Tag: Gold

  • Midweek Market Recap: CPI, Trump, and What’s Next ?

    For the first half of the week, all eyes were on the almighty CPI. Why, you ask? Well, Trump has been putting pressure on the Fed to cut rates and hasn’t held back in expressing his views on Fed Chair Powell in the media. This comes on the heels of newly announced tariffs on various countries last week, which put the market in a cautious mood. Investors were watching closely to see if inflation would dip, potentially paving the way for a rate cut.


    What did we get?

    CPI year-over-year came in at 2.7%—lower than expected but unchanged from the previous reading. Month-over-month CPI was in line with expectations at 0.2%, but lower than the previous figure. Core CPI YoY surprised to the upside at 3.1%, while MoM was steady and met expectations.

    Stripping away the jargon: inflation data was broadly in line with market expectations. As a result, the market is now cautiously optimistic about a potential rate cut in September.


    Meanwhile, Trump’s having a good week.


    He’s gearing up for potential talks with Putin on Friday, making progress with China on tariff negotiations, and seeing an uptick in U.S. customs revenue—giving him bragging rights. He’s now claiming his tariffs aren’t inflationary and urging Powell to cut rates. Oh, and he also mentioned suing Powell over how he handled the Fed’s renovation—but that’s a story for another day.


    Back to the markets—how are they reacting, and what’s next?

    Optimism is building around a September rate cut. Treasuries are up, the dollar is down, and equities are climbing—classic signs of a risk-on environment. Looking ahead to Friday, retail sales data and the Trump-Putin conversation on Ukraine will be key. Keep an eye on oil.


    My next moves

    Like James Bond, I’m waiting patiently to catch the full risk-on wave. Markets are currently elevated—too rich for my blood. I’m cautiously long on palladium and watching closely for entry points in oil.

    Palladium

    Oil

    Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. The content shared here reflects my personal opinions and observations on current market events. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions

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  • 📈 Trade Update: Tariffs, Safe Havens, and What Comes Next

    Following up on my earlier post — Markets, Tariffs, and a Bit of Breathing Room — I’m happy to report that we’ve hit our target on XSD, banking a solid 3% win on the trade.

    So, what’s next?


    📰 Market Recap: Tariffs, Safe Havens, and Nvidia’s Move

    Yesterday, markets reacted to Trump’s tariff announcements targeting several smaller economies. While these aren’t major players, the headlines were enough to spark a shift into safe havens like gold (XAU) and away from risk assetsincluding XSDXLE, and SPUS.

    Interestingly, the market appears to be shrugging off the news today. One headline-grabber: Nvidia’s market cap has surged to $4 trillion — showing continued bullish sentiment in tech despite macro uncertainty.

    🏦 Fed Watch: Rate Cut Uncertainty

    The Fed statement today revealed a clear split on when rate cuts will occur. The key issue? Inflation risks from new tariffs.

    Despite June’s reported drop in inflation, the Fed is hesitant to move on cuts in July — choosing instead to watch how things develop later in the year.

    This comes even as Trump is ramping up pressure for cuts, adding another layer of political tension to the Fed’s decision-making.

    🎯 What We’re Watching Now

    The main focus going forward is twofold:

    • Tariff-related developments
    • Signals on potential rate cuts

    In this environment, I expect optimism to dominate the market — not because conditions are great, but because there’s simply no other big bearish catalyst in play right now.

    📌 Trade Setup: Gold and XLE

    🟡 Gold (XAU)

    I’m eyeing a potential buy zone in the $3,200–$3,250 handle, but only if there’s a strong fundamental bias — like further escalation in tariffs or clearer signals of rate cuts.

    🔋 XLE

    While we wait for gold to hit our levels, there may be opportunities to capitalize on market optimism via XLE. I’m watching for good entry points there.

    Stay tuned — I’ll post more detailed setups as these plays evolve.

    Disclaimer:
    This is not financial advice. the content shared here reflects my personal opinions and observations on current market events. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

  • Markets, Tariffs, and a Bit of Breathing Room. Gold sells and XSD buys

    I think most people would agree that ever since Trump became president, the world has been on a roller coaster—and it doesn’t look like the ride is ending anytime soon. But for now, we navigate the markets with a mix of swing trades and precision.

    Yesterday, Trump announced an extension of the tariff deadline to August. That move gave the markets a bit of breathing room and sparked some optimism. On that news, I looked for buying opportunities in XSD, and we’re currently up about 3%, which is a solid move.

    Things are quiet for now, so I’m holding my position. Looking ahead, we’ve got the FOMC meeting minutes coming out tomorrow. I’m not expecting any major surprises there—most signs point to the next rate cut happening in September. However, keep an eye on unemployment claims—that’s the one to watch.

    Disclaimer:
    This is not financial advice. the content shared here reflects my personal opinions and observations on current market events. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.