FOREX NEWS & BLOG

retail stocks surge while tech faces headwinds

retail stocks surge while tech faces headwinds

Sector Overview

  • 📈 Consumer Defensive: Discount retailers are the highlight today, with Walmart (WMT) seeing an impressive gain of 2.97%, indicating robust consumer spending in cost-effective retail.
  • 📉 Technology: Mixed signals arise from tech, with Nvidia (NVDA) leading with a 1.43% gain, while Intel (INTC) shows a notable setback with a 2.40% drop, possibly due to ongoing chip supply challenges.
  • 📉 Software Applications: Intuit (INTU) is down by 6.08%, reflecting investor caution in this volatile segment.

Market Mood and Trends

The market sentiment is somewhat cautious, gravitating towards consumer defensive stocks amidst ongoing economic uncertainties. The strong performance in the retail sector suggests confidence in consumer spending, while tech’s uneven performance highlights sector-specific challenges.

Strategic Recommendations

Investors may consider increasing their portfolio’s exposure to consumer defensive stocks, such as WMT, given the sector’s evident resilience. Staying informed about tech sector developments remains crucial, especially for stocks like NVDA, as they continue to navigate challenging market dynamics.

Portfolio diversification across stable sectors like consumer defensive and selective tech exposure could provide a balanced approach to navigating current market uncertainties. For more insights and updates, stay connected with ForexLive.com.

This article was written by Itai Levitan at www.forexlive.com.

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Walmart:We are concerned significant increase in tariffs could lead to increased prices

Walmart:We are concerned significant increase in tariffs could lead to increased prices

Walmart spokesperson is warning that significant increasing tires could lead to increase prices for consumers (note not the company).

Earlier today Walmart reported earnings:

    Walmart (WMT) Q3 2024 (USD):

    • Adj. EPS 0.58 (exp. 0.53)

    • Revenue 169.50bn (exp. 167.68bn)

    • Total US comparable sales ex-gas +5.5% (exp. +3.8%)

    • FY adj. EPS view 2.42-2.47 (prev. 2.35-2.43, exp. 2.45)

    • Walmart-only US stores comparable sales ex-gas +5.35% (exp. +3.73%)

    • Sam’s Club US comparable sales ex-gas +7% (exp. +4.22%)

    Shares of Walmart are up $1.85 or 2.2% in premarket trading in what is a down market in premarket trading.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

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Forexlive European FX news wrap: Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles triggers some risk-off

Forexlive European FX news wrap: Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles triggers some risk-off

We had no notable data release in the European session today. Overall, it’s been a quiet session but we had some short-term risk aversion at some point triggered by the news that Ukraine striked Russia with the long range ATACMS missiles.

Elsewhere, we had some BoE’s members speaking before the UK Treasury Committee but we haven’t got anything new in terms of forward guidance. The central bank is planning to move rates down gradually but it’s willing to move faster in case economic conditions warrant such a move.

In the FX market, we have the US Dollar continuing to consolidate around the recent highs as the market looks fine with the current pricing of three rate cuts by the end of 2025 and might need stronger reasons to price out some more.

Equity markets are down on the day potentially due to the risk aversion moves triggered by the Ukraine news, while bonds and gold are up.

In the American session, the focus will be on the Canadian CPI report. The Canadian CPI
Y/Y is expected at 1.9% vs. 1.6% prior, while the M/M figure is seen at 0.3%
vs. -0.4% prior. The focus will be on the underlying inflation measures with
the Trimmed Mean CPI Y/Y expected at 2.4% vs. 2.4% prior, while the Median CPI
Y/Y is seen at 2.4% vs. 2.3% prior.

The BoC is now focused
on growth as the inflation rate has been inside the target band for several months while
economic activity slowed down. The market is pricing a 35% chance of another 50
bps cut in December, so lower than expected inflation readings will likely
raise those probabilities.

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.

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Take on the Prop Trading Challenge with Ultimate Traders

Take on the Prop Trading Challenge with Ultimate Traders

Proprietary (prop) trading as a concept has experienced a huge surge in popularity over recent years, developing into an established way of trading for many across the world, while ushering in a new era in terms of how trades are conducted.

For the many companies now operating within the sector, prop traders are typically expected to pass a lengthy, multi-level evaluation process before being deemed appropriate to proceed to the funded account stage.

This can lead to intense frustration from some participants, particularly skilled or experienced ones, who end up finding themselves caught up in a cycle of repetitive evaluations that can negatively affect both their emotions and outcomes.

Ultimate Traders tackles this problem head on, with the innovative prop firm removing the need for a second evaluation stage as part of its ‘Speedy Challenge’ – meaning competent traders can kickstart their trading journeys without unnecessary delay.

The speedy way to account funding

Unlike traditional multi-tier structures offered by various other firms, the Speedy Challenge provides a fast-track route on the path to a live funded trading account through its unique single-tier structure.

Designed for experienced, disciplined traders with rapid results in mind, this challenge saves time and effort, bypassing the drawbacks of conventional evaluations. It allows individuals to skip the second step by going directly to a funded account once the challenge is successfully completed.It provides traders with up to 1:30 leverage on forex, with tailored leverage for other assets like commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, giving them greater control over their trading strategies. There is also full transparency in the pricing structure, with entry fees starting at $79, while VAT is applied on challengers from the UK or EU.

The Speedy Challenge offers quicker access to capital, with multiple account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $200,000, allowing traders to reach the account funding stage and generate profits faster. However, this accelerated path comes with tighter risk controls, including a 4% drawdown limit, compared to the 6% cap offered in the company’s ‘Classic Challenge’.

Unlocking the Speedy Challenge benefits

With no fixed deadlines, participants who sign up for the challenge are encouraged to trade on the days when the market conditions are favourable, meaning there is no time pressure with regards to generating profit on either the live or evaluation accounts.

Aside from the obvious fast-track benefits associated with the Speedy Challenge, traders are able to get excellent value out of their registration fee, which is unmatched by other prop firms. It represents only a small fraction of the account balance and is refunded once the first withdrawal is made from their live account.

Another helpful feature for traders is the access they have to automated trading tools, with Ultimate Traders granting permission to use Expert Advisors (EAs) so long as they are not used in an abusive way.

Important day trading techniques such as scalping and hedging are also permitted, meaning traders can modify their strategies and manage risk more effectively, particularly during periods of rapid market fluctuation.

Optional add-ons and fast withdrawals

Challengers have several opportunities to further tailor their prop trading experience through a series of optional add-ons, which include removing stop-loss requirements, and enabling news trading during high-volatility events. They can also opt for a 90/10 profit split in order to retain more of their earnings.Once funded, traders are able to benefit from flexible withdrawals, with the ability to withdraw profits every 14 days, which is significantly better than the industry-standard 30-day cycle. This added flexibility provides quicker access to profits, supporting financial freedom and motivating participants to maintain high levels of performance.

Ultimate Traders’ trading rules

Once a trader accepts the challenge, they are expected to meet a defined set of rules before they are entrusted with the company’s capital in a fully-fledged funded trading account, with the most important rules outlined below.

● Minimum of 3 Trading Days: Traders must place at least one trade on three separate days, but this rule is removed for those with a funded Ultimate Traders account.

● 4% Daily Drawdown Limit: Losses cannot exceed 4% of the previous day’s recorded equity, including both balance and floating P&L.

● 6% Maximum Loss Limit: Total losses must not exceed 6% of the account size, with the limit trailing until it matches the initial balance, where it remains fixed.

● 10% Profit Target: Traders need to reach a 10% profit target (e.g., $100,000 account must grow to $110,000) with no time limits imposed.

● Weekend Trading / Stop-Loss: All trades require a stop-loss and must close before the weekend, unless traders pay a 10% premium to lift these restrictions.

Offering an accelerated path to trading capital, the Speedy Challenge is well suited to disciplined prop traders who can manage risk effectively under tighter constraints and are looking to progress without the usual delays associated with completing multiple evaluation phases.

Looking to take on the challenge? To find out how to get started, click here.

This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

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BoE’s Mann: Forward-looking indicators raising the risk of inflation persistence

BoE’s Mann: Forward-looking indicators raising the risk of inflation persistence

  • Forward-looking price and wage indicators have been flat and above target for four months, raising the risk of inflation persistence.
  • Financial markets’ inflation expectations suggest the BoE will not get to a sustainable 2% inflation in the forecast horizon.
  • Risks to inflation are almost all upside.
  • I do not use gradual language on rate cuts.
  • I prefer activist strategy on monetary policy.
  • It’s important to keep rates on hold, and not pursue a gradualist strategy on rate cuts.
  • The current stance on monetary policy is not particularly restrictive.
  • Gradualism causes inflation persistence to drag on for longer.

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.

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T4Trade Through the Lens of Success

T4Trade Through the Lens of Success

T4Trade, a reputable broker committed to offering both novice and veteran traders the “ultimate trading experience”, has been on an award-winning streak over the last year, taking home numerous industry awards.

In 2023, T4Trade stole the spotlight as a “Top100 Trusted Financial Institution in the Middle East”, following a rigorous vetting process by Smart Vision, a well-known awarding body and event organiser setting the benchmark for excellence in the online trading industry. This was only the beginning of a successful journey.

Two global accolades followed shortly after, as the broker was voted in two categories of the renowned Global Forex Awards, enjoying the laurels of success as the winner of the “Best Trading Experience Award” and “Most Trusted Broker – MENA”.

Titles continued to trickle in through 2024, with T4Trade joining the ranks of global industry leaders as the “Fastest Growing FX Broker”, according to the Global Excellence Awards’ categorisation.

Soon after that, the Forex broker was designated as a top industry player for its consistent efforts in offering the “Best Trading Experience”, recognition awarded by Global Business and Finance Magazine.

Other honours placing the online broker’s brand at the forefront of the industry include “Fastest Growing Broker 2024” from Global Business and Finance Magazine, “Best Online Trading Platform 2024” from World Business Outlook Awards, and “Best Forex Brand for T4Trade” from Lawyer International.

All these awards are a huge nod to the CFD broker’s commitment to equipping traders with the knowledge, trading platforms and tools they need to navigate market volatility.

Proof of work in T4Trade’s terms

Setting out to democratise the online trading space, T4Trade meets the needs of all traders. With a stable trading environment comprising the popular MetaTrader 4 platform, available in both web and mobile version, and the proprietary T4Trade mobile trading app, the broker improves traders’ bottom line.

From advanced charting tools, trading calculators, economic calendar and sophisticated indicators, T4Trade’s online trading platform checks all the boxes. Whether they wish to trade directly from a web browser without having to download and install any software, or the privacy of the desktop MT4 platform, traders can enjoy the same exceptional features and functionalities.

Alternatively, the sleek, user-friendly T4Trade mobile app offers the same seamless experience and unmatched connectivity to the markets on the go.

As different traders have different asset preferences and risk appetite, the broker’s platform caters to all trading tastes. Providing easy access to 500+ instruments, including a diverse selection of CFDs on Forex, shares, indices, commodities, metals, and futures, T4Trade is the go-to destination for traders worldwide.

In addition to the broad market coverage, T4Trade also offers competitive trading conditions across its account types tailored to match the risk tolerance and budgets of novice, intermediate, and professional traders, with Cent, Standard, Premium, and Privilege options.

Depending on the account type, spreads can be fixed, floating, and flexible. This provides traders of all levels with lucrative options that give them full control over their capital, taking into account trading costs. For more clarity on the broker’s spreads and pricing, check out the account comparison.

Thanks to its direct connectivity to deep liquidity pools, T4Trade offers lightning-fast execution and some of the best prices in the industry. This paired with the 24/5 customer support in over 30 languages, ensuring that every trading-related query is answered accurately and in a timely fashion, and advanced decision-support tools such as Trading Central, make T4Trade a serious contender for traders’ preference, worthy of the “Best Broker” title.

Licensed and regulated, T4Trade is bound by strong principles of transparency and fairness, ensuring that client funds are separated from its own by keeping them safe in segregated accounts held with top-tier banks around the world.

In line with these principles, the company seeks to empower traders through education. Its knowledge base spans a variety of materials to accompany traders at every stage of their journey.

Covering a vast spectrum of topics, from trading basics to advanced trading strategies and trading psychology, the T4Trade Education section groups together content in multiple formats, from Live TV to webinars, and podcasts to eBooks and video on demand, supplying just the bites of information that traders need to form a comprehensive view of market dynamics.

“At T4Trade, we’re on a mission to facilitate access to trading opportunities”, explains a spokesperson of T4Trade “This is why we always go the extra mile. Every trader has a different way of positioning themselves towards the markets.

“Our mandate as a broker is to offer them the right tools to set them up for success. So far, I believe we’ve achieved that. The numerous awards we’ve collected in such a short time prove it. This is equally thrilling and binding, urging us to continue to innovate and exceed our clients’ expectations,” they added.

With an offering that goes beyond modern technology and fair pricing, T4Trade sets a new standard of high-quality financial services, raising the bar in the online trading industry.

To explore the broker’s offering and test-drive its platforms, open an account.

All trading involves risk. It is possible to lose all your capital.

This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

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Robinhood Expands Wealth Management Services With $300M TradePMR Acquisition

Robinhood Expands Wealth Management Services With $300M TradePMR Acquisition

Robinhood plans to acquire custodial and portfolio
management firm TradePMR. The
California-based commission-free investing firm entered into an agreement to
buy the company, which targets Registered Investment Advisors, stepping into the wealth management services space.

A $7 Trillion Industry

According to Robinhood, the Registered Investment
Advisor market represents one of the fastest-growing sectors in wealth
management, valued at over $7 trillion. With this acquisition, Robinhood now plans to bridge
the gap between tech-savvy retail investors and fiduciary advisors who can
provide customized financial guidance.

TradePMR’s established network of 350 firms and
decades of experience in RIA custodial services offer Robinhood a solid
foundation to build its new advisory capabilities.

Commenting about the planned acquisition, Vlad Tenev, the
Chairman and CEO at Robinhood, said: “The TradePMR team has one of the
strongest RIA networks in the industry. We’re excited to join forces to build a
category-defining advisory platform for the next generation.”

With TradePMR’s expertise, Robinhood plans to
integrate managed assets and self-directed investments into a single, intuitive
platform. The company estimates that it will inherit an estimated $84 trillion
in wealth over the coming decades.

Enhancing Access for Advisors

Additionally, Robinhood and TradePMR aim to create a
referral program that connects fiduciary advisors to Robinhood’s expansive
customer base. This collaboration seeks to help advisors grow their businesses
and offer Robinhood users easier access to professional financial advice.

The acquisition deal, valued at approximately $300
million in cash and stock, is expected to close in the first half of 2025,
pending regulatory approval. By acquiring TradePMR, Robinhood will diversify beyond
self-directed trading to cater to evolving customer needs with wealth management solutions.

“For many years, the advisor industry has discussed the
issue of losing customers when assets transition to a spouse or to heirs,” added
Robb Baldwin, Founder and CEO at TradePMR. “Robinhood’s client base is the next
generation of investors. We believe this acquisition allows us to build a
multi-generational platform that will help introduce financial advisors to this
next generation.”

According to the official announcement, Robb and the TradePMR team will join Robinhood. TradePMR is a privately held brokerage and custodian services provider based in Gainesville City, Florida.

This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

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Platinum Price Predictions: 2024 and Beyond

Platinum Price Predictions: 2024 and Beyond

Platinum is a rare precious metal used in the industrial and jewelry sectors. Therefore, investing in this asset requires a distinctive approach compared to other precious metals. Besides, platinum is primarily a commodity rather than an investment asset. This precious metal plays a significant role in the automotive industry, particularly in the production of catalytic converters. Demand from car manufacturers makes up approximately 44% of the total global supply of platinum (XPT). However, the platinum exchange rate is quite volatile. In November 2024, the price fell below $1,000.00 per ounce. What will be the precious metal’s price by the end… Read full author’s opinion and review in blog of #LiteFinance

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Gold Price at Crossroads. Forecast as of 19.11.2024

Gold Price at Crossroads. Forecast as of 19.11.2024

Investors are not concerned about default risk. The strong US dollar is reducing the appeal of gold as an investment, and central banks have ceased purchasing the precious metal. Meanwhile, it is uncertain whether Donald Trump will cease military action in Ukraine. These factors are causing significant volatility in the XAUUSD. Let’s discuss this topic and make a trading plan. Major Takeaways The XAUUSD pullback is the result of reduced uncertainty after the US elections. The capital outflow to the equity and cryptocurrency markets put pressure on the precious metal. Geopolitical factors are still present after Donald Trump’s victory. Gold… Read full author’s opinion and review in blog of #LiteFinance

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AI-Fi, the Heart of Decentralised Finance and Artificial Intelligence

AI-Fi, the Heart of Decentralised Finance and Artificial Intelligence

In recent years, both artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralised finance (DeFi) have undergone significant technological advancements. However, each industry has faced its own set of challenges. AI has grappled with the high cost of hardware and lack of open investment access, making it difficult for smaller startups to compete against large corporations such as Microsoft, which benefit from access to cheap GPU power and early investments into generational assets such as OpenAI.

DeFi, on the other hand, has faced its own set of obstacles, including regulatory challenges and unsustainable yield, resulting in the failure of various exchanges and the breakdown of multi-million-dollar ventures. These difficulties have driven the development of innovative and disruptive solutions that are now redefining the DeFi and AI landscape.

One such solution that holds tremendous promise is the convergence of AI and onchain financial systems–Artificial Intelligence Finance, or AI-Fi for short. Where DeFi meets AI, a powerful alliance emerges, one that offers the potential to transform both industries, improve their resilience and adaptability and lay the foundations for long-term financial sustainability.

As these industries evolve, tokenising AI assets across the entire AI Value Chain will become a crucial strategy to democratise access to essential resources, support liquidity, and foster innovation in the ecosystem. This Value Chain–which comprises hardware, platforms, models, apps and services–can be effectively capitalised on through tokenisation, allowing AI-Fi to empower both retail investors and smaller startups to compete more effectively against larger corporations, and in turn shape the future of the AI economy.

The Advantages of AI-Driven DeFi

As AI-Fi continues to evolve, it becomes clear that the partnership of DeFi and AI will offer a multitude of advantages that will transform the financial landscape.

DeFi’s peer-to-peer transactions and automated smart contracts effectively remove the need for centralised intermediaries, streamlining interactions between users and financial services, making it the perfect partner for AI, which is mostly online and networked. When applied across the AI value chain, DeFi can significantly transform both industries and lead to new economic opportunities.

For example, onchain trading can benefit from AI’s rapid examination of blockchain transactions, identifying potentially lucrative opportunities across multiple networks simultaneously. AI could find an opportunity, such as an arbitrage, execute it using DeFi protocols, and return the funds with added interest to a user’s wallet, all without any effort on the user’s part. Different AI-powered strategies can run behind the scenes in DeFi vaults, offering automated trading to anyone with internet access and modest on-chain funds.

AI-driven DeFi also benefits individual users through faster decision-making, enhanced risk assessment, better returns due to the elimination of intermediaries, and improved user experiences with robo-advisors and on-chain portfolio managers. Additionally, investors can take advantage of the tokenisation of AI-related assets, which enhances the overall ecosystem through automated trading and settlement mechanisms. This includes the tokenisation of previously illiquid markets, such as GPU power. The 24/7 operation of these markets, combined with reduced counterparty risk provided by blockchain technology, creates a much more efficient marketplace for AI resources.

Data Supporting AI-Fi & the Tokenisation of AI-related Assets

  • According to Accenture, 74% of organisations have adopted AI technologies in 2024, further driving the demand for innovative AI-FI frameworks that can facilitate transparent and efficient markets for AI assets, while ensuring automated compliance. McKinsey analysis indicates that tokenised market capitalisation could reach around $2 trillion by 2030, highlighting the growing influence of tokenisation across various asset classes.

This trend reflects an increasing institutional interest in tokenisation, with leaders like BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, recognising its potential as the next evolution in markets. These data points underscore the urgency and opportunity for integrating AI-Fi solutions to enhance market transparency and accessibility.

Case Study: AI-Fi & Cloud Computing

The convergence of AI-Fi and cloud computing represents a transformative shift in how both industries operate. As AI technologies continue to evolve, they demand substantial computational resources for model training and inference, which cloud computing can provide.

According to Franklin Templeton’s research, the current landscape is dominated by a few major players—commonly referred to as the “Big 3” (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)—alongside telecom giants like AT&T and T-Mobile. These entities have historically benefited from low capital costs and government subsidies, creating an imbalance in access to essential computing resources.

AI-Fi addresses this imbalance by enabling fractional ownership of computing resources, such as GPU credits. This democratisation of access ensures that value flows directly to a broader range of participants, rather than being concentrated among a few large corporations. By allowing smaller startups and individual investors to participate in the AI economy, AI-Fi fosters innovation and competition.

Currently, the trading and accumulation of these computing resources are largely controlled by centralised players like NVIDIA. However, through AI-Fi, new investment opportunities can now emerge in the hardware layer. Tokenised hardware pools can be established, allowing investors to collectively own and trade shares in computing resources. This not only opens up attractive revenue streams but also enhances liquidity in a market that has traditionally been illiquid.

Singularity Finance: Bridging DeFi and AI

Singularity Finance (SFI) brings together DeFi and AI experts to develop a comprehensive tokenisation framework spanning the entire AI value chain. At the hardware layer, SFI enables the tokenisation of GPU infrastructure and data centers, creating a more inclusive and efficient AI economy. Decentralised computing services are introduced at the platform layer, providing cost-effective alternatives to traditional cloud providers. At the model layer, SFI facilitates the tokenisation of foundation models and knowledge graphs, fostering collaborative development. Finally, at the application layer, SFI deploys AI-powered DeFi solutions and professional services, creating a complete ecosystem for AI asset monetisation and utilisation.

By working across the entire AI value chain, SFI’s tokenisation approach redefines value creation and exchange in the AI economy, unlocking new asset classes and opportunities for participation. Additionally, with the support of the ASI ecosystem, SFI is well-positioned to drive the future of AI-Fi and shape the decentralised AI landscape.

The convergence of AI and DeFi, (aka AI-Fi), is poised to reshape both industries profoundly. As organisations increasingly adopt AI technologies and the tokenised asset market continues to grow exponentially, the demand for innovative AI-Fi frameworks will only intensify. By bridging AI development with DeFi, platforms like SFI create new markets for previously illiquid assets, in turn transforming how AI resources are valued and traded in the digital economy.

Author Bio:

Cloris Chen, CFA, is a leading expert in decentralized finance (DeFi) with a focus on tokenization and the AI economy. As CEO of Singularity Finance, a SingularityNET ecosystem partner, she bridges AI economy and decentralized finance. Cloris’s background includes six years as a vice-president at HSBC, followed by a role as treasury director at a unicorn startup. Cloris holds master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania and economics from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Cloris leverages her diverse experience to advocate for innovative financial solutions. Her insights on the intersection of AI, tokenization, and DeFi are reshaping perspectives on the future of finance. Follow Cloris for cutting-edge analysis on these rapidly evolving fields.

This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

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