollar, GBP/USD feels quite good, and the pound made another high on April 04, reaching a high of 1.2525. It has not traded this high since the beginning of June 2022. However, then there was a slight correction, and the pair completed the five-day period at the level of 1.2414, returning to the values of mid-December 2022 - the second half of January 2023.

As a matter of fact, the UK economy, like the US, had nothing to brag about last week. The index of business activity (PMI) in the manufacturing sector of the country, published on April 3, showed a decrease from 49.3 to 47.9 points (with a forecast of 48.0). PMI values in the services sector and the composite value of this Index also turned out to be lower than the previous values - 52.9/53.5 and 52.2/53.1, respectively. However, the fact that both of these Indexes are holding above the 50.0 mark gives investors hope that the British economy is able to avoid a recession. This, in turn, supports the position of the national currency.

At the moment, 40% of experts side with the pound, the same number (40%) have taken a wait-and-see position, only 20% have turned out to side with the dollar. Among the oscillators on D1, the balance of power is as follows: 90% vote in favor of green and 10% have turned red. Among the trend indicators, the advantage is on the side of the greens, they have 85%, the enemy has 15%. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2390, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2450, 1.2510-1.2525, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2750 and 1.2940.

In terms of the UK economy, there are two speeches by Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey next week on Wednesday April 12. On Thursday, April 13, there will be data on production volumes in the manufacturing industry, as well as on the country's GDP. As a reminder, Monday April 10 is Easter Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom.

USD/JPY: BoJ Remains Ultra Soft

This time the dynamics of USD/JPY as a whole corresponded (as it should be, mirrored) to what its "colleagues" in DXY were doing. At the beginning of the week, it fell from a height of 133.75 and recorded a local low of 130.60 on April 5. And then it went up, reaching 132.37 in a thin market and a sluggish US employment report. The last chord of the week sounded a bit lower, at 132.14.

As far as Japan's monetary policy is concerned, nothing has changed here: external influencers still hope for its tightening, domestic influencers say that the ultra-soft, dovish rate remains unchanged. Thus, on Friday, April 7, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), gently hinted that “it is appropriate to make the Bank of Japan's monetary policy more flexible.” And Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki on Friday praised the efforts of the outgoing Governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) Haruhiko Kuroda and expressed the hope that under the new leadership, the Central Bank “will continue to support its adequate and expedient policy.”

We wrote in our previous review that Societe Generale economists expect that any steps to change the BoJ rate can be taken no earlier than June. The comments of their colleagues from ANZ Bank look similar. “In the near term, [BOJ] policy change looks unlikely,” they wrote. And if changes do occur, then, according to ANZ Bank forecasts, they can be expected only after Q2 of this year.

As for the immediate prospects for USD/JPY, at the moment 55% of experts vote for the further movement of the pair to the north, and 45% point in the opposite direction. Among the oscillators on D1, 25% point south, the same number look in the opposite direction, and 50% are neutral. For trend indicators, 40% point to the north, the remaining 60% point to the south. The nearest support level is located in the zone 131.85-132.00, then there are levels and zones 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.70-130.00, 128.00-128.15 and 127.20. Resistance levels and zones are 132.80-133.00, 133.60-133.75, 134.35, 135.00-135.35, 135.90-136.00, 137.00, 137.50 and 137.90-138.00.

As for the release of any important statistics on the state of the Japanese economy, it is not expected this week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: $29,000 Resistance Has Never Been Taken

The beginning of the previous review sounded like this: “The crisis that crippled Silvergate, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature and hit Credit Suisse has certainly helped the crypto market by reminding what decentralized finance was created for. However, investors' fears about a new wave of the banking crisis in the US and Europe are gradually fading away, which is clearly seen on the BTC/USD chart. If during the March 10-17 rally, digital gold gained almost 45% in weight, it has been unsuccessfully trying to storm the important $29,000 resistance for the last two weeks. […] BTC is supported by the $26,500 level.”

This was written seven days ago, but even now everything said remains relevant. The only amendment is that the fluctuation range narrowed even more last week, and the local low was fixed at $27,190. Triggers are needed to break through this range in one direction or another, they have not yet been observed.

As already mentioned, the crypto market, especially bitcoin, was supported by the banking crisis and the worsening macroeconomic environment in general. However, the industry continues to be under regulatory pressure from US government agencies, which have now been joined by their UK colleagues. As a result, on the one hand, we are seeing a decrease in BTC liquidity to a 10-month low, and on the other, an increase in trading volumes.

According to a CNBC survey of industry influencers, the market remains bullish on the future of the first cryptocurrency at this stage. According to the analytical company Glassnode, its attractiveness continues to increase. Experts from this company note that a surge in trader activity was recorded in the second half of last year, when bitcoin fell to $15,000, and a similar trend is observed in 2023. Thus, the number of unique addresses on the bitcoin network with a balance of at least one coin has reached 992,243. The number of addresses controlling from 100 to 1000 BTC is 14,004. The four largest whales hold between 100,000 and 1 million BTC, including the Binance and Bitfinex exchanges, which control 248,597 and 178,010 bitcoins, respectively. At the same time, it is possible that one of these four whales is the US government. According to Dune analysts, the total stock of the first cryptocurrency in the US authorities is 205,515 BTC: more than 1% of the coin issue (mostly these assets were obtained during confiscation from criminals).

Representatives of the Derebit platform confirm the general bullish attitude. According to them, open interest in bitcoin derivatives continues to grow steadily. Derebit stressed that most of the positions are open to buy, as investors continue to believe in the potential of the crypto market's flagship.

In parallel with the growing attractiveness of digital assets for investors, their attractiveness for criminals is also growing. Cybercriminals have stolen $255.8 million in digital currencies since the beginning of the year. At the same time, "only" $8.8 million was stolen in January, 3.5 times more - $35.5 million in February, and the figure rose to $211.5 million in March.

A crypto analyst known as Stockmoney Lizards analyzed the dynamics of the flagship crypto asset. In his opinion, the asset's monthly chart looks promising and indicates the potential for further growth. The expert's assumptions are supported by the readings of the RSI indicator. Stockmoney Lizards believes that the current market situation is very similar to the period from 2017 to 2020, when a steady upward trend began to form, and that bitcoin will soon be able to reach the key $47,000 mark.

Another well-known analyst, Michael Van De Poppe, shares this view. According to the expert, buyers are still in control of the situation. If bitcoin quotes remain above $25,000 for some time, we can count on a potential increase up to the level of $40,000.

Charles Edwards, founder of hedge fund Capriole Investments, has noted a "familiar" bullish signal on the SLRV Ribbons metric. SLRV Ribbons is a tool to measure the potential return of bitcoin. It analyzes the interaction of two moving averages. When the short-term 30-day MA crosses the long-term 150-day MA, bitcoin is in the beginning of a bullish phase. This metric is “as simple as it gets,” Edwards tweeted. “It is currently repeating classic bullish behavior with a crossover in early 2023.” The specialist added that although SLRV Ribbons is a relatively new tool, tests have proven its reliability and ability to increase the return on investments in BTC.

SLRV is not the only metric that gave the founder of Capriole Investments a sense of déjà vu this month. The Bitcoin Yardstick tool shows a retracement of bitcoin's market value relative to hashrate, but still classifies BTC as "cheap" at current prices. “Bitcoin Yardstick is drawing a very familiar signature to the 2019 lows,” Edwards commented on the indicator readings. At the beginning of that year, after exiting the “cheap” zone, BTC/USD saw only one brief drop during the crisis caused by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. At the moment, according to indicators, price targets for BTC are fixed at $35,000.

Moving from short-term to long-term, Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of BitMEX crypto exchange, was the biggest optimist here, citing $1 million per coin as a target for bitcoin. He was prompted to do so by the news that the People's Bank of China lowered the required reserve ratios (RRR) for all banks by 0.25%. (For reference: The required reserve ratio is the statutory share of a commercial bank's liabilities on attracted deposits. When this rate is lowered, the amount of funds that commercial banks can provide for lending or investment increases.

At the time of this writing, Friday evening, April 07, BTC/USD is clearly still very far from reaching $1 million and is currently trading at $27,860. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.177 trillion ($1.185 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has risen by just one point in seven days, from 63 to 64, and is still in the Greed zone.

And finally, a few words about the main altcoin, ethereum. The long-awaited Shanghai hard fork will take place on its network on April 12, which will allow validators to withdraw coins frozen for staking. At the moment, their volume is 18 million ETH, or 15% of the total supply.

To reduce potential pressure on the price and not overload the network, those wishing to exit staking will be forced to stand in line. The maximum daily outflow is limited to 2,200 transactions or 70k coins. Most likely, this queue will be quite long. And much of this is due to U.S. regulators, which put even more pressure on ethereum than bitcoin. Here are pre-trial proceedings with the Kraken and Coinbase crypto exchanges to refuse staking, and the SEC's desire to assign ETH the status of a security. All this, of course, despite the hard fork, reduces the attractiveness of this asset for investors, and makes the prospects for ethereum very vague. Well-known trader and analyst Benjamin Cowen believes that the best time to buy ethereum will be when ETH/BTC falls into the range from 0.03 to 0.04 (currently 0.067). The analyst assures that he will wait for these figures, and only then will he make an appropriate investment decision.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



- On April 11, bitcoin rose above $30,000, for the first time since June 2022. The main cryptocurrency continues to outperform other major asset classes such as gold or oil. This comes amid expectations that central banks will put a hold on rate hikes.
Several industry analysts have expressed their opinion on what happened. Michael Van De Poppe, a well-known strategist, and founder of the investment company Eight, noted that bitcoin successfully passed the $28,600 test, which led to a breakthrough in resistance and reached $30,000. An analyst with the nickname PlanB tweeted that all the goals he set back in October 2022 have now been achieved. At that time, the expert predicted that BTC quotes would overcome $21,000, $24,000, and then $30,000. And another popular blogger and analyst, Lark Davis, stressed that the time will soon come when buying bitcoins for less than $30,000 will seem as fantastic as buying BTC at $3,000 now.

- In terms of the number of requests, bitcoin has overtaken former President Donald Trump, famous musician Elvis Presley, and Disney World. In the United States, the number of requests related to the first cryptocurrency in the Google search engine reached 1.9 million, and in terms of the global indicator, the figure reached 12 million. This is stated in research by Ahrefs. According to Google Trends, Donald Trump was only two days ahead of bitcoin last month when reports of his arrest surfaced.

- In India, a 23-year-old employee of a large technology company tried to commit suicide after losing 3 million rupees (about $ 37,000) on investments in cryptocurrency. This is reported by The Times of India. According to the publication, a taxi driver noticed the young man on a bridge in Kolkata and reported to the police. As a result, law enforcement officers prevented him from jumping into the river. During the interrogation, the investor spoke about unsuccessful investments in the digital asset market. For this purpose, he used, among other things, his mother's pension and borrowed funds. Recently, he has been receiving threats demanding a refund.
Earlier, The Balance rehabilitation center in Spain began providing treatment services for addiction to digital asset trading. The course is four weeks long. The cost of treatment exceeds $75,000 (that is, twice what the failed investor from India lost).

- The head of the opposition party “For Thailand” (Pheu Thai) and candidate for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has promised to allocate digital assets to every citizen over 16 years of age if he wins the elections in May. According to Bloomberg, each eligible resident will allegedly be able to receive 10,000 baht (~$290). It is not specified which cryptocurrency the “state-owned AirDrop” is planned to be used in. The office of the incumbent Prime Minister is already concerned about the proposed action and is wondering where the funds (about $15 billion) for this AirDrop will come from.
It should be noted that such an initiative is not new. The El Salvadorian government has already given away bitcoins to its citizens who used Chivo wallets. True, the amount was 10 times more modest, about $30.

- ChatGPT artificial intelligence spoke about the formation of a recession-resistant investment portfolio. According to a document published by the Gold IRA Guide, the chatbot recommended allocating 20% for gold and other precious metals. The rest of its hypothetical portfolio consisted of bonds (40%), "defensive" stocks (30%) and cash (10%).
The chatbot did not mention cryptocurrencies, much to the delight of well-known bitcoin critic and gold advocate Peter Schiff. “After all, artificial intelligence is pretty smart. It did not recommend any bitcoin deposit,” this investor wrote.
However, ChatGPT's response was not necessarily against digital gold in favor of physical gold. The ForkLog editors asked the chatbot for its opinion on both assets. According to the answer, the choice between them may depend on investment goals, risk level and personal preferences.

- This week, investors will have access to the second most popular cryptocurrency, ethereum, worth more than $33 billion (about 15% of the total). This will happen as part of the planned blockchain modernization, writes Reuters. A new blockchain software update called Shapella will allow investors to redeem their ETH coins they have invested and locked on the network over the past 3 years in exchange for interest.
Traders are now trying to figure out how this sudden flood of cryptocurrency can affect its price. Some market participants are concerned that the unlock could lead to a massive wave of sales, which in turn would drive the price down dramatically. However, the only thing that can be said for sure is that the hard fork will cause an increase in price volatility.

- Dieter Wermuth, an economist, and partner at Wermuth Asset Management, believes that the economy would be better and simpler without bitcoin. In his opinion, these risky investments are associated with social costs, and the cryptocurrency itself does not contribute to global prosperity.
The BTC market is highly centralized and primarily benefits the very first investors and miners. If we consider it as a currency, given the high volatility and lack of real use, BTC is doomed to failure, the specialist believes. In this vein, it makes sense to ditch bitcoin altogether: it could be good for shared prosperity, as investing in cryptocurrencies is wasteful and takes away funds from overall economic growth. In addition, bitcoin creates social inequality, allows for money laundering, tax evasion, and is very energy intensive due to mining. Dieter Wermuth even called bitcoin “the biggest climate killer.”

- It turns out that Apple has been hiding the official description of BTC in every computer since 2018. Technician Andy Baio revealed on Twitter that he accidentally found a copy of Satoshi Nakamoto's official description of BTC on his Apple Mac computer, Business Insider writes. Baio explained it this way: “Today, while trying to fix my printer, I discovered that a PDF copy of Satoshi Nakamoto’s bitcoin datasheet came with every copy of macOS since Mojave in 2018.” According to him, many of his fellow Mac users confirmed this fact: each of them had a file called "simpledoc.pdf".
Baio suggested the reason why, of all the documents, it was the original description of BTC that was chosen to be included in Apple's operating system: "Maybe it was just a convenient, lightweight, multi-page PDF file for testing purposes that was never meant to be viewed by end users."

- The US Department of Defense commissioned a study on the potential collapse of the economy due to the cryptocurrency market. Inca Digital, an analytical blockchain firm, won the competition for this work. A representative of this company noted in comments to the media that the banking system has increasingly intersected with the crypto market recently, and this connection makes this market a subject of national security: “Cryptocurrencies are no longer an independent vertical. They rely on banks, the internet, and that's what people should be warned about: it's a single combined system that is widespread in everyday services." Defense Department officials, in turn, expect the development to shed light on whether hostile groups or nations can use digital currencies against the US.

- U.S. potential presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr called bitcoin a safe haven that, thanks to decentralization, is less exposed to the risks inherent in traditional finance. The politician is confident that the current “financial bubble” will inevitably burst, and cryptocurrencies “will allow people to hide from its splashes” and open up a “way of salvation” for society.

– Lawrence Lepard, managing partner at Boston-based equity firm Equity Management Associates, believes that bitcoin will rise to $10 million due to the collapse of the US dollar. According to Lepard, the dollar will depreciate over the next 10 years, and citizens will begin to actively invest in cryptocurrencies, gold and real estate. The supply of bitcoins is limited, so the digital asset will become a highly sought-after investment vehicle and will benefit from the collapse of the fiat currency. “I believe that the price of bitcoin will go up a lot. I think it will first reach $100,000, then $1 million and eventually rise to $10 million per coin. I’m sure my grandchildren will be shocked at how rich people who own just one bitcoin become,” Lepard said in an interview.
In connection with this forecast, the businessman fears that the authorities will put spokes in the wheels of the crypto industry, trying to slow down the growth in the popularity of digital assets. For example, officials could raise taxes on profits from bitcoin trading and tighten regulation of coins to make it harder for startups to enter the market. However, Lepard is confident that bitcoin will be able to overcome these difficulties and succeed in the long run.

- A well-known analyst under the nickname PlanB noted that bitcoin has left the deep bear zone and is at the very beginning of a new bull market. According to PlanB, the Stock to Flow (S2F) model he developed is still relevant. The expert claims that bitcoin fundamentals will eventually allow it to rise above the all-time high (ATH) of $69,000 set in November 2021. PlanB has previously predicted bitcoin will rise from $100,000 to $1 million after the 2024 halving.
Recall that the S2F (stock-to-flow ratio) model for predicting the BTC rate measures the relationship between the available stock of an asset and its production volume and has been repeatedly criticized by members of the crypto community.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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EUR/USD: The Dollar Continues to Sink



The DXY dollar index updated a 12-month low last week, and EUR/USD, respectively, rose to a maximum (1.1075) since April 04, 2022. The US currency has been falling for the fifth week in a row: the longest series since summer 2020.

The dollar received a serious blow on Wednesday, April 12, when data on consumer inflation (CPI) and the minutes of the March US Federal Reserve FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting were published. Statistics showed that prices are under control and inflation in the US has been consistently slowing down for nine consecutive months, going from 9.1% y/y to the current 5.0% y/y. The US Producer Price Index (PPI), released a day later, also showed a decrease in inflation, although at the basic level, US price pressure still looks stable.

With regard to the Fed Protocol, at the meeting on March 22, FOMC members discussed the possibility of taking a pause in the rate hike cycle due to problems in the banking sector. Information about a possible mild recession in the US economy later this year was also discussed. However, the rate is likely to be raised again at the next meeting of the Committee on May 3. According to CME FedWatch forecasts, it is likely to grow by another 25 basis points (bp) to 5.25% per annum.

This increase has already been taken into account by the market in quotes and is unlikely to provide any support to the dollar. Moreover, 5.25% is likely to be the peak value of the rate, until the last months of the year, when it starts to decline. The futures market expects that federal funds spending will be 4.30-4.40% in December 2023, and they will fall even lower to 4.12-4.20% in January 2024.

Slower inflation and the end of the Fed's tight monetary policy cycle are putting pressure on the dollar, pushing the DXY down. At the same time, forecasts suggest that, unlike the Fed, the European Central Bank will continue its tightening cycle for now. This was confirmed by the Member of the Board of Governors of the ECB, President of the Bundesbank Joachim Nagel. He said on Thursday, April 13 that it is necessary to continue raising rates, as core inflation in the Eurozone is still very high.

Data on retail sales in the US released at the very end of the working week, on Friday, April 14 slightly supported the US currency. They showed that sales, although falling, were much slower than expected. With the forecast of -0.4% and the previous value of -0.2%, in reality, the decline was -0.1%. Market participants regarded such dynamics in favor of the dollar, and as a result, EUR/USD ended the last week at 1.0993. At the time of writing the review, on Friday evening, April 14, analysts' opinions are almost equally divided: 45% of them expect the dollar to further weaken, 45% expect it to strengthen, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral position. As for technical analysis, all oscillators and trend indicators on D1 are 100% colored green. The nearest support for the pair is at 1.0975, then 1.0925, 1.0865-1.0885, 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0675-1.0710, 1.0620 and 1.0490-1.0530. Bulls will meet resistance at 1.1050-1.1070, then 1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280 and 1.1355-1.1390.

We expect quite a lot of economic statistics from the EU next week. Thus, the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index in Germany, the main locomotive of the European economy, will be published on Tuesday, April 18. On Wednesday, we will find out what is happening with inflation (CPI) in the Eurozone as a whole. On Thursday, the Minutes of the last meeting of the ECB on monetary policy will be published, and on Friday, April 21, business activity indicators (PMI) in the manufacturing sector of Germany and in the country as a whole will become known. No significant macro statistics are expected from the US next week.

GBP/USD: Things Are Much Better Than Expected

Against the backdrop of the dollar weakening, GBP/USD still feels good, and it made another high in the first half of Friday, April 14, reaching the height of 1.2545. The pound has not traded this high since the beginning of June 2022. However, then, after the publication of data on retail sales in the US, the dollar improved its position, and the pair completed the five-day period at the level of 1.2414.

As for the UK economy itself, the GDP release on Thursday 13 April showed that the economy stagnated at 0.0% in February, compared with the forecast of 0.1% and the previous reading of 0.3%. The growth of production in the manufacturing industry in February was also 0.0% against the expected 0.2% and -0.1% in January, while the total industrial output is still in the negative zone -0.2% against the forecast of 0.2% and -0.5% a month earlier. On an annualized basis, manufacturing output came in at -2.4%, beating expectations of -4.7%. The total volume of industrial production decreased by -3.1% against the forecast -3.7% and the previous value -3.2%. Data on the trade balance of goods in the UK was also published last week, which in February amounted to £17.534 billion, which is more than the forecast of £17.000 billion and the previous value of £16.093 billion.

What do all these numbers say? Together with the data on business activity (PMI), which became known on April 03 and remained above 50 points, all these statistics give investors hope that the British economy is able to avoid a recession. Which, in turn, supports the position of the national currency. This was confirmed on April 13 by British Treasury Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said that the economic outlook looks brighter than expected. “Thanks to the steps we have taken, we will avoid a recession,” he assured the audience.

The Bank of England (BoE) Chief Economist Hugh Pill's comments were quite optimistic as well. According to him, although "the exact path of inflation may be more uneven than we expect," the Central Bank still forecasts a decrease in CPI in Q2 of this year. "The latest figures are somewhat disappointing," said Hugh Pill, "but they are much better than the BoE's forecasts made at the end of last year." The economist also noted that the UK banking system remains very sound and resilient, and inflationary dynamics is a key factor determining the direction of BoE's monetary policy.

At the moment, 75% of experts side with the pound and expect further growth of the pair, the remaining 25% side with the dollar. Among the oscillators on D1, the balance of power is as follows: 65% vote in favor of green (10% give overbought signals), 10% have turned red and 25% prefer neutral gray. Among the trend indicators, the advantage is also on the side of the greens, they have 65%, the enemy has 35%. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2440-1.2455, 1.2480, 1.2510-1.2540, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2820 and 1.2940.

Among the events of the coming week, the calendar can and should note the publication of the latest unemployment data in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 18. On Wednesday, the value of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will become known, and on Friday the statistics on retail sales and business activity (PMI) in the UK will be published.

USD/JPY: Bank of Japan Is an Island of Stability

Since last December, USD/JPY has been moving in a fairly wide sideways range of 129.00-138.00. (An exception is the brief strengthening of the yen to 127.15 in mid-January). The pair ended the last week almost in its very center, at the level of 133.75, which indicates the absence of significant drivers capable of giving the pair a powerful acceleration in one direction or another.

We have repeatedly written that even after Haruhiko Kuroda, Governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ), leaves his post, the Central Bank “will continue to support his adequate and expedient policy.” This was once again confirmed by Kazuo Ueda, the new head of the regulator, who took office on April 9. He stated at the G20 meeting that he would support the current ultra-soft monetary policy. In addition, Ueda said that core consumer inflation in Japan, which is currently only about 3%, is likely to fall below 2% in the second half of this fiscal year. Market participants concluded from these words that there is no point in fighting it by raising rates for the Bank of Japan, and therefore it is not worth expecting a reversal of the BoJ rate in the foreseeable future. (Recall that economists at Societe Generale and ANZ Bank expected that this could still happen somewhere around June).

Regarding the immediate prospects for USD/JPY, analysts' opinions are distributed as follows. At the moment, 40% of experts vote for the further movement of the pair to the north, 50% point in the opposite direction and 10% prefer neutrality. Among oscillators, 75% point upwards at D1 (a third of them are in the overbought zone), 10% look in the opposite direction and 15% are neutral. For trend indicators, 85% point to the north, the remaining 15% point to the south. The nearest support level is located in the zone 132.80-133.00, then there are levels and zones 132.00-132.40, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.65, 128.00-128.15 and 127.20. Levels and resistance zones are 134.00, 134.90-135.10, 135.90-136.00, 137.00, 137.50 and 137.90-138.00.

As for the release of any important statistics on the state of the Japanese economy, it is not expected this week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Weak Dollar Is Strong Bitcoin

Bitcoin rose above $30,000 on Tuesday, April 11, for the first time since June 2022. This happened due to instability in the banking sector and expectations that mega-regulators, primarily the Fed, will suspend raising interest rates. The MSCI World Index rose to its highest point since early February by Friday, April 14. This confirmed the fact that international investors are waiting for the American, and in the future, for other major Central Banks to curtail the policy of quantitative tightening (QT). Against this background, the main cryptocurrency continues to outperform other major asset classes, such as gold or oil. In addition, BTC has surpassed many top cryptocurrencies in terms of dynamics.

In the middle of the week, the bears had a chance to return BTC/USD to the support of $29,000. However, the FRS saved it from falling again: the published Minutes of the March FOMC meeting, coupled with macro statistics from the US, weakened the dollar, swinging the scales in favor of bitcoin.

The growth of BTC quotes pulls up the entire crypto market. The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies has grown by more than 55% since the beginning of 2023, rising above $1.2 trillion. However, despite this, it still remains well below the all-time high of $2.9 trillion recorded in November 2021.

Several experts at once expressed their opinion on what happened on April 11. Michael Van De Poppe, a well-known strategist and founder of the investment company Eight, noted that bitcoin successfully passed the $28,600 test, which led to a breakthrough in resistance and reached $30,000. An analyst with the nickname PlanB tweeted that all the goals he set back in October 2022 have now been achieved. At that time, the expert predicted that BTC quotes would overcome $21,000, $24,000, and then $30,000. And another popular blogger and analyst, Lark Davis, stressed that the time will soon come when buying bitcoins for less than $30,000 will seem as fantastic as buying BTC at $3,000 now.

As of this writing, Friday evening April 14, BTC/USD is trading at $30,440. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.276 trillion ($1.177 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose from 64 to 68 in seven days and is still in the Greed zone. But what's next?

A well-known analyst under the nickname PlanB noted that bitcoin has left the deep bear zone and is at the very beginning of a new bull market. According to PlanB, the Stock to Flow (S2F) model he developed is still relevant. The expert claims that bitcoin fundamentals will eventually allow it to rise above the all-time high (ATH) of $69,000 set in November 2021. PlanB has previously predicted bitcoin will rise from $100,000 to $1 million after the 2024 halving. (Recall that the S2F (stock-to-flow ratio) model for predicting the BTC rate measures the relationship between the available supply of an asset and its production volume and has been repeatedly criticized by members of the crypto community).

Larry Lepard, managing partner at Boston-based equity firm Equity Management Associates, also looks extremely optimistic in the long-term outlook. According to him, the dollar will depreciate over the next 10 years, and citizens will begin to actively invest in cryptocurrencies, gold and real estate. The supply of bitcoins is limited, so the digital asset will become a highly sought-after investment vehicle and will benefit from the collapse of the fiat currency. “I believe that the price of bitcoin will go up a lot. I think it will first reach $100,000, then $1 million and eventually rise to $10 million per coin. I’m sure my grandchildren will be shocked at how rich people who own just one bitcoin become,” Lepard said in an interview.

In connection with this forecast, the businessman fears that the authorities will put spokes in the wheels of the crypto industry, trying to slow down the growth in the popularity of digital assets. For example, officials could raise taxes on profits from bitcoin trading and tighten regulation of coins to make it harder for startups to enter the market. However, Lepard is confident that bitcoin will be able to overcome these difficulties and succeed in the long run.

Many analysts agree that long-term macro conditions do point to a possible rise in BTC. But their estimates are much more restrained in relation to the current rally. This is due to the fact that bitcoin liquidity is now much lower than in the same period last year. This is manifested in a greater price dispersion among the leading exchanges. (In the previous review, we wrote that on the one hand, there is an increase in trading volumes, and on the other hand, a decrease in BTC liquidity to a 10-month low).

Although, of course, the prospects for this year will largely depend on the actions of the leading Central banks led by the Fed. Recall that the record capitalization of the crypto market in November 2021 was also the result of the actions of this regulator, which then flooded the economy with a huge amount of cheap money (the M2 monetary unit grew by 39%, which is an anomaly by historical standards). Moreover, interest rates were near zero levels at the time, which led to the emergence of a bubble in the market for risky assets, including stocks and digital currencies. The Fed then moved from quantitative easing (QE) to quantitative tightening (QT) through the fastest interest-rate hike cycle in 40 years, and... the bubble burst.

Speaking about the prospects of the flagship cryptocurrency, it is impossible not to mention those who still consider it a bubble and predict its final collapse. Dieter Wermuth, an economist and partner at Wermuth Asset Management, said last week that the economy would be better and simpler without bitcoin. In his opinion, these risky investments are associated with social costs, and the cryptocurrency itself does not contribute to global prosperity. If we consider bitcoin as a currency, then, given the high volatility and lack of real use, BTC is doomed to failure. In this vein, it makes sense to ditch bitcoin altogether: it could be good for shared prosperity, as investing in cryptocurrencies is wasteful and takes away funds from overall economic growth. In addition, bitcoin creates social inequality, allows for money laundering, tax evasion, and is very energy intensive due to mining. Dieter Wermuth even called bitcoin “the biggest climate killer.”

Cryptocurrency opponents received unexpected support from … artificial intelligence. ChatGPT Bot spoke about the formation of a recession-resistant investment portfolio. According to a document published by the Gold IRA Guide, it recommended allocating 20% for gold and other precious metals. The rest of its hypothetical portfolio consisted of bonds (40%), "defensive" stocks (30%) and cash (10%). The chatbot did not mention cryptocurrencies, much to the delight of well-known bitcoin critic and gold advocate Peter Schiff. “After all, artificial intelligence is pretty smart. It did not recommend any bitcoin deposit,” this investor wrote.

By the way, answering the question of which cryptocurrency is the most promising today, ChatGPT did not name bitcoin, but ethereum. Artificial intelligence, of course, did not know about the latest events, but it seems to have hit the mark. In the last review, we detailed the Shapella hard fork, which will allow validators to withdraw the frozen ETH coins they have invested and locked on the network over the past 3 years in exchange for interest. Investors and traders were worried that an unlock could lead to a massive selling wave and, as a result, a sharp drop in the price. However, we are still seeing the opposite process: on May 13, ETH/USD rose above $2,000, and on the evening of Friday, April 14, it is trading in the $2,100 zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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Finance Derivative magazine announced the Awards 2023. Among the awardees is the NordFX brokerage company, which won in two categories at once: "Most Transparent Forex Brokerage Company UAE 2023" and "Best Forex Affiliate Program South East Asia 2023".

Finance Derivative is a print and online publication that publishes news and insights about the financial industry. It was founded in 2017 and provides its readers with information on financial technology, investment, banking, and other topics related to the financial sector. Finance Derivative's readership includes financial industry professionals, among them bankers, traders, analysts, consultants, investors, and managers.

In addition to publications, Finance Derivative hosts the annual Awards to celebrate outstanding achievements in the financial industry. The award includes several categories, such as "Best Bank", "Best Investment Fund", "Best Financial Startup", "Best Broker" and others. The award is given by a team of journalists and experts from the financial industry who conduct in-depth analysis and evaluation of candidates and decide who deserves the award. Past winners include such world-famous organizations as Barclays Bank and JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock investment fund, Visa and Revolut payment systems.

In 2023, the brokerage company NordFX is among the winners. «Finance Derivative would like to congratulate you and offers special recognition and appreciation for your outstanding performance and dedication to excellence. Honoring your outstanding performance, we are delighted to announce that Nord FX is the Winner 2023 for the Category "Most Transparent Forex Brokerage Company UAE 2023" and "Best Forex Affiliate Program South East Asia 2023".


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week



- Bobby Lee, founder of the Ballet app and former CEO of the BTCC China crypto exchange, noted signs of bitcoin recovery after the 2022 crypto winter in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “It has been like this for a long time. Cryptocurrency has these four-year cycles [...] and now we're almost back on track. It looks inspiring,” said the industry veteran.
According to Lee, amid the banking crisis, digital currencies have demonstrated the qualities of safe-haven assets. “People have begun to realize that their money in the bank is not necessarily in place. Institutions lend these funds to other enterprises and firms. And cryptocurrencies like bitcoin provide self-storage and full control over resources,” he said.
Lee also commented on the regulatory framework for US financial markets, calling it “the most mature and established regulatory regime.” According to the head of Ballet, supervisory agencies like the SEC, after a decade of calls for tougher policies regarding the crypto industry, have changed it to a more favorable one. Lee was also enthusiastic about the adoption of digital asset regulations in Hong Kong. In his opinion, the decisions of the authorities of both jurisdictions demonstrate a global shift towards the recognition of cryptocurrencies.

- Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director and founder of SkyBridge Capital, said he has not lost his enthusiasm for bitcoin. The investor added that he is more optimistic about the first cryptocurrency than ever.
Unlike Bobby Lee, he criticized the head of the SEC, Gary Gensler, for the "mess" in the department. Scaramucci believes that the first cryptocurrency should be classified as a commodity and not subject to regulation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

- Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz named the condition for bitcoin to reach $40,000. In his opinion, the quotes of the first cryptocurrency will rise to this level when the US Federal Reserve starts to reduce the key rate. “The most profitable trades have been and will continue to be longs on gold, euro, bitcoin and Ethereum: these assets will do well when the Fed stops raising [the base rate] and starts lowering it,” Novogratz said. He also predicted a reduction in loans amid the collapse of US banks. In his opinion, this could lead to a credit crisis, and the Fed, against the background of a “slowdown in the economy”, will have to cut the rate more aggressively than expected.
Galaxy Digital CEO called the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) lawsuit against the Binance bitcoin exchange, filed at the end of March, and its accusation of intentionally violating the rules established by the agency as the main uncertainty for the cryptocurrency market.

- Ark Invest has looked beyond Mike Novogratz and has announced the timeline for bitcoin to reach $1 million. “In the next decade, the value of bitcoin could reach $1 million as the digital economy grows,” said Yassine Elmandjra, an analyst at the company. He acknowledged that the 30x coin price growth forecast looks incredible, but it is “quite reasonable” if you look at the history of cryptocurrency development.
According to the Ark Invest analyst, statements that it is now too late to invest in BTC are wrong. The expert noted the impressive performance of bitcoin in recent times, which now makes digital gold an attractive component of investment portfolios. According to Elmandjra, a reasonable share of bitcoin in institutions should be between 2.5% and 6.5%, depending on the overall return of the portfolio and risk appetite.

- Robert Kiyosaki, author of the popular book Rich Dad Poor Dad, spoke again this week about the inevitability of financial turmoil and called on investors to invest more in bitcoin, gold and silver. The businessman promised that he would increase reserves in digital currency in the near future, as he does not trust the US Federal Reserve and the economic policies of the Joe Biden administration. “Why buy more gold, silver and bitcoin? Because the Fed, Treasury and Biden are liars!” Kioysaki said. According to his forecast, if large capital becomes more active in physical and digital gold, their price will rise to $5,000 and $500,000 by 2025, respectively.

- According to a report by Matrixport researchers, the price of bitcoin hit its predicted low in November 2022. The analysts explained that BTC historically bottomed out 515-458 days before the next halving. This event is scheduled for April 2024; hence the predicted low was between November 2022 and January 2023. That's what happened. This gives reason to expect that this model will continue to work further, and the value of the coin will rise to at least $63,160 by the spring of 2024.
In addition, the experts noted an interesting point. Their observations showed that American investors are more willing to invest in bitcoin, while their Asian counterparts prefer ethereum.

- Analyst Nicholas Merten is of an opposite opinion. He announced in a new video on DataDash to his 511,000 subscribers that it's time to sell bitcoin, as the first cryptocurrency has grown by almost 100% since November 2022. Merten believes that the first cryptocurrency's latest breakthrough could be a trap, as crypto markets were overbought.
The expert disagrees with those who believe that bitcoin will follow the 2019 scenario, when it rose by 300% in a few months. According to him, the scenario of June 2021 is likely to be repeated, when BTC reached its historical high and then collapsed.

- The creators of the famous chatbot ChatGPT have banned it from directly providing cryptocurrency forecasts. It turned out that it is very often wrong, and it is still unknown which algorithms it uses for its predictions. In addition, AI is not able to correctly interpret a lot of important data. These include, in particular, new posts on social networks by well-known analysts. Namely, many traders and investors rely on them when making decisions. Also, ChatGPT is unable to predict the occurrence of certain significant events on the crypto market, which reduces the accuracy of its forecasts significantly.
Based on the foregoing, it becomes obvious that the chatbot can only be used as an auxiliary tool, nothing more. It is extremely risky to create trading strategies and make trading decisions based on it. However, despite this, some users use various tricks to get around the ban, in the hope that a miracle will happen and ChatGPT will open their way to wealth.

- Owners of Android devices are at risk of becoming victims of a new virus that pretends to be the CoinSpot crypto exchange. This is reported by Cyble researchers who identified the Trojan. The list of the virus's functionality includes the ability to steal user credentials, cookies, and SMS messages.
Fraudsters also steal credit card information under the guise of subscribing to a chatbot. It was reported earlier that attackers began to distribute viruses under the guise of desktop versions of the ChatGPT chat bot from OpenAI. Thus, the Android and Windows operating systems were at risk.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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EUR/USD: Rate Forecast: USD +0.25%, EUR +0.50%

Due to the lack of significant economic news, the EUR/USD dynamics in recent days has been determined by statements by representatives of mega-regulators regarding interest rate hikes at the upcoming meetings of the US Federal Reserve on May 2/3 and the ECB on May 4.

The U.S. dollar index (DXY) rose following a statement from Federal Reserve representative Christopher Waller, who said that despite the most aggressive monetary policy tightening since the 1980s, the Fed has "not made substantial progress" in returning inflation to its target level of 2%, and that interest rates still need to be raised. As a result, DXY broke through the resistance of 102.00 on Monday, April 17 and reached the level of 102.22.

Raphael Bostic, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, seemed to support his colleague, but at the same time said that "another increase should be enough for us to step back and see how our policy affects the economy."

According to Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, the US Central Bank may soon finish raising interest rates, after which there may be a pause of almost a year and a half. "Since the full impact of monetary policy measures on the economy can take up to 18 months, we will continue to carefully analyze available data to determine what additional actions we may need to take," said Harker, speaking as part of the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation.

Another member of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee), Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, agreed that the Fed is close to completing the rate hike cycle. However, since inflation in the U.S. remains too high, Mester believes that "the interest rate needs to be raised to a level above 5% and maintained there for some time." At the same time, Ms. Mester did not specify how much "above" 5% (as the current rate is already at 5.00%) and what duration constitutes "some time."

On Wednesday, April 19th, the Beige Book was published: an economic review by the Federal Reserve, which is based on the reporting documents of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks that make up its system. The analysis of the document's content can be summarized in the following points: 1) economic conditions have somewhat cooled in recent weeks, while inflation continues to remain relatively high; 2) wage growth has slightly slowed down but also remains high; 3) the overall price level moderately increased during the reporting period, although the pace of price growth appears to have slowed down.

Taking into account the content of the Beige Book and the statements of FOMC members, the market concluded that the regulator will raise the rate by another 25 bps (basis points) at its meeting on May 2/3, after which it will take a pause. According to the WIRP forecast, the probability of such a rate hike is now about 90%, compared to 80% at the beginning of last week and 50% at the beginning of April. And this is already included in the price. The quotes still take into account one possible rate cut at the end of the year (two cuts were previously predicted).

More clarity may appear in early summer. But two more employment reports, two CPI/PPI reports and one retail sales report will be released between the May 2/3 and June 13/14 meetings. It is clear that all these data can seriously affect the further policy of the Federal Reserve.

As for the situation on the other side of the Atlantic, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published on Wednesday, April 19, showed that inflation in the Eurozone fell from 8.5% to 6.9% y/y. But since such a decline was fully consistent with the forecast, it did not have much impact on the pair's quotes.

The Minutes of the ECB's March monetary policy meeting were published the next day, on Thursday, May 20. According to this document, the overwhelming majority of the members of the Governing Board agreed with the proposal of Chief Economist Philip Lane to raise the key rate by 50 bps, after which it will reach 4.00%.

The situation described above led to the fact that the DXY Dollar Index consolidated in the area of 101.70-102.00, and EUR/USD stayed in the range of 1.0910-1.1000. S&P Global made a small contribution at the very end of the working week, it published preliminary data on the US Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for April. With a forecast of 52.8 and a previous value of 52.3, the Composite PMI came in at 53.7, which supported a certain degree of optimism regarding the state of the U.S. economy. But not for long. As a result, EUR/USD put the last chord almost at the upper limit of the weekly channel, at around 1.0988.

At the time of writing, on the evening of Friday, April 21, analysts' opinions are divided almost equally: 35% of them expect further weakening of the dollar, 35% - its strengthening, and the remaining 30% have taken a neutral position. As for technical analysis, all the trend indicators on D1 are colored green, as for the oscillators, these are 85%, 15% have changed color to red. The nearest support for the pair is located in the area of 1.0925-1.0955, then 1.0865-1.0885, 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0675-1.0710, 1.0620 and 1.0490-1.0530. The bulls will find resistance around 1.1000-1.1015, then 1.1050-1.1070, then 1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280 and 1.1355-1.1390.

We expect a lot of economic statistics next week, especially from the United States. The US Consumer Confidence Index will be known on Tuesday, April 25. The next day, statistics on the volume of orders for capital goods and durable goods will be received from the United States. On Thursday, April 27, data on unemployment and GDP will be known, and on Friday - on personal consumption expenditures in the United States. At the very end of the working week, there will also be a lot of information about the state of the economy of Germany, the main locomotive of the EU. These are the country's GDP indicators, unemployment data, as well as such an important indicator of inflation as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, one thing not to expect in the upcoming week is speeches from Federal Reserve representatives, as a silence period began on April 21 and will last until the press conference by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell following the May meeting, with no other statements being made during this time.

GBP/USD: Things Are Not as Bad, But Not as Good Either

The inflation data for March in the United Kingdom, published on Wednesday, May 19, turned out to be not very bad, but not quite good either: in March, the CPI dropped from 10.4% YoY to only 10.1%, while the market was expecting a decline to 9.8%. The fact that consumer prices remain high has given reason to expect that the Bank of England (BoE) will continue to raise interest rates. And this, in turn, supported the British currency a little.

The seasonally adjusted S&P Global/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in the UK manufacturing sector, with a growth forecast of 48.5, has actually fallen from 47.9 to 46.6 over the month. On the other hand, the preliminary Index of business activity in the service sector presented a surprise: with the forecast and the March value of 52.9, it jumped to 54.9 in April. Thus, the composite PMI improved from 52.2 in March to 53.9 in April.

Commenting on this positive outcome, Dr John Glen, Chief Economist at the UK's Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), said it was the fastest recovery for the year, which showed that "businesses are taking advantage of the pockets of recovery emerging in the UK economy, and activity levels have risen sharply thanks to new orders and improved supply chain performance."

The UK Office for National Statistics reported on Friday April 21 that retail sales fell 0.9% in March after a 1.1% increase in February. The data turned out to be weaker than the forecast, which suggested a decline of 0.5%, which put pressure on the pound.

GBP/USD started the past five days at 1.2414, and ended nearby at 1.2442, showing a sideways movement against the background of multidirectional statistics. At the moment, 45% of experts side with the pound and expect further growth of the pair, 35% side with the dollar and 20% vote for the continuation of the sideways trend. Among the oscillators on D1, the balance of power is as follows: 35% vote in favor of green, 25% have turned red and 40% prefer neutral gray. Trend indicators are 100% on the side of the greens. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will face resistance at the levels of 1.2450-1.2480, 1.2510-1.2540, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2820 and 1.2940.

No important statistics on the state of the UK economy are expected in the coming week.

USD/JPY: No BoJ Surprises Expected

USD/JPY rose to its highest level in six weeks, reaching the height of 135.13 on April 19. The fall of the yen was exacerbated by the data of the Ministry of Finance on Japan's trade deficit for the 2022 fiscal year. The figure was $160 billion, setting an anti-record since 1979. At the same time, the mood is quite positive in the semi-annual report of the Bank of Japan, published on April 21, since "the Japanese financial system as a whole remains stable," and the expectation of inflation falling to the target 2% runs like a red thread through all statements.

The historic meeting of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will take place next week, on Friday, April 28. Historic not because any revolutionary decisions may be made, but because it will be the first one chaired by the new Central Bank Governor Kazuo Ueda, following the departure of Haruhiko Kuroda. Citing a number of informed sources, Reuters reported that the regulator is likely to maintain an ultra-loose monetary policy at this meeting, without making any changes to the interest rate targets and the yield corridor. Recall that the rate is at a negative level of -0.1%, and the last time it changed was on January 29 of 2016, when it was lowered by 20 bps.

Three main factors can support the yen: investor risk flight, the weakening of the dollar due to the easing of the Fed's monetary policy and a decrease in Treasury yields. Recall that there is a direct correlation between ten-year US bonds and USD/JPY. If the yield on Treasury bills falls, the yen shows growth, and the pair forms a downtrend.

USD/JPY ended the last week at the level of 134.12. Regarding its immediate prospects, the opinions of analysts are distributed as follows. At the moment, 35% of experts vote for the growth of the pair, 65% point in the opposite direction, expecting the yen to strengthen. Among the oscillators, 90% point to D1 (10% of them are in the overbought zone), the remaining 10% adhere to neutrality. Trend indicators have 75% looking to the north, 25% pointing to the south. The nearest support level is located in the 134.00 zone, followed by the levels and zones 132.80-133.00, 132.00-132.40, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.65, 128.00-128.15 and 127.20. The resistance levels and zones are 134.75-135.15, 135.90-136.00, 137.00, 137.50 and 137.90-138.00.

The meeting of the BoJ and the subsequent press conference of the leadership of this regulator was mentioned above. As for the release of any important statistics on the state of the Japanese economy, it is not expected in the coming week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Bitcoin Falls, but Optimism Grows



The bulls have struggled to keep BTC/USD above the $29,000 support since April 10. However, it still fell on Thursday, April 20, pulling other cryptocurrencies with it and causing a wave of closing long positions. There was no obvious reason for this drawdown, beautifully named Coinglass. Some analysts believe that against the backdrop of a news vacuum, technical signals have come to the fore. And perhaps some growth in the DXY Dollar Index on April 14-17 played a role. But, despite this fall, according to many experts, the prospects for bitcoin look quite optimistic, which is confirmed by both network metrics and macroeconomic factors. Investors' appetites are fueled by a good start of the flagship cryptocurrency, which showed a yield of 70% in Q1. Thanks to this, Goldman Sachs experts called it the most effective financial asset in 2023.

According to analytics agency Glassnode, despite the collapse of FTX and tightening crypto regulation, the holdings of long-term holders (addresses with coins that have been idle for more than 155 days) rose to 14.2 million BTC. This is near the all-time high and suggests that coin owners are counting on their growth in the future.

At the moment, there is no clear understanding of the future monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve. But it is the behavior of the American mega-regulator that is decisive for the dollar exchange rate, and as a result, determines in which direction the BTC/USD scales will swing. Robert Kiyosaki, author of the popular book Rich Dad Poor Dad, spoke again this week about the inevitability of financial turmoil and called on investors to invest more in bitcoin, gold and silver. The businessman promised that he would increase reserves in digital currency in the near future, as he does not trust the US Federal Reserve and the economic policies of the Joe Biden administration. According to Kiyosaki's forecast, if big capital becomes more active in physical and digital gold, their price will rise to $5,000 and $500,000 by 2025, respectively.

It should be noted here that, according to Glassnode, the correlation coefficient between XAU and BTC is growing and now exceeds 0.85. Such a connection of bitcoin with the classic safe-haven asset can provide it with serious support, since gold has already approached its all-time high and is preparing to update it.

Ark Invest looked even further into the future than Robert Kiyosaki and called the timing of bitcoin's reaching $1 million. “In the next decade, the value of bitcoin could reach $1 million as the digital economy grows,” said Yassine Elmandjra, an analyst at the company. He acknowledged that the 30x coin price growth forecast looks incredible, but it is “quite reasonable” if you look at the history of cryptocurrency development.

According to the Ark Invest analyst, statements that it is now too late to invest in BTC are wrong. The expert noted the impressive performance of bitcoin in recent times, which now makes digital gold an attractive component of investment portfolios. According to Elmandjra, a reasonable share of bitcoin in institutions should be between 2.5% and 6.5%, depending on the overall return of the portfolio and risk appetite.

Bobby Lee, the founder of the Ballet app and the former CEO of the BTCC China crypto exchange, have taken a similar position. In his opinion, against the backdrop of the banking crisis, digital currencies have demonstrated the qualities of safe-haven assets. “People have begun to realize that their money in the bank is not necessarily in place. Institutions lend these funds to other enterprises and firms. And cryptocurrencies like bitcoin provide self-storage and full control over resources". At the same time, Lee has noted signs of bitcoin's recovery after the crypto winter of 2022. “It has been like this for a long time. Cryptocurrency has four-year cycles [...] and now we have practically recovered. It looks inspiring,” said the industry veteran.

According to a report by Matrixport researchers, the price of bitcoin hit its predicted low in November 2022. The analysts explained that BTC historically bottomed out 515-458 days before the next halving. This event is scheduled for April 2024; hence the predicted low was between November 2022 and January 2023. And so it happened. This gives reason to expect that this model will continue to work further, and the value of the coin will rise to at least $63,160 by the spring of 2024.

As for the near-term prospects, the analytical agency K33 predicts the growth of BTC/USD by another 50% in the next 30 days. The analysis is based on the surprising similarity of the 2018 and 2022 cycles. So, in both cases, it took about 370 days to reach the bottom from the historical high, and recovery to 60% took another 140 days. Further extrapolation suggests that bitcoin will trade around $45,000 in the last decade of May.

The forecast of Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz looks more modest and stretched in time. In his opinion, the quotes of the first cryptocurrency will rise to $40,000 only when the US Federal Reserve begins to reduce the key rate. “The most profitable trades have been and will continue to be longs on gold, euro, bitcoin and Ethereum: these assets will do well when the Fed stops raising [the base rate] and starts lowering it,” Novogratz said. He also predicted a reduction in loans amid the collapse of US banks. In his opinion, this could lead to a credit crisis, and the Fed, against the background of a “slowdown in the economy”, will have to cut the rate more aggressively than expected.

And of course, against the background of dominant optimism, the forecast of analyst Nicholas Merten looks exactly the opposite. He announced in a new video on DataDash to his 511,000 subscribers that it's time to sell bitcoin, as the first cryptocurrency has grown by almost 100% since November 2022. Merten believes that the first cryptocurrency's latest breakthrough could be a trap, as crypto markets were overbought. The expert disagrees with those who believe that bitcoin will follow the 2019 scenario, when it rose by 300% in a few months. According to him, the scenario of June 2021 is likely to be repeated, when BTC reached its historical high and then collapsed.

At the time of writing, Friday evening, April 21, BTC/USD is trading at $27,305. The total capitalization of the crypto market is $1.153 trillion ($1.276 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell from 68 to 50 in seven days, and moved from the Greed zone to the very center of the Neutral zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



- According to experts from the British bank Standard Chartered, bitcoin could reach $100,000 by the end of 2024, which indicates the end of the so-called "crypto winter", writes Reuters. Standard Chartered believes that at the beginning of 2023 bitcoin profitably took advantage of its status as a "brand haven" for savings and a tool for money transfers. Its further growth will be facilitated by recent turmoil in the banking sector, stabilization of risky assets due to the end of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate hike cycle and increased profitability in crypto mining.
In addition, support for the main cryptocurrency may be provided by the adoption by the European Parliament of the first set of EU rules on the regulation of crypto-asset markets. According to JPMorgan experts, the growth of BTC will also be affected by halving in April 2024.

- The Bitcoin Archive press service reminded that there is less than a year left until the next bitcoin halving. As of April 24, 2023, this procedure is scheduled for April 06, 2024. However, this date is not final and may change, as it has already happened many times before.
A number of market participants believe that this event will be very important for the future value of the flagship cryptocurrency. In their opinion, the cycles for the cryptocurrency are unchanged, and BTC quotes will reach new all-time highs a year or a year and a half after the halving, as happened in previous cycles. Other experts note that the market situation has changed. Bitcoin has become a mass phenomenon and now "other laws and regulations have started to work" for cryptocurrency, so other factors will be decisive, rather than halving.

- Former Goldman Sachs top manager and macro investor Raoul Pal says that the crypto sector will increase from the current 300 million to more than 1 billion users during the next bull cycle. According to him, risky assets like cryptocurrencies are facing an "inevitable wave of liquidity." And such an influx of capital will "illuminate" the industry with new innovations.
The macro investor believes that the Fed has most likely already completed the interest rate hike. He also speaks about the approaching recession, which will force the regulator to "change course" and support the markets by printing money. "This is exactly what happened in 2019 after the Fed's reversal in 2018. The agency will pause very soon or has already done so," Raul Pal explained.

- According to a recent study by DaapGamble, more than a third of TikTok crypto influencers have posted misleading videos about cryptocurrencies and investing in them. Influencers sometimes share unverified misinformation in an attempt to convince inexperienced viewers to invest their money or their parents' money (since many TikTok users are young people) in cryptocurrencies, which leads to a loss of funds. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, who was ordered by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to pay a fine of $1.26 million for promoting EthereumMax (EMAX), have been criticized.

- After reports of the activation of a bitcoin wallet with 1000 BTC worth more than $27 million, which has been asleep for 12 years, the host of the CNBC program "Crypto Trader" Ran Neuner expressed concern about what was happening. He fears hacking wallets by a special generator, the work of which is based on Artificial Intelligence. "Activating these old BTC addresses can be a really scary phenomenon," Ran Neuner was alarmed. - I hope it's not about hacking. Otherwise, all this can have catastrophic consequences".
It should be noted that such a case of unexpected awakening is far from being the only one. So, an awakened bitcoin whale of the Satoshi era has recently suddenly scattered 400 BTC to several new addresses. And last week, the Whale Alert service reported that another whale with 1128 BTC, after 10.5 years of inactivity, transferred more than 279 BTC worth $7.6 million to new wallets.
These strange events are taking place against the backdrop of a general surge in activity on the bitcoin network: according to Glassnode, the number of transactions exceeds 270,000 per day at the moment, approaching the average monthly cycle highs.

- Billionaire venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya believes that US regulators have "strangled" the cryptocurrency sector, which is now "on the verge of survival" in the United States. This is done out of concern that digital assets could undermine the dominance of the dollar. However, this will only lead to the fact that American crypto companies will be pushed abroad, and the country will be deprived of opportunities for innovation.
"Cryptocurrencies are dead in America. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler blames crypto assets even for the banking crisis, so it's safe to say that the United States authorities have firmly pointed their weapons at them," Palihapitiya said. The billionaire added that now the main blow of regulators is being taken by good players in the crypto industry, who pay for the collapse of the FTX exchange and the bankruptcy of cryptocurrency hedge funds that "planted a stain" on the reputation of the industry.

- An analyst aka DonAlt, who has repeatedly given an accurate forecast for the price movement of bitcoin, believes that the coin is now ready to return to the level of $30,000. At the same time, he allows a correction up to $20,000, which, in his opinion, should be considered a good level for replenishing the stocks of the main cryptocurrency. At the same time, DonAlt excludes its fall to the lows of November 2022 around $15,400.

- An expert and trader under the nickname Doctor Profit recalled his words that bitcoin groped the bottom at the level of $15,400 and it is unlikely that we will see a repeated decline to this mark. According to him, this dump in November 2022 was a complete capitulation, including for bitcoin miners, some of whom were forced to sell the mined coins and their equipment at a loss.
In his opinion, the market is neither in a bull nor in a bear market now, but in an accumulation phase. At the same time, Dr. Profit has advised traders to closely monitor the correlation between the Chinese stock market and BTC. He believes that China will lift the ban on cryptocurrency and legalize it, which will have a very positive impact on the price of cryptocurrencies in the long run.

- Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jamie Coutts predicts a rise in bitcoin to $50,000 even before halving in April 2024. "The price of bitcoin sinks to the bottom when there are 12-18 months left before the halving. The structure of the current cycle is similar to the previous ones. Nevertheless, many factors have changed: the network has become noticeably more stable, but bitcoin has never experienced a long economic downturn, "said Coutts. If his prediction turns out to be correct, bitcoin will rise in price by about 220% by April 2024 from the bottom reached in last November.

- A popular analyst under the nickname PlanB, known for his Stock-to-Flow model, expects bitcoin to grow significantly. "My predictions continue to come true within the framework of the S2F model. Before halving, you should expect $32,000 per bitcoin, then $60,000. Then [after halving] $100,000 will be the minimum, and the maximum rate can reach $1 million. But, on average, after the next halving, the BTC rate should reach $542,000," PlanB wrote. At the same time, the analyst stressed that the behavior of the crypto market is fully consistent with S2F, so its critics are simply untenable.

- Legendary investor Warren Buffett has called bitcoin "rat poison squared." And he has recently stated that BTC is a token for gambling, noting that "it has no intrinsic value." However, statistics show that the well-known entrepreneur has been wrong in his judgments. If Buffett had added just 2.5% to his portfolio in bitcoins in 2014, this would have increased the investor's total return by 20%.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

Your 202+3 Chances to Win in 2023

Participation in the NordFX Super Lottery is a great opportunity to improve your financial situation by winning one or even several large cash prizes. The total prize pool is $100,000 and is divided in 2023 into 202 prizes from $250 to $1,800 plus 3 super prizes of $5,000 each.

The organizer of the Super Lottery is NordFX, an international brokerage company with 15 years of experience in financial markets, which is trusted by clients from 188 countries around the world. All information about the terms of the Super Lottery can be found on the broker's official website NordFX.

As early as 1748, Benjamin Franklin, whose portrait adorns the $100 bill, formulated one of the main financial laws: Time is Money. So, hurry up and don't waste time: the sooner you participate in the lottery (which is not difficult at all), the more likely you are to win there!


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

NordFX brokerage company has summed up the performance of its clients' trade transactions in April 2023. The services of social trading, PAMM and CopyTrading, as well as the profit received by the company's IB-partners have also been assessed.

- The maximum profit this month was earned by a client from East Asia, account №1543XXX, who made 25,086 USD through transactions with gold (XAU/USD), bitcoin (BTC/USD), and the Japanese Yen (USD/JPY).

- The second place in the Top 3 was taken by a trader from Southeast Asia, account №1686XXX, with a result of 23,341 USD, which was also achieved through transactions with gold (XAU/USD).

- The same precious metal allowed the owner of account №1687XXX from East Asia to earn a profit of 22,250 USD and secure the third position on the pedestal of honor.

The situation in NordFX passive investment services is as follows:

- In CopyTrading, the long-standing signal "veteran" with a complex name, KennyFXPRO - Prismo 2K, continues to be noticeable. Its profit amounted to 348% over the course of 726 days. Let us remind you that this signal faced significant challenges last November, as the maximum drawdown surpassed 67%. In all fairness, it should be noted that such an impressive failure was a one-time occurrence, and KennyFXPRO - Prismo 2K has been fairly stable for the rest of the time.
The same provider introduced another signal last December, with an even more intricate name: KennyFXPRO - Variables_RBB 35. In its 144 days of existence, it has demonstrated a modest 27% profit with a reasonably moderate 24% drawdown. If the provider of this signal manages to prevent it from experiencing more serious setbacks, it could potentially become a strong competitor to its "senior colleague" in the future.

The performance of the signal ATFOREXACADEMY ALGO 1, which we discussed in our previous review, ended in disaster. During its initial 100 days, it exhibited a remarkably high yield of 202%. However, April proved to be extremely unfavorable for it, with a drawdown of over 90%, once again reminding us that trading in financial markets is a highly risky endeavor.

Lastly, in reviewing April, the startup signal Trade2win deserves attention. Existing for just one month, it has shown an impressive outcome on gold trades, with a return of 2,290% and a maximum drawdown of less than 15%. Relentless statistics indicate that even less aggressive trading strategies can lead to a complete loss of funds, thus investors must exercise extreme caution. We will observe and see what happens with this signal in May.

- Two accounts, which we have previously mentioned in our past reviews, are still present on the PAMM service showcase. These are KennyFXPRO-The Multi 3000 EA and TranquilityFX-The Genesis v3. They suffered serious losses in mid-November 2022: the drawdown at that moment approached 43%. However, the PAMM managers have decided not to give up, and as of April 30, 2023, the profit on the first account has approached 90%, while on the second account it has surpassed 58%.

In April, we continued to monitor the Trade and earn account. It was opened more than a year ago, but was in a state of hibernation, waking up only in November. As a result, the yield on it has exceeded 76% over the past 6 months with a very small drawdown of less than 10%.

Among the IB partners, NordFX TOP-3 is as follows:
- the largest commission, 5,348 USD, was credited to a partner from West Asia, account No.1621ХXХ;
- next is partner from South Asia, account No.1618XXX, who received 3,991 USD;
- finally, their compatriot with account №1517XXX completes the top three, earning a reward of $3,876 USD.

***

In summarizing the month, it is important to remind traders that they now have an excellent opportunity to boost their budget. NordFX has launched another super lottery for its clients this year, in which over 200 cash prizes totaling 100,000 USD will be drawn. It is very easy to take part in the lottery and get a chance to win one or even several of these prizes. All the details are available on the NordFX website.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Awaiting Fed and ECB Meetings



The main factor determining the dynamics of the US Dollar Index (DXY) and, consequently, the EUR/USD pair last week was… silence. If recently, the speeches of Federal Reserve representatives were almost the most important market guide, then a silence regime has been in effect since April 21. Leading up to the press conference by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell following the FOMC's May meeting, all officials are instructed to maintain silence. Only a few days remain until the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting, where a decision regarding the regulator's future monetary policy will be made, scheduled for May 2/3. Furthermore, on Thursday, May 4, there will be a meeting of the European Central Bank, where an interest rate decision will also be made. In general, the upcoming five-day period promises to be, at the very least, not dull.

Of course, macroeconomic data and events from both sides of the Atlantic caused certain fluctuations in EUR/USD last week. However, the final result was close to zero: if on Friday, May 21, the last chord sounded at the 1.0988 mark, then on Friday, May 28, it was placed not far away: at the 1.1015 level.

One event worth highlighting was the publication of the First Republic Bank (FRC) report, which ranks among the top 30 US banks by market capitalization. It was this report that led to the dollar's decline and the pair's surge by more than 100 points on Wednesday, April 26.

It seemed that the banking crisis caused by the tightening of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy (QT) was beginning to fade... US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen even assured the public of the resilience of the banking sector. But then... a new flare-up called First Republic Bank (FRC). To prevent its bankruptcy and support its liquidity in Q1 2023, a consortium of banks transferred $30 billion in uninsured deposits to FRC. Another $70 billion in the form of credit was provided by JPMorgan. However, this was not enough: the bank's clients began to scatter, and FRC shares collapsed by 45% in two days and by 95% since the beginning of the year. In March alone, clients withdrew $100 billion from the bank. Thus, First Republic Bank has a very high chance of becoming number 4 in the lineup of bankrupted major US banks. And if the Fed does not stop its QT cycle, there is a very high probability that numbers 5, 6, 7, and so on will appear on this list.

However, as we have already detailed in our previous review, at the meeting on May 2/3, the key rate will be raised by only 25 basis points (FedWatch from CME estimates the probability of this at 72%). After that, the US Central bank is likely to take a pause. As stated by the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Raphael Bostic, "one more increase should be enough for us to step back and see how our policy is reflected in the economy." It should be noted that the 25 bp rate hike has long been factored into market quotations. Therefore, immediately after the news about FRC and the surge to 1.1095, EUR/USD returned to a comfortable state for itself.

At the time of writing the review, on Friday evening, April 28, analysts' opinions were divided as follows: 35% of them expect the dollar to weaken and the pair to rise, 50% expect it to strengthen, and the remaining 15% have taken a neutral position. As for technical analysis, among oscillators on D1, 85% are coloured green, 15% are neutral-grey, among trend indicators, 90% are green, and 10% have changed to red. The nearest support for the pair is located in the area of 1.0985-1.1000, followed by 1.0925-1.0955, 1.0865-1.0885, 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0675-1.0710, 1.0620, and 1.0490-1.0530. Bulls will encounter resistance in the area of 1.1050-1.1070, then 1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280, and 1.1355-1.1390.

In addition to the aforementioned FOMC and ECB meetings, we can expect a substantial amount of economic data next week. On Monday, May 1, the ISM Manufacturing PMI for the US will be published. The next day, the value of a similar index, but for Germany, will become known. Also, on Tuesday, May 2, we will learn about the inflation situation in the Eurozone, as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released. Furthermore, on May 2, 3, 4, and 5, we will get a flurry of US labour market data. Important indicators such as the unemployment rate and the number of new non-farm jobs in the US (NFP) are among these, they will traditionally be published on the first Friday of the month, May 5.

GBP/USD: BoE vs. Fed: Who Will Win the Battle of Interest Rates?

The Bank of England (BoE) meeting will take place a week after the Fed's meeting, on Thursday, May 11. Most experts believe that the cycle of interest rate hikes for the pound is not yet over, which supports the British currency.

Recent data on inflation for March contribute to these forecasts. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in annual terms once again reached a double-digit figure, 10.1%, which is higher than the forecast of 9.8%. To bring this indicator below the psychologically important mark of 10.0%, the BoE is highly likely to continue following the Fed's example. Market participants expect the regulator to raise the interest rate by 50 basis points on May 11: from 4.25% to 4.75%. No more effective ways to curb inflation have been devised so far. And if it continues to remain so high, it will harm both the consumer market and the overall UK economy.

Since the beginning of April, we have observed a sideways trend. However, GBP/USD finished the past five-day period at the 1.2566 mark, unexpectedly breaking the upper boundary of the channel. Perhaps the reason for the jump was the closing of trading positions at the end of the month. Currently, 75% of experts are in favor of the dollar, and only 25% side with the British pound. Among oscillators on D1, the balance of power is as follows: 85% vote in favor of the green (with a third of them being in the overbought zone), and the remaining 15% have turned neutral-grey. Trend indicators are 100% on the green side. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2450-1.2480, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, and 1.1800-1.1840. As the pair moves north, it will encounter resistance at the levels of 1.2510-1.2540, 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2700, 1.2820, and 1.2940.

Regarding important statistics on the state of the UK economy for the upcoming week, on Tuesday, May 2, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) will be published. Then, on May 4, we will learn the value of the PMI for the services sector as well as the composite business activity indicator for the UK as a whole. Traders should also be aware that there will be a bank holiday in the country on Monday, May 1.

USD/JPY: Bank of Japan - Heading for Softer Ultra-Soft Policy

Forecasting the interest rate of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) is quite simple and very, very boring. As a reminder, it is currently at a negative level of -0.1% and was last changed on January 29 of the distant 2016, when it was lowered by 20 basis points. This time around, at its meeting on Friday, April 28, the regulator left it unchanged at the same -0.1%.

But that's not all. Many market participants were expecting that with the arrival of the new Central bank governor, Kazuo Ueda, the regulator would eventually change course towards tightening. However, contrary to these expectations, during his first press conference following his first meeting on April 28, Ueda stated, "We will continue to ease monetary policy without hesitation if necessary." One might wonder how much softer it could get, but it turns out that the current -0.1% is not the limit.

The result of the BoJ governor's words can be seen on the chart: in just a few hours, USD/JPY soared from 133.30 to 136.55, weakening the yen by 325 points. Of course, it's still far from the October 2022 peak, but a rise to the 137.50 level no longer seems entirely unrealistic.

The pair ended the past week at the level of 136.30. Regarding its near-term prospects, analysts' opinions are distributed as follows: currently, only 25% of experts vote for the pair's further growth, 65% point in the opposite direction, expecting the yen to strengthen, and 10% simply shrug. Among the oscillators on D1, 85% point upward (a third of them are in the overbought zone), while the remaining 15% remain neutral. Trend indicators show 90% looking north, and 10% pointing south. The nearest support level is in the 136.00 area. Next are the levels and zones at 135.60, 134.75-135.15, 132.80-133.00, 132.00-132.40, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.65, 128.00-128.15, and 127.20. Resistance levels and zones are at 137.50 and 137.90-138.00, 139.05, and 140.60.
Regarding events characterizing the state of the Japanese economy, none are expected in the coming week. Moreover, the country is looking forward to a series of holidays: May 3 is Constitution Day, May 4 - Greenery Day, and May 5 is Children's Day. As a result, the dynamics of USD/JPY will depend entirely on what is happening on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, in the United States.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Awaiting the 2024 Halving

BTC/USD continued to decline on Monday, April 24 and, after breaking the support at $27,000, fell to $26,933. Market participants were already prepared to see bitcoin go even lower at the strong support level of $26,500. However, it unexpectedly soared to $30,020 on April 26. The main cryptocurrency was saved, as it has been many times before and will be many times again, by a weakened dollar. The cause of the shock was the problems of First Republic Bank, which followed a series of bankruptcies of crypto-friendly banks, as discussed above.

The correlation between the crypto and banking industries arises thanks to the following chain of events: 1) Tightening of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy hits banks, lowering their asset prices, reducing demand for their services, and causing customers to flee. 2) This situation creates serious difficulties for some banks and leads to the bankruptcy of others. 3) This can force the Fed to pause its cycle of raising interest rates or even lower them. Additionally, the regulator may restart the printing press to support bank liquidity. 4) Low rates and a flow of new cheap money lead to a decrease in the value of the dollar and allow investors to direct these funds into risky assets such as stocks and cryptocurrencies, which leads to an increase in their quotes. We have already seen this during the COVID-19 pandemic and may see it again in the near future.

According to former Goldman Sachs top manager and macro-investor Raoul Pal, the Federal Reserve (Fed) is likely to have finished its saga of raising interest rates. He has also predicted an upcoming recession that will force the regulator to "change course" and support the markets by printing money. In that case, he believes that risky assets are in for an "inevitable liquidity wave." This capital influx will "enlighten" the crypto industry with new innovations, and the number of people using digital assets will increase from the current 300 million to over 1 billion.

According to experts from the British bank Standard Chartered, bitcoin has benefited from its status as a "brand refuge" for savings at the beginning of 2023, and the current situation indicates the end of the "crypto winter". Standard Chartered believes that recent turmoil in the banking sector, stabilization of risky assets due to the end of the Fed's interest rate hike cycle, and increased profitability in the crypto mining industry will contribute to BTC's further growth. In addition, the adoption of the first EU framework for regulating crypto markets by the European Parliament could also support the leading cryptocurrency. The upcoming halving event will also impact BTC's growth, with bitcoin potentially reaching $100,000 by the end of 2024.

It should be noted that the topic of halving is becoming more and more prevalent. The Bitcoin Archive press service reminds us that it is less than a year away, with the procedure scheduled for April 6, 2024, as of April 24, 2023. However, this date is not final and may change, as it has in the past.

Some market participants believe that this event will be crucial for the future price of the flagship cryptocurrency. They believe that cycles for cryptocurrencies are consistent, and BTC quotes will reach new record highs a year or a year and a half after halving, as happened in previous cycles. Others argue that the market situation has changed. Bitcoin has become a mass phenomenon, and now "other laws and rules apply to the cryptocurrency", so other factors will become decisive, not just the halving of mining rewards.

It is worth noting that the second group of specialists includes Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jamie Coutts, who predicts that the price of bitcoin will rise to $50,000 before April 2024. "The price of bitcoin bottoms out when there are 12-18 months left until the halving. The structure of the current cycle is similar to previous ones. However, many factors have changed: the network has become significantly more resilient, and bitcoin has never experienced a prolonged economic downturn," Coutts said. If his forecast is correct, the asset will appreciate by about 220% from the low reached last November before the halving.

The expert and trader known as Doctor Profit reminded of his previous statement that the bottom for bitcoin was reached at the level of $15,400, and it is unlikely that we will see another drop to this level. The dump in November 2022 was a complete capitulation, including for bitcoin miners, some of whom were forced to sell their coins and equipment at a loss. According to Doctor Profit, BTC is currently in an accumulation phase, neither in a bull nor in a bear market. At the same time, the specialist has advised traders to closely monitor the correlation between the Chinese stock market and bitcoin, believing that China will lift the ban on cryptocurrencies and legalize them, which will have a very positive long-term effect on their price.

Another analyst under the nickname DonAlt also excludes a drop in BTC/USD to the lows of November 2022. At the same time, he allows for a correction down to $20,000, which, in his opinion, will be a good level to replenish the reserves of the main cryptocurrency.

It's been a while since we quoted the popular analyst under the nickname PlanB, known for his Stock-to-Flow (S2F) model. He continues to assert that the predictions he makes based on this model continue to come true. "Before the halving, we can expect $32,000 for bitcoin, then $60,000. Then [after the halving] $100,000 will become the minimum, and the maximum rate could reach $1 million. But on average, after the next halving, the BTC rate should reach $542,000," wrote PlanB. At the same time, the analyst emphasized that the behaviour of the crypto market fully corresponds to S2F, so its critics are simply unfounded.

It is worth noting that PlanB is not alone in his super-optimistic predictions for the price of bitcoin, which legendary Warren Buffett called "rat poison squared." Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the popular book Rich Dad Poor Dad, believes that the value of the flagship cryptocurrency will rise to $500,000 by 2025. And at Ark Invest, looking a decade ahead, they named a figure of $1 million per coin.

As of the evening of Friday, April 28, BTC/USD is trading at $29,345. The total market capitalization of the crypto market is $1.205 trillion ($1.153 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has increased from 50 to 64 points over the past seven days, moving from Neutral to the Greed zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- The idea of launching a digital dollar CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) in the US has faced active criticism from Republican politicians. In February, Congressman Tom Emmer introduced a bill to protect "financial privacy" when using central bank digital currencies. He also stated that CBDC technology offends American values and may contribute to "financial control" over citizens.
In April, another Republican senator, Ted Cruz, called the launch of the digital dollar "extremely dangerous" for society, as the government would gain access to every transaction. At the same time, he praised Bitcoin and talked about his investments in the asset.
Best-selling author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki joined the chorus of Republicans, consistently urging people to buy "more gold, silver, and bitcoins." "In his book '1984,' George Orwell warned, 'Big Brother is watching.' Biden's CBDC is that Big Brother," Kiyosaki wrote.

- Jenny Johnson, CEO of investment firm Franklin Templeton, which manages assets worth $1.5 trillion, criticized bitcoin, stating that it is the biggest distraction from real innovation - blockchain technology. She also warned that the crypto industry should prepare for tighter regulatory rules. The head of Franklin Templeton further cautioned that bitcoin will never be able to become a global currency, as the US government will not allow it to happen. "I can tell you that if bitcoin becomes so important that it threatens the dollar as a reserve currency, the US will restrict its use." In contrast to the US, Johnson listed Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates as crypto-friendly jurisdictions.

- The White House released a report last September stating that cryptocurrency miners consume more energy than the entire country of Australia and account for between 0.9% and 1.7% of the total electricity consumption in the United States. In response to this, the Council of Economic Advisers under President Joe Biden (CEA) has proposed a 30% tax on miners to discourage their negative impact on the climate. This new measure is expected to generate approximately $3.5 billion in revenue for the government over the next ten years and serve as another method for authorities to exert pressure on an industry they consider a threat.
According to Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, President Joe Biden will sign a law within the next 12 months that will establish new regulations for the cryptocurrency market.

- Legendary trader, analyst, and head of Factor LLC, Peter Brandt, believes that bitcoin will soon outpace other digital assets. "I hold the view that bitcoin will bury all the pretenders. In the end, there will be only one king of the hill," he wrote.
The expert drew attention to the Bitcoin dominance chart, which tracks the share of the first cryptocurrency in the total market capitalization of the crypto market. According to Brandt, the indicator is preparing for a breakthrough after a two-year consolidation in the form of a large rectangle. While the trend is in a "constraining range," the breakout from this range will be crucial for the asset, the analyst explained. Over the past five years, BTC's share has dropped to 32.4% in 2018 and risen to 71.9% in 2021. At the time of writing, it stands at 47.0%. The indicator likely needs to surpass the 50% mark to initiate a bullish movement.

- Investor and billionaire Ray Dalio admitted that although he owns bitcoin, he prefers gold. In his opinion, the first cryptocurrency serves as good inflation insurance, but not a full-fledged alternative to the precious metal. "I don't understand why people lean more towards bitcoin than gold," he wrote. "At the international level, gold is the third-largest reserve asset for central banks, following dollars, euros, gold, and then Japanese yen."
According to Dalio, the precious metal is "timeless and universal." Bitcoin, on the other hand, requires close attention from investors due to its volatility. "You have to be prepared for a significant drop, around 80% or so," the billionaire warned.

- Coinbase Business Director Conor Grogan claims to have found a "jailbreak" (vulnerability) in ChatGPT's software. This "jailbreak" allows for obtaining AI (artificial intelligence) predictions concerning various events. "ChatGPT predicts the future on absolutely any topic (including a person's time of death) and quantifies the probability of the event," Grogan wrote, adding that "ChatGPT clearly sympathizes with BTC while being much more sceptical about altcoins." According to its forecast, there is a 15% chance that BTC will lose 99.9% of its value by 2035 and become irrelevant. In the case of Ethereum, the chances of such a scenario are 20%, with LTC - 35%, and with DOGE - 45%.
ChatGPT stated previously that the price of bitcoin could reach $150,000 by 2024, after which it would increase on average by $25,000 per year and reach $300,000 by 2030. However, the AI honestly warned that it cannot confidently predict cryptocurrency prices. There are many factors that the chatbot cannot account for, such as regulatory changes, government actions, wars, catastrophes, and more. Therefore, while it may be interesting to consider ChatGPT's forecasts, relying on them when developing trading strategies would be unwise, to put it mildly.

- Bitcoin could surge by $20,000 if the US defaults on its debts, according to Geoff Kendrick, Head of Currency Research at British bank Standard Chartered. In an interview with Business Insider, he stated that this could happen in July 2023 if Congress does not approve raising the debt limit to a new level. However, the expert called such a default an "unlikely event" but with "massive consequences."
Kendrick believes that bitcoin will not grow linearly. More likely, after the default, its price will fall by $5,000 in the first days or a week, then sharply increase by $25,000. As for Ethereum, which the analyst considers to be traded like stocks, it is more likely to fall in the case of a default. Kendrick's optimal trading strategy involves opening a long position in bitcoin and a short position in ethereum.
Previously, the Standard Chartered analyst stated that the first cryptocurrency could rise to $100,000 by the end of 2024. Among the main reasons, he cited a banking crisis, halving, and a loosening of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

- Research firm Chainalysis discovered that an anonymous hacker has identified 986 crypto wallets allegedly belonging to Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate, Federal Security Service, and Foreign Intelligence Service, and has begun hunting for their digital assets. Initially, the hacker destroyed over $300,000 worth of bitcoin stored in these wallets. To do this, they used the OP_RETURN script, which marks transactions as invalid and effectively burns the coins. However, after the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the hacker changed their attack strategy. Instead of liquidating digital assets, they began transferring them to wallets owned by organizations providing support to Ukraine.

- Trader under the nickname Bluntz, who predicted the bottom of the BTC bear market in 2018, believes that the leading cryptocurrency is unlikely to sustainably consolidate above $30,000 in the foreseeable future. His opinion is based on the fact that BTC has already completed a five-wave bullish trend on the daily chart. Bluntz believes that Bitcoin is currently in the middle of an ABC correction formation, and this could lead to a drop to around $25,000. According to the trader, this drop will be followed by a rise in BTC to $32,000, which will occur in the second half of 2023.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: The Market Is at a Crossroads

Everything happened as it was supposed to. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the US Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.25% during its meeting on May 2 and 3. Similarly, the European Central Bank did the same on May 4, increasing the euro interest rate by the same 25 bps to 3.75%. This increase had long been factored into market quotations. Of much greater interest were the statements and press conferences of the leaders of both central banks.

Attention to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech was heightened by the fact that the banking crisis had escalated earlier in the week. Shares of First Republic Bank plummeted following poor financial reports, dragging down the shares of many other banks. The US banking sector had dropped by more than 10% since the beginning of the week. This situation provided grounds for expecting that the Fed would finally shift from a tightening policy (QT) to a more accommodative one (QE), as high interest rates had been the cause of the banking crisis.

The statements made by the Fed Chairman were characteristically vague. While acknowledging some issues, Jerome Powell did not insist on maintaining peak interest rates until the end of 2023. He also indicated that although a decision to pause in the current monetary tightening cycle had not been made, it was not ruled out that the rate was already approaching its peak levels.

As a result, the derivatives market decided that the rate would be 90 basis points lower by the end of the year than it is now. Based on these forecasts, the DXY Dollar Index and Treasury yields went down, while EUR/USD moved upward. However, its growth was relatively moderate, at about 100 points. It failed to surpass the 1.1100 level, and after the ECB meeting on May 5, it even rolled back.

Statistics published on Tuesday, May 2 showed that retail sales in Germany fell from -7.1% to -.6% (forecast -6.1%), and inflation (CPI) in the Eurozone as a whole increased from 6.9% to 7.0%, according to preliminary data. Against this backdrop, the European Central Bank, like the Fed, indicated its concern about the delayed effect of tightening monetary policy, which could cause new problems in the economy. Consequently, the pace of monetary tightening should be reduced.

Although the ECB announced that, starting from July, asset sales from the balance sheet would be increased from €15 billion to €25 billion per month, investors remained unimpressed. The short-term market reacted to the possibility of winding down QT in the Eurozone by lowering the deposit rate forecast from 3.9% to 3.6% by the end of the year. This time, the euro and German bond yields fell together.

As a result, EUR/USD returned to the centre of the sideways channel of 1.0940-1.1090, in which it had been moving for two consecutive weeks. (In fact, if you exclude spikes, the channel appears even narrower: 1.0965-1.1065.)

Data from the US labour market arrived on the first Friday of the month, May 5, and provided the dollar with brief support. The number of new jobs created outside the US agricultural sector (NFP) amounted to 253K, significantly exceeding both the previous value (165K) and the forecast (180K). The unemployment situation also improved, with the rate falling from 3.5% to 3.4%, instead of the expected increase to 3.6%.

As a result, EUR/USD ended the five-day period at the 1.1018 level. At the time of writing this review, on the evening of May 5, analysts' opinions are divided as follows: 60% of them expect the dollar to weaken and the pair to rise, 30% anticipate its strengthening, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral stance. Regarding technical analysis, among oscillators on the D1 chart, 60% are green (with 10% signalling being overbought), while the remaining 40% are neutral grey; among trend indicators, 90% are green, and only 10% are red. The nearest support for the pair is located around 1.0985-1.1000, followed by 1.0925-1.0955, 1.0865-1.0885, 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0675-1.0710, 1.0620, and 1.0490-1.0530. Bulls would encounter resistance around 1.1050-1.1070, then 1.1109-1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280, and 1.1355-1.1390.

As for the events of the upcoming week, Wednesday, May 10, is likely to be the most important day. Inflation data (CPI) for Germany and the US will be released then. The preliminary Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, to be published on Friday, May 12, will complement the economic picture.

GBP/USD: Pound Forecast Mostly Positive

When forecasting the past five-day period, the majority of experts (75%) had sided with the US currency. Indeed, at the beginning of the week, the dollar recouped 130 points from the pound. However, then the UK's Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) began publishing PMI figures, which indicated an increase in business activity in the country. With a previous value of 52.2 and a forecast of 53.9, the Composite PMI actually grew to 54.9 points. The UK's services sector PMI showed an even more convincing increase: from 52.9 to 55.9 (forecast 54.9).

The pound received additional support from across the Atlantic Ocean. The banking crisis in the US and the vague statements from the Federal Reserve's chair allowed GBP/USD to rise to the 1.2652 mark. It had not soared that high since the beginning of June 2022. As for the final note of the past week, it sounded slightly lower, at the 1.2631 level.

There will be a bank holiday in the United Kingdom on Monday, May 8. However, a whole avalanche of events related to the country's economy awaits us afterwards. Preliminary data on manufacturing output and the UK's overall GDP will be revealed on Thursday. In addition, a meeting of the Bank of England (BoE) will be held on the same day. Most experts believe the pound's interest rate hike cycle has not yet come to an end and will be raised from 4.25% to 4.50%. After the BoE meeting, a press conference will follow, led by its governor, Andrew Bailey. As for the end of the workweek, we will learn the revised data on manufacturing output and the country's GDP on Friday, May 12.

At the moment, many experts anticipate further strengthening of the British currency and growth of GBP/USD. Here are just a few quotes.

"It seems that the belief that European banks, including British ones, are better regulated than banks in the US provides some protection for European currencies," economists from Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING) write. "This also helps support expectations (with which we disagree) that the Bank of England may raise rates two or three more times this year. According to our latest estimates, the Bank of England may not counteract these expectations next week, leading to sterling retaining its recent achievements." ING economists believe that the GBP/USD pair could rise to 1.2650-1.2750.

Scotiabank specialists believe that upward pressure will continue to develop towards 1.2700-1.2800, although they do not rule out that this growth could be very slow. In their opinion, support is in the 1.2475-1.2525 zone.

Credit Suisse also sees the "potential for a final upward surge towards the main target at 1.2668-1.2758 – the May 2022 high and the 61.8% correction of the 2021/2022 decline." "Here, we will expect an important top to form," the specialists say. Credit Suisse also warns that if the pound weakens, the 1.2344 support should hold. However, if it is broken, a deeper pullback towards the 55-DMA and 1.2190-1.2255 support is threatened.

Strategists at HSBC, one of the largest financial conglomerates in the world, join the positive sentiment of their colleagues. "At present, the pound sterling benefits from both an improvement in investor risk appetite and a cyclical upswing," states HSBC. "We believe that the positive cyclical momentum will continue to support the British pound in the coming months. [...] Nevertheless, amid weakening lending dynamics and the waning positive impact of disinflation, GBP/USD rate may not be able to move far beyond the 1.3000 level."

As for the median forecast, currently 50% of experts are siding with the pound, 10% side with the dollar, and 40% remain neutral. Among trend indicators on D1, 100% are in favour of the green (bullish), and oscillators show a similar picture, although a third of them are in the overbought zone. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2575-1.2610, 1.2510, 1.2450-1.2480, 1.2390-1.2400, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, and 1.1800-1.1840. If the pair moves north, it will face resistance at levels 1.2650, 1.2695-1.2700, 1.2820, and 1.2940.

USD/JPY: Yen Finds Support from the US

At its latest meeting, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintained its negative interest rate at -0.1% (The last time it changed was on January 29, 2016, when it was lowered by 20 basis points). Recall that during the press conference following this meeting on April 28, the new head of the Central Bank, Kazuo Ueda, stated that "we will continue to ease monetary policy without hesitation if necessary." It seems like there's not much room left for easing, but perhaps the current -0.1% is not the limit.

The result of BoJ's head's words can be seen on the chart: within just a few hours, USD/JPY soared from 133.30 to 136.55, weakening the yen by 325 points. The growth continued during the past week: the pair recorded a local high at 137.77 on Tuesday, May 2. After that, the yen, acting as a safe haven, was supported by the banking crisis in the US. Jerome Powell's statements finished the "job" of strengthening the yen, ultimately causing the pair to drop by 428 points to 133.49.

On Friday, May 5, strong US labour market data allowed the US currency to recover some of its losses, and USD/JPY ended the workweek at 134.83.

The next BoJ meeting will take place only on June 16. Until then, the USD/JPY rate will most likely depend mainly on the dollar. Regarding the short-term prospects of the pair, analysts' opinions are distributed as follows. At the moment, only 25% of experts vote for its further growth, the same number point in the opposite direction. The majority (50%) simply shrugg, confirming that investors are currently at a crossroads and are waiting for signals that could move the market in one direction or another.

Indicators on D1 are also in doubt. Among oscillators, 50% point north, 25% have taken a neutral position, and the remaining 25% indicate south (with a third of them in the oversold zone). The ratio of forces for trend indicators is 60% to 40% in favour of the greens. The nearest support level is located in the 134.35 area, followed by levels and zones at 133.60, 132.80-133.00, 132.00, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.65, 128.00-128.15, and 127.20. Resistance levels and zones are at 135.15, 135.95-136.25, 137.50-137.75, and 139.05, 140.60.

The report of the April meeting of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Committee will be published on Monday, May 8. No other important economic information related to the Japanese economy is expected during the upcoming week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: When Will Bitcoin Wake Up?



Of course, the price of bitcoin is influenced by many specific factors. These include industry-related regulatory actions, bankruptcy of crypto exchanges and banks, and statements made by influencers shaping the crypto community's opinion. All of these factors play a role. However, one of the most important factors affecting BTC/USD is the latter half: the US dollar. The better the world's main currency performs, the worse it is for the leading cryptocurrency, and vice versa. This inverse correlation is clearly visible when comparing bitcoin charts and the US Dollar Index (DXY).

In March, anticipation of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision locked DXY and BTC/USD in a sideways channel. The 25 basis point increase fully coincided with the forecast and was already factored into the market quotes, so the DXY's calm reaction to this move was quite logical. Bitcoin also reacted calmly to this step, remaining in the $26,500-30,000 range.

The current background remains neutral. The "bulls" are conserving their energy. In addition to the predictable Fed decision on the key interest rate, their reluctance to buy is influenced by investors' general lack of appetite for risky assets. Weak macroeconomic data from China plays a significant role here.

Another factor putting pressure on bitcoin is the profit-taking by some holders, which followed the impressive growth of the coin in Q1 of this year. Most of these were short-term speculators, who accounted for over 60% of the total realized profit.

As for the "whales," having liquidated part of their holdings, they have either gone into hibernation or returned to insignificant accumulation, prompted by the banking crisis. Recall that BTC/USD dropped to $26,933 on April 24. Market participants were already prepared to see bitcoin even lower, at the $26,500 support level, breaking which would open the way to $25,000. However, the coin unexpectedly soared to $30,020 on April 26. The reason for the surge was the fourth bankruptcy of an American bank, this time being the First Republic Bank.

According to experts at the British bank Standard Chartered, bitcoin took advantage of its status as a "brand-safe haven" for savings at the beginning of 2023, and the current situation indicates the end of the "crypto-winter." Geoff Kendrick, the head of currency research at the bank, believes that bitcoin could grow by $20,000 if the US defaults on its debts. In an interview with Business Insider, he stated that this could happen in July 2023 if Congress does not agree to raise the debt limit to a new level. However, the specialist called such a default an "unlikely" event, albeit with "massive consequences."

Kendrick believes that bitcoin will not grow linearly. Most likely, after the default, its price will fall by $5,000 in the first days or week, and then sharply increase by $25,000. As for ethereum, which, according to the analyst, trades like stocks, it is more likely to fall in the event of a default. Kendrick considers the optimal trading strategy to be opening a long position in bitcoin and a short position in ethereum. Recall that earlier, Standard Chartered stated that the first cryptocurrency could grow to $100,000 by the end of 2024. The main reasons cited were the banking crisis, halving, and the easing of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

Investor Ray Dalio agrees that the first cryptocurrency is a good hedge against inflation. He admitted that he owns bitcoins, but still prefers gold. According to the billionaire, bitcoin cannot be a full-fledged alternative to the precious metal. "I don't understand why people are more inclined towards bitcoin than gold," he wrote. "Gold is the third-largest reserve asset for central banks internationally. First dollars, then euros, gold, and Japanese yen." In Dalio's opinion, the precious metal is "timeless and universal." Bitcoin, on the other hand, requires close attention from investors due to its volatility. "You have to be prepared for its significant drop, about 80% or so," warned the billionaire.

Jenny Johnson, the CEO of investment company Franklin Templeton, criticized bitcoin as the biggest distraction from real innovation, blockchain technology. She believes that bitcoin will never become a global currency because the US government will not allow it. Johnson warned that the crypto industry should prepare for tougher regulatory rules.

Senator Cynthia Lummis suggests that President Joe Biden will sign a law establishing basic guidelines for the crypto industry within the next 12 months. Meanwhile, the White House Council of Economic Advisers has proposed a 30% tax on miners to prevent them from damaging the environment, which is expected to be another way for authorities to pressure the industry seen as a threat by many officials.

Upcoming regulatory changes, along with wars and catastrophes, are just some of the many factors that Artificial Intelligence is currently unable to take into account. Therefore, relying on ChatGPT's predictions when developing trading strategies would be, to put it mildly, reckless. However, they are still of interest. According to the statement of Coinbase's Business Director, Conor Grogan, "ChatGPT clearly sympathizes with BTC, while being much more skeptical towards altcoins." Thus, according to the AI's forecast, there is a 15% chance that BTC will lose 99.9% of its value by 2035 and become obsolete. In the case of ethereum, the chances of such a scenario are 20%, with LTC - 35%, and with DOGE - 45%.

Earlier, ChatGPT stated that the price of Bitcoin could reach the mark of $150,000 already in 2024, after which it will grow on average by $25,000 per year and reach the mark of $300,000 by 2030.

Unlike ChatGPT, the trader known as Bluntz possesses human, not artificial intelligence. It was this intelligence that allowed him to correctly predict the bottom of the bearish BTC market in 2018. Now, however, he believes that the leading cryptocurrency is unlikely to sustainably establish itself above $30,000 in the foreseeable future. This opinion is based on the fact that BTC has already passed a five-wave bullish trend on the daily chart. According to Bluntz's calculations, bitcoin is currently in the middle of a corrective ABC formation, which could lead to a drop to around $25,000. After that, the trader believes the coin will rise to $32,000, and this will happen in the second half of 2023.

As of the writing of this review, on the evening of Friday, May 5, BTC/USD is trading at $29,450. The total market capitalization of the crypto market is $1.219 trillion ($1.204 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index decreased from 64 to 61 points over the past seven days, and it remains in the Greed zone.

The Bitcoin Dominance Index (the share of the first cryptocurrency in the total market capitalization of the crypto market) is currently at 46.9%. According to the legendary trader, analyst, and CEO of Factor LLC, Peter Brandt, this indicator is preparing for a breakthrough after a two-year consolidation in the form of a large rectangle. While the trend is within a "limiting range," the exit from it will be crucial for the asset, explained the expert. Over the past five years, the BTC share has fallen to 32.4% in 2018 and risen to 71.9% in 2021. The indicator is likely to surpass the 50% mark to begin a bullish movement. "I believe that bitcoin will bury all the imposters. In the end, there will be only one king of the hill," Peter Brandt wrote.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



- The flagship cryptocurrency market has been under significant selling pressure in recent days. Experts from the WhaleWire publication note that transaction fees in the bitcoin ecosystem have reached global extremes for the third time in history (similar occurrences were observed in 2017 and 2021). Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, has twice suspended bitcoin withdrawals due to network congestion. To expedite the processing of the accumulated transactions, Binance raised its withdrawal fees. The situation is exacerbated by an investigation that US authorities have launched against the exchange. According to Bloomberg, it is suspected of violating sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
All of this has caused fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) among cryptocurrency market participants, leading to a decrease in the number of active addresses to yearly lows. Against this backdrop, bitcoin has plunged below $28,000. Analysts believe that a "head and shoulders" pattern is forming on bitcoin's daily chart, and the possibility of a deep correction down to the $24,000 mark cannot be ruled out. However, CoinGape experts emphasize that the supply of bitcoin on centralized platforms is at its lowest level since 2017, indicating that the upcoming correction may be of a local nature.

- People may be losing faith in the dollar, but that doesn't mean bitcoin can become the world's reserve currency. Billionaire Warren Buffett made this statement at the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders' meeting. He clarified that he does not see any candidates to replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency. At the same time, Buffett called the continued money printing "madness," while simultaneously expressing confidence in the person responsible for it: US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. According to Buffett, nobody understands the situation with government debt better than the head of the regulatory body.
The legendary investor also believes that the top management of First Republic Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and Silvergate Bank should be held accountable for the issues that have arisen in the operations of these banks.

- Representatives of CNBC criticized Warren Buffett for his extremely negative attitude towards bitcoin. In response, Six Sigma Black Belt founder James Ryan stated that it's not right to criticize the wealthiest investor. However, Ryan emphasized that Buffett does not believe in gold either, as he thinks that "the precious metal does not produce anything and does not generate cash flow."
- Best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and economist Robert Kiyosaki often reiterates that the American and global economies are heading towards difficult times. This time, he told his 2.4 million Twitter followers that the sharp increase in the yield of one-month US Treasury bills indicates that a recession is likely approaching. "Does this mean the global banking system is collapsing? [...]", wrote the crypto enthusiast. "So, now focus on gold, silver, and bitcoin." It is worth noting that Kiyosaki predicts that the price of bitcoin will soon rise to $100,000.

- Michael Van de Poppe, an analyst, trader, and founder of the consulting platform EightGlobal, analysed the relationship between the banking sector and the crypto market.
Shares of American banks fell in response to US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's attempt to calm the financial markets. Within a few hours after the official's speech on May 3, shares of the banking holding company PacWest Bancorp fell almost 58%, and Western Alliance dropped more than 28%. Other financial institutions in the market also experienced declines, such as Comerica (-10.06%), Zion Bancorp (-9.71%), and KeyCorp (-6.93%).
Using a 30-minute chart, Van de Poppe showed that while bank stocks were falling in price, bitcoin and gold were growing in value. According to the EightGlobal founder, uncertainty and distrust towards authorities' statements are growing among bankers. Such sentiments may lead to even greater problems in traditional markets and trigger further growth for both digital and physical gold.

- According to Justin Chapman, Senior Vice President at Northern Trust, institutional investors lost interest in cryptocurrencies after March 2022. Their appetite did not return even after the bullish growth this year. Executives of major financial institutions have shifted their focus to blockchain technology, particularly its potential in tokenizing real assets such as gold for clients.
"Since 2022, things have calmed down on the institutional side," Chapman said. "Before that, we saw traditional fund managers eager to launch crypto funds, ETPs in Europe, which are the equivalent of ETFs in the US – all of that has subsided. Even hedge funds, which are quite active in the crypto market, have definitely reduced their presence."

- The government of Liechtenstein will allow citizens to use bitcoin to pay for government services. This was announced by the country's Prime Minister, Daniel Risch, although he did not specify a timeline. According to him, the government will accept cryptocurrency from citizens and exchange it for the national currency. A similar approach is already used by some Swiss municipalities, particularly the canton of Zug.

- More and more Latin American (LATAM) countries are considering the possibility of adopting bitcoin as a legal means of payment for goods and services. Some of them want to follow in the footsteps of El Salvador, which has already done so at the legislative level. Among these countries are Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina. However, experts point out a key barrier to this initiative: the rise in transaction fees, which could make the move impractical.

- The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland (BCUS), Gabriel Makhlouf, has urged citizens to be sceptical about investing in cryptocurrencies, calling such investments high-risk and dangerous. He stated that the value of crypto assets is not backed by anything, which means they have no social or economic value. Moreover, they are not properly regulated, causing numerous disagreements among lawmakers and officials. "Investing in such products is like buying a lottery ticket: you might win, but most likely, you will lose. Therefore, it's hardly appropriate to call them investments. 'Ponzi scheme' provides a more accurate definition of cryptocurrencies," said the head of the Irish Central Bank.
Makhlouf's speech took place just a few weeks after the European Parliament voted for a bill on regulating cryptocurrencies in the EU (MiCA). The Irish official assured that he welcomes the document, but he doubts that MiCA will be fully implemented by 2025.

- Trader and analyst under the pseudonym Altcoin Sherpa suggested that the price of the leading cryptocurrency could soon drop to $25,000. According to his opinion, this price largely coincides with the 200-day EMA, the Fibonacci 0.382 level, and serves as a level that was previously tested twice as support/resistance. If the bearish trend continues in the coming days, he wrote, the BTC price will fall to the $26,800 support level. If this support is breached, the next target will be the $25,200 level.

- Researchers from DocumentingBTC have named bitcoin the best investment of the decade. An investor who bought BTC for $100 exactly 10 years ago would now have $25,600 in their account. In second place are NVIDIA stocks - $8,599. The honourable third place goes to Tesla - $4,475.
Apple investors could have received $1,208, Microsoft - $1,111, Netflix - $1,040, Amazon - $830, Facebook - $818, and by purchasing Google stocks, investors would now have $504 in their account. Finally, investing in physical, not digital, gold would have turned the initial $100 into just $134.

- Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT has joined the quest to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in the crypto universe: it attempted to identify the creator of BTC, Satoshi Nakamoto. According to the chatbot's calculations, there is a 60% probability that Satoshi is indeed an individual, rather than a group of developers, and most likely, it is Nick Szabo, a well-known computer scientist and cryptographer. It was this scientist who once proposed the idea of smart contracts and the BitGold protocol, which many consider a predecessor to bitcoin.
Szabo emerged as the winner on ChatGPT's list of contenders, with 30%. Hal Finney and Craig Wright ranked second and third, respectively, with 20% and 10%. However, the chatbot acknowledged that it cannot provide any direct "evidence". You can read more about each of these individuals on the NordFX website at the following link: https://nordfx.com/717-Satoshi__Nakamoto.html 


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Why the Dollar Rose



We named the previous review "Market at a Crossroads." We can now say that it finally made a decision and chose the dollar last week. Starting from 1.1018 on Monday, May 8, EUR/USD reached a local low of 1.0848 on Friday, May 12. Interestingly, this growth occurred despite the cooling of the U.S. economy. Not even the prospects of a U.S. debt default or the possibility of a reduction in federal fund rates could stop the strengthening of the dollar.

The slowdown in the American economy is further evidenced by a decline in producer prices (PPI) to the lowest level since January 2021, at 2.3%, and an increase in the number of unemployment benefit claims to the highest level since October 2021, reaching 264K (compared to a forecast of 245K and a previous value of 242K). Inflation in the United States, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), decreased to 4.9% on an annual basis in April from 5.0% in March (forecasted at 5.0%), while the monthly core inflation remained unchanged at 0.4%.

It may have seemed that this situation would finally prompt the Federal Reserve (Fed) to start easing its monetary policy. However, based on recent statements by officials, the regulator does not intend to do so. For instance, Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, stated that although inflation has softened slightly, it still significantly exceeds the target level of 2.0%. Kashkari agreed that a banking crisis could be a source of economic slowdown. However, he believed that the labour market remains sufficiently strong.

Following the head of the Minneapolis Fed, Federal Reserve representative Michelle Bowman also confirmed the regulator's reluctance to change course towards a more dovish stance. According to Bowman, "inflation is still too high" and "the interest rate will need to remain sufficiently restrictive for some time." Moreover, Bowman added that there is no certainty that the current policy is "sufficiently restrictive to bring down inflation," and if inflation remains high and the labor market remains tight, additional rate hikes are likely to be appropriate.

Similar conclusions have been reached by many analysts. For example, according to experts from Commerzbank, "given the slow decline in inflation, which remains well above the target level, the Fed is unlikely to consider the possibility of lowering the key rate this autumn.".

The market reacted to the prospects of maintaining (and possibly further increasing) the interest rate with a rise in the dollar. The strengthening of the American currency could have been even more significant if not for the banking crisis and the issue of the US debt ceiling.

A hawkish stance from the European Central Bank (ECB) could have aided the euro and reversed EUR/USD to the upside. However, after the May meeting of the European regulator, it appears that the end of monetary restraint is near. It is quite possible that the rate hike in June will be the last. "At this point, the ECB can only surprise with a dovish tone. [...] Euro bulls should be prepared for this," warn economists from Commerzbank.

The final note of the past week for EUR/USD was set at 1.0849. As for the near-term prospects, at the time of writing this review on the evening of May 12, the majority of analysts (65%) believe that the dollar has become too overbought, and it's time for the pair to correct to the upside. Only 15% expect further strengthening of the dollar, while the remaining 20% hold a neutral position. In terms of technical analysis, among the oscillators on the daily chart (D1), 90% are coloured red (although one-third of them are signalling the pair's oversold condition), with only 10% in green. Among the trend indicators, there are more green ones, 35%, while red ones account for 65%. The nearest support for the pair is located around 1.0800-1.0835, followed by 1.0740-1.0760, 1.0675-1.0710, 1.0620, and 1.0490-1.0530. Bulls will encounter resistance around 1.0865, followed by 1.0895–1.0925, 1.0985, 1.1090-1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280, and 1.1355-1.1390.

The upcoming week will be quite eventful with important economic events. On Tuesday, May 16, we will see retail sales data from the United States and the ZEW Economic Sentiment indicator from Germany. Additionally, preliminary GDP data for the Eurozone for Q1 will be published on the same day. On Wednesday, May 17, inflation data (CPI) for the Eurozone will be released. Thursday, May 18th, will bring a series of US statistics, including unemployment data, manufacturing activity, and the US housing market. Furthermore, speeches by ECB President Christine Lagarde are expected on May 16 and May 19. The week will conclude with a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on the last working day.

GBP/USD: BoE and GDP Upset Investors

The bulls managed to push GBP/USD higher until Thursday. Although the forecast suggested that the Bank of England (BoE) would raise the interest rate by 25 basis points at its meeting on May 11, investors were hopeful for a miracle: what if it's not 25, but 50? However, the miracle did not happen, and after reaching a high of 1.2679, the pair reversed and started to decline.

The decline continued the next day. The strengthening dollar played a role, and mixed preliminary GDP data for the UK added to the negative sentiment. The country's economy grew by 0.1% in Q1 2023, which fully matched the forecast and the growth in Q4 2022. On an annual basis, GDP increased by 0.2%, which, although in line with the forecast, was significantly lower than the previous value of 0.6%. However, in monthly terms, the GDP showed an unexpected contraction of -0.3% in March, against expectations of 0.1% growth and a previous value of 0.0%. Despite the optimistic statement by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt that this was "good news" as the economy is growing, it did not help the pound. It was evident that the growth occurred only in January, stalled in February, and began to contract in March.

Economists at Commerzbank note that the indecisiveness of the Bank of England (BoE) in combating inflation is a negative factor for the pound. "Future data will be crucial for the BoE's next rate decision," Commerzbank states. "If a swift decline in inflation becomes evident, as expected by the BoE, they are likely to refrain from further rate hikes, which will put pressure on the sterling."

Strategists at Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING) also believe that the rate hike on May 11 may be the last. However, they add that "the Bank of England has maintained flexibility and left the door open for further rate hikes if inflation proves to be persistent."

The plunge on May 11 and 12 resulted in GBP/USD failing to hold above the strong support level of 1.2500, and the week ended at 1.2447. However, according to 70% of experts, the bulls will still attempt to reclaim this support level. 15% believe that 1.2500 will now turn into resistance, pushing the pair further downward. The remaining 15% preferred to refrain from making forecasts. Among the oscillators on the daily chart (D1), 60% recommend selling (with 15% indicating oversold conditions), 20% are inclined towards buying, and 20% are neutral. Among the trend indicators, the balance between red and green is evenly split at 50%.

The support levels and zones for the pair are at 1.2390-1.2420, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, and 1.1800-1.1840. In the event of an upward movement, the pair will encounter resistance at levels of 1.2500, 1.2540, 1.2570, 1.2610-1.2635, 1.2675-1.2700, 1.2820, and 1.2940.

There are several notable events on the calendar in the upcoming week. The Inflation Report hearing will take place on Monday, May 15. Data on the UK labor market will be released on Tuesday, May 16. And the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, May 17.

USD/JPY: Yen as a Shelter from Financial Storms

The yen was the worst-performing currency in the DXY basket in April. USD/JPY soared to a height of 137.77 on the ultra-dovish statements of the new Governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ), Kadsuo Ueda. However, after that, the yen, acting as a safe haven, was aided by the banking crisis in the United States, causing the pair to reverse downwards.

As for Japanese banks, Ueda stated on Tuesday, May 9 that "the impact of recent bankruptcies of American and European banks on Japan's financial system is likely to be limited" and that "financial institutions in Japan have sufficient capital reserves." Assurances of the stability of the country's financial system were also expressed by the Minister of Finance, Shunichi Suzuki.

Currency strategists at HSBC, the largest British bank, continue to believe that the Japanese yen will strengthen further, aided by its status as a "safe haven" amidst the banking crisis and US debt issues. According to their analysis, the yen may also strengthen because the current review by the Bank of Japan does not exclude changes in its yield curve control (YCC) policy, even if it happens slightly later than previously expected. The shift in the BoJ's course could be influenced by the fact that core inflation in Japan remained stable in March, and excluding energy prices, it accelerated to a 41-year high of 3.8%. However, when comparing this level with similar indicators in the US, EU, or the UK, it is difficult to consider it a significant problem.

Meanwhile, analysts at Societe Generale, a French bank, believe that considering yield dynamics, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic trends, USD/JPY may "get stuck in narrow ranges for some time." However, they also mention that the sense that the dollar is overvalued, and the anticipation of the Bank of Japan's actions will not be easy to dismiss. The perception that the yen's recovery is only a matter of waiting for actions by the Bank of Japan lingers.

The next meeting of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) is scheduled for June 16. Only then will it become clear whether or not there will be any changes in the monetary policy of the Japanese central bank. Until that day, the USD/JPY exchange rate will likely depend largely on events in the United States.

The pair concluded the past week at 130.72. Regarding its immediate prospects, analysts' opinions are divided as follows. At present, 75% of analysts have vote for the strengthening of the Japanese currency. 15% of experts expect an upward movement, while the same percentage remains neutral. Among the oscillators on the daily chart (D1), the balance leans toward the dollar, with 65% indicating an upward trend, 20% remaining neutral, and the remaining 15% showing a downward direction. Among the trend indicators, the balance of power is 90% in favour of the green zone. The nearest support level is located in the range of 134.85-135.15, followed by levels and zones at 134.40, 133.60, 132.80-133.00, 132.00, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.65, 128.00-128.15, and 127.20. The resistance levels and zones are at 135.95-136.25, 137.50-137.75, 139.05, and 140.60.

As for economic data releases, the preliminary GDP data for Japan's Q1 2023 will be announced on Wednesday, May 17. However, there are no other significant economic information expected to be released concerning the Japanese economy in the upcoming week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Bitcoin Hopes for a Banking Crisis

Bitcoin has been under selling pressure for the eighth consecutive week but continues to attempt to hold within the strong support/resistance zone of $26,500. The past week once again did not bring joy to investors. As noted by WhaleWire, transaction fees within the bitcoin ecosystem reached global highs for the third time in history (similar to what was observed in 2017 and 2021). The average network speed does not exceed 7 transactions per second. As a result, those wishing to make transfers increase the amount of the transaction fee to expedite its execution. This caused the average fee on May 8 to soar to $31 per transaction. This was very frustrating for users but welcomed by miners, as for the first time since 2017, fees surpassed block rewards.

Some operators, including Binance, were unprepared for this and did not adjust the fees in time for users. Hundreds of thousands of transactions got stuck in the mempool. In order to speed up their "clearing," the largest cryptocurrency exchange suspended withdrawals twice and increased the transfer fee. The situation was exacerbated by an investigation launched by US authorities against Binance. According to Bloomberg reports, the exchange is suspected of violating sanctions related to Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Panic sentiment was further heightened by the news that the cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex filed for bankruptcy on the same day, May 8 (although this procedure is expected to only affect its US subsidiary). The problems faced by Binance and Bittrex reminded investors of the FTX crash. All of this has instilled fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) among participants in the crypto market, leading to a decrease in the number of active addresses to yearly lows. Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline against this backdrop.

BTC is forming a "head and shoulders" pattern on the daily chart. A trader and analyst known as Altcoin Sherpa suggested that the price of the leading cryptocurrency may soon drop to $25,000. According to his analysis, this price level coincides with the 200-day EMA, the 0.382 Fibonacci level, and has previously been tested as support/resistance. The possibility of a deeper correction, down to the $24,000 level, cannot be ruled out. However, experts at CoinGape point out that the supply of bitcoins on centralized platforms is at its lowest level since 2017. They believe this indicates that the upcoming correction may have a local character.

The strengthening of the US dollar last week also played against bitcoin. However, hopes that the banking crisis in the US will continue to support the digital market are still in the air. For many cryptocurrency enthusiasts, bitcoin is considered a safe haven and a store of value similar to physical gold, protecting against loss of funds.

The tightening of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve has reduced the value of certain assets on banks' balance sheets and decreased demand for banking services. Therefore, the likelihood of new disruptions in the traditional financial sector remains quite high. Four US banks (First Republic Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and Silvergate Bank) have filed for bankruptcy, and a dozen more are facing difficulties. According to surveys by the Gallup polling agency, half of US citizens are concerned about the safety of their funds in bank accounts.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad, often emphasizes that challenging times lie ahead for the US and global economy. This time, he addressed his 2.4 million Twitter followers, stating that the sharp increase in the yield of one-month US Treasury bills indicates that a recession may be approaching. He questioned whether this implies that the global banking system is collapsing and advised people to focus on gold, silver, and bitcoins. It is worth noting that Kiyosaki has previously predicted that the price of bitcoin will soon rise to $100,000.

Michael Van de Poppe, an analyst, trader, and founder of the consulting platform EightGlobal, conducted a detailed analysis of the relationship between the banking sector and the crypto market. The stocks of American banks reacted with a decline to an attempt by Jerome Powell, the head of the US Federal Reserve, to calm the financial markets. Within a few hours after the official's speech on May 3, shares of PacWest Bancorp fell by almost 58%, and Western Alliance by more than 28%. Other credit institutions such as Comerica (-10.06%), Zion Bancorp (-9.71%), and KeyCorp (-6.93%) experienced a decline as well.

Using a 30-minute chart, Van de Poppe demonstrated that while banks were falling in price, bitcoin and gold were rising. According to the founder of EightGlobal, there is growing uncertainty and distrust among bankers towards the statements made by government officials. Such sentiments may lead to further problems in traditional markets and contribute to the continued growth of digital and physical gold.

Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, remains steadfastly sceptical of the flagship cryptocurrency, bitcoin. At the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders' meeting, Buffett stated that while people may lose faith in the dollar, it does not mean that bitcoin can become the world's reserve currency. In response to this, James Ryan, the founder of Six Sigma Black Belt, pointed out that Buffett does not believe in gold either, as he believes the precious metal does not produce anything and does not generate cash flow.

By the way, Warren Buffett may be right about gold. According to research by DocumentingBTC, an investor who invested exactly $100 in physical gold ten years ago would now have only $134 in their account. But if they had invested in digital gold, they would have $25,600! That's why bitcoin is considered the best investment of the decade.

Second are NVIDIA stocks, which would have grown to $8,599. The honourable third spot goes to Tesla with an investment growth from $100 to $4,475. Apple investors could have gained $1,208, Microsoft - $1,111, Netflix - $1,040, Amazon - $830, Facebook - $818, and investing in Google stocks would have yielded $504 in the present.

To further justify the hopes of bitcoin enthusiasts, technically bitcoin needs to rise above $28,900, test $30,400, and firmly fix above the $31,000 level. However, at the time of writing this review on Friday evening, May 12, BTC/USD is trading at $26,415. The total market capitalization of the crypto market stands at $1.108 trillion ($1.219 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has decreased from 61 to 49 points over the past seven days, moving from the Greed zone to the Neutral zone.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



– According to a survey conducted by Bloomberg, in the event of a US default on its national debt, 7.8% of professional and 11.3% of retail investors would opt for the primary cryptocurrency as a safe-haven asset. Meanwhile, 7.8% and 10.2% would rely on the US dollar, respectively.
Gold tops the list of safe-haven assets. Despite the current price of the precious metal being close to its historical high ($2,000 per ounce), about half of the surveyed investors from both categories have chosen it. The report highlights the current shortage of alternatives to gold for hedging purposes.
US Treasury bills ranks as the second most popular asset, with 14-15% of respondents opting to purchase them. Journalists see a certain irony in this, as it is precisely these debt securities that might be subject to default. Bitcoin comes in third, closely followed by the US dollar, with the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc trailing behind.

– Debates have erupted online over the first purchase made with BTC. A version has emerged claiming that the first purchase was not, in fact, the legendary pizza. A story is being discussed on Twitter about a user by the name of Sabunir who tried to sell a JPEG picture for 500 bitcoins in 2010, which was about $1 at the time. Evidence provided includes a screenshot with the date of January 24, 2010: four months before Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 BTC. It is also claimed that a certain user named Satoshi Nakamoto even tried to participate in the transaction.
However, it was unclear whether the transaction had actually taken place. Therefore, Gige Energy co-founder Matt Lohstroh decided to conduct his own investigation. It turned out that the transaction did indeed occur. According to on-chain data, 500 BTC (about $13.3 million at the current exchange rate) were indeed transferred to Sabunir's wallet on January 24, 2010. This means that this image is actually the first item purchased with BTC.
Does this mean that instead of celebrating the annual Pizza Day on May 22nd, crypto enthusiasts will have to mark January 24 as JPEG Image Day? But what about the "Bitcoin Pizza" pizzeria owned by Morgan Creek co-founder Anthony Pompliano? You have to agree, "JPEG Pizza" doesn't sound quite as appetizing.

– About half of North Korea's missile program is funded through cyberattacks and cryptocurrency thefts, according to CNN, citing White House officials. They say that US intelligence services are working to identify the companies and individuals associated with this, while the Treasury Department is tracking the stolen cryptocurrency.
At the same time, Nikkei newspaper reported that since 2017, hackers from North Korea have stolen cryptocurrencies from accounts opened in Japan amounting to approximately $720 million. About $540 million was stolen from Vietnamese citizens, and another $497 million from US citizens.

– According to data from analytics firm Glassnode, the number of bitcoin addresses holding at least 1 BTC has increased by ~190,000 since February 2022 and surpassed the 1 million mark. The most notable increases occurred during the sharp decline of bitcoin in June 2022 (the bankruptcy of crypto fund 3AC, preceded by the collapse of the Terra ecosystem) and after November 11 (the FTX crash).
As for forecasts, Glassnode is "confident in a medium-term target of $35,000 as external pressures ease." "The Fed will pause rate hikes in June [...] - optimal for an upward movement [of bitcoin] during the summer. The dollar index has crossed below a significant moving average - explosive movements ahead," the agency's analysts explain.

– Mark Yusko, founder and CEO of cryptocurrency hedge fund Morgan Creek Digital has reaffirmed his forecast of an inevitable bull rally in the digital asset market. He believes that the "crypto-summer" will likely begin in mid-June. According to him, bitcoin could make a significant breakthrough right now, as a technical reversal pattern is forming on the chart. "If you look at the chart [starting from May 2022], you'll see a beautiful inverted head and shoulders at the $27,000 level," Yusko writes. "It's a really interesting technical pattern. And you know, I think we need some good news to give it a boost."
As for the collapse of several US banks this year, the CEO of Morgan Creek believes that the destabilization of the sector was provoked to facilitate the smooth implementation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

– Paul Tudor Jones, head of hedge fund Tudor Investment Corporation and a consistent advocate for investing in bitcoin, has stated that the premier cryptocurrency has become less attractive in the current regulatory and economic climate. He noted that bitcoin now has "real problems, because in the US, the entire regulatory apparatus is against cryptocurrencies." In addition, the billionaire anticipates a decrease in inflation in the US, which makes hedging assets less attractive. Bitcoin is often perceived precisely as an asset for protection against inflation.
Paul Tudor Jones himself continues to hold a small amount of bitcoin and has no plans to sell the cryptocurrency even in the distant future. However, he had previously planned to invest up to 5% of his fortune in bitcoin, but it seems that he has now abandoned such plans.

– Billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya believes that the devaluation of the dollar actually stimulates the US economy. According to this venture capitalist, the dollar's dominant position in the global economy remains indisputable, despite trends to move away from this currency. It's important to remember that approximately 187 countries rely on the dollar. A weaker dollar allows these nations to purchase American goods at a more favourable price. They all see that importing goods becomes cheaper, their economies improve, and as a result, the dollar still feels strong.
Palihapitiya also believes that in the long run, the US government will likely not be able to avoid devaluing its currency. According to the billionaire, the best way to deal with this trend is to invest in risky assets, such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.

– An Indian YouTuber decided to visit 40 countries in 400 days, using only bitcoin. Paco De La India, as he calls himself, has already visited 7 countries from different regions of the planet. He managed to raise the necessary amount for his travels by selling all his furniture and also through crowdfunding. As a result of his voyage, he was able to draw a few conclusions:
1. Paco believes that the volatility inherent in the market deters people from bitcoin. People are much more willing to use stablecoins, such as USDT, for transactions, while bitcoin is kept in HODL mode. In general, acceptance is happening, but this process needs to be accelerated.
2. The traveller noted that people are usually more generous during a bull market, which makes it easier to receive donations. Paco started his journey when bitcoin was trading around $50,000 and was moving towards an all-time high of nearly $69,000. "Donations were coming in, everyone was very happy... but gradually everything started to shrink," Paco says. "I couldn't travel as freely, so I was always looking for those who could take me in their homes. And this also gave me an idea of the local people."
Unfortunately, Paco's exciting journey had to be interrupted due to the fall in the BTC price and regulatory uncertainty, which affected some of his sponsors (primarily due to the closure of the Paxful trading platform). However, Paco is hopeful and intends to continue exploring where in the world it is most convenient to pay with bitcoin.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Why the Dollar Continues to Rise

We titled our last week’s review "Why the Dollar Rose" and detailed the reasons for the strengthening of the American currency. It's fitting to name today's fresh review "Why the Dollar Continues to Rise," and naturally, we will answer this question.

The DXY dollar index has been on the rise for the past two weeks, reaching a mark of 103.485 on May 18. This is the highest it's been since March 2023. This coincides with increasing chances of a new interest rate hike at the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve on June 14.

A potential U.S. government debt default could have dampened the hawkish sentiment of the American Central Bank. However, firstly, the Federal Reserve has developed a system of measures since 2011 to mitigate the effects of a U.S. default on its obligations. Secondly, and most importantly, it's unlikely they will have to resort to such quantitative easing (QE). President Joe Biden has expressed confidence in reaching a deal with the Republicans. Additionally, the Republican House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, has confirmed that a vote on the debt ceiling will take place next week.

Markets have responded to this with optimism and confidence that an economic and financial market crisis can be averted. This has boosted not only the dollar but also the S&P500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq stock indices (noting that such a combination is extremely rare). As a result, the likelihood of raising the key interest rate to 5.5% has reached 33% (the chances were close to 0% at the beginning of May).

Lorie Logan, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of Dallas, and her colleague from St. Louis, James Bullard, are prepared to vote for monetary tightening. Raphael Bostic, the head of the FRB of Atlanta, does not rule out that after a pause in June, the rate could be raised at the July meeting. Neil Kashkari, the president of the FRB of Minneapolis, has also made hawkish statements. He agreed that a banking crisis could be the source of the economic slowdown. However, in his view, the labor market remains quite strong, inflation, although somewhat weakened, still significantly exceeds the target level of 2.0%, so it's too early to talk about easing monetary policy.

EUR/USD fell to a level of 1.0760 on Friday, May 19, after which the decline ceased. This slowdown was aided by a statement from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who said that like the Fed, the ECB "will boldly make the necessary decisions to return inflation to 2%". Clearly, this will require further tightening of credit and monetary policy (QT) and a rate hike, as inflation (CPI) in the Eurozone is reluctant to decrease. Statistics published on Wednesday, March 17, showed that in annual terms it had increased over the month from 6.9% to 7.0%.

Economists from the Canadian investment bank TD Securities (TDS) believe that the deposit rate for the euro will rise from the current 3.25% to 4.00% by September and will be maintained at this level until mid-2024. Accordingly, after a rise of 75 basis points (bps), the key interest rate will reach 4.5%.

The picture of the past week would be incomplete without the final part, aptly titled "Why the Dollar Fell." This happened on the evening of Friday, May 19, thanks to the same Fed. More precisely, its chairman Jerome Powell. Earlier in the day, he stated that inflation was much higher than the target, this created significant difficulties, and therefore it needed to be brought back to 2%. This speech had no impact on market participants as it completely aligned with their expectations. However, in his second speech at the end of the trading week, Powell managed to shock the market. According to him, the recent banking crisis, which led to a tightening of credit standards, has reduced the need for interest rate hikes. "Our rate may not need to rise as much as we would like," Powell said, adding that "the markets have priced in a different rate hike scenario than what the Fed is forecasting."

Following these words, EUR/USD rallied north, closing the past week at a level of 1.0805. As for the near future, as of the evening of May 19, when this review was written, most analysts (55%) expect the dollar to continue strengthening. Northward corrections are expected by 30%, and the remaining 15% have taken a neutral position. Among the oscillators on D1, 100% are coloured red (although a quarter of them are signalling that the pair is oversold). Among the trend indicators, 75% point south, and 25% look north. The nearest support for the pair is located around 1.0740-1.0760, followed by zones and levels of 1.0680-1.0710, 1.0620, and 1.0490-1.0525. Bulls will meet resistance around 1.0820-1.0835, then 1.0865, 1.0895-1.0925, 1.0985, 1.1045, 1.1090-1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280, and 1.1355-1.1390.

Noteworthy events for the upcoming week include the publication of Germany's business activity (PMI) and business climate (IFO) indices on May 23 and 24, respectively. Also, the minutes of the last FOMC meeting will be released, on Wednesday, May 24. We will know the GDP values of Germany and the US (preliminary) for Q1 2023, as well as data from the US labour market, on Thursday, May 25. To round off the working week, we are expecting data on US core durable goods orders and personal consumption expenditures on Friday, May 26.

GBP/USD: BoE Hints at a Dovish Turn

The plunge on May 11 and 12 resulted in GBP/USD being unable to maintain its position above the strong 1.2500 support level. On the past week of May 18, the pair reached the next, no less significant, support level, but couldn't break through it. After several attempts to drop below 1.2391, the pair reversed and headed north, ending the week at 1.2445.

The economy of the United Kingdom currently, to put it mildly, doesn't look good. Inflation is still measured in double digits. And while general inflation slowed down a bit over the month, dropping from 10.4% to 10.1%, food inflation, on the other hand, is soaring: it has already reached 19.1% and may soon cross into the third decade.

In terms of bankruptcies, the United Kingdom ranked third in the world in March, after Switzerland and Hong Kong. Moreover, the wave of compulsory liquidations could turn into a full-blown tsunami as the Electricity Bill Assistance Program comes to an end. And if the government doesn't extend it, many more businesses will be buried under new bills. The only slightly reassuring thing is that the industry's share of the country's GDP is less than 20%. The service sector, which consumes significantly less energy, contributes about 75% of GDP.

The pound could have been supported by further tightening of the Bank of England's (BoE) monetary policy. However, judging by the recent statements of its leaders, the cycle of rate hikes is coming to an end, with the last increase most likely in June. Deputy Governor of the BoE, Dave Ramsden, speaking before the UK Parliament's Treasury Select Committee, stated that while quantitative tightening (QT) does have some effect on the economy, it is quite insignificant. Another Deputy Governor, Ben Broadbent, announced a reduction in QT volumes to disrupt market liquidity. However, he was only talking about the volumes of bond sales, but overall, the direction of movement is evident.

Commerzbank strategists rightly believe that the BoE's indecision in combating inflation is putting heavy pressure on the pound. Their colleagues from the Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING) talk about the possibility that if the Bank of England maintained its hawkish stance, GBP/USD could advance to the 1.3300 mark by the end of the year. But will it maintain this stance?

At present, talking about the near-term prospects for the pair, 35% of experts maintain a bullish outlook, 55% prefer bears, and the remaining 10% prefer to abstain from forecasts. Among oscillators on D1, 75% recommend selling (20% are in the oversold zone), 10% are set to buy and 15% are painted in neutral gray. Trend indicators, as a week ago, have a 50% to 50% ratio of forces between red and green. Support levels and zones for the pair are 1.2390-1.2420, 1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1,2025, 1.1960, 1.1900-1.1920, 1.1800-1.1840. When the pair moves north, it will meet resistance at the levels of 1.2480, 1.2510, 1.2540, 1.2570, 1.2610-1.2635, 1.2675-1.2700, 1.2820 and 1.2940.

Key events for the coming week in the calendar include Tuesday, May 23, when preliminary business activity (PMI) data will arrive from various sectors of the UK economy. The next day will reveal the value of one of the main indicators of inflation levels, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the country, followed by two speeches by the Bank of England's head, Andrew Bailey. Finally, the volume of retail sales in the UK will be disclosed on Friday, May 26.

USD/JPY: The Yen Gets Knocked Down

In April, the yen was the worst currency in the DXY basket. On ultra-dovish statements from the new Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda, USD/JPY soared to a height of 137.77 by May 2. After that, the banking crisis in the United States came to the aid of the yen, playing the role of a safe haven, and the pair turned downwards. But not for long…

Ueda once again struck at the national currency, commenting on Japanese inflation data. He stated that "the current inflation increase is due to external factors and rising costs, not a strengthening of demand", that "inflation in Japan is likely to slow to below 2% in the middle of the current fiscal year" and that "tightening monetary policy would harm the economy". The yen was also undermined by the GDP data for Japan published on May 17. If the country's economy fell in the third and fourth quarters of 2022, then in the first quarter of 2023, it showed an increase of 1.6% YoY.

So, if inflation falls even below 2.0% by the middle of the year, and GDP grows, why should the central bank change anything in its monetary policy and raise the interest rate? Let it stay at the previous negative level of -0.1%. That's exactly what the market participants thought, sending the yen into the abyss, and USD/JPY into flight. As a result, it updated a six-month high, reaching the height of 138.74 on May 18. The speech by the Fed Chair on the evening of Friday, May 19, slightly weakened the dollar, and the end of the week the pair met at the level of 137.93.

Of course, this flight would not have been possible without a strengthening dollar and U.S. Treasury bonds. It is known that there is traditionally a direct correlation between ten-year treasuries and USD/JPY. If the yield on securities goes up, so does the pair. And last week, against the backdrop of the hawkish mood of the Fed, the yield rose by 8%. Another piece of not very pleasant news for the Japanese currency is that SWIFT data showed that in April, the use of the dollar in cross-border payments increased from 41.74% to 42.71%, while the share of the yen, on the contrary, fell from 4.78% to 3.51%.

Regarding the near-term prospects for USD/JPY, the votes of analysts are distributed as follows. At the moment, 35% of analysts vote for the strengthening of the Japanese currency. 45% of experts expect a continuation of the flight to the Moon, 20% remain neutral. Among the indicators on D1, the absolute advantage is on the side of the dollar: 100% of trend indicators and oscillators point north (although among the latter 20% signal the pair is overbought). The nearest support level is in the 137.30-137.50 zone, followed by levels and zones at 136.70, 135.95-136.30, 134.85-135.15, 134.40, 133.60, 132.80-133.00, 132.00, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, 129.65, 128.00-128.15 and 127.20. The nearest resistance is 138.30-138.75, then the bulls will need to overcome barriers at levels 139.05, 139.60, 140.60, 142.25, 143.50 and 144.90-145.10.

There is no significant economic information related to the Japanese economy expected to be released in the upcoming week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Bitcoin Has No Intention of Retreating



Bitcoin has been under pressure from sellers for the ninth consecutive week. However, despite the difficulty, it manages to hold on, relying on strong support in the $26,500 zone, preventing it from falling to $25,000 and lower. The bearish attack attempt on Friday, May 12, was unsuccessful: after dropping to $25,800, BTC/USD reversed course and reached a local high of $27,656 on May 15. According to some experts, investors seem willing to buy. However, there are no triggers for a bullish impulse. Market participants are focused on the prospects of a US debt default on June 1, which is causing them to refrain from any significant activity. At the same time, there is an atypical situation where both the Dollar Index (DXY) and stock indices are rising simultaneously. This preservation of investor risk appetite undoubtedly provided support to the cryptocurrency market.

According to a survey conducted by Bloomberg, in the event of a default, 7.8% of professional investors and 11.3% of retail investors will choose the first cryptocurrency as a safe haven, while 7.8% and 10.2% will rely on the US dollar, respectively.

Gold remains in the first place on the list of safe-haven assets. Even though the price of the precious metal is currently near its historical high ($2,000 per ounce), it was chosen by about half of the surveyed investors from both categories. The Bloomberg report highlights the existing deficit of alternative assets to hedge against gold.

US Treasury bills became the second most popular asset (purchased by 14-15% of respondents). Bloomberg journalists see some irony in this, as these debt instruments may potentially default. Bitcoin comes in third place, slightly behind the dollar, followed by the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc.

The debates in the US Congress regarding the debt ceiling were relatively lacklustre last week. Influencers' statements on the ceiling (and the "bottom") for bitcoin were equally sluggish and uncertain. For example, venture billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya stated that, on one hand, the devaluation of the dollar certainly stimulates the US economy, and the dominant position of the dollar in the global economy remains undisputed. However, on the other hand, he believes that in the long term, the US government is likely to face currency devaluation, and therefore, it is advisable to invest in risky assets such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Paul Tudor Jones, the head of hedge fund Tudor Investment Corporation, who has always been a proponent of investing in bitcoin, has now stated that the leading cryptocurrency has become less attractive in the current regulatory and economic situation. He noted that bitcoin is currently facing real problems because the entire regulatory apparatus in the United States is against cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, the billionaire expects a decrease in inflation in the US, which makes hedging assets less appealing. Bitcoin is often perceived as an asset for protection against inflation.

Paul Tudor Jones himself continues to hold a small amount of bitcoin and has no intention of selling the cryptocurrency even in the distant future. However, it appears that he has abandoned his previous plans to invest up to 5% of his wealth in BTC. Perhaps he has decided to wait out these uncertain times.

Mark Yusko, the founder and CEO of cryptocurrency hedge fund Morgan Creek Digital, has reiterated his prediction of an inevitable bull rally in the digital asset market. He believes that the "crypto summer" is likely to begin in mid-June. According to him, bitcoin could already make a significant breakthrough as a technical reversal pattern is forming on the chart. "If you look at the chart [starting from May 2022], you'll see that it's a beautiful inverted head and shoulders pattern at the $27,000 level," Yusko writes. "It's a really interesting technical pattern. And you know, I think we need some good news to give it a boost." (Regarding the need for good news, one can only agree with Mark Yusko. However, if you look at the chart starting from March 17-18, 2023, the head and shoulders pattern would point in the opposite direction).

Glassnode, too, anticipates the arrival of the first summer month. "We are confident in our medium-term target of $35,000 as external pressures ease. The Federal Reserve will pause its interest rate hike in June [...] - optimal for upward movement [of bitcoin] throughout the summer. The dollar index has crossed below a significant moving average - explosive movements are ahead," analysts from the agency explain.

Even though summer is approaching, it has not yet arrived. As of the evening of Friday, May 19, BTC/USD is currently trading at $26,850. The total market capitalization of the crypto market stands at $1.126 trillion ($1.108 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has remained relatively unchanged over the past seven days and is in the Neutral zone at 48 points (49 points a week ago).

And to conclude the review, in order to liven up the tranquil state of the crypto market, let's discuss a sensation. Debates have ignited online regarding the first purchase made with BTC. It turns out that the legendary pizza may not have been the actual first purchase. It has been discovered that in 2010, a user named Sabunir attempted to sell a JPEG image for 500 bitcoins, which was worth about $1 at the time. As evidence, a screenshot indicating the date of January 24, 2010, has been presented, which is four months prior to Laszlo Hanyecz's famous pizza purchase of 10,000 BTC. It is also claimed that a user named Satoshi Nakamoto even attempted to participate in the buying/selling process.

However, doubts remained as to whether it was merely an attempted sale or if the transaction actually took place. To dispel the doubt, Matt Lohstroh, co-founder of Gige Energy, conducted his own investigation. According to the obtained on-chain data, on January 24, 2010, 500 BTC (equivalent to approximately $13.3 million at the current exchange rate) were indeed received in Sabunir's wallet. This means that the transaction did take place, and therefore, this image is indeed the world's first item purchased with BTC.

So now, instead of celebrating the annual Pizza Day on May 22, will crypto enthusiasts have to mark January 24 as the Day of the JPEG Image? But what about the "Bitcoin Pizza" pizzeria owned by Morgan Creek co-founder Anthony Pompliano? It seems that "JPEG Pizza" doesn't sound quite as appetizing.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



– Romanian crypto investor Daniel Nita purchased 10,000 pizzas for 1.01 BTC (~$26,800 at the time of purchase) to celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day. Nita made the purchase at Vintage Pub in Bucharest, paying through Binance Pay. He then organized a party where he handed out pizzas on the city streets.
It's worth recalling that every year on May 22, the cryptocurrency community celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day. This holiday was inspired by a landmark event in the industry when, in 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz was the first in the world to buy two Papa John's pizzas, paying for them with 10,000 BTC. However, the primacy of this purchase is now being disputed. In our previous review, we detailed that four months before Hanyecz, someone named Sabunir might have sold a JPEG image for 500 bitcoins, which was about $1 at the time.

– The United States is at risk of losing its leading position in the cryptocurrency industry, potentially giving way to the UAE, South Korea, Australia, and Switzerland, warns ARK Invest analyst Yassine Elmandjra. In his view, the ambiguous regulatory environment negatively impacts existing companies and deters new players. The expert noted that the recent flight of market makers Jane Street and Jump Trading from the United States is a sign of this negative reaction. Citing data from Coin Metrics, he also added that over the past two months, the volume of Bitcoin trading in the country has fallen by 75% - from $20 million per day in March to $4 million in May.
Recall that just in 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has brought claims against crypto exchanges Bittrex, Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, and Genesis. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao.

– Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, believes that the upcoming halving and regulatory intervention in the crypto industry will positively impact bitcoin and strengthen its dominance. Saylor pointed to the growing interest of investors shifting towards bitcoin from other tokens. According to him, BTC's competitors naturally fall away after more stringent industry regulation. This became particularly noticeable after SEC Chairman Gary Gensler stated that "everything except bitcoin" falls under the securities laws.
"Crypto tokens and crypto securities will be regulated, and they might even cease to exist. Bitcoin is the only commodity that the SEC does not intend to regulate. Bitcoin is the safest network and the safest asset," stated the MicroStrategy CEO. In his opinion, a steady outflow of capital from the rest of the crypto space into Bitcoin will soon begin, and he already sees the start of a new bull cycle.
For reference: As of April 4, 2023, MicroStrategy, along with its subsidiary companies, owned about 140,000 BTC. The company paid a total of $4.17 billion for them. Thus, the average purchase price amounted to $29,803 per bitcoin.

– Obi Nwosu, CEO of the crypto platform Fedi, like Saylor, has stated that bitcoin's superiority over other cryptocurrencies is apparent in all aspects. The specialist expressed confidence that Bitcoin has the fastest, cheapest, simplest, most decentralized, and safest ecosystem. By the end of 2023, this will become even more apparent, as effective solutions for network functionality development are increasingly emerging. However, unlike Michael Saylor, Obi Nwosu believes that there will still be a place for other cryptocurrencies in the crypto space.

– Bloomberg analyst Mike McGlone expects a collapse in the bitcoin exchange rate to support at $7,366. This forecast is based on the downward movement of the 52-week moving average (MA) on the BTC chart. McGlone notes that before the massive pump in 2020, this line, on the contrary, was moving upwards.
According to the expert, the negative trend will continue, and the cryptocurrency will face hard times. "The U.S. Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates, despite the banking panic. The drop in commodity prices may argue in favor of the potential for deflation of high-risk assets. The simultaneous increase in the cost of bitcoin and a rally in the stock market seems unlikely," McGlone said.
It is worth noting that not so long ago, at the end of last year, he gave a completely opposite forecast. Then, according to him, bitcoin was supposed to appreciate to $100,000.

– A trader known as Dave the Wave, known for several accurate forecasts, believes that bitcoin is currently consolidating in the "buy zone" of the logarithmic growth curve. This curve evaluates the long-term highs and lows of the leading cryptocurrency throughout its entire life cycle, ignoring short-term volatility.
The analyst notes that, based on the current market structure, a rise above $32,000 will signal a breakthrough of the consolidation channel. Therefore, according to Dave the Wave, any purchase below $31,000 remains a great deal. In his conservative estimate, the target price of bitcoin by the end of the year should be around $40,000.

– The online publication BeInCrypto decided to find out whether BTC could continue to rise, or if the prolonged sideways trend would end with another drop. Opinions within the crypto community were divided. For example, a forecast from popular blogger CryptoKaleo does not rule out Bitcoin updating its local maximum. Signals that allow betting on the coin's growth were also seen by the trader known as DaanCrypto. He noted BTC's rebound from the weekly moving average (MA200). From a technical analysis perspective, this behavior of the cryptocurrency could indicate buyer strength.
Crypto blogger Nebraskangooner, on the other hand, sees signals for a decline on the chart. His forecast does not rule out the cryptocurrency falling to $25,500. This, the blogger believes, is indicated by the coin's exit from the symmetrical triangle formed on the chart. The negative Bitcoin forecast was supported by typically optimistic analyst Inmortal. He also does not rule out a BTC drop to as low as $22,000. However, Inmortal is confident that the cryptocurrency will be able to quickly recover its positions.
There's a well-known saying that goes, "So many people, so many opinions." In this case, it can be paraphrased as, "As many analysts as there are forecasts."

– Prominent investor and former Coinbase CTO, Balaji Srinivasan, is once again in the news. He previously made headlines with a sensational bet of $1.5 million that bitcoin would reach a value of $1 million within 90 days. This prediction was made in March 2023, but Srinivasan prematurely admitted his loss in early May.
Now, Srinivasan has declared that "if Twitter was the central theme of the presidential election in 2016, in 2024, for the first time, it could be bitcoin." As evidence, the investor cited statements from U.S. President Joe Biden that he does not intend to agree to a deal with the Republican Party aimed at protecting wealthy individuals and cryptocurrency traders who evade taxes. Srinivasan believes another proof of his correctness is the ongoing debates among American legislators over cryptocurrency regulation and the Web 3.0 space.
Interestingly, another Democratic presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy Jr., has challenged Biden by hailing Bitcoin as a tool to support democracy.

– Michael van de Poppe, an analyst, trader, and founder of the consulting platform EightGlobal, has told his Twitter followers that a successful retest of the $26,280 support level (MA200) could signify the end of bitcoin's correction and consolidation. Therefore, he believes this level is a good one at which to accumulate bitcoin.
"If we look at past periods, a retest of the 200-day moving average has always been a great time to accumulate bitcoin. Over the past six months, bitcoin has spent a lot of time below this indicator, making it [BTC] undervalued. The next week will be key: a quick retest and bounce upward will signify the end of Bitcoin's correction," the crypto analyst reasons. Michael van de Poppe is confident that, for bitcoin's future growth to be confirmed, it needs to secure a level above $27,000: this will demonstrate the bullish sentiment of investors. However, if BTC fails to conquer and hold this level, it is likely to roll back to $26,000.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Dollar Awaits U.S. Bankruptcy

The dollar has been rising since May 4. Last week, on May 26, the DXY Index reached 104.34. It hasn't been this high since mid-March 2023. What is driving the U.S. currency up and, consequently, pushing the EUR/USD pair down? According to analysts at Commerzbank, "the absolute calmness in the options market suggests that the driving force behind the EUR/USD exchange rate is monetary policy considerations rather than ongoing U.S. debt ceiling negotiations." It is worth noting that the probability of a rate hike at the June 14 FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting increased throughout May. At the beginning of the month, the likelihood of a rate increase was close to 0%, but by the end of the month, it reached 50%. It turns out that the U.S. economy is holding up very well compared to other economies, and the deterioration in lending has not been as severe or rapid as initially feared.

Of course, 50% is far from 100%. Moreover, the FOMC published the minutes of its latest meeting on Wednesday, May 24, and the key phrase regarding the possibility of additional tightening of monetary policy was absent. The document also revealed divergent opinions among committee members regarding further rate hikes. However, despite this, the flight to safety in anticipation of a potential U.S. default continued to support the dollar.

The United States government has been living with a debt that has already exceeded $31 trillion. If Congress does not raise its permissible limit by June 1, the U.S. will declare default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has already warned about this multiple times. However, the actual date of bankruptcy may vary slightly from the "X Day" on June 1. For example, Deutsche Bank points to the end of July, while Morgan Stanley mentions either June 7-14 or July 21-28, and Goldman Sachs even suggests the end of September.

The authors of the British publication The Economist are alarming readers, stating that U.S. bankruptcy will cause a collapse in global stock markets and sow panic in the global economy. According to the estimates of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the securities market will plummet by 45% in the first months of the crisis. Moody's agency predicts a decline of about 20%, but unemployment will increase by 5%.

As for politicians, discussions about extending the debt ceiling continue. On Wednesday, May 24th, Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, noted that there is still work to be done to reach an agreement. However, he added that the country will not declare default. President Joe Biden also expressed confidence in reaching a deal with Republicans. An agreement is in the interests of both parties, as next year is an election year in the United States.

David Malpass, the President of the World Bank, stated in an interview with CNN that he does not expect a default and explained that such situations occur every few years. (For reference, the U.S. debt ceiling has existed since 1917 and has been raised 78 times since 1960).

As mentioned earlier, statistics indicate that the U.S. economy is feeling relatively confident. The GDP estimate for Q1 was revised upward from 1.1% to 1.3%. At the same time, the number of initial unemployment claims, forecasted at 250K, actually decreased to 229K. Durable goods orders increased by 1.1%. This figure followed a growth of 3.3% in March and exceeded market expectations, which anticipated a 1.0% decrease. Finally, the April National Activity Index from the Chicago Fed rose from -0.37 to +0.07.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs predicts further strengthening of the dollar due to the lack of an attractive alternative among other currencies. According to the bank's experts, there is currently no serious contender for the reserve status of the dollar in the world, including the euro. Unlike the American economy, the Eurozone does not please investors. If the preliminary estimate of Germany's GDP for Q1 was -0.1%, the reality showed a decline to -0.3%. Additionally, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Germany's manufacturing sector declined (42.9 compared to the previous value of 44.5 and a forecast of 45.0), as did the country's business climate index (IFO) (91.7 compared to the previous value of 93.4 and a forecast of 93.0).

Starting the week at 1.0805, on May 25, EUR/USD reached a local low of 1.0701, and by the end of the five-day workweek (Friday evening, May 26), it is trading around 1.0725. As for the near-term prospects, at the moment, the majority of analysts (55%) anticipate a correction to the upside. 20% expect further strengthening of the dollar, while the remaining 25% hold a neutral position. Among the indicators on the daily chart (D1), there is a significant advantage for the dollar: 100% of oscillators are coloured in red (although a third of them signal oversold conditions for the pair), and among the trend indicators, 85% favour the red side (15% are on the green side). The nearest support for the pair is located around 1.0680-1.0710, followed by zones and levels at 1.0620 and 1.0490-1.0525. Bulls will encounter resistance around 1.0800-1.0835, followed by 1.0865, 1.0895-1.0925, 1.0985, 1.1045, 1.1090-1.1110, 1.1230, 1.1280, and 1.1355-1.1390.

The upcoming week features several notable events. The US Consumer Confidence Index will be published on Tuesday, May 30. The following day will bring unemployment and Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, while on Thursday, Germany's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for business activity will be released. On June 1st, the preliminary Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Eurozone and the minutes of the European Central Bank's latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting will be published. Additionally, a significant number of US economic data will be released, including labour market data and the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) PMI for the US manufacturing sector. As is customary, the first Friday of summer will see another round of US labour market statistics, including the unemployment rate and the number of non-farm payroll jobs created in the country. Traders should also note that Monday, May 29, is Memorial Day in the United States, and there will be no trading.

GBP/USD: One Step Forward, One Step Back

Indeed, GBP/USD has been moving with one step forward and one step back recently. Although it appears to be heading downwards, a closer look at the chart reveals that it ended the week on Friday, May 26, at the same level it had reached in April and a week ago. On one hand, the strengthening dollar is pushing the pair down. On the other hand, hopes that inflation will prompt the Bank of England (BoE) to continue raising interest rates prevent it from plummeting into the abyss.

Fresh consumer inflation (CPI) data in the UK turned out to be significantly higher than expected. The April release showed a rise in consumer prices by 1.2% compared to the previous month's 0.8%. The core CPI reached multi-year highs, reaching 6.8% YoY instead of the forecasted 6.2%. Although the annual inflation rate slowed from 10.1% to 8.7%, it still exceeded the projected 8.2%. While it is the lowest level in 13 months, it remains well above the target level.

In response to this data, Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Jonathan Haskel stated that he would not comment on market prices but could not rule out further rate hikes. Another important figure, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, also expressed support for tightening monetary policy, even if it harms the economy. In an interview with Sky News, he stated that "it's not a trade-off between tackling inflation and recession; ultimately, the only route to sustainable growth is reducing inflation." Many analysts believe that if the Bank of England indeed raises rates by another 1.0%, the UK economy will fall into a recession, putting significant pressure on the pound.

At the time of writing, GBP/USD is trading around 1.2350. The current analyst consensus is nearly neutral, with 40% bullish, 30% bearish, and another 30% refraining from commenting. Among the oscillators on the D1 timeframe, 100% recommend selling (20% indicate oversold conditions). Among the trend indicators, the ratio between red and green stands at 65% to 35%. In the event of a southward movement, the pair will encounter support levels and zones at 1.2300-1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200, 1.2145, 1.2075-1.2085, 1.2000-1.2025, 1.1960, and 1.1900-1.1920. If the pair rises, it will face resistance levels at 1.2390, 1.2480, 1.2510, 1.2540, 1.2570, 1.2610-1.2635, 1.2675-1.2700, 1.2820, and 1.2940.

As for the upcoming events in the following week, traders can enjoy a day off on Monday, May 29, in both the UK and the US as it is a public holiday. However, Thursday, June 1, is worth noting as it will reveal the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the country's manufacturing sector.

USD/JPY: Yen Receives "Ticket to the Moon"



Вue to the ongoing ultra-accommodative policy of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and similar statements from its new Governor Kadsuo Ueda, the yen was the weakest currency in the DXY basket in April. With a high probability, it will retain this title in May as well. Last week, USD/JPY continued its journey to the Moon. Starting at 137.93 on Monday, it reached above 140.70 on Friday evening, with a finish slightly lower in the 140.60 zone.

According to many analysts, the dovish stance of the Bank of Japan could continue undermining the Japanese currency and suggests that the path of least resistance for USD/JPY is upwards. This is supported by prospects of further interest rate hikes by the US dollar and new rising Treasury yields, increasing the interest rate differential between the US and Japan and encouraging a flow of funds from JPY to USD.

Regarding the near-term prospects of USD/JPY, analysts' opinions are divided as follows. Currently, 75% of them are hoping for at least a short-term strengthening of the Japanese currency and a correction to the south. Only 25% of experts vote for the continuation of the upward trajectory. Among the indicators on the daily chart, the US dollar has an absolute advantage, with 100% of trend indicators and 100% of oscillators pointing north (though 25% of the oscillators indicate overbought conditions for the pair). The nearest support level is located in the 139.85 zone, followed by levels and zones at 138.75-139.05, 137.50, 135.90-136.10, 134.85-135.15, 134.40, 133.60, 132.80-133.00, 132.00, 131.25, 130.50-130.60, and 129.65. The closest resistance is at 141.40, and then bulls will need to overcome obstacles at levels 142.20, 143.50, and 144.90-145.10. The October 2022 high of 151.95 is not far from there.

There is no significant economic information related to the Japanese economy expected for the upcoming week.

CRYPTOCURRIENCIES: Bitcoin Needs a Trigger

Bitcoin remains under pressure from sellers for the tenth consecutive week. However, despite the struggle, it manages to hold its ground in the strong support/resistance zone around $26,500. On Thursday, May 25, amid the strengthening of the dollar, bears launched another attack and pushed the BTC/USD pair down to the $25,860 level. A similar attack was observed on May 12 when the pair dropped to $25,799. But both attacks were repelled, and the storm did not occur.

Investors nostalgically recall the impressive start of the leading cryptocurrency in the first quarter of this year. However, since then, a period of calm and declining trading activity to three-year lows has set in. Some analysts believe that the current price fails to generate enthusiasm among both sellers and buyers. In this situation, investors are hesitant to spend money. According to the analytics agency Glassnode, long-term holders (over 155 days) have accumulated 14.5 million BTC coins. If we add the reserves of cryptocurrency exchanges and other aggregators to this figure, it will be even higher. Even short-term speculators have fallen into a state of hibernation. The market needs a trigger, which could be either decisions by the Federal Reserve regarding monetary policy or an announcement of a US government debt default.

There are two possible scenarios: either a default will be declared (which is unlikely), or it will not. In the first case, if a default occurs, investor confidence in the US dollar as a reserve currency will sharply decline, benefiting bitcoin as a safe haven asset. In the second case, if there is no default, it will become more challenging for cryptocurrencies. To replenish cash reserves, the US Treasury will issue a large number of bonds, causing their yields to rise, and investors will prefer to invest their money in these securities rather than BTC.

However, it is important to note that the announcement of a default could have a significant impact on the stablecoin market. It is worth remembering that Tether, the issuer of USDT, is one of the largest holders of US Treasury bills, surpassing countries like Thailand and Israel. The volume of these debt securities on Tether's balance sheet is $53 billion, or 64% of its own reserves. It is these reserves that support the liquidity of USDT. If a default occurs, then 1 stablecoin will be worth not $1 but only 36 cents. Alternatively, it is possible that it will simply cease to exist along with Tether.

Indeed, the situation is highly ambiguous. Furthermore, industry participants continue to be concerned about increasing regulatory pressure. It is worth noting that in 2023 alone, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed complaints against cryptocurrency exchanges Bittrex, Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, and Genesis. Additionally, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao. According to Yassine Elmandjra, an analyst at ARK Invest, this situation discourages new players and has a negative impact on existing companies, prompting them to flee from the United States to more crypto-friendly countries such as the UAE, South Korea, Australia, and Switzerland. (According to Coin Metrics, bitcoin trading volume in the US has declined by 75% over the past two months, from $20 million per day in March to $4 million in May).

Michael Saylor, the CEO of MicroStrategy, believes that active regulatory intervention will actually benefit bitcoin because it will create problems for its competitors. Saylor pointed out the increased investor interest shifting towards bitcoin from other tokens. According to him, BTC's competitors naturally fall away after more persistent regulation of the industry. This became particularly noticeable after SEC Chairman Gary Gensler stated that "all but bitcoin" fall under securities laws. Saylor believes that "crypto tokens and crypto securities will be regulated, and perhaps cease to exist. Bitcoin is the only commodity that the SEC is not going to regulate. Bitcoin is the safest network and the safest asset." He expects a continuous capital outflow from the rest of the crypto space into Bitcoin, and he already sees the beginning of a new bullish cycle. (As of April 4, 2023, MicroStrategy, along with its subsidiaries, held approximately 140,000 BTC, making it one of the largest holders of the cryptocurrency. The company paid a total of $4.17 billion for them. Thus, the average purchase price was $29,803 per bitcoin).

The opposite opinion is held by Bloomberg analyst Mike McGlone, who expects a collapse in the bitcoin price to the support level of $7,366. This forecast is based on the descending movement of the 52-week moving average (MA) on the BTC chart. McGlone notes that before the powerful pump in 2020, this line, on the contrary, was moving upwards. According to the expert, the negative trend will continue, and the cryptocurrency will face challenging times. (It should be noted that not long ago, at the end of last year, McGlone was looking in a completely different direction. At that time, according to his version, bitcoin was supposed to rise to $100,000).

In the absence of fundamental triggers, experts are paying more attention to technical analysis. For example, a trader known as Dave the Wave, who has made several accurate forecasts, believes that currently Bitcoin is consolidating in the "buying zone" of the logarithmic growth curve. This curve evaluates long-term highs and lows of the leading cryptocurrency throughout its lifecycle, ignoring short-term volatility. The analyst notes that based on the current market structure, a breakout signal from the consolidation channel would be a rise above $32,000. Therefore, according to Dave the Wave, any purchase below $31,000 is still considered an excellent deal. Based on his conservative estimate, the target price for bitcoin by the end of the year should be around $40,000.

Michael van de Poppe, an analyst, trader, and founder of the consulting platform EightGlobal, informed his Twitter followers that a successful retest of support at the $26,280 level (MA200) could mark the completion of the correction and consolidation for the leading cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is advisable to buy bitcoins at such a level. "If we look at past periods, the retest of the 200-day moving average has always been an excellent time to accumulate bitcoins. Over the past six months, Bitcoin has spent a long time below this indicator, making it [BTC] undervalued. The next week will be crucial - a quick retest and bounce upward will signify the end of the bitcoin correction," explains the crypto analyst. Michael van de Poppe is confident that for bitcoin to confirm future growth, it needs to firmly establish itself above $27,000.

The well-known saying goes, "Different people, different opinions." In this case, it can be paraphrased as "Different analysts, different forecasts." The opinions of representatives from the crypto community, surveyed by the online publication BeInCrypto, also turned out to be quite contradictory. For example, the forecast of popular blogger CryptoKaleo does not exclude the possibility of bitcoin reaching a new local high. Signals that indicate a bet on the coin's growth were also noticed by a trader known as DaanCrypto. He paid attention to the bounce of BTC from the weekly MA200 moving average. From a technical analysis perspective, such behavior of the cryptocurrency may indicate the strength of buyers.

On the other hand, crypto blogger Nebraskangooner sees signals for a decline on the chart. His forecast does not rule out a drop in the cryptocurrency to $25,500. According to the blogger, this is indicated by the coin's exit from the symmetrical triangle formation on the chart. The negative Bitcoin forecast was supported by the usually optimistic analyst Inmortal, who pointed to a target level of $22,000. However, Inmortal is confident that the cryptocurrency will be able to recover its position promptly.

As of the evening of Friday, May 26, BTC/USD is trading at $26,755. The total market capitalization of the crypto market stands at $1.123 trillion ($1.126 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has remained relatively unchanged over the past seven days and is currently in the Neutral zone at a level of 49 (48 points a week ago).


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



– Michael Saylor, the CEO of MicroStrategy, conducted a Twitter poll on the importance of the U.S. presidential candidates supporting cryptocurrencies for the upcoming 2024 elections. As of May 29, the poll had garnered participation from 31,200 users. Nearly 84% of the respondents answered "yes," while only 16% voted against it.
It is worth noting that in recent times, some American politicians have increasingly expressed their willingness to foster the development of the crypto industry if elected as president. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida recently stated his opposition to the implementation of a digital dollar and voiced his support for Bitcoin. He criticized the approach of the Joe Biden administration towards crypto assets, believing that overly stringent regulatory measures could stifle the industry's growth in the country.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democratic Party candidate, is also convinced that Bitcoin can save people from financial collapse. The politician pledged to protect the rights of Bitcoin owners and miners if he becomes president.

– After significant and tumultuous events in the crypto space in 2022 and early 2023, such as the FTX crash in November and numerous other bankruptcies including Celsius, Voyager Digital, and Three Arrows Capital, bitcoin managed to reduce its losses and grow by over 60% since the beginning of this year. Business Insider gathered expert opinions on what could happen to the leading cryptocurrency by the end of 2023.
Charmyn Ho, Head of Analytics at the crypto exchange Bybit, believes that bitcoin won't be able to reach a new all-time high until the macroeconomic environment becomes clearer. This depends on the forecast of a potential recession in the US, Europe, and other major economies due to an inverted yield curve combined with a range of other unfavourable macroeconomic factors such as inflation. Another factor to consider is the halving, although it is expected to occur in April 2024.
According to Jagdeep Sidhu, President of the Syscoin Foundation, despite several crypto storms, the ecosystem's resilience remains evident. The market has recovered from the FTX debacle, showcasing its ability to absorb shocks and evolve. If inflation in the US decreases and there is more regulatory clarity regarding digital assets, bitcoin could reach $38,000 by the end of the year, roughly 40% higher than the current value.
Based on Tim Shan's scenario, Chief Operating Officer of the crypto exchange Dexalot, bitcoin will trade in a range of $25,000 to $32,000 by the end of 2023. However, if inflation remains high, it may return to the lows seen earlier this year.
David Uhryniak, Director of Ecosystem Development at TRON, is confident that bitcoin will finish the year above $35,000. According to him, traders are not rushing to invest significant amounts of money and want to assess the direction of the leading cryptocurrency and the market as a whole. By the fourth quarter of 2023, much of the uncertainty should dissipate.

– According to analysts at JPMorgan, the price of bitcoin is expected to rise to $45,000. This is indicated by the current price of gold, which is nearly $2,000 per ounce. Analysts state that these two assets typically move in tandem. JPMorgan strategists estimate that the value of physical gold held outside central banks is currently valued at approximately $3 trillion. This implies a price of digital gold around $45,000 per coin, assuming that the volume of bitcoin in private investor portfolios aligns with the volume of the precious metal.
However, the $45,000 price is considered by JPMorgan analysts as the upper limit for bitcoin, suggesting limited potential for the asset. Nevertheless, this calculation does not take into account the halving event and the increased costs for miners. The upcoming halving in 2024 will automatically double the cost of bitcoin mining to around $40,000, and historically, this figure has served as the lower bound for the asset's price.
Regarding Ethereum, JPMorgan notes that the altcoin may face some selling pressure and is expected to lag behind bitcoin in terms of growth in the near term.

– Renowned cryptocurrency analyst, Tone Vays, believes that bitcoin is exiting its consolidation phase, with many investors having already "bought the bitcoin dip," indicating that the leading cryptocurrency is gearing up for further growth. However, in order to continue this upward trajectory, bitcoin needs to overcome resistance at the $30,000 level. If the bulls manage to do so, BTC is poised to reach new price highs.
"It is indeed time for bitcoin to rise," says Vays. "Although, when looking at the weekly chart, the bulls lack strength. [...] There is still time to overcome resistance. We need to surpass $30,000, reverse the Lucid SAR indicator, and then we will rise to $34,000, where another resistance level awaits."
For reference, the Lucid SAR indicator is a variation of the Parabolic SAR indicator. It is a trend-following indicator that combines price and time to calculate trends and determine entry and exit points.

– Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of BitMEX, believes that 2023 will be highly volatile for bitcoin due to the actions of the US Federal Reserve, but he does not expect the cryptocurrency to reach new records. "I don't think bitcoin will reach $70,000 this year. It is more likely that we will surpass this level next year, after the halving. Bitcoin will continue to grow in 2025 and 2026. And then, I expect an apocalypse. This situation will not occur when everyone expects it... We are currently sitting on a powder keg - the US has printed a huge amount of money, there is no trust in it, and people are trying to earn a living," muses Hayes.
It's worth noting that these are the personal opinions and speculations of Arthur Hayes, and they do not represent a guaranteed forecast for the future performance of bitcoin. Cryptocurrency markets are inherently volatile and subject to various factors, making it challenging to predict their exact trajectory.

– Researchers from VanEck have presented three price scenarios for Ethereum in 2030. In the base case scenario, the coin would be valued at $11,849. In the bullish scenario, the ETH price would reach $51,006, while in the unfavorable bearish scenario, the coin would plummet to $343. "Our estimates are based on the assumption that Ethereum will become the dominant global open-source settlement network. A significant portion of the commercial activity of high-profit potential business sectors will be conducted on the platform. The dominant platform is likely to capture the lion's share of the market," write VanEck analysts.
The report also notes that Ethereum is likely to become a store of wealth similar to bitcoin but with some differences. "We argue that ETH goes beyond being a transactional currency or a commodity similar to oil or gas. We believe that the coin is not a full-fledged store of value like Bitcoin due to the potential for code changes in Ethereum and the overall utility-focused nature of the project. However, this cryptocurrency can become a savings asset for government organizations seeking to maximize human capital.".

– The government of Bali, Indonesia, implemented strict measures at the end of May against cryptocurrency payments for goods and services, reminding tourists that the Indonesian rupiah is the only legal tender. Crypto tourists will face severe consequences, including administrative sanctions, deportation, and even criminal prosecution. As a result, some members of the crypto community have reconsidered their plans to visit Bali.
Tourism plays a crucial role in the island's economy, contributing 28% of its revenue. If a portion of tourists stops visiting the resort, it could lead to various economic problems, including increased unemployment and a decline in people's income.

– Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, believes that the bitcoin network can be an effective tool in combating bots and fake accounts. The businessman cited the use of bots on social media as an example. According to him, the digital "civil war" in modern society is fuelled by billions of fake accounts that sow hatred among real users. With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence, creating deepfakes has become much easier, while detecting them has become more challenging.

The head of MicroStrategy believes that decentralized identity (DID) solutions can address this issue, increase trust, and ensure secure and independent data exchange. For example, if someone wants to launch billions of bots on Twitter, it would cost them billions of transactions. By integrating cryptocurrencies into social networks and leveraging the capabilities of the decentralized bitcoin network, such actions would become costly and have serious consequences, according to Saylor.

– According to popular analyst Credible Crypto, bitcoin could replicate the impulse waves of growth observed in previous bull cycles and set a new price record as early as 2023. "I keep hearing that it's unrealistic for Bitcoin to set a new price record this year. But I think we need to compare it to the last impulse in 2020. Remember, it took Bitcoin about three months to surpass the $10,000 level. But within the following two months, it grew by an additional 90%. And just four months later, it set a price record, increasing fivefold from $10,000. So don't tell me that anything is impossible for Bitcoin. We'll likely see it at new highs, possibly even this year," wrote Credible Crypto.

– Nova, a specialist in tracking crypto whales' activities, has discovered an average trader who has become a major holder of digital assets in just five months. Trader 0x743 has executed successful trades since January of this year and now boasts a record realized profit of over 10,000%, with their current portfolio valued at approximately $578,345. Nova noted that the crypto whale's success is attributed to a successful trading strategy rather than mere luck. 0x743 did not make reckless purchases and demonstrated "discipline and good trading behaviour."
It's worth noting that the crypto market is highly volatile, and extraordinary profits come with inherent risks. Individual trading outcomes can vary, and it's important for traders to exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and make informed decisions when engaging in cryptocurrency trading.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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The broker NordFX has once again affirmed the high quality of services it provides to its clients. Based on the results of the vote on the international Forex portal, FXDailyinfo, the company was awarded the title of "Best Crypto Trading Platform - 2023".

FXDailyInfo is a vital information resource that provides daily news and financial market analytics, including broker reviews, educational materials, bonus and promotion information, and other valuable insights for traders. The FXDailyInfo Awards, on the other hand, are annual accolades given for exceptional achievements and contributions to various segments of the financial market, awarded to companies and individuals based on the open voting of portal visitors.

In 2019, NordFX was named the "Best Cryptocurrency Broker" at the FXDailyInfo Awards. Now, four years later, the title of "Best Crypto Trading Platform" has reaffirmed NordFX's solid reputation in the world of online cryptocurrency trading. During the voting, visitors cited the following reasons for their decision:

- A wide selection of cryptocurrency pairs, allowing traders to find the most profitable trading opportunities at any given moment.
- Advanced analytical features and tools, reviews, and forecasts, which help traders make informed trading decisions.
- Cutting-edge security technologies that NordFX employs to protect its clients' funds. Unlike many cryptocurrency exchanges, NordFX has never been hacked in all its years of operation, and not a single cent of client funds has ever been stolen.
- Ease of use. The MetaTrader-4 platform has an intuitive interface, making cryptocurrency trading accessible to people of various experience levels.
- Extremely fast order execution. The presence of modern technologies allows for order execution in just 0.5 seconds, enabling NordFX traders to take maximum advantage of rapidly changing market conditions.
- The ability to profit both in rising and falling markets, without the need to physically own cryptocurrency.
- Finally, the availability of margin trading is a critical factor. It suffices to say that to open a transaction of 1 Bitcoin, you only need $150, only $15 for a transaction in 1 Ethereum, and $0.02 for a trade of 1 Ripple. This means that traders can trade cryptocurrency volumes tens and hundreds of times exceeding their own funds, which significantly boosts potential profits.

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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The brokerage firm NordFX has summed up the results of its clients' trading transactions for May 2023. The social trading services, CopyTrading and PAMM, as well as the profit earned by the company's IB partners, were also evaluated.

- The leader for the month was a trader from Western Asia, account number 1692XXX, who made a profit of 130,874 USD. This substantial result was achieved through trades with gold (XAU/USD) and the British pound (GBP/USD).
- The second step of the podium was taken by a representative from Southern Asia, account number 1679XXX, with a result of 33,895 USD, also made through trades with gold (XAU/USD).
- In third place was another trader from Southern Asia, account number 1549XXX, who earned 24,857 USD in May through trades with the euro (EUR/USD) and the British pound (GBP/USD).

In NordFX's passive investment services, the situation was as follows:

- In CopyTrading, we continue to track the fate of the "veteran" signal KennyFXPRO - Prismo 2K. It continues to recover from the shock of November 14, 2022, when its maximum drawdown exceeded 67%. As of today, it has achieved a profit of 348% over 757 days. Another signal under the same "brand" also draws attention: KennyFXPRO - Variables_RBB 35. In its 175 days of existence, it has shown a relatively modest profit of 40%. However, what makes this signal interesting is that this profit was achieved with a fairly moderate drawdown of 24%.

One notable start-up signal is Future Forex, whose provider managed to achieve a 91% profit from GBP/USD trades over 68 days, with a maximum drawdown of about 30%.

Finally, the super-hit of the last two months: Trade2win. In just 62 days, this signal has achieved a phenomenal profit of 5,343% from gold (XAU/USD) trades, with an equally remarkable drawdown of less than 15%. Trade2win's trading style is not overly aggressive: there are few trades, and the average leverage is far from the maximum possible, ranging between 50 and 150. Despite these impressive achievements, it's important to remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future success, and that trading in financial markets is risky. Thus, to avoid losing funds, subscribers should exercise maximum caution and always adhere to money management principles.

- The PAMM service showcase still features two accounts we have mentioned several times in previous reviews. These are KennyFXPRO-The Multi 3000 EA and TranquilityFX-The Genesis v3. On November 14, 2022, like their CopyTrading colleagues, they suffered significant losses – drawdown approached 43% at that point. However, the PAMM managers decided not to give up, and as of May 31, 2023, the profit on the first of these accounts exceeded 100%, and on the second, 66%. We also continue to monitor the Trade and Earn account. It was opened more than a year ago, but lay dormant, awakening only in November. As a result, over the past 7 months, its return has exceeded 100% with a very small drawdown of less than 10%.

Among NordFX's IB partners, the Top 3 looks as follows:
- The largest commission reward of the month, amounting to 10,370 USD, was credited to a partner from Western Asia, account No. 1645XXX.
- In second place is a partner from Southern Asia, account No. 1668XXX, who received 9,093 USD.
- The top three is rounded off by a partner from Eastern Asia, account No. 1218XXX,


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Will the Dollar Return to Steady Growth?



The dollar has been rising since May 4. The DXY Index reached the 104.609 mark on the last day of spring, May 31. It hasn't soared this high since January 2023. As we have previously mentioned, two primary factors were propelling the American currency upwards.

The first one is the investors' appetite for the dollar as a safe-haven asset, triggered by the threat of a U.S. default. However, the Senate voted in favour of passing a bill on the public debt limit last week. Consequently, the default threat has finally passed, which has improved market sentiments and weakened demand for the dollar.

The second factor was the anticipation of a further rise in the key Federal Reserve interest rate. Amid hawkish statements from officials, the probability that the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) would increase the rate to 5.5% at its June 14 meeting rose above 60% by the end of May.

However, as the old song goes, "a beauty's heart is prone to change and fickleness". The first to play the role of such a "beauty" was the new Vice President of the Federal Reserve, Philip Jefferson, who subtly hinted at the need for a pause in the monetary tightening process. Furthermore, Patrick Harker, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, outright stated that "we should skip the rate hike at least at the June meeting". Then, Harker went even further and suggested skipping every other FOMC meeting, naturally including the one in June. Market participants immediately recalled Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve, who had also mentioned a pause.

Strong US macroeconomic data could have aided the dollar. However, the employment report from ADP released on Thursday, June 1, showed that the number of jobs in the private sector decreased from 291K in April to 278K in May. Meanwhile, the number of initial unemployment claims, albeit slightly, increased from 230K to 232K. The cooling of the economy was also indicated by the fall in the ISM's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in the manufacturing sector from 47.1 to 46.9. (As a reminder, if the PMI is below 50, it indicates economic contraction, especially if the trend persists over several months). The substantial revision of data on unit labour costs for Q1 2023, which was downgraded from 6.3% to 4.2%, also fuelled dovish expectations. Such weak statistics added doubts for market participants about another rate hike on June 14th. As a result, according to the FedWatch Tool from CME Group, the chances of this happening have plummeted from 60% to 25%. The DXY Index also took a southern turn.

If the US statistics on June 1 worked against the American currency, the data from Europe the day before, on May 31, conversely, helped EUR/USD reach a 9-week low at 1.0634. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that inflation in the Eurozone is on a downward trend. With a previous value of 7.0% and a forecast of 6.3%, the actual CPI dropped to 6.1%. If we talk about individual countries, the rate of consumer price growth in Italy fell from 8.7% to 8.1%, in France - from 6.9% to 6.0%, and in Germany - from 7.6% to 6.3%. In Spain, the CPI fell to a two-year low.

At the same time, with the decrease in inflation, the chances for further aggressive tightening of its monetary policy by the European Central Bank also went downhill. Although, at its next meeting on June 15, the ECB is still likely to raise the rate by 25 basis points (bp) to 4.0%, even after this, it will still remain below the current Federal Reserve rate of 5.25%. And if the ECB stops there and takes a pause, it will deprive EUR/USD bulls of an important trump card.

Strong labor market statistics, traditionally due on the first Friday of the month, June 2, could have helped the dollar towards the end of the week. The NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls) lived up to expectations: the number of new jobs created outside the agricultural sector, with a previous value of 294K and a forecasted fall to 180K, actually increased to 339K. However, another important indicator, the unemployment rate, disappointed investors: the unemployment rate in the US reached 3.7% in May (3.4% in April, forecast 3.5%).

Following such an ambiguous employment report, the pair ended the five-day period at a level of 1.0707. As for the near-term prospects, at the time of writing the review, the evening of June 2, the forecast is as neutral as possible: 50% of analysts expect the pair to move north, and just as many expect it to move south. Both among trend indicators and oscillators on D1, a substantial advantage is on the side of the dollar - 85% of each are coloured red, with 15% on the green side. Among trend indicators, 85% side with the reds (15% side with the greens). The pair's nearest support is located around 1.0680, followed by zones and levels at 1.0620-1.0635 and 1.0490-1.0525. Bulls will meet resistance around 1.0745-1.0707, then 1.0800-1.0835, 1.0865, 1.0895-1.0925, 1.0985, 1.1045, and 1.1090-1.1110.

For the upcoming week's calendar, it is worth noting Monday, June 5, when the ISM's Service Sector PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) for the US will be known. The EIA's (Energy Information Administration's) Energy Market Outlook and data on US crude oil reserves may cause some volatility on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, Eurozone retail sales volumes will be announced on Tuesday, June 6. Thursday, June 8 could also be quite volatile, with data coming in on Eurozone GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and the US unemployment rate.

GBP/USD: UK Inflation Propels Pound Upwards

Over the last week, the pound has recovered all of its losses from May 12 to May 25. This occurred after last week's inflation figures in the UK shocked the market with an unexpected increase. The April release reported a rise in consumer prices by 1.2%, compared to the 0.8% increase recorded a month earlier. The core Consumer Price Index reached multi-year highs, hitting 6.8% YoY, exceeding the predicted 6.2%. Although annual inflation has slowed from 10.1% to 8.7%, it still exceeded the 8.2% forecast. This is a 13-month low, but still significantly above the target level. In particular, food inflation reached 19.1%, a level not seen since 1977. This figure greatly impacts low-income households, forcing them to spend more on food and less on other goods and services.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has already stated the need to continue a hawkish monetary policy course, despite increasing recession risks. The official noted that economic recovery is only possible if inflation is fully defeated. As a result, investors have become more confident that the Bank of England (BoE) will raise the rate by 25 basis points at its next meeting, and likely will not stop there.

There's another factor that allowed GBP/USD to reach 1.2544 on June 2. If the dollar was strengthening its position energetically in mid-May, last week the US currency found itself under selling pressure (the reasons were indicated earlier), which facilitated a rally of GBP/USD. After the release of US labour market data, it concluded on the note of 1.2450.

In the current situation, the median forecast of analysts looks as follows: 45% of experts maintain a bullish outlook, 30% prefer the bears, and the same percentage (25%) chose to abstain from comments. Among oscillators on D1, only 15% recommend selling, 50% are set to buy, and 35% are painted in a neutral grey colour. Among trend indicators, the balance of power between green and red is 85% to 15% in favour of the greens.

If the pair moves south, its support levels and zones are 1.2390-1.2420, 1.2300-1.2330, 1.2275, 1.2200-1.2210. In the event of the pair's rise, it will meet resistance at levels 1.2480, 1.2510, 1.2540, 1.2570, 1.2610-1.2635, 1.2675-1.2700, 1.2820, and 1.2940.

The Composite Business Activity Index (PMI), as well as the PMI in the services sector of the United Kingdom will be published the next week, on Monday, June 5. The picture of business activity will be supplemented by the PMI in the country's construction sector the following day, Tuesday, June 6.

USD/JPY: The Pair Seeks a Return to Earth

The previous review was titled "USD/JPY Received a 'Ticket to the Moon'. As for the current one, it could be called "The Pair Seeks a Return to Earth". Or at least, it tries to do so, justifying the forecast given by 75% of analysts a week ago. If the pair reached its maximum for the past five-day period (and the last six months) on May 30 at the height of 140.92, the minimum on June 01 was 250 points lower, at 138.42. However, then the ambition to reach the stars took over again, and the pair finished at the level of 139.95.

It's clear that the yen's strengthening in recent days has been directly tied to the weakening of the dollar. However, when it comes to future prospects, things are very unclear and uncertain. Let's just quote a few statements.

Speaking in Parliament, Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda said that it will take some time to reach the 2.0% price growth target. He also added that he can't specify when this target will be reached. Moreover, the BoJ chief believes that setting strict timelines to achieve this goal could cause unexpected consequences for the market and hence is undesirable.

On Friday, June 2, a statement was also issued by Japan's Finance Minister, Shunichi Suzuki. In his opinion, currency rate movements are determined by the market and various factors. He also mentioned: "A weak yen has various impacts on Japan's economy". However, the Minister did not specify what these "various factors" are and what kind of "various impacts" he was referring to.

In the current situation, economists at ING, the largest banking group in the Netherlands, believe that "USD/JPY appears overvalued compared to trading conditions, which are now much more favorable for the yen than a year ago." They also note that "there is still a risk that the Bank of Japan will surprise on June 16, further normalizing its yield curve control policy," which would be a positive factor for the yen.

Strategists from Wells Fargo, one of the "big four" U.S. banks, are also relatively optimistic about the future of the Japanese currency, expecting the yen to be the main beneficiary of a weakening U.S. dollar. They believe that "The Bank of Japan will adjust its policy in Q4 2023 for further normalization of the government bond market," which could provide an opportunity for the yen to strengthen by the end of the year. "The strengthening of the yen should also be supported by the end of the global central bank tightening cycle and a transition to global easing, as well as a recession in the U.S. in the second half of 2023," Wells Fargo strategists said. "We are targeting a USD/JPY rate of 136.00 by the end of 2023 and 129.00 by the end of 2024." (end of quote).

As for the near future of the pair, the voices of analysts are distributed as follows. At this point, 65% of them are hoping for further strengthening of the Japanese currency and movement of the pair to the south. Only 25% of experts vote for a rise in the dollar, and the remaining 10% have taken a neutral position. Among the indicators on D1, the absolute advantage is on the side of the dollar: 100% of trend indicators and 85% of oscillators point north (10% signal overbought conditions). The remaining 15% of oscillators point south. The nearest support level is in the 139.45 area, followed by levels and zones 138.75-139.05, 137.50, 135.90-136.10, 134.85-135.15, 134.40, 133.60, 132.80-133.00, 132.00, 131.25, 130.50-130.60 and 129.65. The nearest resistance is 140.90-141.00, then bulls will need to overcome obstacles at levels 142.20, 143.50 and 144.90-145.10. And from there it's not far to the October 2022 high of 151.95.

No significant economic information concerning the Japanese economy is anticipated in the coming week. The exception is Thursday, June 8, when the volume of Japan's GDP for Q1 2023 will be announced.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: A Moderately Positive Forecast for Bitcoin

After bouncing off the $25,850 support on May 25, the bulls launched an attack, instilling hope in the hearts of investors. However, their strength proved insufficient to reach the $29,000 resistance level. A local peak was recorded on May 29 at $28,433, after which BTC/USD retreated to the $26,500 support, leaving investors disappointed.

This dynamic was likely triggered by speculations surrounding the US government debt. Although, upon examining the charts, there was no direct correlation with stock indices (S&P500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq), nor was there an inverse correlation with the Dollar Index (DXY) observed in bitcoin quotes.

After significant and tumultuous events in the crypto space in 2022 and early 2023, such as the FTX crash in November and numerous other bankruptcies, including Celsius, Voyager Digital, and Three Arrows Capital, bitcoin managed to recover its losses and grow by over 60%. However, a period of calm ensued for eleven weeks. Renowned cryptocurrency analyst Ton Vays believes that the leading cryptocurrency is concluding its consolidation phase, with many investors already "buying the bitcoin dip," indicating that BTC is preparing for further growth. To achieve this, though, it must overcome resistance at the $30,000 level. If the "bulls" succeed, BTC will reach new price highs.

"It is indeed time for bitcoin to grow," says Vays. "However, looking at the weekly chart, the bulls lack strength. [...] There is still time to overcome resistance. We need to surpass $30,000, reverse the Lucid SAR indicator, and then we will rise to $34,000, where another resistance awaits." (For reference: The Lucid SAR indicator is a variation of the Parabolic SAR. It is a trend-following indicator that combines price and time to calculate trends and determine entry and exit points.)

According to analysts at JPMorgan, the price of bitcoin is expected to rise to $45,000. This is indicated by the current price of gold, which is close to $2,000 per ounce. Analysts note that these two assets usually move in tandem. Based on JPMorgan strategists' calculations, the value of physical gold held outside central banks is currently estimated at around $3 trillion. This implies a price of digital gold, or bitcoin, at around $45,000 per coin, assuming the volume of bitcoin in private investors' portfolios matches that of the precious metal.

However, analysts at JPMorgan view $45,000 as the upper limit for bitcoin's price, suggesting limited potential for the asset. This calculation does not take into account the halving process and the increasing costs for miners. The upcoming halving in 2024 will automatically double the cost of bitcoin mining to approximately $40,000, and historically, this figure has served as the lower boundary for the asset's price.

When it comes to miners, the situation is twofold. In pursuit of profits, they contribute to the increasing computational difficulty. Over the past five months of 2023, the difficulty has grown by 45%, equal to the growth seen throughout the entire year of 2022. The price increase of bitcoin in Q1 of this year added optimism among miners, leading them to actively expand their computing power. However, this had the opposite effect, as the increased difficulty impacted mining profitability, bringing it down to levels seen on January 13 when BTC was trading at $19,000.

Former CEO of BitMEX, Arthur Hayes, believes that 2023 will be highly volatile for bitcoin due to the actions of the Federal Reserve System (FRS) in the United States. However, he does not expect the cryptocurrency to reach new all-time highs this year. Hayes states, "I don't think bitcoin will reach $70,000 this year. Most likely, we will surpass that level next year after the halving. Bitcoin will continue to grow in 2025 and 2026. And then, I anticipate an apocalypse. This situation will occur when least expected... We are currently sitting on a powder keg: the US has printed a massive amount of money, there is a lack of trust in them, and people are trying to make a living for themselves," Hayes concludes.

Popular analyst Credible Crypto disagrees with him. According to his opinion, bitcoin may replicate the impulsive waves of growth observed in previous bull cycles and set a new price record as early as 2023. "I keep hearing that it's impossible for bitcoin to reach a new all-time high this year. But I think we need to compare it to the last impulse in 2020. Remember, it took bitcoin about three months to surpass the $10,000 level. But within the next two months, it increased by another 90%. And just four months later, it set a new price record, growing fivefold from $10,000. So don't tell me that anything is impossible for bitcoin. We'll see it at new highs, most likely this year," Credible Crypto burst with optimism.

The publication Business Insider has also taken an interest in expert forecasts regarding what may happen to the leading cryptocurrency by the end of 2023. Charmyn Ho, Head of Analytics at the crypto exchange Bybit, believes that bitcoin will not be able to reach a new high until the macroeconomic environment becomes clearer. It all depends on the potential forecast of a recession in the US, Europe, and other major economies due to an inverted yield curve combined with a range of other unfavorable macroeconomic factors, such as inflation. The halving factor should also be taken into account, although it is expected to occur in April 2024.

According to Jagdeep Sidhu, President of the Syscoin Foundation, despite several crypto storms, the resilience of the ecosystem remains evident. The market has recovered from the ashes of FTX, with its inherent ability to absorb shocks and evolve. If inflation in the US decreases and there is more clarity in terms of regulating digital assets, bitcoin could reach the $38,000 mark by the end of the year, which is approximately 40% higher than the current level.

According to the scenario presented by Tim Shan, Chief Operating Officer of the crypto exchange Dexalot, bitcoin is expected to trade in a range of $25,000 to $32,000 by the end of 2023. However, if inflation remains high, it may return to the lows seen earlier this year.

David Uhryniak, Director of Ecosystem Development at TRON, is confident that bitcoin will finish the year above $35,000. According to him, traders are not rushing to invest significant amounts of money and want to see which direction the leading cryptocurrency and the market as a whole will move. By Q4 2023, most of the uncertainties should disappear.

The cryptocurrency market is not solely reliant on bitcoin. It's been a while since we discussed the second most significant cryptocurrency, ethereum. This altcoin also demonstrates high volatility, and investment returns depend heavily on the entry point. For example, the coin's price increased from $90 to $4,855 from March 2020 to November 2021, a more than 50-fold gain. However, it had dropped to $880 by June 2022, losing 80% of its value. Looking at the returns from the beginning of 2018 to the present, they stand at a modest 30%.

Researchers from VanEck have presented three price scenarios for ethereum over a seven-year horizon. In the base case scenario, the coin will be valued at $11,849 in 2030. In the bullish scenario, ETH could reach $51,006, while in the unfavourable bearish scenario, ethereum would plummet to $343. "Our estimates are based on the assumption that ethereum will become the dominant global network for transactions, hosting a significant portion of the most profitable business sectors. The dominant platform is likely to capture the lion's share of the market," write the VanEck analysts.

The report also notes that ethereum is likely to become a store of wealth, much like bitcoin, but with some differences. "We argue that ETH goes beyond being a transactional currency or a commodity-like oil or gas. We believe the coin is not a full-fledged store of value like bitcoin, due to the potential for code changes in ethereum and the project's utility-focused position. Nevertheless, this cryptocurrency can become a savings asset for government organizations seeking to maximize human capital."

However, according to JPMorgan strategists, the main threat to the number one altcoin comes from government organizations. It is their pressure and selling activity that poses a challenge for ethereum, and in the near future, it may lag behind bitcoin in terms of growth. This became particularly noticeable after SEC Chairman Gary Gensler stated that "everything other than bitcoin" falls under securities laws. "Crypto tokens and crypto securities will be regulated and may even cease to exist. Bitcoin is the only commodity that the SEC does not intend to regulate. Bitcoin is the safest network and the safest asset," commented MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor on Gensler's statement.

At the time of writing this review on the evening of Friday, June 2, BTC/USD is trading at $27,155, and ETH/USD is trading at $1,900. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at $1.149 trillion ($1.123 trillion a week ago). Bitcoin's dominance in the market is 47.51%, while ethereum accounts for 20.65%. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has remained relatively unchanged over the past seven days and is currently in the Neutral zone at 50 points (compared to 49 points a week ago).


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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Gold is one of the favourite trading instruments of the most successful traders at NordFX. This can be easily confirmed by looking at the monthly rankings published by this brokerage company. That is why it is appropriate to provide a special review, focusing solely on the XAU/USD pair.

Is Gold Truly a Protective Asset?

In the current economic situation, as leading central banks worldwide attempt to curb inflation, the price of this precious metal has reached a historic high, hitting $2,080 per troy ounce on May 4. Market participants are rushing to buy gold, believing it can safeguard their capital from devaluation.

According to a survey conducted by Bloomberg, approximately 50% of respondents identified gold as their primary safe-haven asset (with US Treasury bonds coming in second place, receiving only 15% of the votes). However, is gold truly an effective tool for hedging price risks, or is this a widespread misconception?

Consider, for instance, the period from March to October 2022 when gold prices fell from $2,070 to $1,616, a decline of almost 22%. This occurred despite the fact that inflation in the United States reached a 40-year peak during that time. So, what kind of protective asset is gold, then?

The Growth of Gold Prices

If we trace the dynamics of gold prices since the beginning of the 20th century, we observe the following pattern. In the year 1900, the price of this precious metal was approximately $20 per troy ounce.

During the period from 1914 to 1918, amidst and immediately after World War I, the price rose to around $35. Then, in the 1930s, during the Great Depression and as a result of currency reforms in the United States, the price was set at $20.67 per troy ounce. Throughout World War II, the value of the asset remained stable and was fixed at $35 under the Bretton Woods system, the same level as during World War I.

In 1971, the United States abandoned the gold standard, which led to floating exchange rates and an increase in the price of gold. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the price exceeded the $800 mark per troy ounce due to geopolitical tensions, inflation, and a reduction in gold production. From the 1980s to the 2000s, the price of gold declined and fluctuated within a range of approximately $250 to $500.

Since the early 2000s, there has been a significant increase in the price of gold due to geopolitical events, financial instability, and inflationary pressures. In August 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty, the price of gold surpassed the $2,000 mark per troy ounce for the first time. However, following this peak, it experienced a decline due to expectations of economic recovery, tightening monetary policies by central banks, rising interest rates, and various other factors.

A subsequent unsuccessful attempt to break above the $2,000 resistance level occurred in March 2022. Finally, the third surge occurred in May of this year.

Why Gold Prices Are Rising

So, what contributes to the value of gold and why does its price rise?

- Rarity and Limited Supply: Gold is a rare metal, and its extraction is limited and requires significant efforts and resources.
- Durability and Longevity: Gold is highly resistant to wear and corrosion. It retains its physical properties over time, making it suitable for long-term storage and attractive for use in jewellery and various industries.
- Store of Value: Gold has long been considered a store of value. It can preserve its purchasing power over extended periods, serving as a hedge against inflation and the instability of stocks and currencies.
- Liquidity and Recognizability: Gold is universally recognized and accepted as an asset. It can be easily exchanged for cash or used as a medium of payment in different countries and cultures.
- These factors contribute to the desirability and demand for gold, thus driving its price upward.

Factors Influencing Gold Prices

Let's delve into the factors that influence the price of gold. It's important to note that there is no direct correlation between the price of gold and each of these factors individually. Market forecasts and the combination of these factors also play a role in determining gold prices. For example, the recent surge in XAU/USD can be attributed to expectations of a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike cycle, potential U.S. debt default, as well as geopolitical and economic instability due to Russia's armed actions in Ukraine. Now, let's explore the key factors:

- Economic Conditions: The global economic situation, including GDP growth or decline, unemployment, and overall financial stability, can impact gold prices. Uncertainty in the markets or a recession, for instance, may increase demand for gold as a risk-free asset.
- Geopolitical Events: Political and geopolitical events such as armed conflicts, wars, terrorist acts, sanctions, elections, etc., can cause market instability and uncertainty, leading to an increased demand for gold as a safe haven.
- Inflation: The level of inflation plays a crucial role in determining the value of gold. When inflation rises, the price of gold typically follows suit as investors seek protection against the devaluation of money.
- Central Banks: Actions taken by central banks, including changes in interest rates, can influence gold prices. For example, a decrease in interest rates may stimulate demand for gold as holding it becomes comparatively more attractive than other assets.
- Currency Movements: Fluctuations in exchange rates between different countries can also impact the price of gold. If the currency of a gold-producing country weakens against other currencies, the price of gold in that currency may increase, stimulating exports and raising the demand for gold.
- Investment Demand: Investment demand includes the purchase of gold bars, coins, and futures market transactions. Demand typically rises when trust in fiat currencies weakens.
- It's important to consider the interplay of these factors and market expectations when assessing the price of gold.

Forecast: Will the Price of Gold Rise?

When it comes to forecasts, it's important to note that they are mere assumptions based on available information and analysis. As mentioned before, the gold market is complex and subject to the influence of multiple factors. Any forecasts are subjective assessments and can change depending on economic and geopolitical situations, as well as changes in market demand and supply. However, it should be acknowledged that some forecasts have proven to be relatively accurate.

Here are a few examples of such forecasts made before September 2021. In May 2021, analysts at Goldman Sachs predicted that the price of gold would reach $2,000 per troy ounce by 2024. Two months later, their counterparts at Bank of America made the exact same forecast. The touch of this resistance level occurred one year earlier. However, whether XAU/USD will be able to sustainably establish itself above this level, turning it from resistance to support, remains to be seen.

Currently, Goldman Sachs strategists are indicating a target of $2,200. Meanwhile, the Swiss financial holding UBS believes that the price of gold may rise to $2,100 by the end of 2023 and to $2,200 by March 2024. (It's worth noting that their previous forecast projected a peak of $2,400 for this year). Similar figures are mentioned by analysts at the Economic Forecasting Agency, who believe that the price of gold may even exceed $2,400, but this is expected to occur only in 2027.

***

At the beginning of this overview, we raised the question of whether gold is a protective asset. In his early statements, Warren Buffett expressed scepticism about investing in gold, referring to it as an unproductive asset that doesn't generate income. However, looking at the chart, it becomes clear that he was mistaken. Even the legendary investor himself acknowledged this and later expressed a positive attitude towards gold as a store of value. Prominent financier George Soros also recognized gold as a diversification asset that provides protection against inflation and political instability. Ray Dalio, the founder of investment firm Bridgewater Associates, recommended including this precious metal in one's portfolio.

Most likely, they are all correct, and in the foreseeable future, gold will retain its role as a primary capital preserver. However, it is always important to remember that the effectiveness of any investment depends on the entry point. If the timing of a trade is chosen incorrectly, it is possible that your deposit may start to decrease. Nevertheless, in the case of gold, the probability of XAU/USD rising again is significantly higher than that of many fiat currencies. To withstand drawdowns and ultimately achieve profit, sound money management, as well as time and patience, are necessary.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



– American bitcoin exchanges are likely to be required to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as brokers, and all cryptocurrencies will be classified as securities. These conclusions were drawn by strategists at JPMorgan bank. According to experts, such a situation will exert significant pressure on the industry. However, they believe that this approach also has positive aspects, as digital assets will be subject to the same legislation as traditional ones.
JPMorgan analysts noted that the actions of the SEC highlight the need for U.S. lawmakers to develop a clear regulatory framework. According to them, otherwise, the crypto industry is likely to leave the United States and relocate to other jurisdictions, while venture financing in the sector will decline. The new rules will "rid the industry of bad practices and dishonest players, which, in turn, is necessary for the industry to mature and witness more active institutional participation."
It is worth recalling that earlier, the SEC filed lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, accusing the platforms of selling unregistered assets. In the court documents, the SEC named over a dozen tokens as securities. According to experts, a regulator's victory could lead to the delisting of these coins and limit the potential development of their blockchains. In total, over 60 coins have already ended up on the regulator's blacklist.

– According to the analytical platform Glassnode, investor behavior has noticeably shifted the distribution of Bitcoin across regions. Experts from the company have reported a significant decline in the share of American players, whose dominance peaked between 2020 and 2021. The downward trend has been observed since the sharp drop in BTC price last year, with the share of Americans decreasing by 11% since mid-2022. During the same period, the share in the Asian region increased by 9.9%.

– Adam Back, the creator of the Hashcash algorithm and CEO of Blockstream, is considered one of the key figures in the field of modern cryptography and the crypto industry. In a recent conversation with Decrypt, this prominent scientist stated that the cryptocurrency market is "anti-fragile." Like water, it flows and, when faced with obstacles, finds alternative paths. Therefore, if any major crypto exchange operating in the United States stops serving its customers due to regulatory pressure, the industry will eventually find a way out. In the event of restrictions on bank transfers in the US, bitcoin traders would simply shift towards opening bank accounts in other jurisdictions in euros or Swiss francs and engage in trading using a different currency.

– Journalists from Bitcoin.com conducted a survey with six popular AI chatbots regarding the potential of Bitcoin becoming a global reserve currency. The experiment involved ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4 from OpenAI, Bard from Google, Claude Instant and Claude 4 from Anthropic, as well as the creative mode of Bing AI.
ChatGPT 3.5 struggled to assess the potential of bitcoin and other digital assets, citing existing "issues and uncertainties." According to its response, the likelihood of achieving reserve currency status depends on "current events and the evolution of the crypto currency ecosystem." However, it noted that its information was based on data available until September 2021.
Bard emphasized the need for wider adoption of bitcoin by central banks and other financial institutions, as well as the improvement of price stability and advancements in blockchain technology. The bot stated, "If bitcoin can overcome these challenges, it could become a global reserve asset within the next decade. However, it is also possible that this may never happen or that it will take much longer to achieve this goal."
Claude Instant, pointing out "significant obstacles" for bitcoin in terms of stability and recognition, considered it unlikely for BTC to become a reserve currency in the next 5-10 years. As for the 10–15-year horizon, Claude 4 estimated the probability of such an event to be in the low to moderate range. ChatGPT 4 also stated that it would take "several years or even decades" for bitcoin to achieve reserve currency status and warned that it "cannot confidently predict the future."
Bing AI took a "creative" approach and listed a range of factors that will determine the future of bitcoin. These factors include widespread adoption of the asset, including by financial institutions, innovation and improvement of technology, scalability and user-friendliness, regulation and legal status management, taxation and compliance with regulatory requirements, and competition and interaction with other crypto assets and fiat currencies.
In summary, it can be said that all six Artificial Intelligences behaved like experienced politicians and did not provide any specific answers to the question posed.

– According to The Wall Street Journal, the actions of hackers associated with North Korea have caused $3 billion in damage to the crypto industry. Half of this amount was reportedly used to finance a program for the development of ballistic nuclear missiles. As per the statement by U.S. authorities, North Korea has formed a "shadow" army of thousands of IT specialists around the world for these purposes. Cybersecurity experts believe that the "arms race" with North Korean hackers has only just begun.

– Peter Brandt, known as the "Mysterious Market Wizard," has been successful in accurately predicting the crypto winter of 2018 and many other market movements in the digital asset space. Now, this legendary trader and analyst has virtually "buried" all coins except bitcoin. "Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency that will be able to finish this marathon. All others, including Ethereum, are counterfeits or scams," wrote Brandt.
Many members of the crypto community were puzzled by the fact that a respected analyst placed the second-largest cryptocurrency, ethereum, in the same category as fraudulent projects. In response, Brandt stated, "Silver to BTC's gold is ETH. ETH will likely survive, but the real legacy is BTC."

– Vitalik Buterin, the founder of ethereum, believes that the success of his blockchain depends on three main "transitions" that need to happen almost simultaneously. According to him, the leading altcoin is "failing" without sufficient scaling infrastructure that would make transactions on the network cheaper.
Another factor is related to the transition to smart contract wallets, which has been challenging in terms of user interaction. Moreover, these wallets will need to protect data to fully align with the concept of zero-knowledge (ZK) privacy. The last factor for ethereum's success that Buterin mentioned is privacy. In his opinion, significant improvements in identification systems and the implementation of hidden addresses are necessary.
"Achieving scalability, wallet security, and user privacy is crucial for the future of ethereum. It's not just about technical feasibility but also about practical accessibility for ordinary users," concluded the network's founder.

– Benjamin Cowen, the founder of Into The Cryptoverse, has noted that liquidity in the crypto market has dried up for quite some time, and many people have been blaming the SEC for what is happening. Most of them believe it is the end for the entire industry. According to Cowen, altcoins will face retribution, while Bitcoin dominance will continue to grow.
A similar sentiment was expressed by renowned trader Gareth Soloway, who compared the crypto market to the dot-com bubble. He stated that the collapse that occurred in the early 2000s would repeat itself in this industry. Soloway asserted that the "system needs to be cleansed of garbage" in order to thrive. According to him, 95% of all tokens "will strive toward zero."

– ARK Invest CEO Cathy Wood has doubled down on her bitcoin forecast, stating that the leading cryptocurrency will reach seven-figure values. In an interview with Bloomberg, she reaffirmed her confidence that the $1 million target for BTC will be achieved.
According to Wood, the current global economic environment increases her trust in the flagship crypto asset. "The more uncertainty and volatility in the global economy, the more our confidence grows in Bitcoin, which has been and remains a hedge against inflation," she stated. The head of ARK Invest believes that the greater risk lies not in inflation but in deflation, which she sees looming over the world. In this case, the primary cryptocurrency would act as an antidote against the crisis in the traditional financial system.

– Prominent investor and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, has analyzed the market capitalization chart of the crypto market and arrived at discouraging conclusions. According to the analyst, the current situation is not what one would want to see. He noted that a breakthrough below the support of the 200-week moving average (SMA) indicates a continuation of the downward trend.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #forex #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

CryptoNews of the Week



– Bitcoin experienced an unexpected surge from June 15 to 21, smashing through resistance levels of $25,000 and $26,500, and ultimately peaking at $29,000. This represents an impressive six-day growth of approximately 17%. Following in the footsteps of this leading cryptocurrency, altcoins also witnessed similar uptrends. For instance, Ethereum recorded a roughly 12% appreciation.
This notable ascent cannot be attributed to a single catalyst. Rather, bitcoin's rise coincided with a sequence of positive developments within the industry. Investment heavyweight BlackRock submitted a proposal for a spot bitcoin trust, aimed at streamlining institutional entrance into the crypto market. Deutsche Bank, one of Germany's most formidable financial conglomerates, declared its foray into the digital asset sector, taking on cryptocurrency storage duties. Wall Street powerhouses, Citadel and Fidelity, joined forces to launch a decentralized crypto exchange named EDX Markets on June 20th. Invesco, another investment juggernaut, overseeing $1.4 trillion in assets, has lodged an application to roll out a spot Bitcoin ETF. MicroStrategy has even speculated that such a spot Bitcoin ETF could absorb trillions of dollars. One additional factor potentially fuelling bitcoin's rise could be the minting of a fresh batch of Tether stablecoins (USDT).

– It's worth noting that the surge of the flagship cryptocurrency occurred despite the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) crackdown on the digital market. Recall that the SEC previously filed lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, accusing the platforms of selling unregistered assets. In court documents, the SEC classified more than a dozen tokens as securities. Experts believe that a victory for the regulator could lead to the delisting of these coins and limit the potential development of their blockchains. In total, over 60 coins have already made it onto the regulator's blacklist.
Preston Pysh, a popular author on investment books, believes that this regulatory pressure was part of a planned campaign. The goal being to give major players the opportunity to enter the digital asset market under favourable conditions. He substantiated his perspective with the daring moves made by Wall Street giants, as previously mentioned.

– TV host and billionaire Mark Cuban and former SEC executive John Reed Stark discussed the ongoing crackdown on the crypto industry. Stark believes the SEC's actions are necessary. According to him, the regulator is trying to protect investors from potential fraud and scams in this sector. He's also convinced that the SEC's actions will ultimately benefit the industry, by weeding out dishonest participants and increasing transparency.
As for Mark Cuban, he drew a comparison to the early days of the internet. In the billionaire's view, "90% of blockchain companies will fail. 99% of tokens will fail. Just like 99% of early internet companies."

– El Salvador could potentially clear its debts through bitcoin and geothermal cryptocurrency mining. This viewpoint was expressed by Max Keiser, the CEO of Volcano Energy. The former trader and television host moved to El Salvador in 2022 and now serves as an advisor to President Nayib Bukele. Keiser asserts that, owing to its legal framework regarding cryptocurrency and energy resources, El Salvador could become a global centre for bitcoin mining. This could create new jobs, boost the country's GDP, and enable it to settle its debts with creditors.
As for Volcano Energy itself, Keiser believes that the company's market capitalization will grow to $50 billion, exceeding El Salvador's GDP, which is estimated at $29 billion. According to him, this growth will be driven by bitcoin's price rising to $1 million per coin.

– Author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, is convinced that the crisis in the banking sector is far from over. Last week, he warned of an impending crash in the real estate sector. According to the expert, California-based mortgage lender LoanDepot is already on the brink of bankruptcy, and the looming real estate market crash could likely be far worse than the 2008 crisis. In light of this situation, Kiyosaki once again advised his followers to prepare for disaster by accumulating precious metals and bitcoin.

– Galaxy Digital's CEO, Mike Novogratz, has compared the recent crypto crash to the collapse of Lehman Brothers during the financial crisis of 2008-2009. The billionaire believes that the industry needs to be legalized. In that case, it will become transparent, and regulators will be able to ensure investor safety. As it stands, regulators lack sufficient levers to control the movement of funds in digital currencies. Novogratz made these remarks at a summit organized by Bloomberg.
The CEO of Galaxy Digital also believes that in the fight against inflation, demand for alternative instruments will intensify, one of which is bitcoin. He foresees that the price of bitcoin will reach $500,000 in the long term.

– Placeholder venture partner Chris Burniske is known for accurately predicting the crypto bottom in 2022. He also noted that cryptocurrencies often surge when the Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX) takes a breather. A cooling down in stocks triggers a capital flow into riskier assets, prompting a bullish rally for BTC.
In this context, Burniske referenced data from Glassnode founders Jan Happel and Yann Allemann. According to their observations, starting from 2019, bitcoin has shown strong growth whenever the NDX showed signs of bullish exhaustion. Currently, bitcoin is just a few steps away from outperforming the NDX again, as the index is nearing its local peak.

– Popular investor and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, believes that the market situation makes the realization of negative BTC forecasts impossible, particularly those predicting a drop in cryptocurrency to $12,000. In his opinion, investors should now be "filling their pockets" in anticipation of further growth.

– BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes believes that U.S. authorities are not only hindering the development of the blockchain industry but are also creating conditions for it to shift to China. Last week, he published an article criticizing the U.S. crackdown on the industry. In his article, Hayes emphasized that China is more flexible than the U.S. and allows investors to enter the crypto sphere through platforms registered in Hong Kong. This metropolis is beginning to accumulate significant capital, which positively affects its financial development. Conversely, the American market is losing appeal, forcing companies and funds to leave.

– Former Coinbase CTO, Balaji Srinivasan, has issued a stark warning. He believes that since Apple, Microsoft, and Google have access to all user data on their devices, including private wallet keys, they could assist authorities in confiscating cryptocurrency from its owners if required. He argues that it would only take permission from the governments of G7 countries and China to do this. Srinivasan considers such permission quite possible, as authorities are interested in the development of CBDCs - digital currencies managed by central banks - and the elimination of their competitors in the form of Bitcoin and various altcoins.

– Prominent analyst Benjamin Cowen has warned of a potential fall in Ethereum compared to the leading cryptocurrency. ETH/BTC could plummet by 45% from its current value of 0.066 BTC. "As far as I can tell from the chart," he wrote, "we constantly see lower peaks in ETH/BTC, at least in the short term. However, in the longer term, we see even lower peaks in 2017 (0.036 BTC). And this is where the level of recovery might begin." At the same time, the analyst notes that the likelihood of a "bull rally" in this pair without a downward correction is quite low - first, the "bears" need to complete this movement. "Only then will we be able to assess the prospects for ETH/BTC," Cowen concluded.

– For the first time since 2021, BTC's market dominance has approached 50%. This means that half of the entire market capitalization is attributed to a single asset. The index last rose this high two years ago, in May 2021. The current rise is associated with SEC pressure on altcoins and the application for a spot Bitcoin trust by BlackRock.
MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor believes that bitcoin's dominance will reach 80% in the coming years. There are now about 25,000 tokens of varying quality in the market, and this confuses large investors. After the SEC helps remove excess assets, large capital will be more willing to invest in the leading cryptocurrency.

– Cybersecurity analysts have discovered that 95% of users of hacking software for stealing NFTs are schoolchildren. They are responsible for stealing tokens worth $73 million. They then spent these assets on purchasing skins in Roblox, branded items, food delivery, and gambling. According to The Block, high school students do this without fully realizing the crime. They perceive the theft as a game. The peak activity of young criminals occurs during the summer holidays when they have more free time.


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

#eurusd #gbpusd #usdjpy #btcusd #ethusd #ltcusd #xrpusd #forex #forex_example #signals #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #stock_market

EUR/USD: Officials' Words Drive the Markets

Just a reminder, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the US Federal Reserve decided on Wednesday, June 14 to pause the process of monetary tightening and left the interest rate unchanged at 5.25%. The following day, on Thursday, June 15, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised the euro interest rate by 25 basis points from 3.75% to 4.00%. ECB President Christine Lagarde noted that the tightening of credit and monetary policy would continue in July.

The firm rhetoric was supported by other ECB representatives. According to comments from ECB Governing Council member Olli Rehn, the underlying inflation in the Eurozone is declining too slowly, necessitating additional efforts from the regulator to stabilize prices. The intentions of the regulator to continue raising rates were also confirmed by ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane and ECB Governing Council member Isabel Schnabel. In their view, the regulator has significant work to do before inflation stabilizes around 2%. (According to the latest data, annual inflation in the Eurozone remained at 6.1%, and the Core Consumer Price Index stood at 5.3%).

Against the backdrop of these hawkish statements from European officials, the markets concluded that at least two more rate hikes should be expected for the euro, in July and September, each by 25 basis points. This continued to push the euro currency higher, and EUR/USD reached a peak at 1.1011 on Thursday, June 22.

However, the financial world doesn't revolve solely around the ECB. On June 21 and 22, market participants' attention was focused on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's semi-annual testimony before the U.S. Congress. While the overall rhetoric was nearly identical to the press conference on June 14, this time Powell placed more emphasis on the prospects of further rate hikes in the near future. This sentiment became particularly evident on the second day of his testimony. The hawkish stance of the Fed Chair and the market's risk-averse atmosphere helped the American currency outperform its competitors. On Thursday, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) reversed its course and started moving upwards again, while EUR/USD declined.

The growing concerns of a recession in the Eurozone also played against the euro. On Friday, June 23, the European currency came under significant bearish pressure as data from Germany and the Eurozone indicated that business activity (PMI) in the manufacturing sector continued to decline at an accelerated pace. Following the release of the PMI statistics, according to Reuters calculations, the likelihood of the ECB's final rate reaching 4.25% decreased to nearly 0%, and EUR/USD reached a local minimum at the level of 1.0844.

However, the situation for the European currency is not as dire, at least in the medium term. For instance, economists at ANZ (The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) believe that while the Federal Reserve may reduce its key interest rate by 20 basis points by the end of the year, market expectations suggest that the ECB will not lower its rates until early 2024. As a result, the ECB's easing cycle will be later and less significant compared to the Fed's, which is favorable for the euro. Consequently, in Q3, EUR/USD could rise to 1.1200. Overall, according to ANZ, the exchange rates are expected to fluctuate in the range of 1.0500 to 1.1400 throughout 2023.

After the release of PMI data for the manufacturing and services sectors in the United States, EUR/USD concluded the five-day period at 1.0893. As for the immediate prospects, at the time of writing this review on the evening of June 24, the forecast appears highly uncertain: 45% of analysts favored a decline in the pair, while an equal percentage expected its growth, and the remaining 10% adopted a neutral position. Among the oscillators on the daily timeframe, 90% lean towards bullish signals, while 10% remain neutral-grey. Regarding the trend indicators, 80% are coloured green, while 20% are in red. The nearest support levels for the pair are located around 1.0865, followed by 1.0790-1.0800, 1.0745, 1.0670, and finally the May 31 low at 1.0635. Bulls will encounter resistance around 1.0900-1.0925, followed by 1.0960-1.0985, 1.1010, and 1.1045, with further resistance at 1.1090-1.1110.

The upcoming week brings a cascade of macroeconomic data from the United States. We can expect housing market data on Tuesday, June 27, as well as the release of durable goods orders and capital goods orders. Additionally, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) from the Conference Board, a leading indicator, will be announced. The results of the country's bank stress tests will be revealed on the following day, Wednesday, June 28, which is particularly interesting given the banking crisis that followed the Fed's interest rate hikes. Furthermore, on the same day, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver a speech. Thursday will bring labour market statistics and GDP data for the country. Finally, on Friday, June 30, the Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, a key measure of inflation, will be released for US residents. As for the Eurozone economy, preliminary inflation figures (CPI) for Germany and the Eurozone as a whole, which will be published on June 29 and 30, respectively, are of interest.

GBP/USD: Bank of England's Delayed Surprise

The economic data released during the past week concerning the UK appeared quite mixed. A significant inflation indicator, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), remained unchanged for the month, standing at 8.7% YoY, surpassing market expectations of 8.4%. Retail sales showed a positive outlook as they unexpectedly grew by 0.3% for the month, contrary to the anticipated decline of -0.2% and the previous value of 0.5%. The core retail sales, excluding automotive fuel, increased by 0.1% against the negative forecast of -0.3% and the previous month's 0.7%. However, the business activity indicators in the country were disappointing. The preliminary Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) decreased to 53.7 in June, compared to the expected 54.8. The Manufacturing PMI also fell short of expectations, dropping from 47.1 to 46.2 (forecast: 46.8).

The inflation data released on June 21 not only exceeded market expectations but also surpassed the Bank of England's (BoE) own forecasts. Against this backdrop, the central bank surprised the markets during its meeting on Thursday, June 22, by raising the base rate not by 25 basis points but by 50 basis points, bringing it to 5.00%.

Following conventional logic, such a move should have significantly supported the British currency. However, that was not the case. GBP/USD initially jumped 60 pips to 1.2841 within 10 minutes of the BoE decision, but then declined by over 100 pips to 1.2737. Analysts believe that the initial upward movement was driven by news headline-reactive algorithmic trading, but the bullish momentum was later dampened as sellers encountered resistance near 14-month highs recorded on June 16.

Strategists from the largest banking group in the Netherlands, ING, believe that a 150 basis point rate hike was already priced in before the Central bank meeting. The 50-basis point increase has occurred, and now markets are anticipating a further 100 basis point rise to 6.00%. Along with the aggressive rate hike, market speculation is growing that the Bank of England, in order to avoid an economic collapse, may be compelled to begin easing its monetary policy starting from the summer of 2024 (or even earlier).

Economists at Commerzbank argue that the BoE started raising the key rate too late and too slowly, putting itself in a position of playing catch-up. According to their view, the regulator is chasing inflation rather than actively combating it through monetary policy, which could have a negative impact on the British currency.

However, different opinions exist. Scotiabank economists, for example, anticipate that GBP/USD could rise to 1.3000 in the near future. Colleagues at ING share this view, stating, "Looking at the charts, it seems that there are no significant levels between current levels and 1.3000, which suggests that the latter is not far away."

GBP/USD ended the past week at the level of 1.2714. Given the current volatility, theoretically, it could cover the remaining distance to 1.3000 in just a few weeks or even days. Currently, 45% of surveyed experts support this scenario, while 25% hold the opposite view, and 30% prefer to refrain from commenting. In terms of technical analysis, both oscillators and trend indicators on the daily timeframe mirror the readings of their counterparts for EUR/USD. In the event of a southward movement in the pair, it will encounter support levels and zones at 1.2685-1.2700, 1.2625, 1.2570, 1.2480-1.2510, 1.2330-1.2350, 1.2275, and 1.2200-1.2210. In the case of an upward movement, the pair will face resistance levels at 1.2760, 1.2800-1.2815, 1.2850, 1.2940, 1.3000, 1.3050, and 1.3185-1.3210.

One notable event in the upcoming week's calendar is Friday, June 30, when the GDP data for the United Kingdom will be released.

USD/JPY: The Journey to the Moon Continues

We issued a "Ticket to the Moon" for USD/JPY a few weeks ago, and it continues to be in effect. The pair reached a height of 143.86 last week. According to Commerzbank, "the yen's weakness is gradually taking on a dramatic character." Economists at Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB) forecast that the dollar is likely to continue rising in the next 1-3 weeks. They state, "The next significant level is 144.00. It is still too early to determine whether the dollar's strength [...] will break above this barrier. On the other hand, our strong support level has been adjusted to 141.60 from 141.00."

Economists at MUFG Bank believe that the increasing divergence in monetary policy between the Bank of Japan and other major central banks is a recipe for further weakening of the yen. "The widening yield differentials between Japan and foreign countries, along with the reduction in currency and rate volatility, contribute to the yen becoming increasingly undervalued," write analysts at MUFG. According to their counterparts at the French financial conglomerate Societe Generale, if there is another interest rate hike in the United States in July, the USD/JPY pair could rise to 145.00.

It is clear that the yen is suffering not only from the persistently "dovish" stance of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) but also from the overall rise in global yields. The pressure on the Japanese currency can only be alleviated by the hope that the BoJ will eventually take the first step towards ending its ultra-loose monetary policy. For instance, economists at Danske Bank hope that USD/JPY exchange rate will fall below 130.00 within a 6–12-month horizon. Similar forecasts are made by strategists at BNP Paribas, with targets of 130.00 by the end of the current year and 123.00 by the end of 2024.

As for the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan, it seems that they are not yet ready for any significant changes. Last week, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki stated that while they closely monitor currency movements, they have no intention of commenting on them. He added that "sharp currency movements are undesirable" and that "currency rates should be determined by the market, reflecting fundamental indicators." However, it appears to us that the head of the finance ministry is being deceptive. We only need to recall the unexpected currency interventions carried out by the Bank of Japan last year, prompted by the Ministry of Finance. Through these interventions, the yen was able to strengthen against the dollar by over 1,500 pips. Is it not possible for a similar surprise to occur now?

After reaching another high at 143.86, the pair concluded the past five-day period at 143.71. At the time of writing this review, 60% of analysts anticipate that the yen will recover at least some of its losses and push the pair lower, while 30% of experts point to the west. Although the number of supporters for pair growth this time stands at just 10%, it's worth noting that even the minority can be right. Moreover, it is supported by technical analysis, as all 100% of trend indicators and oscillators on the daily timeframe point upwards. However, a quarter of the oscillators actively signal overbought conditions for the pair. The nearest support level is located in the 143.00-143.20 zone, followed by 142.20, 1.4140, 140.90-141.00, 1.4060, 139.85, 1.3875-1.3905, 138.30, and 137.50. The closest resistance is at 143.85, and then bulls will need to overcome barriers at 144.90-145.30, 146.85-147.15, 148.85, and potentially reach the October 2022 high at 151.95.

There is no significant economic information related to the Japanese economy expected to be released during the upcoming week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Influencers Betting on Bitcoin



Bears dominated the crypto market for nine consecutive weeks. However, the situation abruptly changed on June 15 as bitcoin unexpectedly demonstrated a rapid growth. It broke through resistance levels at $25,000, $26,500, and surpassed $30,000, reaching a peak of $31,388 on June 23. The increase during these days amounted to over 26%. Altcoins also followed bitcoin's upward trend, with ethereum gaining approximately 19% in weight.

Bitcoin's surge was fuelled by a series of positive news. The main highlight was the announcement that investment giant BlackRock filed an application to launch a spot bitcoin trust, aiming to simplify institutional access to the crypto market. However, this news wasn't the only one. One of Germany's largest financial conglomerates, Deutsche Bank, declared its entry into the digital asset market and its involvement in cryptocurrency custody services. Wall Street financial giants Citadel and Fidelity joined forces to launch a decentralized crypto exchange called EDX Markets on June 20. Another investment giant, Invesco, which manages assets worth $1.4 trillion, filed an application for a spot Bitcoin ETF. (MicroStrategy believes that such an ETF could attract trillions of dollars). Lastly, the issuance of a new batch of Tether (USDT) stablecoins may have also contributed to the growth of BTC/USD.

It is worth noting that the surge of the flagship cryptocurrency occurred despite the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) crackdown on the digital market. Previously, the SEC filed lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, accusing the platforms of selling unregistered securities. In the court documents, the Commission classified over a dozen tokens as securities. According to experts, a victory for the regulator could lead to the delisting of these coins and restrict the potential development of their blockchains. The regulator has already included over 60 coins on its blacklist.

Preston Pysh, the author of popular investment books, believes that the regulatory pressure was a planned campaign. Its aim is to provide major players with the opportunity to enter the digital asset market under favourable conditions. He supports his viewpoint with the bold moves made by Wall Street giants, as mentioned earlier.

The TV host and billionaire, Mark Cuban, and former SEC executive, John Reed Stark, discussed the ongoing crackdown on the crypto industry. Stark believes that the actions taken by the SEC are necessary. According to him, the regulator is trying to protect investors from potential fraud and scams in this sector. He is also convinced that the SEC's actions will ultimately benefit the industry by filtering out dishonest participants and increasing transparency. As for Mark Cuban, he drew parallels with the early days of the internet. In the billionaire's opinion, "90% of blockchain companies will fail. 99% of tokens will fail. Just like 99% of early internet companies."

It is worth noting that many influencers are skeptical about cryptocurrencies and are putting bitcoin aside. We have already quoted Benjamin Cowen, the founder of Into The Cryptoverse, who believes that altcoins "will face reckoning while bitcoin dominance continues to grow." A similar sentiment was expressed by renowned trader Gareth Soloway, who stated that he has always compared the crypto market to the dot-com bubble. According to him, a collapse similar to the early 2000s will occur in this industry. Soloway reassured that "the system needs to be cleared of junk" in order to thrive. He believes that 95% of all tokens "will strive towards zero.".

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad," has recently warned about an impending real estate market crash. According to the expert, California mortgage lender LoanDepot is already on the verge of bankruptcy, and the upcoming real estate market collapse is likely to be much worse than the 2008 crisis. In this situation, Kiyosaki once again advised his followers to prepare for the disaster and accumulate precious metals and bitcoin.

Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital, also believes that in the fight against inflation, the demand for alternative instruments will increase, and one of them is Bitcoin, which he predicts will reach $500,000 in the long term. Max Keiser, a former trader and television host who is now an advisor to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, mentioned an even higher figure of $1 million per coin. Cathy Wood, CEO of ARK Invest, also believes that the $1 million target is achievable.

Peter Brandt, known as the "Mysterious Market Wizard," has joined the ranks of bitcoin praise, expressing doubts about all coins except Bitcoin. This legendary trader and analyst stated that bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency that will successfully finish this marathon. He later added that ethereum (ETH) is likely to survive, but the real legacy belongs to bitcoin. Benjamin Cowen, mentioned earlier, also predicts difficulties for ethereum, suggesting that ETH/BTC may plummet to Q1 2021 levels in the near future, potentially losing up to 45% of its current value.

Chris Burniske, a partner at venture capital firm Placeholder, has noted that cryptocurrencies often experience growth when the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) index takes a breather. Cooling off in stocks prompts capital to flow into riskier assets, and bitcoin begins a bullish rally. Burniske refers to observations made by Glassnode's founders, Jan Happel and Yann Allemann. According to their findings, since 2019, bitcoin has shown strong growth after signs of bullish exhaustion in the NDX. Currently, bitcoin is just a few steps away from surpassing the NDX once again as the index nears a local peak.

Popular investor and founder of venture company Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, believes that the current market conditions make it impossible for the negative forecasts for BTC to come true, as some authors predict a drop in the cryptocurrency to $12,000. According to his opinion, investors should now "fill their pockets" in anticipation of further growth.

BTC dominance reached 50% on Thursday, June 21. This means that half of the entire cryptocurrency market capitalization is accounted for by this asset. The last time the index was this high was two years ago in May 2021. The current rise is attributed to the pressure from the SEC on altcoins and the application for a spot bitcoin trust by BlackRock. Michael Saylor, the CEO of MicroStrategy, believes that bitcoin dominance will continue to grow and reach 80% in the coming years. "Currently, there are 25,000 tokens of varying quality in the market, which confuses large investors," he says. "After removing unnecessary assets through the SEC, major capital will be more willing to invest in the leading cryptocurrency.".

At the time of writing the review, on the evening of Friday, June 23, BTC/USD is trading at around $30,840. The total market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market stands at $1.196 trillion ($1.064 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has returned to mid-April levels, jumping from the Neutral zone to the Greed zone over the week, and rising from 47 to 65 points.


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week



– Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of the 35th President of the United States and participant in the current election race, outlined his plans regarding bitcoin and financial independence of citizens in an interview with The New York Post.
The candidate promised to make decisions that "support bitcoin and transaction freedom, allowing people to manage their own wallets." He clarified that he would create a relaxed regulatory environment in the U.S., which would incorporate "strict control to prevent money laundering." Kennedy also voiced opposition to a digital dollar. "I oppose central bank digital currencies because they are tools of control and oppression, and they are likely to be abused," explained the politician.
He also identified the search for ways to globally regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies as a significant challenge. Citing remarks by Elon Musk, he noted that "AI will first take away jobs, then it will kill us."
For reference: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental lawyer, radio host, and writer known for his anti-vaccination advocacy and conspiracy theories.

– Peter Schiff, President of Euro Pacific Capital, a gold enthusiast, and a fervent critic of bitcoin, claimed that there is "nothing lower quality than cryptocurrencies." "Until recently, the rally in highly speculative assets had excluded Bitcoin. Now that it has finally joined the party, it is likely to end soon," he wrote. According to Schiff, such rallies usually end when the "lowest quality things," such as digital assets, finally join them.
Recall that in March, the President of Euro Pacific Capital urged the sale of the leading cryptocurrency and buying gold amidst the issues with Silvergate Bank.

– Cameron Winklevoss, one of the founders of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, announced on Twitter that both institutional and retail investors have begun purchasing bitcoin. Notably, according to him, institutions are extremely interested in buying Bitcoin ahead of the approval of spot ETFs.
It's worth noting that the investment giant BlackRock recently filed an application to launch a spot Bitcoin trust, intended to simplify institutional access to the crypto market. Another investment behemoth, Invesco, which manages assets worth $1.4 trillion, has applied to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF. (MicroStrategy believes such an ETF could absorb trillions of dollars).
"The window to buy bitcoin in advance is closing. Bitcoin was the most obvious and profitable investment of the last decade. But it will remain just as beneficial in this decade!", claimed Cameron Winklevoss. Hugh Hendry, the manager of the hedge fund Eclectica Asset Management, agrees with him, suggesting that bitcoin could triple its capitalization in the medium term.

– Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise, stated in an interview with Bloomberg that the cryptocurrency market has shown incredible resilience in the face of constantly increasing regulatory pressure. The recent application by BlackRock, the largest asset management company, to launch a Bitcoin spot ETF is just one of the reasons for a new bull cycle.
"In fact, bitcoin has been gradually rising since November of last year when FTX collapsed. Meaning, cryptocurrencies grew despite all the growing anxiety. Now we have BlackRock, who has raised the flag and declared that BTC matters. That it's asset institutional investors want to invest in. I believe we've entered a new era of cryptocurrency, which I call 'prime,' and expect a multi-year bull trend that's only just beginning," argues the businessman.
The CEO of Bitwise predicts that not only cryptocurrencies will flourish, but also companies working in this industry. The businessman is expecting a multitude of new crypto firms to enter the stock market, as well as companies with large cryptocurrency reserves.
As early as 2021, Matt Hougan said that the futures-based cryptocurrency ETFs, which exist in the US market, are not particularly suitable for long-term investors due to their high ancillary costs. Only when spot exchange-traded funds for bitcoin emerge will institutional investors begin substantial capital injections.

– Popular bitcoin maximalist and advisor to the President of El Salvador, Max Keiser, believes that SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has sufficient technical and political tools to assign XRP and ETH the status of a security, which would ultimately kill these altcoins. "The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) works for the banking cartel, racketeering on behalf of financial structures," Keiser wrote in his blog.
The crypto enthusiast thinks that the mere fact of XRP and ETH's fate being in the hands of regulatory bodies already suggests that these assets are too centralized and incapable of surviving without losses in the lawless and conflict-ridden environment where the SEC operates. Some opponents of the SEC argue that computer code, by definition, cannot be a security. However, Max Keiser considers this a weak and dead-end argument since the functionality and purpose of the crypto asset will play a significant role in its classification.
Recall that the Commission classified Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC), Coti (COTI), Algorand (ALGO), Filecoin (FIL), Cosmos (ATOM), Sandbox (SAND), Axie Infinity (AXS), and Decentraland (MANA) as securities. The crypto community practically did not react to this regulator's statement. Moreover, several cryptocurrency platforms took the SEC's statement as guidance for action and delisted to avoid possible claims.

– The next bitcoin halving, which is expected to occur in April 2024, will reduce miners' rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per block. According to an analyst operating under the pseudonym InvestAnswers, such a reduction in supply from miners could catalyse a significant bullish surge.
The expert believes that further institutional adoption, including BackRock's application for a spot Bitcoin ETF, will also increase demand for the asset and further reduce supply. Apart from BlackRock, Fidelity, Deutsche Bank, Credit Agricole, Citadel, and Invesco have also shown activity in the crypto market. Together, they manage assets totalling $27 trillion. And bitcoin's market cap is just a little more than $0.5 trillion. Only a tiny part of this half-trillion is being traded in the market. This implies that "demand for Bitcoins is growing, and the supply is drying up. And that means the price is rising," explained InvestAnswers.

– The main altcoin has secured its position above the key $1850 mark, and a number of analysts believe that ethereum has the potential to realize bullish momentum in the near term. For example, popular expert Ali Martinez points out that ETH may face serious resistance near the $2,000-2,060 zone, as over 832,000 addresses previously opened sales in this range. However, if ethereum overcomes this zone, it has every chance of reaching $2,330 on a sharp impulse. And in perspective, a path opens for further growth up to $2,750.
On the other hand, specialists at Santiment believe that the altcoin is currently unstable. This is due to a significant battle between buyers and sellers near the $1,900 region. However, the overall supply of ethereum on centralized platforms has decreased by 9.2%. In theory, this could provide additional support to the main altcoin.

– Futures contracts for ethereum and bitcoin will expire on Friday, June 30. According to AmberDate, more than 150 thousand BTC options will be liquidated by this deadline on the Deribit Exchange, amounting to approximately $4.57 billion. Another $2.3 billion will be allocated to ETH contracts. Experts from CoinGape believe that this could be a trigger for a serious increase in volatility in July and provide significant support to these assets. However, a lot will also depend on the macroeconomic statistics coming from the U.S.

– Morgan Creek Capital's founder and CTO, Mark Yusko, believes that bitcoin and the crypto markets have entered a bullish trajectory. In his opinion, this trend may last up until the next halving. "I think the rally is just starting. We've just entered the so-called crypto-summer season," the specialist wrote. However, he warned that a speculative explosion caused by halving is usually followed by an excessive reaction in the opposite direction, known as a crypto winter.
According to the head of Morgan Creek Capital, bitcoin is digital gold, and it is ready to replace what physical gold has done for 5,000 years. As for ethereum, Yusko thinks of it as a substitute for fiat currency.

– Ten years ago, Davinci Jeremie posted a video on YouTube in which he strongly recommended his viewers spend at least one dollar on Bitcoin, and explained why BTC would grow in the coming years. At that time, this forecast from Jeremie either angered or amused most investors who did not want to heed the recommendation. Now, they bitterly regret it - the $1 invested at that time could have bought more than 1,000 BTC, which today are valued at $30 million.
Jeremie noted in a recent interview that bitcoin should be bought even now. According to him, only 2 percent of the world's population owns cryptocurrency, so it still has time to please its investors with new records. "However, there is also one problem here," says Jeremie. "Everyone wants to have a whole Bitcoin. No one wants to go to the store and say, 'Can I get one trillionth of an apple'. So even though Bitcoin is divisible, this property is essentially its Achilles heel. The solution to the problem is to make the display of small parts of BTC more comprehensible. For example, do not write amounts like 0.00001 BTC, but replace them with an equal number of Satoshi, that is, the smallest indivisible particle of 1 bitcoin worth 0.00000001 BTC."


Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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EUR/USD: When Will the Pair Return to 1.1000?

Summarizing the second half of June, the result in the EUR and USD confrontation can be said to be neutral. On Friday, June 30, EUR/USD ended up where it traded on both the 15th and 23rd of June.

On Thursday, June 29, some quite strong macroeconomic data came out of the US. The Bureau of Economic Analysis revised its GDP figures for the first quarter upwards to 2.0% year on year (YoY) (forecast was 1.3%). As for the labour market, the number of initial jobless claims for the week dropped by almost 30K, reaching the lowest level since the end of May - 239K.

Recall that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the US Federal Reserve decided at its June 14 meeting to take a pause in the process of monetary tightening and left the interest rate unchanged at 5.25%. After this, market participants were left to speculate on the regulator's next moves. The released data reinforced confidence in the stability of the country's economy and raised expectations for further dollar interest rate hikes. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a rate hike of 25 basis points (bps) at the Fed's July meeting rose to 87%, and the probability that the total rate hike by the end of 2023 will be 50 bps is nearing 40%. As a result, in the middle of Friday, June 30, EUR/USD recorded a local low at 1.0835.

Speaking at an economic forum in Sintra (Portugal) on Wednesday, June 28, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated that further interest rate increases would be driven by a strong labour market and persistently high inflation. However, the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data published on June 30 indicated that inflation, although slowly, is declining. Forecasts suggested that the PCE index for June would remain at the previous level of 4.7%, but in reality, it fell to 4.6%. This somewhat dampened the bullish sentiment on the dollar, with the DXY index heading lower and EUR/USD returning to the central zone of the two-week sideways corridor, ending the five-day period at 1.0910.

As for the state of the economy on the other side of the Atlantic, following high preliminary inflation data from Spain and Germany, markets expected the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in the Eurozone to rise by 0.7% in June, significantly exceeding the 0.2% a month earlier. However, the actual value, although higher than in May, was only slightly so, at 0.3%. Moreover, the preliminary Consumer Price Index (CPI) published on Friday, June 30th, showed a decrease in Eurozone inflation from 6.1% to 5.5% YoY (forecast was 5.6%).

Recall that after hawkish statements from ECB leaders made in mid-June, the markets had already priced in two euro rate hikes, in July and September, each by 25 basis points. Therefore, the fresh European inflation data had little effect on investor sentiment.

Friday, June 30, marked not only the end of the quarter but also the first half of the year. In this regard, representatives from several banks decided to make predictions for the second half of 2023 and the start of 2024. Economists at Credit Agricole see risks of a decrease in EUR/USD from current levels in the near term and predict its gradual recovery starting from Q4 2023. In their opinion, over the next 6-12 months, the pair could rise to 1.1100.

Strategists at Wells Fargo expect the dollar to be fairly stable or even slightly stronger for the rest of 2023. However, they predict a noticeable weakening over the course of the following year. "Given our expectations for a later and shallow recession in the U.S. and a later easing of Fed policy," Wells Fargo analysts write, "we anticipate a later and more gradual depreciation of the U.S. dollar. [...] We predict that by the end of 2023, the trade-weighted U.S. dollar rate will change little compared to the current level, and by 2024 it will have declined by 4.5%."

Economists at Goldman Sachs also updated their EUR/USD forecasts. They too now indicate a smaller drop in the coming months and a more prolonged recovery of the euro by the end of 2023 and the first half of 2024. They predict the pair rate to be at 1.0700 in three months, 1.1000 in six months, and 1.1200 in twelve months.

As for the near-term prospects, at the time of writing this review on the evening of June 30, 50% of analysts voted for the pair's decline, 25% for its rise, and the remaining 25% took a neutral position. Among oscillators on D1, 35% are on the side of the bulls (green), 25% are on the side of the bears (red), and 40% are painted in neutral grey. Among the trend indicators, 90% are coloured green, and only 10% are red. The nearest support for the pair is located around 1.0895-1.0900, followed by 1.0865, 1.0790-1.0815, 1.0745, 1.0670 and, finally, the May 31 low of 1.0635. The bulls will encounter resistance in the area of 1.0925-1.0940, followed by 1.0985, 1.1010, 1.1045, 1.1090-1.1110.

Upcoming events to note include the release of the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Germany and the US on Monday, July 3. The minutes from the latest FOMC meeting will be published on Wednesday, July 5. The following day, on Thursday, July 6, data on retail sales volumes in the Eurozone will be available. On the same day, the ADP employment report and the PMI for the US service sector will also be published.

Closing out the work week, another batch of data from the US labour market will be released on Friday, July 7, including the unemployment rate and the important nonfarm payroll (NFP) figure. ECB President Christine Lagarde will also deliver a speech on the same day.

Furthermore, traders should be aware that Tuesday, July 4 is a public holiday in the US, as the country observes Independence Day. As a result, the markets will close earlier the day before due to the holiday.

GBP/USD: How Mr. Powell "Defeated" Mr. Bailey

In the previous review, we noted how strongly the words of officials affect quotes. This week was another confirmation of this. On Wednesday, June 28, GBP/USD showed an impressive drop. The cause were the speeches of the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Bank of England's Governor Andrew Bailey in Sintra. Mr. Bailey promised that his Central Bank would "do whatever it takes to get inflation to target level". This implies at least two more rate hikes. However, Mr. Powell did not rule out further tightening of the Fed's monetary policy, even though inflation in the US is much lower than in the United Kingdom. As a result of these two speeches, Jerome Powell and the US currency won, and GBP/USD dropped sharply.

The next day, strong US macro statistics added strength to the dollar. If it were not for the data on the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) in the US published at the end of the week, the pound would have suffered quite a bit. But thanks to the PCE, in just a few hours it managed to recover almost all the losses and put the final chord at the mark of 1.2696.

In the mentioned speech in Sintra, Andrew Bailey also stated that "the UK economy has proven much more resilient" than the Central Bank expected. We would like to believe the head of the BoE. However, the data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on June 30 raise certain concerns. Thus, the country's GDP grew in Q1 2023 by 0.1% in quarterly terms and 0.2% in annual terms. And if the first indicator remained at the previous level, then the second showed a significant decline: it turned out to be 0.5% lower than the data for Q4 2022.

According to Credit Suisse economists, the situation facing the Bank of England should be defined as genuinely exceptional. But the slowdown in British GDP does not seem to worry the BoE leadership too much, which is focused on combating high inflation.

Following the May and June meetings, the BoE raised the interest rate by 25 basis points and 50 basis points to 5.00%. Many analysts believe that the regulator may bring it up to 5.50% already at the two upcoming meetings, and then to 6.25%, despite the threat of economic recession. Such steps in the foreseeable future will support the pound. At Credit Suisse, for example, they believe that even though the pound has significantly strengthened since September 2022, GBP/USD still has the potential to grow to 1.3000.

From a technical analysis perspective, the indications of oscillators on D1 appear quite uncertain - a third point to the north, a third to the south, and a third to the east. The picture is clearer for trend indicators - 90% recommend buying, 10% selling. If the pair moves south, it will encounter support levels and zones at 1.2625, 1.2570, 1.2480-1.2510, 1.2330-1.2350, 1.2275, 1.2200-1.2210. In case of the pair's rise, it will meet resistance at levels of 1.2755, 1.2800-1.2815, 1.2850, 1.2940, 1.3000, 1.3050, and 1.3185-1.3210.

As for the events of the coming week, the focus will be on the publication of the PMI in the UK manufacturing sector on Monday, July 3. On Tuesday, July 4, the Bank of England's report will be published, which may shed light on the future course of monetary policy. And at the end of the week, on Friday, July 7, the data on the US labour market, including the level of unemployment and such an important indicator as the number of new jobs outside the agricultural sector (NFP), will be released.

In the events for the upcoming week, one can note Monday, July 3, when the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the United Kingdom will be published.

USD/JPY: The "Ticket to the Moon" Turned Out to be Multi-Use



As soon as we mentioned the potential interventions to support the yen in our last review, almost everyone started discussing this topic, including analysts and even officials from the Japanese Government. Of course, our speculations were not the trigger; it was the exchange rate of the Japanese currency. Last week, USD/JPY continued its "flight to the moon," setting another record at the height of 145.06. Interestingly, it was at the 145.00 mark that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) conducted its first intervention in many years.

It has been said a thousand times that increasing divergence in monetary policy between the Bank of Japan and other major central banks is a recipe for further yen weakening. Thus, last week, following the release of US GDP and unemployment claims data, the yield on 10-year US treasury bonds jumped to 3.84%, and two-year bonds to 4.88%, the highest level since March. Therefore, the spread between US and Japanese bonds continues to widen, reflecting the growing divergence in the monetary policy of the Fed and the BoJ and pushing USD/JPY to astronomical heights. Understandably, in such a situation, the question arose about the ability of the Japanese regulator to artificially support its national currency.

Hirokazu Matsuno, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, stated on Friday, June 30 that the authorities are "closely monitoring currency movements with a high sense of urgency and immediacy." "It's important that the exchange rate moves steadily, reflecting fundamental economic indicators. Recently, sharp unilateral movements have been observed. [We] will take appropriate measures in response to excessive currency movements," promised the high-ranking official.

However, several experts doubt that the Japanese Government and Central Bank have the strength and capability not just to strengthen the yen once, but to maintain it in such a state over an extended period of time. It's enough to recall that less than eight months have passed since the last intervention in November 2023, and here again, USD/JPY is storming the height of 145.00. Since all currency reserves are finite, say Commerzbank specialists, solving this problem will be infinitely difficult, and "all that remains is to hope that officials from the [finance] ministry realize this and do not overestimate their capabilities.".

The monetary policy pursued by the Japanese Government and Central Bank in recent years clearly indicates that their focus is not solely on the yen exchange rate, but on economic indicators. However, it is important to note that one of these indicators is inflation. In this regard, we have seen an acceleration in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 3.1% YoY, compared to 3.0% the previous month and 2.7% in February. While these values are significantly lower than those observed in the US, Eurozone, or the UK, no one can guarantee that inflation will not continue to rise further. If the BoJ does not intend to tighten its ultra-easy policy and raise interest rates, the only tool left to maintain the exchange rate is currency interventions. The only remaining question is when they will begin – now or when the rate reaches 150.00, as it did in the autumn of 2022.

Many experts still hold hope that the Bank of Japan will eventually decide to tighten its policy. These hopes allow economists at Danske Bank to forecast a USD/JPY rate below 130.00 within a 6–12-month horizon. Similar predictions are made by strategists at BNP Paribas, who target 130.00 by the end of this year and 123.00 by the end of 2024. However, Wells Fargo's forecast appears more modest, with their specialists expecting the pair to only decrease to 133.00 by the end of 2024. Nonetheless, reaching that level would still be considered a significant achievement for the Japanese currency, as it concluded the past week at 144.29 after the publication of US PCE data.

At the time of writing the review, 60% of analysts, like a week ago, anticipate that the yen will recoup at least some of its losses and push the pair to the south, while the remaining 40% of experts point to the east. However, there are no supporters of the pair's growth this time. It is worth noting that there were only a minimal number of supporters the previous week, with only 10%. Nevertheless, USD/JPY continues its journey to the stars. Ultimately, while experts ponder, the market decides. Regarding this matter, there are no doubts from either trend indicators or oscillators: all 100% on D1 point upwards. However, a quarter of the oscillators actively signal overbought conditions for the pair.

The nearest support level is located in the 143.74 zone, followed by 142.95-143.20, 142.20, 141.40, then 140.90-141.00, 140.60, 138.75-139.05, 138.30, and 137.50. The closest resistance is at 144.55, and then bulls will need to overcome barriers at 145.00-145.30, 146.85-147.15, and 148.85, before reaching the October 2022 high of 151.95.

No significant economic information related to the Japanese economy is expected to be released in the upcoming week. However, unless the Bank of Japan announces currency interventions, which they do not typically preannounce.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: Institutional Bitcoin Frenzy Gains Momentum

What has been talked about and dreamed of for so long seems to be happening: global financial giants are finally believing in the bright future of Bitcoin. Back in 2021, Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, mentioned that futures-based cryptocurrency ETFs were not suitable for long-term investors due to high associated costs. He stated that once spot-based bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) emerged, institutional investors would start pouring significant investments. Recently, in an interview with Bloomberg, Hougan announced the dawn of a new era, saying, "Now we have BlackRock raising the flag and stating that BTC has value, that it's an asset in which institutional investors want to invest. I believe we are entering a new era of cryptocurrencies, which I call the 'mainstream era,' and I expect a multi-year bull trend that is just beginning.".

A spot BTC ETF is a fund whose shares are traded on an exchange and track the market or spot price of BTC. The main idea behind such ETFs is to provide institutional investors with access to bitcoin trading without physically owning it, through a regulated and financially familiar product.

Currently, eight major financial institutions have submitted applications to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enter the cryptocurrency market through spot-based ETFs. Alongside investment giant BlackRock, these include global asset managers such as Invesco and Fidelity. Global banks such as JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Bank of New York Mellon, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Credit Agricole have also joined the bitcoin fever.

It is worth noting that the SEC has previously rejected all similar applications. However, the current situation may be different. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has confirmed that the SEC considers bitcoin a commodity, opening up broad prospects for the leading cryptocurrency. Cameron Winklevoss, one of the founders of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, has confirmed that institutional investors are ready to start buying BTC, expecting the approval of spot-based BTC funds. "Bitcoin was the obvious and most profitable investment of the past decade. But it will remain the same in this decade," said Winklevoss. This sentiment is shared by Hugh Hendry, the manager of Eclectica Asset Management hedge fund, who believes that BTC could triple its market capitalization in the medium term.

When it comes to altcoins, the situation is somewhat more challenging. Max Keiser, a popular bitcoin maximalist and now an advisor to the President of El Salvador, believes that Gary Gensler has enough technical and political tools at his disposal to classify XRP and ETH as securities, which would ultimately kill these altcoins. "The Securities and Exchange Commission is working for the banking cartel, engaging in racketeering in the interest of financial structures," Keiser wrote in his blog.

It is worth noting that the SEC has filed lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, accusing the platforms of selling unregistered securities. In the court documents, the Commission identified Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC), Coti (COTI), Algorand (ALGO), Filecoin (FIL), Cosmos (ATOM), Sandbox (SAND), Axie Infinity (AXS), and Decentraland (MANA) as securities. Several cryptocurrency platforms have already taken this SEC statement as guidance and, to avoid potential claims, have delisted these altcoins.

The statements above indicate that bitcoin is likely to maintain its market leadership in the foreseeable future. Mark Yusko, the founder and CEO of Morgan Creek Capital, believes that the bullish trend of BTC could continue until the next halving, which is expected to occur in April 2024. "I think the rally is just beginning. We have just entered what is known as the crypto summer season," wrote the expert. However, he cautioned that after the speculative surge caused by the halving, there is typically an excessive reaction in the opposite direction, known as crypto winter.

According to an analyst known as InvestAnswers, in addition to the upcoming halving, the institutional adoption that has begun will help drive the growth of BTC by increasing demand for the asset and reducing its supply. The aforementioned investment giants collectively manage trillions of dollars in assets, while the market capitalization of Bitcoin is just over $0.5 trillion. Only a tiny fraction of this $0.5 trillion is actively traded on the market.

Peter Schiff, the president of Euro Pacific Capital and a staunch critic of Bitcoin, holds the opposite view. He believes that there is "nothing more low-quality than cryptocurrencies." "Until recently, the rally in highly speculative assets excluded bitcoin. Now that it has finally joined the party, it is likely to end soon," he stated. According to Schiff, such rallies typically come to an end when "the lowest-quality things" eventually join them, referring to digital assets.

Looking at the BTC/USD chart, there is a suspicion that Peter Schiff might be right. After soaring on the news of BlackRock's and other institutional players' interest, the pair has been trading sideways within a narrow range of $28,850 to $31,000 for the past week. According to analysts, besides concerns about SEC actions, bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market are currently being weighed down by miners. Breaking the $30,000 barrier prompted them to send a record volume of coins to exchanges ($128 million in just the past week). Crypto miners fear a price reversal from a significant level due to increased regulatory scrutiny in the industry. Additionally, the average cost of mining remains higher than the current prices of digital assets due to the doubling of computational difficulty over the past year and a half. As a result, miners are forced to sell their coin holdings to sustain production activities, cover ongoing expenses, and repay debts.

As of the time of writing the review, on Friday evening, June 30, BTC/USD is trading around $30,420. The total market capitalization of the crypto market has slightly decreased to $1.191 trillion ($1.196 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index is on the border between the Greed and Neutral zones, dropping from 65 to 56 points over the week.

New catalysts are needed for further upward movement. One of them could be the expiration of futures contracts for ethereum and bitcoin on Friday, June 30. According to AmberDate, over 150,000 BTC options with a total value of around $4.57 billion were settled on the Deribit Exchange. Additionally, $2.3 billion worth of contracts were settled for ETH. According to experts from CoinGape, this could trigger significant volatility in July and provide strong support for these assets. However, much will also depend on the macroeconomic data coming out of the United States.

As of the evening of June 30, ETH/USD is trading around $1,920. Several analysts believe that ethereum still has the potential for further bullish momentum. Popular expert Ali Martinez points out that ETH may encounter significant resistance near the $2,000-2,060 range, as over 832,000 addresses previously opened sales in this range. However, if ethereum surpasses this zone, it has a good chance of experiencing a sharp impulse towards $2,330. Furthermore, there is potential for further growth towards $2,750 in the long term.

And finally, a bit of history. Ten years ago, Davinci Jeremie posted a YouTube video strongly recommending his viewers to spend at least one dollar to purchase bitcoin and explained why BTC would grow in the coming years. At that time, Jeremy's forecast angered or amused most people who did not want to listen to his recommendation. However, they now deeply regret it as they could have acquired over 1,000 BTC for the $1 they would have invested, which is worth $30 million today.

In a recent interview, Jeremy emphasized that it is still worthwhile to buy bitcoin. According to him, only 2 percent of the world's population owns cryptocurrency, so it still has the potential to delight its investors with new records. "However, there is also one problem," says Jeremy. "Everyone wants to own a whole bitcoin. No one wants to go to a store and say, 'Can I get one trillionth of an apple?' So, although bitcoin is divisible, this property is essentially its Achilles' heel. The solution to this problem is to make the display of small fractions of BTC more user-friendly and understandable. For example, instead of writing amounts like 0.00001 BTC, they could be replaced by the equivalent amount of satoshis, which is the smallest indivisible unit of one Bitcoin valued at 0.00000001 BTC."


NordFX Analytical Group


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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