Author
Saqib Iqbal
Bio

Saqib Iqbal is a financial market analyst, serving the industry since 2011. The author is a mentor, providing training to individuals and organizations. Moreover, Saqib is a successful proprietary funds trader, managing a six-figure sum with an average annual ROI of 45%.

Fundamental Analysis

Gold Prices Pare Gains as Markets Await US Inflation Report

Gold prices ended flat on Tuesday and fell on Wednesday as the dollar rose ahead of more US inflation data. The US will release its core PCE report on Friday, giving guidance on the size of upcoming Fed rate cuts.  Gold prices rallied on Friday and Monday due to rate cut optimism. Notably, Powell opened Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Equities Slide as Nvidia Dips Ahead of Earnings Report

Equities ended lower on Monday as Nvidia fell ahead of its earnings report. However, rate-cut optimism lingered after Powell’s dovish speech on Friday. Meanwhile, investors were gearing up for the core PCE report for more clues on the outlook for Fed rate cuts.  As investors worried about the upcoming earnings report, Nvidia lost 2.25% of Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Currency Futures Spike as Fed Hints a Shift in Policy

Currency futures soared on Friday as the dollar plunged after Powell said the Fed was ready to adjust policy. Powell’s speech conveyed that the Fed was ready to start lowering borrowing costs to ensure a steady labor market. However, by Monday, most currencies eased slightly as investors took profits. After a whole week of anticipation, Read More…

Interest Futures
Fundamental Analysis

Interest Futures Take a Breather as Rate Cut Bets Shift From 50 bps to 25 bps

Interest futures fell on Thursday as Treasury yields soared with a drop in expectations for a 50 bps Fed rate cut. However, the move reversed before Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday. At the same time, there is still optimism about a 25 bps September Fed rate cut.  Treasury yields had a bullish day Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Oil Prices Slump After US Payroll Data Revision by -818k Jobs

Oil prices fell sharply on Wednesday after the US government revised the US payrolls data to show a weaker labor market. This revision overshadowed positive sentiment from a decline in crude oil inventories and dovish FOMC policy minutes. Brent Futures (Source: ICE Futures Europe) The US economy added fewer jobs than reported between April last Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Gold Eases from All-Time Highs as Markets Digest Fed Rate Cut

Gold prices pulled back on Wednesday after reaching new highs in the previous session due to Fed rate cut optimism. Investors are preparing to peruse the FOMC meeting minutes and a Fed Chair Jerome Powell speech. Gold traders are optimistic that the Fed will start lowering borrowing costs in September. Last week, retail sales data Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Equities Surge as Investors Price in Fed’s Rate Cut in Sep

Equities rose on Monday, adding to last week’s gains as markets priced in a Fed rate cut at the September meeting. At the same time, risk appetite improved since data last week eased fears of a looming US recession. S&P 500 weekly performance (Source: Bloomberg) Equities closed the best week of the year on Friday, Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Currency Futures Climb as Dollar Pulls Back Amid Profit-Taking

Currency futures rose on Friday and Monday as the dollar retreated amid profit-taking. At the same time, the US currency fell at the end of the week as markets raised the chances of a 25 bps September Fed cut. On Thursday, the greenback had soared after sales data showed a robust economy.  Last week, the Read More…

Interest Futures
Fundamental Analysis

Interest Futures Rebound with Lower Rate Cut Bets After a Red Day

Interest futures plunged on Thursday as upbeat US economic data boosted risk appetite. At the same time, investors moved to price a lower likelihood of a 50-bps Fed rate cut at the September meeting. However, the move reversed on Friday as the probability of a 25-bps Fed cut rose. As US inflation data solidified bets Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Oil Prices Fall 1% on Higher Inventory and Demand Woes

Oil prices fell nearly 1% on Wednesday due to increased demand worries after a bigger-than-expected increase in US crude inventories. However, the move reversed on Thursday as oil traders cheered a rise in Fed rate cut expectations. Data on Wednesday revealed that US crude inventories rose by 1.4 million barrels. It was the first increase Read More…