Market Overview - The crypto market is currently experiencing significant turmoil, with Bitcoin down nearly 47% from its October peak, trading around $66,900, and the Crypto Fear and Greed Index at a score of 9, indicating "Extreme Fear" [1] Federal Reserve Influence - Analysts at Stifel attribute Bitcoin's current weakness to the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance, suggesting that a "hawkish cut" in December indicates a more cautious, data-dependent monetary policy approach [2][3] - The Fed has maintained steady interest rates in 2026, raising concerns about tightening liquidity, with FOMC members rejecting the notion of an "inflationary boom" amid trade tensions and tariff uncertainties [4] Historical Context - The rhetoric from Stifel analysts parallels Chair Jerome Powell's 2022 speech, which warned of impending pain as policymakers aimed to control inflation, with market reactions following the nomination of Kevin Warsh, an inflation hawk, as a signal for sustained higher rates [5] Structural Changes in Bitcoin's Performance - Stifel highlights a structural shift where Bitcoin has not benefited from a weaker dollar over the past year, diverging from its historical performance patterns, attributed to the impacts of Trump's trade war and changing inflation expectations [6] - Despite an expansion in global dollar liquidity, Bitcoin has not responded positively, undermining its status as a hedge against fiat debasement [7] Divergence from Equities - Bitcoin's decline occurs while the Nasdaq 100 Index remains near record highs, creating a widening gap between digital assets and equities, which Stifel describes as "ominous," suggesting potential turbulence for tech investors ahead [8]

Good morning, i Michael McKee the international economics and policy correspondent for bloomberg. And we are here in atlanta. Welcome to all of our viewers and listeners around the world on bloomberg television and radio.We're speaking with the Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic, who is retiring at the end of this month. So this is sort of your exit exit interview. Mike, it's always good to see you.I want to ask you, as you travel around your district for the past year, what's the mood like among companie ...

Market Overview - Domestic equity markets experienced subdued trading before a late recovery, driven by selective buying in FMCG and private banking stocks [9] - The BSE Sensex closed at 83,580.40, up by 266.47 points or 0.32%, while the NSE Nifty ended at 25,693.70, gaining 50.90 points or 0.20% [3][4] Central Bank Policy - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained its benchmark interest rate at 5.25%, as inflation remained manageable and growth concerns eased due to increased government spending and reduced tariff pressures [4][7] - The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to keep the repo rate unchanged, signaling a neutral policy stance for the foreseeable future [7] Sector Performance - ITC was the top gainer among Sensex firms, rising by 5.09%, with other notable gainers including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Hindustan Unilever, and Bajaj Finance [5][6] - In contrast, major laggards included Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, and Adani Ports [8] Real Estate Financing - The RBI proposed allowing banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with certain prudential safeguards to enhance financing for the real estate sector [3][11] - This regulatory clarity is expected to improve long-term funding visibility for the real estate and credit ecosystem [11] Foreign Investment - Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth ₹2,150.51 crore on Thursday, indicating a potential shift in investment sentiment [10]

European Central Bank Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras discusses the outlook for the euro, inflation and monetary policy. He speaks on Bloomberg Television after Thursday's decision by the ECB to keep rates unchanged at 2%. ...

Despite earlier policy easing, several domestic and international challenges are limiting the scope for fresh rate cuts.Why RBI may keep rates unchangedThe SBI report said government bond yields have remained firm even after earlier rate cuts, showing that monetary policy measures have not fully transmitted to the market.It added that the impact of Open Market Operations (OMOs) may depend on the type of securities selected, which could reduce the effectiveness of liquidity support. Because of this, the RBI ...

Bitcoin has already tumbled far from its all-time high of $126,000 in October, but history suggests the rout could deepen before momentum shifts, according to analysts at Stifel. In a note, analysts at the 136-year-old financial services firm predicted that Bitcoin could fall as low as $38,000 in the coming months. With Bitcoin recently changing hands at $65,433, per CoinGecko, that would represent a 42% decrease from Thursday’s prices. The analysts cited the extent to which Bitcoin has fallen from its all ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference primarily discusses the Eurozone economy and the European Central Bank (ECB) monetary policy, particularly in light of recent economic data and geopolitical tensions. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Euro Area Membership Expansion**: Bulgaria is set to join the euro area on January 1, 2026, highlighting the attractiveness of the euro and European integration [2] 2. **Interest Rates**: The ECB has decided to keep the three key interest rates unchanged, reaffirming a commitment to stabilize inflation at the 2% target in the medium term [2][11] 3. **Economic Growth**: The Eurozone economy grew by 0.3% in Q4 2025, driven mainly by the services sector, particularly information and communication [4] 4. **Labor Market**: Unemployment decreased to 6.2% in December from 6.3% in November, indicating a resilient labor market despite cooling demand for labor [4] 5. **Inflation Trends**: Inflation fell to 1.7% in January from 2% in December, with energy prices contributing to this decline. Food price inflation increased to 2.7% [6] 6. **Investment Outlook**: Business investment is expected to strengthen, with firms increasingly investing in digital technologies. Government spending on defense and infrastructure is anticipated to bolster domestic demand [5] 7. **Geopolitical Risks**: Ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly related to Russia's actions in Ukraine, pose significant risks to the Eurozone economy [7] 8. **Monetary Policy Approach**: The ECB will adopt a data-dependent approach to monetary policy, assessing inflation outlooks and risks on a meeting-by-meeting basis [3][11] 9. **Credit Market Conditions**: Bank lending rates for firms increased slightly to 3.6% in December, with lending to firms growing by 3% year-on-year [10] 10. **Global Trade Environment**: The external environment remains challenging due to higher tariffs and a stronger euro, which could impact demand for Eurozone exports [5] Additional Important Insights 1. **Exchange Rate Monitoring**: The ECB does not target exchange rates but acknowledges their importance for growth and inflation. The euro has appreciated against the dollar, which is being monitored for its potential impact [16][17] 2. **Global Role of the Euro**: The ECB emphasizes the need for the euro to play a stronger global role, which requires a reliable environment and strategic investments [26][27] 3. **AI and Investment**: There is a notable increase in investment related to AI and digital technologies, which is expected to enhance productivity in the Eurozone [54][55] 4. **Future Projections**: The ECB anticipates inflation to stabilize around the 2% target in the medium term, despite current fluctuations in inflation data [34][40] This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the conference, focusing on the Eurozone's economic outlook, monetary policy, and the implications of geopolitical factors.

As the EUR/USD tests the 1.1850–1.2000 resistance zone, all eyes are on today’s ECB meeting. Traders are looking for clarity in a situation defined by cooling eurozone inflation and a surge in Euro strength. Read our previous article Can Lagarde Push the EUR/USD Higher? (Part 1) to get insights into the eurozone inflation and growth dynamics. The EUR/USD Dynamics: Geopolitics, Fed Uncertainty, and the Path to 1.20 The Dollar’s Turbulent January After having gained around 13.50% in 2025, the EUR/USD cu ...

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India is likely to maintain a status quo on the repo rate in its policy announcement scheduled for Friday, amid continued global economic uncertainty, pressure on government bond yields and volatility in the domestic currency, according to a report by State Bank of India.The report stated that, despite earlier policy-rate easing, the central bank will hold rates this time, as several macroeconomic and global factors continue to pose challenges. It n ...

Core Viewpoint - Silver and gold prices have sharply declined following a significant market downturn, with silver experiencing its largest daily drop ever and gold its most substantial decline since 2013 [3]. Group 1: Market Performance - Spot silver fell as much as 16.6%, briefly recovering above $90 an ounce before the drop [1]. - Spot gold decreased by as much as 3.5% during volatile trading [1]. - As of 11:18 a.m. in Singapore, silver was down 12.7% to $76.9495 an ounce, while spot gold was 2.1% lower at $4,859.20 an ounce [5]. Group 2: Market Sentiment - Sentiment across various asset classes, including equities and metals, has turned negative, indicating fragile market conditions [2]. - The recent volatility is attributed to investors redeeming holdings in exchange-traded products, although structural drivers for precious metals remain intact [5]. Group 3: Policy Implications - The market is reacting to the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair, with President Trump suggesting that the Fed is likely to lower interest rates, which could benefit precious metals [4]. - Analysts from Standard Chartered expect continued volatility until there is more clarity on monetary policy [5].