Analysis

The U.S. economy is in the middle of playing catch-up with data releases, as markets brace for the December figures after the government shutdown lull. Here’s what to expect from this top-tier report.

Traders faced a high-wire act this week, juggling major Venezuela headlines with anticipation for critical US employment data to kick off a volatile 2026.

The December ISM PMI surveys did little to provide clarity, and instead reinforced the divergence between the manufacturing and services sectors’ performance. What does this mean for recession odds and Fed policy?

Wall Street is unanimously bullish on 2026, but what could go wrong? Here are five key risks that could prove the optimism wrong.

With the BOC meeting later this month, traders will be looking for clues on whether the labor market is holding up or starting to lose steam.

Dollar traders continue to debate the possibility of further Fed easing early this year, and the upcoming NFP release could still move the needle. Here’s what to look out for.

Amazon stock broke above $240 this week as AWS accelerates, Alexa+ launches on the web, and advertising booms. But tariff risks loom large heading into earnings.

Australia’s November CPI fell to 3.4%, missing the 3.8% forecast. But sticky core inflation keeps RBA hawks alive. AUD/JPY’s breakout above 105.25 warrants a further look.

Unless you’re still very much in holiday mode, you probably saw news of the U.S. military capturing Venezuela’s President in a dramatic high-stakes raid over the weekend. Why isn’t crude oil spiking though?

If the November CPI remains hot as expected, setups like AUD/JPY and AUD/NZD may provide legit trading opportunities.

With market expectations running pretty high for the RBA to shift to a tightening cycle soon, can a potentially downbeat Australia CPI still change this trajectory? Here’s what I’m watching on GBP/AUD and AUD/USD in this scenario.

With the RBA sounding hawkish, traders are looking to see if inflation remains sticky rather than simply riding a temporary energy-driven bump.

Weak ISM data and Venezuela crisis set the stage for a volatile week dominated by Friday’s critical jobs report. Will services hold up where manufacturing failed?

The spotlight shifts to the highly-anticipated NFP this week, so what clues can we expect from the ISM manufacturing PMI?

What happens when the Fed eases while the BoJ tightens? Central bank divergence creates FX opportunities in 2026. Full breakdown of monetary policy paths and how they might move major currencies.

Skeptics predict a bust, but the AI boom isn’t slowing down. Here are the three forces that will sustain it through 2026.

Where is gold headed in 2026? Our outlook provides three scenarios and the five fundamental forces that could determine gold’s path in the year ahead.

Where is bitcoin (BTC) headed in 2026? Our outlook provides three scenarios and the five critical factors that could determine BTC’s path in the year ahead.

Christmas week front-loads major economic releases into Monday-Tuesday before liquidity evaporates, with Tokyo CPI and a BOJ Governor speech on Christmas Day offering rare trading opportunities while Western markets are closed.

Holiday-thinned liquidity did not stop FX drama, as traders juggled softer inflation, central bank twists, and fresh geopolitical tension, leaving the dollar modestly firmer while yen badly lagged.