Prior +0.1%If you strip out energy prices, German producer prices were seen down 0.2% on the month in July. Compared to the same period last year, producer prices are down 1.5% though the large chunk of that owes to a decline in energy prices. If you strip that out, producer prices are seen 1.0% higher compared to July last year. This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

Prior +3.6%Core CPI +3.8% vs +3.7% y/y expectedPrior +3.7%UK inflation comes in hotter than expected and this will reaffirm the BOE sentiment to pause in September. That said, markets had been pricing in ~94% odds of a pause already coming into today. As such, any material shifts in pricing would be rather limited. And that means the scope for any sterling upside is also likely to be capped. GBP/USD is now flat at 1.3490 on the day with large option expiries at 1.3500 in play as well.Looking at the breakdown, annual services inflation was unchanged at 5.2% in July. But in core terms, that is seen up from 4.7% in June to 5.0% in July. This will continue to present a headache for the BOE as they are dealing with the very real threat of stagflation pressures now.Besides that, transport prices were the biggest driver of the strong price readings in July. ONS attributes that to the timing of the school summer holidays, leading to higher airfares in particular. This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

There are a couple to take note of on the day, as highlighted in bold below.The first ones are for EUR/USD at the 1.1600 and 1.1650 levels. The pair dribbled lower yesterday amid a firmer dollar but the expiries today could help to keep price action more limited in European trading. That especially with a lack of major catalysts to work with. Overall risk sentiment will still be one to watch but the pair might be more rangebound in between the above levels until the Fed minutes release.Then, there is one for GBP/USD at the 1.3500 level. That rests near the 200-hour moving average of 1.3504 and could come into play as we look towards the UK CPI report later. That being said, traders are pricing in ~94% odds of no rate cut by the BOE in September. As such, it will be hard to move the needle and that presents limited upside for the pound. So, the expiries could help to limit any upside extensions in the session ahead at least.For more information on how to use this data, you may refer to this post here.Head on over to investingLive (formerly ForexLive) to get in on the know! This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

It was a fairly eventful session in the FX space with the RBNZ's dovish shift putting pressure on the NZD across the board.Implied volatility levels for GBP pairs ahead of the UK CPI dataSecretary Bessent eyes stablecoins as next big buyer of TreasuriesWhat are analysts expecting from today's UK CPI dataRBNZ’s Hawkesby signals more cuts ahead, data-dependent paceBiggest changes in the RBNZs August policy reportAUDNZD testing higher timeframe resistance after RBNZChina to showcase military strength with new hypersonic weapons at paradeEURNZD breaks above 1.9900 after dovish RBNZNZD tumbles after RBNZ sizeable OCR downgrade and discussions of a 50bp cutReserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) cuts rates by 0.25% as expectedPBOC sets USD/ CNY mid-point today at 7.1384 (vs. estimate at 7.1897)WSJ saying Musk is pumping the brakes regarding the new political partyPBOC's Loan Prime Rates unchanged: 1 year 3%, 5 year 3.5%PBOC is expected to set the USD/CNY reference rate at 7.1897 – Reuters estimateGoldman cuts near-term US gas forecasts, stays bullish on 2026 outlookImplied volatility levels for NZD pairs ahead of the RBNZJapan Exports YY -2.6% vs -2.1% expectedJapan Machinery Orders YY 7.6% vs 5.0% expectedChina and India agree to restart dialogue mechanisms, stress border managementUS Treasury chief Bessent upbeat on China talks, economy, and possible Budapest summitPreview for the RBNZ policy decisionTrump says Zelenskiy-Putin meeting being arrangedEconomic Calendar for 20 Aug 2025ANZ scenario planning for today's RBNZSyria and Israel hold US-mediated talks in Paris on regional stabilityNorth Korea’s Kim Yo Jong dismisses South Korea as diplomatic partnerRisk off day for tech with treasuries & USD catching a bidTrump, Orban discussed Ukraine’s EU talks and possible Budapest summit siteOil private survey of inventory showed headline crude draw of -2.4MLN vs -1.2MLN expectedMexico to propose reinstating North American steel committee with USRisk sentiment picked up where it ended yesterday, with risk-off sentiment spilling over into today's Asia-Pac session as well. The moves were nowhere as dramatic as we saw yesterday, but equities have remained pressured, while safe haven FX leads and high beta FX has stayed pressured.The main event for the Asia-Pac session was the RBNZ decision, where the bank took a dovish tilt by lowering the OCR to 2.5% ito accompany two more cuts.The reason for the bank's dovish shift comes from concerns about growth, output and the labour market, despite projecting a higher level of inflation compared to May. The minutes of the meeting also showed that the bank actively discussed the possibility of a 50 basis point cut, with two members voting for a 50bp cut as well.The statement and minutes saw immediate pressure in the NZD, with the NZDUSD trading down towards 0.85200 (its lowest levels since April).In other markets, things were calmer, with all eyes firmly set on Friday's Jackson Hole symposium.The main highlights for later today is UK CPI due early in the EU session, followed by Final HICP data for Europe, as well as the FOMC meeting minutes due later in the US session. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

Ethereum Price Prediction Today — ETH Futures Trader Update (orderFlow Intel)Prediction Score: +4 / 10 (moderately bullish) ETH futures carved a reaction low at 4070 right inside the 4072–4095 watch-zone from Aug 08’s key session (prior value/POC/HVN cluster). Since then, price re-accepted higher value: first above Value Area Low 4084, then VWAP ~4111, then POC 4119, and finally VAH 4130. That location + structure supports a bottoming attempt. The next hurdle is 4188–4200 (includes 4198), where sellers have been leaning on upticks.Ethereum price prediction — what it means for todayBias: Moderately bullish while > 4130 / 4119.Continuation trigger: Break & hold above 4188–4200 with positive delta and rising cumulative delta → opens 4209.5 → 4220/4230.Risk if it fails: Rejection below 4188–4200 with selling on the pops, then loss of 4130 → 4119 with negative flow puts 4095 → 4070 back in play.How to use this “compass” Treat 4188–4200 as the bullish threshold. If price is near but not sustaining above it and order flow turns negative, consider fading strength tactically. If the market drops below 4130 → 4119 with weakening flow, expect a deeper bearish stage. Use partial profit targets on both sides rather than all-or-nothing decisions.The storyline (within the past 10 hours)Location first: The selloff pressed into the Aug 08 cluster (prior High-Volume Node area with POC/VAH nearby). The 4070 print sparked the right kind of reaction for a turn.Structure next: Hourly bars progressed breakdown → absorption → acceptance back above VAH 4130, signaling buyers controlled the auction by acceptance, not just a spike.Order flow finally: On 30-min bars, delta flipped positive and cumulative delta turned up as buyers paid the offer near the lows. Into 4160–4162, we then saw selling into strength (delta negative at bar highs) — typical digestion under resistance. As long as 4130/4119 hold, the pattern reads pause, not reversal down.Key Ether futures levels for todaySupport: 4130 (Value Area High, VAH) → 4119 (Point of Control, POC) → 4095 → 4070.Resistance: 4162 zone, then 4188–4200 (incl. 4198). Above: 4209.5 → 4220/4230.How we score it (−10 to +10)−10 = extremely bearish, persistent selling imbalance and acceptance lower.0 = neutral/indecisive, mixed flow with no acceptance edge.+10 = extremely bullish, persistent buying imbalance and acceptance higher. Today’s +4 reflects:Right location (Aug 08 cluster) + acceptance back above value,Positive turn in delta/cumulative delta,But overhead supply at 4188–4200 still needs to be resolved by buyers.Quick primer — the tools we reference for tradersVolume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP): The average price traded, weighted by volume. When price holds above VWAP, it suggests buyers are in control intraday; below favors sellers.Point of Control (POC): The single price level with most traded volume in a profile. Regaining POC often signals a shift back to balance/higher acceptance.Value Area High / Low (VAH / VAL): The upper/lower bounds of the value area (commonly ~70% of volume). Sustained trade above VAH signals value migrating higher; below VAL signals value migrating lower.High-Volume Node (HVN): A price zone with heavy past activity. Price often reacts there (stall/reverse) because many participants have inventory and care about those levels.Delta (order-flow): Net buying vs. selling pressure at the bid/ask. Positive delta near bar lows can indicate buyers absorbing dips; negative delta near bar highs can show sellers capping rallies.Why orderFlow Intel (AI-powered) helps your Ethereum price predictionWhat it is: orderFlow Intel at investingLive.com blends price microstructure (who hit bids/asks, where acceptance forms) with market-profile levels (VWAP/POC/VAH/VAL/HVNs).How it’s built: We apply AI/ML (pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and LLM-assisted synthesis) to volumetric stats and price action to identify who is in control and where they’re likely to defend or surrender.Why it matters: Instead of relying on lagging indicators, you get a directional bias + confidence score tied to real participation, offering actionable decision support for your own tactics and timeframes. (AI keywords for transparency: AI-powered order flow analysis, machine learning, LLM-assisted market microstructure, delta clustering, profile acceptance.)Decision-support summary (Ethereum price prediction)While Ether futures pirce is above 4130 and 4119, the path of least resistance is up.Acceptance above 4188–4200 with constructive flow unlocks 4209.5 and 4220-4230.A loss of 4130 then 4119 with weak flow neutralizes the call and refocuses 4095/4070.This is decision support, not financial advice. Trade at your own risk.For deeper Ethereum prediction updates and real-time Ethereum price prediction insights using AI-powered orderFlow Intel, visit investingLive.com (formerly forexlive.com). Join the free investingLive Stocks Telegram group for intraday ideas across crypto, stocks, gold/oil, and index futures: https://t.me/investingLiveStocks. This article was written by Itai Levitan at investinglive.com.

Wall Street retreated yesterday with tech shares bearing the brunt of the blow, though small caps were also lower. That's putting a stop to the recent upside momentum as investors check back in waiting for more clues from the events later this week.The Nasdaq closed down by 1.5%, resetting the gains from last week. The drop also sees it fall back just below its 100-hour moving average of 21,333, though it is still holding above its 200-hour moving average of 21,123. For some context, the index hasn't fallen below both the key levels since April. Talk about one-sided momentum, eh?As we look to the session ahead, the risk mood remains cautious still. S&P 500 futures are down 0.3% with Nasdaq futures down 0.4%. Dow futures are also seen down 0.2% after the index closed flat in overnight trading.That is leading European stocks to also keep a more defensive mood after the positive showing yesterday. Both Eurostoxx and DAX futures are down 0.6% currently going into the session ahead.In FX, the dollar held firmer yesterday and is keeping steadier today as well. The changes are light for the most part with only the New Zealand dollar being hammered after the more dovish RBNZ tilt here.In terms of main events today, we'll have the UK CPI and Fed minutes to watch out for. But in the context of this week, all eyes remain on Fed chair Powell's speech in Jackson Hole. This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

Ahead of the UK CPI data, below is a quick snapshot of today's implied volatility support and resistance levels for GBPUSD, EURGBP, GBPJPY and GBPNZD.GBPUSD: 1.3540 (resistance) - 1.3430 (support)EURGBP: 0.8650 (resistance) - 0.8600 (support)GBPJPY: 200.00 (resistance) - 198.00 (support)GBPNZD: 2.2945 (resistance) - 2.28100 (support) - it's worth noting that after the RBNZ, the pair is already trading above the 3st-dev implied volatility high. That doesn't mean it can't go higher, but it does mean be more careful for short-term exhaustion.These levels are based on 1-month implied volatility and can be used as dynamic and market-based levels of support and resistance.These levels on their own are quite handy, but when we combine them with technical analysis tools like pivot points, or fibs, or psychological levels, you can identify potential entry, take profit, or stop-loss levels with more increased confidence.What's unique about using implied volatility is that it provides a totally objective and data-dependent price range to complement your subjective technical analysis. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

The sources note that Bessent had signaled that he expects stablecoins to eventually become an important source of demand for US government bonds in the coming years. That as the US administration is looking to shore up demand amid their continued waves of releases in new government debt.Bessent is said to seek information from leading stablecoin issuers including Tether and Circle and the talks there centered around plans to increase sales of short-term bills by the US Treasury in wanting the stablecoins to be a real source of new demand for Treasuries.Adding on to that, two of the sources said Treasury officials have also expressed more concern about demand for US debt in recent calls to the financial industry.The full report can be found here (may be gated). This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

The FT is out with the article, here is a quick summary:Bessent is courting stablecoin issuers and expects them to become a key source of demand for U.S. Treasuries, especially for short-term bills.This view is informing plans to tilt issuance toward bills in coming quarters.JPMorgan’s Jay Barry says Treasury is comfortable emphasizing short-term issuance because it expects real demand from stablecoins.The July 'Genius Act' created a regulatory framework requiring stablecoins to be backed by ultra-safe, liquid assets (including T-bills), reinforcing the demand channel.Treasury says the new law should spur stablecoin innovation and expand demand for short-dated Treasuries; issuance will still be guided by broad market input.Stablecoins aim to hold a $1 peg via portfolios of high-quality short-term debt; the market is ~$250bn today versus a ~$29tn Treasury market.Bessent has told Congress the stablecoin market could grow to ~$2tn in coming years.Treasury’s market outreach has intensified since January, with officials expressing greater-than-usual concern about debt demand, according to market participants.Here is the link to the article. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

Below is a quick look at what various market participants are expecting from today's UK CPI data.Knowing the consensus is important, but knowing where the minimum and maximum expectations are, as well as any herding around a particular side, can be very helpful for risk event traders like me.For the Headline YY CPI, consensus is clustered around 3.7%, with a minimum expectation of 3.5% and a maximum of 3.9%. Already a slight skew towards a higher print for today.For the Core YY CPI, consensus is also sitting at around 3.7%, with a minimum of 3.4% and a maximum of 3.9%.As for the Services CPI YY, consensus is clustered around 4.8%, with a minimum of 4.7% and a maximum of 5.0%, with a slight skew towards a higher print.As always, any prints that fall below the minimum or above the maximum will receive a lot of attention from participants.Interest rate expectations for the September meeting is at 94% probability of a hold, with October at 78% probability of a hold. There are only 13 basis points of easing priced into year-end.This means a big surprise beat likely sees markets price out the likelihood of another cut completely. The size of miss it would take to persuade markets of an October cut will need to be big. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

RBNZ Governor Hawkesby said the next two meetings are live, with no decisions yet made.He said the OCR projection troughs around 2.5%, consistent with further cuts.Whether cuts come faster or slower will depend on the data.He noted the bank has never had a 4–2 vote before.Hawkesby said there is a range of views around the risks to the outlook.RBNZ Governor Hawkesby said he hopes to appoint a new MPC member for the October meeting.The RBNZ said its view on neutral has not changed, but the OCR is no longer restrictive.Hawkesby said the fiscal outlook shows government spending falling, which helps with inflation.He added that Q2 economic activity was considerably weaker than expected.The RBNZ said house prices are not rising as expected.It noted that if businesses and consumers remain cautious, that might prompt more policy action.The bank said the past 250bp of easing will support growth.Comfortable with the fall in the NZDHere is a quick rundown of the statement and the minutes that I posted ealier.And for those who like to nerd out at the numbers like me, here is a post highlighting the key changes in the May and August policy reports. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

Taking a quick side-by-side view of the May (left) and August (right) monetary policy reports, we can see one of the first triggers for today's dovish NZD reaction.In May, the RBNZ projected two cuts for the rest of the year (including the one we had today). In other words, after today, markets had expected the bank to have one more cut left in the tank.Today's OCR shows the bank thinks there is scope for two more, one by year-end and one more in Q1 2026.The reason for the dovish shift can be seen in the bank's view of both growth and the labour market.Even though the bank projects higher inflation compared to May, they also see a much lower growth profile, with GDP for 2026 seen at 1.1% versus 1.5%. The output gap is also projected to be lower.For the labour market, total employment is now seen at 0.8% in 2026 versus previously seen at 1.8%. The Unemployment Rate is also projected higher for 2026 from 5.0 to 5.2.All-in-all a more dovish view from the bank compared to what we saw in May. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

The downside in the NZD continues after the surprise dovish shift from the RBNZ.It's an eye-watering move for the AUDNZD, with the pair now testing the next major resistance hurdle at 1.1030 (which is the highs from March).The catalyst was the more dovish RBNZ where the bank decided to lower their OCR projections, and the minutes revealed a clear dovish bias with the committee actively debating between a 25bp or 50bp cut.The majority opted for a cautious 25bp step (but two voted for a 50bp cut), and left the door open for more easing if inflation continues to ease. The discussion of significant spare capacity and risks to consumption also underscored more downside risks to growth.Quite surprising to see that given the recent data we've seen has not been nearly as bad as the decision makes it seem. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

A Chinese military official said 45 contingents of troops will march in the parade.Some aircraft in the fly-past will be displayed for the first time.Hypersonic precision strike armaments will be unveiled.Tens of thousands of people, hundreds of aircraft, and hundreds of ground equipment will mobilize.The parade is also part of capacity training.Beidou positioning technology will be utilized during the parade. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

Cut 25bp, OCR track 10–15bp lower (60% probability).The bank's base case as they expect the RBNZ to reflect a lower OCR track. The Performance Services Index released this week shows this is still in contractionary territory but adds to the slight improvement of the high frequency activity data seen in addition to PMIs. In this scenario, the bank expects some positive impulse for the NZD, though that will likely be marginal given that the difference between the adjusted OCR track and market pricing will be minimal.Cut 25bp, OCR track more than 20bp lower (25% probability).This would be a more dovish scenario relative to current market expectations. The commentary will be worth watching for the RBNZ’s outlook on risks around Q2’s weaker domestic data, which could drop by up to -1% on an intra-day basis.Cut 25bp, OCR track unchanged (15% probability).This is, in the bank's view, the least likely outcome, but the NZDUSD could rise by up to 1% on a relatively more hawkish outcome, according to the bank. However, the sustainability of any gains in the NZDUSD would depend on favourable risk sentiment in subsequent trading sessions. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

Syria’s foreign minister met an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday to discuss bolstering stability in the region and southern Syria, according to the Syrian news agency.Discussions focused on de-escalation and non-interference in Syrian domestic affairs.The talks are being held under US mediation, according to Syrian state media. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong said South Korea cannot be a diplomatic counterpart to North Korea, according to Yonhap.She said South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung cannot turn the tide of history.She added that relations between the two Koreas will never return to the way South Korea wants, according to KCNA.Some things never change. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

For those of you just hitting the desk for the Asia-Pac session, here is a quick look at where we traded into the US close.Equities:It wasn't a great day for risk sentiment yesterday. The S&P 500 closed -0.57% at 6,412, the Nasdaq 100 -1.39% at 23,385, while the Dow was basically flat (+0.02%) and small caps (RUT) fell 0.77%. Defensives like staples, utilities and healthcare outperformed as Tech and Communication Services weighed, with sentiment dented by a widely-cited MIT paper arguing most firms aren’t seeing returns from gen-AI investments. The news that Nvidia reportedly prepped a new China-compliant AI chip didn't help with the stock leading the mag-7 to the downside (-3.50%).Forex:In FX it was a clear risk-off session with the safe haven currencies trading like the USD, CHF and JPY leading the majors to the upside, with the JPY the outperformer as US yields drifted lower as well. Conversely, with the risk-off tone, it wasn't too surprising to see the classic high beta currencies like the AUD, NZD and CAD underperforming the rest.Commodities:Crude slipped with the broader risk tone: WTI (Oct) settled USD 0.93 lower at 61.77/bbl and Brent (Oct) USD 0.81 lower at 65.79/bbl, trading 61.65–62.68 and 65.61–66.58, respectively. Traders were unmoved by the private crude inventory data, while ongoing chatter about potential Russia-Ukraine talks (possibly a Budapest summit) failed to deliver any market-moving reactions. Gold and silver took a beating with the stronger USD (also worth noting that both metals has a high beta to equities on big red days).Bonds:It was a solid session for treasuries, which caught a bid across the European and US sessions. The upside in bonds forced yields lower, US10Y settling close to 4.30%, and downside seen in both DE10Y and GB10Y as well. All eyes for yields remain on Jackson Hole and any potential surprises we get from Powell. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.

Stocks see sellers out of momentum, out of growth, and out of tech.Bowman: "De Minimis" crypto holdings would allow Fed staff to better understand productsWhite House: Putin agreed to the next step in the peace making processEuropean shares move higher as investors shiftUS, Ukraine & several European countries are working on security guarantees for UkraineAtlanta Fed GDPNow growth estimate for Q3 falls to 2.3% from 2.5% lastFed's Bowman: Has not changed her view on monetary policyCommerce Sec Lutnick: Financial security needs chips to be made in the USCanada CPI for July 0.3% versus 0.3% estimate. Year on year 1.7% versus 1.8% expectedUS July housing starts 1.428m vs 1.290m expectedTrump: Hope Putin will be good, if not, a rough situationForex Technicals: The USD is lower vs the major currencies to kickstart the US day.US Bessent: I believe there will be meeting between Putin and ZelenskyinvestingLive European FX news wrap: Another slow session as traders await PowellThe USD close mostly higher versus the major currencies. The one exception was a modest decline versus the JPY. Looking at the percentage changes of the US dollar shows:EUR +0.13%JPY -0.15%GBP +0.11%CHF +0.05%CAD +0.46%AUD +0.59%NZD +0.47%The NZD was one of the weakest ahead of the expected interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The CAD was also weaker after Canada's July CPI rose 0.3% MoM (in line with estimates) while the YoY rate slowed to 1.7% (vs. 1.8% expected, 1.9% prior), showing a softer inflation profile. The Bank of Canada’s core measures were steady to slightly lower, with median at 3.1%, trim at 3.0%, and common at 2.6%. Gasoline prices fell 16.1% YoY, shelter costs climbed 3.0% (driven by rent +5.1%), and grocery prices accelerated to +3.4% YoY, led by spikes in coffee, confectionery, and fruit. Regionally, Newfoundland & Labrador saw the sharpest acceleration, boosted by electricity costs. The softer CPI has pushed USDCAD higher.US July housing data was mixed with housing starts jumping to 1.428m (vs. 1.290m expected, 1.358m prior revised), showing stronger-than-expected construction activity. Building permits, meanwhile, came in softer at 1.354m (vs. 1.386m expected, 1.393m prior). While the data adds to a string of stronger U.S. releases, it is unlikely to shift near-term focus away from NFP and CPI. However, the resilience in housing suggests that if the Fed cuts rates too soon, it risks fueling additional economic strength and sustaining inflationary pressures.In geopolitical news, Trump said that Europe is eager to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, noting that France, Germany, and the UK even want boots on the ground in Ukraine. He emphasized that while the U.S. will not put troops on the ground, Washington is helping to set up a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Trump added that the relationship with Putin only matters if it leads to results, and that Zelensky must also show flexibility, including the possibility of giving up territory. He reiterated that Ukraine should not be in NATO and will not be part of NATO, but said some form of security assurances could be offered outside of NATO. He observed that Putin and Zelensky are “getting along a little bit better,” though it’s possible Putin may not want to strike a deal—something that will become clearer in the next couple of weeks. Trump also stressed that Russia is a powerful military nation, and maintained that having a warm relationship with Putin is a good thing.Geopolitical risk remains high – Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine may need to give up territory and won’t join NATO signals potential fractures in Western unity, raising uncertainty over the war’s outcome.Security guarantees unclear – While Trump floated “some form of security” for Ukraine outside NATO, the vagueness adds to uncertainty, especially for European allies who want firmer commitments.Europe vs. U.S. tension – With France, Germany, and the UK reportedly open to sending troops, but the U.S. firmly ruling it out, divisions could emerge within the Western alliance.Russia leverage reinforced – Trump’s acknowledgment of Russia as a “powerful military nation” and his framing of a warm relationship with Putin as “a good thing” could embolden Moscow, impacting both negotiations and market perceptions of risk.Market angle – Heightened geopolitical uncertainty could support safe-haven flows into USD, CHF, JPY, and gold, while weighing on European assets given the direct regional exposure.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke on business news this morning said he believes a meeting between Putin and Zelensky is likely, noting that both sides seem ready to bring the conflict to an end. He described Monday as an optimistic and positive day. On policy matters, Bessent confirmed plans to raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil and said the U.S. is pushing back globally against digital services taxes. He added that Nvidia will now need a license for any new chip sales to China, signaling tighter export controls. Bessent also mentioned that meetings with Federal Reserve candidates are scheduled for right before and right after Labor Day. On the economy, he noted that much of the recent increase in PPI inflation came from investment services implying that the rise in the US stocks increased the PPI.As mentioned, the new trading day, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is widely expected to cut its official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.0%, with 28 of 30 economists in a Reuters poll forecasting the move. The decision comes as annual inflation slowed to 2.7% in the June quarter, within the RBNZ’s target range, while unemployment rose to 5.2%, the highest since late 2020. Economists view the cut as part of the final phase of the easing cycle, with forecasts pointing to an additional reduction to 2.75% in early 2026. Markets have already priced in the move, so attention will shift to the RBNZ’s tone and forward guidance, which will determine whether policy easing stalls here or if further cuts remain on the table amid concerns over tariffs, inflation, and jobs. Tomorrow, the Federal Reserve will announce or meeting minutes from the July meeting. Two members of the FOMC voted for an interest rate cut. On Friday, Fed chair Powell will speak at the Jackson Hole SummitUS stocks saw the growth and momentum stocks move sharply to the downside.:Dow industrial average rose 0.02%S&P index fell -0.59%NASDAQ index fell -1.46%.Russell 2000 fell -0.78%.So the rotation out of stocks headed overseas to Europe where the major indices closed higher with France closing at a new record. Spain and Italy closed at their highest levels in 17/18 years.In the US debt market, yields move lower despite the dollars rise:2-year yield 3.754%, -1.9 basis points5-year yield 3.827%, -2.8 basis points.10-year yield 4.310%, -2.9 basis points30-year yield 4.911%, -3.1 basis points This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

A White House official said Trump and Hungary’s Orban discussed Ukraine’s EU accession talks.They also discussed Budapest as a possible site for a Zelenskiy-Putin meeting.This was already touted yesterday so nothing new on this front. This article was written by Arno V Venter at investinglive.com.