Copper’s having a moment - and not the kind you’d expect from a metal best known for quietly powering our homes, cars, and gadgets. Prices in the US have just shot to an all-time high, while markets in London and Shanghai seem to be shrugging it off. 

In fact, copper is now trading at a jaw-dropping 25 percent premium in New York compared to the global benchmark. That’s not just unusual - it’s historic.

So, what’s going on? Is this a one-off market wobble triggered by tariff threats and trader panic? Or is copper flashing a warning light that something deeper is shifting in the global economy? 

Let’s take a closer look at the split that’s got everyone from miners to manufacturers scrambling.

US copper tariffs: The spark behind the surge

It all started with a bold declaration. During a Cabinet meeting, former US President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell - plans to slap a 50 per cent tariff on copper imports. That single sentence sent markets into a frenzy. 

Within hours, copper futures on the New York Comex surged by a record-breaking 17 percent, briefly hitting 5.89 dollars per pound - a level never seen before.

Meanwhile, in London, the mood was far less dramatic. Prices on the London Metal Exchange, which usually sets the tone for global copper trading, actually dipped 1.5 percent. 

Shanghai’s market followed suit, leaving traders scratching their heads: Why is the US price flying solo?

A Copper market playing catch-up

Analysts note that copper doesn’t usually behave like this. It’s one of the most globally traded industrial metals, and pricing tends to stay relatively aligned across major exchanges. A small premium in one region? Sure. But 25 per cent? That’s like paying extra for a meal in New York because it might rain next week.

According to reports, tariff talk sparked a mad dash to stockpile copper in the US before prices climb even higher. Traders have been shipping record volumes into the country, hoping to beat the clock. And with fears of tighter supply, buyers are willing to pay more - a lot more - just to lock in what they can.

Copper market divergence: Blip or bigger problem?

Now, here’s the real question: Is this all temporary panic or the start of a long-term split in the copper market? Analysts are divided.

Some experts, including those at Morgan Stanley, believe the price surge could be short-lived. Once US inventories catch up and the market calms down, Comex prices may settle back into alignment. Traders hoarding copper now could find themselves sitting on expensive stock if demand doesn’t keep pace.

Others, however, see something more structural brewing. The US relies on imports for more than half of its refined copper, much of it coming from Chile, Canada, and Mexico. 

While America has rich copper reserves, it lacks the refining muscle to meet domestic demand. Tariffs might protect producers on paper, but they could just as easily saddle manufacturers with sky-high input costs. That’s hardly a recipe for industrial revival.

Why this matters more than you think

Copper isn’t just any old metal. It’s the lifeblood of the modern economy - and the green one we’re building. From electric vehicles and wind turbines to smartphones and data centres, copper is everywhere. If prices spiral in one region, it doesn’t just hit traders. It hits construction firms, automakers, and clean energy projects, too.

And there’s also the geopolitical ripple effect. If the US becomes a high-cost copper island, suppliers may start looking elsewhere, like China, for more stable and long-term trade relationships. In a world already feeling the strain of supply chain tensions, this price divergence could widen the gap even further.

So, where do copper prices go from here?

For now, there’s plenty of copper sitting in US warehouses, albeit at eye-watering prices. But the long-term picture remains murky. The market still doesn’t know when the tariffs will actually kick in, whether any products will be exempt, or if this divergence will force a deeper reshaping of global copper flows. 

What’s clear is that markets don’t like uncertainty, and copper’s recent behaviour is a textbook example of what happens when policy, speculation, and supply chains collide. 

Is the copper price split just a blip? Maybe. But if it is, it’s a blip with consequences. Because in today’s world, when a metal like copper breaks away from the pack, it’s rarely just about price - it’s about power, policy, and what comes next.

LME copper prices outlook

At the time of writing, Copper prices (LME) are under pressure with the latest green bar forming a massive wick, hinting at strong sell pressure. However, the volume bars indicate that sell pressure is waning, hinting that a move downwards could be curtailed. If a move downwards materialises, prices could find support at the $9,540 and $9,400 support levels. Conversely, if we see an uptick, prices could find resistance at the $10,000 price level. 

So far in 2025, what looks like market chaos has actually been a goldmine - at least for the brave. Every wobble, every sharp drop, every so-called “bloodbath” has turned into a buying opportunity. And those who dared to dive in? They’re laughing all the way to the bank. 

With the S&P 500 at record highs and tech stocks like Nvidia bouncing back stronger after every fall, one question keeps coming up: is buying the dip not just working 0 but winning?

Nasdaq record highs 

Let’s start with the numbers. According to analysts, if you’d simply bought the Nasdaq 100 every time it had a down day this year, you’d be up roughly 32% - the best result for that strategy in five years. For context, this time last year, that return sat at a modest 5%. 

The pace we’re seeing now puts 2025 on track to become the best year for dip-buying since at least 1985. Yes, even better than the bubbly days of 1999.

And it’s not like this has been a calm ride either. Out of the 124 trading days so far, the Nasdaq’s been down in 51 of them. That’s a whole lot of red candles - but also a whole lot of green rebounds.

Nvidia stock dips harder - and snaps back faster

If the market as a whole has rewarded dip-buyers, Nvidia has practically crowned them royalty.

The AI darling kicked off the year under pressure from China’s DeepSeek, a cheaper challenger in the machine-learning space. Then came the meltdown: on 27 January, Nvidia logged its worst-ever single-day drop - a brutal 17% fall. Ouch.

But that pain didn’t last. By early February, the stock had bounced back 20% heading into earnings. It wasn’t a one-off either. In April, Nvidia followed the market lower again, this time on fears surrounding Trump’s proposed tariffs. Shares tumbled 33% to their lowest point of the year.

And then, you guessed it, another rally. A steep, unapologetic one. Since bottoming out, Nvidia has gone on to set new record highs, with shares rising 12% in just the past month. It’s been a dream for traders with the stomach for sharp drops and the conviction to hold through them.

Nvidia keeps hitting the Wall Street news 

This isn’t just retail traders on Reddit throwing darts. Wall Street is increasingly convinced Nvidia’s dip-buying window is more than just luck.

Citi recently raised its price target to $190, suggesting a further 15% upside from current levels. One firm went even bolder, pegging a target at $250 - a price that would value Nvidia at a mind-bending $6 trillion.

Why the enthusiasm? Simple: governments are buying AI infrastructure like it’s the new electricity. Citi’s analysts say sovereign demand alone could already be contributing billions of dollars in revenue this year. They expect it to ramp up even more in 2026.

The AI gold rush is real

At Nvidia’s recent generative AI conference, insiders floated a potential benchmark for national AI infrastructure: one supercomputer or 10,000 GPUs per 100,000 government employees. Think about that. That kind of buildout could keep Nvidia busy - and profitable - for years.

The company’s Blackwell GB200 chips are already powering most of these projects, and Citi believes the rollout is only accelerating. Supply chain concerns? Largely resolved. Rack buildouts? “Happening at a rapid pace.” Even the transition to next-gen GB300 chips is expected to be smooth, thanks to lessons learned from previous launches.

Global AI arms race: Green lights, with a hint of risk

Citi now expects Nvidia’s data centre revenue to rise 5% in FY 2027 and 11% in FY 2028, with networking sales surging even faster. Margins are expected to stabilise in the mid-70% range, which is excellent for a company scaling at this pace.

That said, there are still clouds on the horizon. Trump’s administration could reintroduce export restrictions - particularly with scrutiny on Malaysia and Thailand for possible indirect shipments to China. Regulatory risks remain real, especially for a company at the heart of a global AI arms race.

Dollar-cost averaging vs timing/buying the dip

If your timing’s been good this year, it’s not even close - buying the dip has been a beast. The market’s bouncing back with a vengeance, and Nvidia’s chart looks more like a trampoline than a trendline. Add in soaring demand, bullish analyst upgrades, and a possible sprint to a $4 trillion market cap, and it’s easy to see why traders are so confident.

But here’s the unfortunate twist, a Vanguard study analyzing 90 years of S&P 500 data, revealing that even perfect market timing to "buy the dip" underperformed dollar-cost averaging (DCA), challenging the common investor belief that timing dips maximises returns

So, in a 2025 where buying the dip and holding your ground, especially with stocks like Nvidia, has rewarded you. the market’s been more than happy to reward you - the strategy has shown vulnerabilty in the long-term. 

But as far as 2025 is concerned, volatility hasn’t been the enemy this year - it’s been the opportunity.

Nvidia outlook

At the time of writing, Nvidia is showing signs of buy-side exhaustion after a significant rally, hinting at a potential reversal. However, the volume bars show that dominant buy pressure over the past few days has been met by disproportionate sell-side pushback, hinting that an upside move could still be on. 

If we see an uptick, prices could encounter resistance at the $161.55 resistance level. Conversely, if we see a slump, prices could find support floors at the $141.75, $132.75, and $103.35 support levels. 

Is trading Nvidia dips a potential winning strategy?  You can speculate on Nvidia’s price trajectory with a Deriv MT5 account.

Once the rebellious outsider of the financial world, Bitcoin is now rubbing shoulders with the suits. With public companies scooping up coins faster than ETFs and political heavyweights like Elon Musk making pro-Bitcoin noise, the original crypto is having a serious glow-up. 

From Wall Street boardrooms to Capitol Hill spats, Bitcoin is no longer just a decentralised experiment - it’s becoming a power play. But with massive inflows, mounting debt, and a bit of political theatre in the mix, the big question now is: could this new wave of corporate and political clout spark the next major rally?

Bitcoin ETF inflows are back - and it's not what you think

In the second quarter of 2025 alone, public companies purchased a staggering 131,355 Bitcoins, boosting their holdings by 18%, according to Bitcoin Treasuries. ETFs weren’t far behind, adding 111,411 BTC - up 8% over the same period.

But here’s the twist: this is the third quarter in a row that public companies have out-bought ETFs. Year to date, companies have gobbled up 237,664 BTC, nearly double the amount acquired by ETFs. All in all, corporates now hold around 855,000 Bitcoins or roughly 4% of the total supply.

In other words, this isn’t just a Wall Street story - it’s a full-blown boardroom binge. Bitcoin is no longer a fringe hedge. It’s becoming a balance sheet asset.

Politics gets messy as Bitcoin news rides along

Enter Elon Musk, never one to shy away from a headline. After falling out with Donald Trump over what he dubbed a fiscally reckless “one big, beautiful bill,” Musk launched his own political movement - the “America Party.” At the heart of it? Ballooning U.S. debt and the belief that Bitcoin might just be the last line of defence.

Musk isn’t alone. Wall Street analysts and podcasters alike are sounding the alarm over the $37 trillion U.S. debt mountain, which is growing even faster thanks to new spending legislation that adds another $3 trillion to the tab and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion.

Musk and others’ message is clear: if the U.S. keeps printing and spending, the dollar risks losing credibility, and Bitcoin might be the “hard money” hedge that saves the day.

The bull case builds even as the Bitcoin price drops

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Despite all this bullish momentum,  institutional buying, political attention, and Wall Street product launches, Bitcoin’s price dropped to around $107,000, even after a $1 billion ETF inflow over two days.

That’s not how the script was supposed to go.

Analysts blame a mix of profit-taking, macro uncertainty, and regulatory jitters for the price dip. It’s a stark reminder that in crypto, narratives are powerful, but they don’t always move the price when you expect them to. ETF inflows are bullish, yes - but they’re not a magic wand.

Altcoin season indicators: Spotlight on Ethereum and Solana

While Bitcoin consolidates, the rest of the crypto market isn’t sitting still. Ethereum ETFs are quietly stacking up inflows, with $148.5 million added on Thursday alone - $85.4 million of that going into BlackRock’s ETHA fund. Since launching in July 2024, these Ethereum funds have attracted $4.4 billion.

Even Solana is getting its institutional moment, thanks to a brand-new staking ETF from REX Shares and Osprey Funds. It debuted this week with strong $11.4 million in day-one inflows, which is not bad for a token that was once written off as a meme chain with outages.

The takeaway? Institutions are no longer just banking on Bitcoin. They’re building crypto portfolios - and that could be huge for altcoins in the coming months.

The Altseason season setup is taking shape

Bitcoin dominance has climbed to 64.6%, which, if you’ve been around long enough, you’ll know is a level that often signals a shift. When BTC dominance peaks and starts to roll over, that’s when altcoins historically shine. It’s like a pressure valve releasing capital across the crypto landscape.

As BRN Research Analyst Valentin Fournier puts it: if Bitcoin consolidates near its highs, it could pave the way for a full-blown altseason. That means Ethereum, Solana, and even some of the usual meme suspects could get their moment in the sun - fuelled by both institutional inflows and good old retail FOMO.

Does this potential Bitcoin transformation mean take off?

Here’s the million-pound question: will Bitcoin’s new suit-and-tie persona finally deliver the rocket-fuelled rally investors are hoping for?

There’s a strong case for it:

• Institutions are all-in with ETFs nearing $50 billion in cumulative inflows.
  
  
• Corporate buyers are stacking sats like it’s a treasury strategy.
  
  
• Politicians are name-dropping Bitcoin amid a fiscal credibility crisis.
  
  
• And yet, the price wobbles - reminding everyone this is still crypto.
  
  

The glow-up is undeniable. Bitcoin has gone from a rebellious outsider to a respected asset class. But whether that transformation triggers the next major rally depends on one thing: what the market chooses to believe next.

Bitcoin price outlook

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is showing some buy pressure within a sell zone, hinting that the sellers could swoop in strongly at any time. However, the volume bars have shown bullish dominance over the past few days with little pushback from sellers, hinting at a potential uptick. If we see a price uptick, bulls could encounter resistance at the $110,500 and $111,891 price levels. Conversely, if we see a drawdown, sellers could find support at the $107,210, $105,000, and $100,900 support levels. 

The stock market’s on a high again. The S&P 500 is smashing records, tech stocks are flying, and a surprisingly strong jobs report has traders feeling rather chipper. On the surface, it all looks bulletproof. But peek behind the curtain and a different story emerges: foreign investors are quietly hedging against the dollar, the Fed’s sitting on its hands, and America’s spending spree shows no signs of slowing down.

So, what gives? Is this the start of a new bull market, or are we dancing a little too close to the edge?

The rally that’s ignoring fed signals 

Let’s start with the good news - June’s jobs report was better than expected, adding 147,000 new roles and bringing the unemployment rate down to 4.1%.  

Not bad, considering economists were bracing for a slowdown. Wall Street took the news and ran with it, sending the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh record highs. Again.

But here’s the twist: strong jobs usually means weak rate-cut odds. Traders have now priced out any chance of a rate cut in July and are scaling back their predictions for September. So while the market is climbing, the very safety net it was hoping for,  Fed rate relief, is disappearing beneath its feet.

Foreign investors employ dollar hedging strategies

Here’s where things get even more interesting: foreign investors are losing faith in the dollar.

For years, global investors held U.S. stocks and bonds with minimal currency hedging. Why bother? The dollar was strong, and even when stocks dipped, currency gains often softened the blow. But now the dollar’s down 10% for the year - and 13% against the euro - and that old “natural hedge” has turned into a liability.

Asset managers across Europe, the UK, and Asia are quietly upping their hedge ratios. One Russell Investments client bumped theirs from 50% to 75%. BNP Paribas, Northern Trust, and others are trimming dollar exposure and buying up euros, yen, and Aussie dollars. Derivatives desks are buzzing, FX is back in the boardroom, and forward selling of the dollar is at a four-year high.

It’s not a panic, but it’s not exactly a vote of confidence either.

A rally fuelled by the US fiscal stimulus

Meanwhile, Washington is busy lighting the fuse on a $3.4 trillion tax-and-spend bill. It’s cleared the Senate, is moving through the House, and could be signed off by Trump just in time for Independence Day fireworks.

That sort of stimulus tends to juice the market - and clearly, it’s doing the trick. But let’s not forget the price tag. The U.S. national debt is already north of $36 trillion, and this bill would push it even higher. Traders may love the sugar high, but the hangover could be brutal.

Trade tensions take a breather though a tariff pause expiry looms

In a rare moment of calm, U.S.-Vietnam trade talks yielded a deal, and restrictions on chip design software exports to China were lifted. That helped lift shares of Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems. Even Nvidia’s stock hit record highs, pushing it closer to becoming the most valuable company in history.

However, he 90-day tariff pause ends next week, and Trump has made it clear he’s willing to “get tough”. If fresh tariffs are back on the table, things could take a different turn.

Volatility hedging vs. market confidence

According to analysts, investors aren’t exactly pulling out - but they’re definitely strapping on seatbelts. FX hedging is up. Volatility is lurking. And while AI hype and tech dominance are keeping the party going, the fundamentals are starting to wobble.

There’s no denying the resilience of the U.S. economy - at least for now. But the rally is beginning to feel like one of those magic tricks that looks amazing… right up until the wires start to show.

 Is the S&P 500 rally flying or floating?

Right now, the S&P 500 feels untouchable. But step back, and you’ve got:

• A Fed that’s out of moves,
  
• A dollar that’s lost its shine,
  
• And foreign investors quietly shifting into defence mode.
  

That’s not to say a crash is coming. But a correction? A wobble? A sudden shift in tone? That wouldn’t be surprising at all. The question isn’t whether this rally has legs - it’s whether those legs are standing on solid ground, or just a very shiny patch of quicksand.

At the time of writing, the S&P 500 rally is seeing some exhaustion with a red candle forming, hinting at a potential drawdown. The potential bearish narrative is buttressed by the volume bars indicating that buy pressure is currently waning. Should we see a significant drawdown, prices could find support at the $5,945 and $5,585 support levels. Conversely, if the uptick resumes, prices could encounter resistance at the $6,289 price level.

Is the S&P 500 going to break yet another record? You can speculate on US markets with a Deriv MT5, Deriv cTrader, or a Deriv X account.

It’s the question echoing through crypto forums, late-night Twitter threads, and the ever-hopeful corners of the XRP Army: could XRP finally be gearing up for a proper push to that long-awaited $5 milestone?

After a rocky few years of courtroom drama, price swings, and speculative moonshots, XRP has managed to hold its ground above the $2 mark - but it’s hardly set the world on fire. Still, something’s brewing beneath the surface, according to analysts. Whale activity is picking up, wallet data is flashing signs of confidence, and the community? Well, they’ve never been short on faith.

But let’s be honest - talk is cheap, and $5 isn’t exactly pocket change. So, is this just another round of hopium-fuelled chatter, or is there a real case to be made for XRP hitting new heights? Let’s unpack the hype, the hurdles, and the hard data behind this crucial question.

XRP prediction: Price power or pipe dream?

Let’s start with the basics. XRP last peaked at $3.40 in January, a solid run, but still shy of that elusive $5 mark. Since then, it’s drifted around the low-to-mid $2 range. And while it’s commendable that every monthly candle since December 2024 has closed above $2, trading volumes tell a different story.

Lower volume generally means reduced market participation, and bulls will need to reverse that trend if they want any real momentum.

XRP whale activity

But here’s where things get interesting. Recent on-chain data from CryptoQuant shows that whale activity is heating up. XRP’s 90-day moving average for whale flows flipped back into positive territory in May, breaking a months-long trend of negative flows that spanned January through April.

That shift could mean large players, those with serious skin in the game, are quietly positioning for a breakout. It’s not the first time this has happened either. Back in August 2024, a similar uptick in whale flows preceded a massive 420% breakout in Q4. If history rhymes, Q4 2025 could have something in store.

Zoom out a little, and you’ll see another layer of bullishness. According to futures trader Dom, wallets holding over 1 million XRP have climbed to a record 2,850. Meanwhile, wallets with more than 10,000 XRP have grown by 6.2% year-to-date, now sitting at 306,000 addresses.

So even though the price has been doing the sideways shuffle, big players - and mid-sized ones too - are accumulating. And they’re not just holding. They’re doubling down.

The faith factor and the XRP $5 potential

Now, if you’ve spent any time in XRP’s online circles, you’ll know the $5 question is just the beginning. Some community predictions stretch far beyond that - we’re talking triple digits, even four-digit XRP forecasts.

Is it realistic? Let’s break it down. XRP’s market cap currently sits around $130 billion. 

A $5 price would roughly double that, according to experts, and this is achievable, especially in a broader crypto bull cycle. But when people start throwing around numbers like $1,000 or $10,000 per XRP, things get a little... optimistic.

For context: out of 6.61 million XRP wallets, 5.36 million hold 500 XRP or fewer. So, the majority of holders wouldn’t see life-changing money unless XRP pulled off something monumental. At $100 per coin, those with 25,000 XRP would rake in $2.5 million - but those holding 500 tokens (the majority) would only net $50,000. Not bad, but not exactly “unimaginable wealth.”

Hence the bold predictions. For many small-scale holders, only a four-digit XRP would really make the difference. Whether that’s delusional or just determined depends on who you ask.

XRP SEC case updates

Of course, no XRP discussion is complete without mentioning the ongoing SEC case. On 26 June, Judge Analisa Torres denied a motion seeking an indicative ruling, reinforcing that private settlements can’t override a court’s final judgment. In plain English: Ripple can’t cut a backdoor deal to dodge the consequences.

The legal cloud still looms, and until it lifts, it’s hard to imagine institutional money pouring in full force. Any real push to $5 will likely need a favourable resolution, or at least some clarity, in this regulatory tug-of-war.

The XRP community shouldn’t just wait but build 

While some holders dream of Lambos and moon landings, others urge action. Influencer Coach JV recently lit a fire under the XRP community, encouraging holders not just to wait for a saviour moment but to build something in the meantime.

Whether it’s creating educational content, developing apps on the XRP Ledger, or simply spreading adoption, the message is clear: wealth won’t just be handed to you - you’ve got to earn it. It’s a mindset shift from passive speculation to active participation, and it might be exactly what XRP needs to go from cult favourite to real-world powerhouse.

XRP outlook: Is $5 really on the table?

Here’s the honest take: $5 XRP is not a certainty, but it’s far from impossible. With the right mix of renewed volume, legal clarity, whale support, and community action, it’s a realistic target, particularly in a wider bull run.

But it won’t happen by belief alone. The road to $5 is paved with more than just hope. It needs utility. It needs legitimacy. And, yes - it needs a bit of luck. Still, if XRP has proven anything over the years, it’s this: it’s not going anywhere quietly.

At the time of writing, XRP is still surging but within a sell zone, hinting that we could see a potential drawdown. However, the volume bars show that sell pressure is weakening, hinting that we could see an uptick before any potential drawdown. Should we see an uptick, prices could encounter resistance at the $2.3321 and $2.4706 price levels. Conversely, should we see a significant drawdown, prices could find support floors at the $2.1482 and $2.0673 price levels. 

Will XRP hit $5? Speculate on the price trajectory of XRP with a Deriv MT5, Deriv cTrader, or a Deriv X account.  

Something doesn’t quite add up.

Inflation’s cooling, jobs are still growing, and yet the world’s most powerful central bank is looking increasingly uneasy. The Fed hasn’t resumed rate cuts, market jitters are rising, and suddenly, the word stagflation - that nasty blend of rising prices and slowing growth - is creeping back into the conversation.

It’s not 1970, but it’s starting to feel uncomfortably familiar. With warning signs flashing from GDP to the jobs market, and tariffs quietly stirring up inflation pressure behind the scenes, the Fed looks less like it’s managing a soft landing - and more like it’s bracing for a bumpy one.

Let’s unpack what’s really going on.

Stagflation risk is mounting

In May 2025, 14 FOMC members flagged upside risks to both inflation and unemployment - a rare and worrying alignment. Not one projected a meaningful decline in either. This pattern was also seen in March 2025, December 2024, and September 2024.

This is more than just cautious forecasting - it’s the kind of dual risk signal last seen during the stagflation era of the 1970s, when soaring prices and sluggish growth left policymakers in a no-win situation.

So far, Jerome Powell has resisted cutting rates, despite cooling CPI numbers, and now we can see why. He’s not just looking at what inflation is today, but what it could become if tariffs squeeze supply chains and cost pressures get passed on.

GDP contraction and jobs tell a split story

At first glance, the economy doesn’t look too bad. The May jobs report showed 139,000 new jobs, a touch better than expected. But the details matter - especially the 95,000 downward revision to previous months and early signs of rising layoffs in key sectors.

The labour market might still be moving, but it’s losing momentum.

And then there’s growth. The U.S. economy contracted by 0.2% in Q1 - the first negative GDP print in over two years. The headline number was hit by a historic import surge, creating the largest trade drag in nearly 80 years. But strip away the noise, and core GDP -measured by final sales to private domestic buyers- tells an even starker story: a drop from 2.5% in Q1 to an expected -1.0% in Q2.

That’s not just a slowdown, it’s a stall.

Inflation is cooling… but only just

On the surface, inflation looks tame. Headline CPI came in at 2.35% year-on-year in May, below the Fed’s 2.5% comfort zone. Core inflation has hovered near 2% for three straight months.

So why isn’t the Fed relaxing?

Nomura economists point out that real inflation pressure is still in the pipeline. Survey data shows that nearly a third of manufacturers and 45% of service firms plan to fully pass on tariff-related costs to consumers. So far, elevated inventories have masked these price hikes, but once those buffers run out, we may see inflation creep back up right when growth is already fading.

US Dollar weakness when it should be strengthening

Here’s where things get stranger. In theory, stagflation, with sticky inflation and a hawkish Fed, should strengthen the U.S. dollar. And yet, 2025 has been brutal for the greenback.

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) is down 10.8% so far this year - the worst first-half performance since 1973, when Bretton Woods collapsed. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has declined for six straight months, matching its longest losing streak in eight years.

This isn’t just a weak dollar story - it’s a confidence story. The market is reacting to mounting deficit spending, tariff shocks, and the growing belief that the Fed will eventually cave and cut rates, even if inflation isn’t fully tamed.

Policy paralysis and the 1970s trap

The Fed’s current dilemma has all the hallmarks of a policy trap. Cut rates now, and you risk igniting inflation all over again - a mistake the central bank made repeatedly in the 1970s. Hold rates too high for too long, and you deepen the downturn.

Meanwhile, fiscal policy is boxed in. The Trump administration just passed a “big, beautiful budget bill” that adds trillions in spending, further ballooning the national debt.

Some argue this might be a strategic currency weakening to reduce the real debt burden. As noted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a 10% drop in the dollar could shave $3.3 trillion off the U.S. debt. But push that too far, and you risk undermining the dollar’s global reserve status - the very thing keeping the U.S. economy afloat.

Technical outlook: Is stagflation coming?

We’re not in full-blown stagflation - not yet. But the foundations are starting to crack. Growth is faltering, inflation pressures are reloading, policy tools are limited, and the Fed, clearly, is on edge.

Markets may be banking on a soft landing. The Fed, meanwhile, looks like it’s preparing for something harder and bumpier. A stagflation situation would likely support the dollar and lead to it strengthening over the Euro, toppling the current state of affairs. 

At the time of writing, the EURUSD pair is still on an upward trajectory, though sellers are evidently having their say on the daily chart. Volume bars show that sellers are pushing back strongly against recent buy pressure, hinting that we could see a significant drawdown. 

Should prices inch lower significantly, sellers could find support at the 1.1452 and 1.1229 price levels. Conversely, if we see an uptick, buyers could encounter resistance at the 1.1832 price level.  

Will the dollar strengthen over the Euro as stagflation fears grow? Speculate on the price trajectory of the EURUSD pair with a Deriv MT5, Deriv cTrader, or a Deriv X account.   

Gold may have the glamour, but silver’s making a serious play for the crown this year. 

In 2025, it’s not just jewellery boxes and coin collections - silver is powering electric vehicles, fuelling solar energy, and quietly becoming the metal behind the world’s next big tech leap. It’s affordable, in demand, and gaining ground fast. So, is silver finally stepping out of gold’s shadow? All signs point to yes.

Silver industrial demand meets investment charm

Silver’s not just riding the wave of hype - it’s riding a surge in real-world demand. Global silver usage is set to surpass 1.2 billion ounces this year. In India alone, imports have more than tripled in Q1, driven by booming sectors like electric vehicles (EVs), solar power, and next-gen tech.

To put it simply, we’re using more silver than we can dig up. Each EV needs around 50 grams of silver for its circuits and sensors. Solar panels also need Silver because of the industrial metal’s unmatched conductivity, which makes it essential to photovoltaic (PV) cells. Even AI chips and 5G infrastructure rely on it to stay cool and connected. The metal that once sat quietly in the background is now central to the green and digital revolutions.

Silver vs gold ratio: Macro moves are working in silver’s favour

It’s not just tech driving the silver story - the broader economic backdrop is also playing a big part. Central banks are back in rate-cutting mode, which tends to benefit precious metals. Meanwhile, the US dollar is on the ropes, making dollar-priced silver more attractive for global buyers.

Then there’s the gold-silver ratio, currently hovering around 100:1. That’s a flashing signal that silver is historically undervalued compared to gold. 

In past bull markets - think 2020 and 2024 - silver didn’t just keep pace with gold, it outperformed it.

Silver vs gold in 2025

With all that momentum, it’s no surprise investors are starting to rethink their portfolios. Silver isn’t just a hedge anymore - it’s a growth story, and one that’s far more accessible than gold.

Insiders say bullion buyers are now allocating 20-30% of their precious metals portfolio to silver, a big leap from years past. 

And while gold will always have an emotional and cultural pull, the world over, silver is proving itself to be more than just second best. It’s useful, affordable, and riding some of the biggest megatrends of the decade.

Silver price forecast

Silver has been underestimated for too long. But 2025 is shaping up to be its breakout year - the perfect blend of safe-haven and future-facing asset. Whether you’re an everyday saver, a sustainability-minded investor, or simply looking for smart diversification, silver is ticking all the right boxes. It may not have gold’s legacy. But in 2025, silver has something better: momentum.

Trade silver's movements with a Deriv X or a Deriv MT5 account today.

The euro is on a tear, and traders are loving it. After a six-day winning streak, the EUR/USD pair has surged to its highest level since 2021, turning heads across the FX world. But with fresh data on the horizon from both sides of the Atlantic, can this rally keep going, or are we nearing the top? 

Markets are bracing for answers, and the next move could be big. 

Trump and Fed uncertainty 

Much of the recent momentum has less to do with euro strength and more to do with dollar weakness - and that’s a story packed with politics and soft data.

US President Donald Trump once again attacked Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, branding him “terrible” and “very political” during a press conference in The Hague. Trump’s not-so-subtle suggestion that Powell could soon be replaced has rattled investors, who already fear that Fed independence is under siege. 

While Powell’s term officially runs through 2026, the mere hint of political interference has added a fresh layer of uncertainty to the Fed’s outlook - and weighed heavily on the greenback.

On the data front, things haven’t looked much better. The US economy contracted by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025 - the first quarterly drop in three years and worse than the previously estimated 0.2% decline. A soft patch in consumer spending and a sharp fall in exports did most of the damage. 

Meanwhile, jobless claims dipped slightly to 236,000, but they remain stubbornly high compared to the yearly average, not exactly the confidence booster markets were hoping for. Sure, there was one bright spot - May’s Durable Goods Orders surged by over 16%, but that pop looks more like a one-off bounce than a sign of sustained strength.

EU inflation data: Europe’s calm amid the chaos

While the US narrative has been noisy, Europe has offered a quieter, more measured tone - and in this market, that’s proving attractive.

European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos made it clear this week that the ECB is sticking to a data-dependent, meeting-by-meeting approach. No bold promises, no political drama. Instead, he flagged trade tensions and geopolitical risks as the main concerns and left the door slightly ajar for further rate cuts if needed. That calm, considered stance has added to the euro’s appeal, especially when contrasted with the storm brewing across the Atlantic.

Eurozone data has been far from spectacular, but it hasn’t spooked markets either. PMI figures are hovering around the 50 mark, not too hot, not too cold, and inflation, while still on the low side, hasn’t collapsed.

Alt text: Bar chart of Eurozone composite PMI readings showing stability around 50, indicating balanced economic activity without significant expansion or contraction

Source: S&P Global, Trading Economics

Put simply, the euro isn’t booming, but it’s behaving - and right now, that’s enough.

US Inflation data takes the spotlight

So, where does that leave the EUR/USD pair? It’s right on the edge of something bigger - or a possible pullback.

All eyes now turn to the upcoming data releases, starting with Germany’s HICP flash data and followed by the Eurozone-wide numbers. 

Analysts perceive this trio of figures could tip the balance either way:

• If US inflation undershoots, it strengthens the case for rate cuts, pushing the dollar lower and possibly sending EUR/USD even higher.
  
  
• If Eurozone inflation holds steady or ticks up, the ECB may hold back on easing - another win for the euro.
  
  
• But a surprise in either direction could throw this tidy narrative off course.
  
  

Trading at the edge: Are we at EUR/USD resistance levels?

At around 1.1700, the EUR/USD pair is sitting at a level not seen since late 2021. The pair’s recent rally has been powered by a mix of macro divergence, political risk, and market positioning, but for it to continue, the fundamentals need to deliver. That means inflation needs to support the narrative, and central banks need to stay in their respective lanes.

Of course, things could just as easily snap back. A hot US inflation print or a hawkish Fed pivot could bring the dollar back to life - and take the euro down a peg. At the time of writing, the pair is holding above the 1.1700 price level with signs of a pullback evident within a buy zone. However, recent volume shows dominant bullish pressure, with little push-back from sellers, hinting at more movement north. 

Should we see a further uptick, prices could be held at the 1.1754 resistance level. Conversely, should we see a slide, prices could find support at the 1.1454, 1.1290, and 1.1094 support levels. 

Will EUR/USD keep pushing up? You can speculate with a Deriv X and a Deriv MT5 account.

It’s getting hot in the markets again - and crypto’s feeling the heat. With tensions cooling in the Middle East and the Fed hitting pause on rate cuts (for now), traders are dusting off their appetite for risk. Bitcoin has bounced back above $107K, XRP’s clawed its way past $2, and talk of breakouts is buzzing across trading desks and crypto X alike. 

Are we on the cusp of another moon mission - or just riding another sugar rush?

Bitcoin’s bungee jump and bounce back

Just a few days ago, Bitcoin slipped below $100K as geopolitical tensions rattled investor confidence. But the rebound was swift. In under 48 hours, BTC surged back above $107K, brushing up against its all-time highs and proving that demand for crypto remains strong even in moments of uncertainty.

What makes this move interesting is how composed Bitcoin has been. It’s no longer reacting as wildly to macro shocks. While equities flinched and gold swung back and forth, Bitcoin held its ground. For some, that’s a sign it’s starting to behave more like a serious macro asset - potentially even a digital safe haven.

XRP price gathers momentum

XRP, too, is making a strong recovery. After slipping to $1.90 during last weekend’s sell-off, it’s now trading around $2.17. A move towards $2.50 - or even $3.00 - is on the cards if this momentum continues.

Under the surface, the data shows growing interest: open interest has climbed nearly 5% to $3.74 billion, while trading volume has jumped over 10% to $9.5 billion. Short positions worth $9.3 million were liquidated in the past 24 hours, far outweighing longs. 

The result? A classic short squeeze, with bullish sentiment leading the charge. On Binance, the long-to-short ratio sits at a notably bullish 2.38.

Powell sends a mixed signal

The macro backdrop is adding fuel to the fire. US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made it clear this week that interest rate cuts are not imminent. He said tariffs imposed earlier this year are likely to push prices up and slow economic activity. For now, the Fed wants to wait and see.

This doesn’t align with what the market - or Donald Trump - wants to hear. Trump called on Powell to cut rates by “two to three points” and branded him “too late.” But Powell’s message was measured: the Fed is not making any sudden moves.

The XRP $1,000 rumour

Meanwhile, XRP is getting attention for a more speculative reason. Viral posts on social media have claimed that Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen predicted XRP could hit $1,000 if Ripple captures 10% of SWIFT’s global payments volume.

There’s no public record of Larsen making that statement, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour from spreading. It’s fuelled by Ripple’s long-standing ambitions to modernise cross-border payments and potentially work alongside - or in place of - legacy systems like SWIFT.

A few years ago, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse floated the idea that XRP could process up to 14% of SWIFT’s volume. Whether that happens or not, the fact that such rumours gain traction so quickly speaks to how invested the XRP community remains.

Corporates back in the mix

Outside the coins themselves, corporate engagement with crypto is once again in focus. GameStop recently raised $2.7 billion through a convertible notes offering, giving it scope to increase its Bitcoin holdings after a $512 million BTC buy in May. Meanwhile, UK-based Smarter Web Company has seen its stock rise by over 6,000% after revealing a Bitcoin reserve policy, with plans to accumulate up to 1,000 BTC in the coming months.

These moves signal that crypto’s appeal isn’t limited to day traders - it’s appearing in boardroom strategies, IPO narratives, and investor pitches.

Between Bitcoin’s impressive rebound, XRP’s growing momentum, and renewed appetite for risk, the crypto market is showing signs of life. Add in corporate participation and a market that’s learning to look past short-term shocks, and we might just be on the edge of a new phase, according to analysts.

A breakout? Possibly. A bubble? Too soon to say. But one thing’s certain - crypto is back on the radar, and this time, the noise is backed by real market activity.

BTC technical outlook

At the time of writing, BTC prices are still surging within a larger sell zone, hinting at potential exhaustion and reversal. The volume bars showing waning bullish pressure buttress the case for a drawdown. Should we see a further uptick, prices could find resistance at the $110,150 and $111,891 price levels.

XRP price prediction

XRP has also seen considerable bullish pressure that appears to be slowing down within a strong sell area, hinting at potential price reversal. The bearish narrative is solidified by the volume bars showing buyers struggling to push back against strong sell pressure. Should buyers keep pushing up, they could find resistance at the $2.2509, $2.3368, and $2.4795 price levels. Conversely, should sell pressure prevail, prices could find support floors at the $2.0908 and $2.0180 price levels. 

Are you keen on the price trajectory of BTC and XRP? You can speculate with a Deriv X and a Deriv MT5 account.