Latvia’s retail sales growth moderated in February after rebounding in the previous month, figures from the Central Statistical Bureau showed on Friday. Retail sales rose a calendar-adjusted 4.3 percent year-over-year in February, slower than the 6.4 percent surge in January. Sales have been rising since June last year. The annual sales growth in non-food products, […]
US stock markets hover above critical support levels as Middle East war enters second month Investors and traders have been on tenterhooks over the past few weeks but are getting increasingly concerned as the war in the Middle East enters its first month. Two scenarios dominate market thinking One scenario is escalation, where the US
Risk-off sentiment has returned to the fore as the US session approaches, with Dollar breaking out against Yen and Swiss Franc while Brent crude rebounds to $108. While US President Donald Trump has extended the Iran strike pause to April 6, markets are increasingly viewing this as a “thin veil” for a tactical realignment rather
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2026.03.27 2026.03.27 USD/JPY: Elliott Wave Analysis and Forecast for 27.03.26–03.04.26 Alex Geutahttps://www.litefinance.org/blog/authors/alex-geuta/ The article covers the following subjects: Major Takeaways Main scenario: Consider long positions from corrections above 157.93 with a target of 161.00–163.00. A buy signal: the price holds above 157.93. Stop Loss: below 157.93, Take Profit: 161.00–163.00. Alternative scenario: Breakout and consolidation below
I would not rush into any decision, prefer to be more cautious Still need to assess whether this should be looked through or whether we should be making a rate decision We don’t have sufficient information to make a decision for now I think we are still along the baseline We haven’t seen anything that
UK retail sales decreased for the first time in three months in February, though at a slower-than-expected pace, data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday. The seasonally adjusted retail sales volume posted a monthly fall of 0.4 percent in February, reversing a 2.0 percent growth in January, which was the strongest growth
A hawkish stance or guidance from the US Federal Reserve does not necessarily result in sustained US dollar strength, as the currency’s trajectory is ultimately shaped by relative monetary policy dynamics across other major developed market central banks. The European Central Bank (ECB) has voiced concerns of stagflation risk arising from the ongoing US-Iran war
2026.03.27 2026.03.27 Short-Term Analysis for BTCUSD, XRPUSD, and ETHUSD for 27.03.2026 Roman Oneginhttps://www.litefinance.org/blog/authors/roman-onegin/ Dear readers, I’ve prepared a short-term forecast for Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum based on Elliott Wave analysis. All three cryptocurrencies continue to move lower. The article covers the following subjects: Major Takeaways BTCUSD: The last part of impulse 5 appears to be developing.
The latest 10-day extension of the Iran strike pause by US President Donald Trump might act as a “relief valve”, preventing a freefall in stocks. But it has also created a “slow-boil” inflation trap that is forcing a dramatic global monetary policy reversal. Contrary to providing a sentiment boost, Trump’s extension is paralyzing equity markets—preventing
The NZX 50 slipped 42 points, or 0.3%, to close at 12,935 on Friday, halting a two-day advance as logistics, consumer durables, and transport stocks retreated. Market sentiment weakened amid escalating tensions in the Middle East after U.S. President Trump warned Iran to agree to a deal or face sustained military pressure, even suggesting that
Summary: Trump pauses Iran energy strikes for 10 days, signalling diplomacy window Oil falls as immediate supply shock risk eases; gold rebounds Middle East tensions persist with attacks on US-linked regional assets Fed speakers reinforce “higher for longer” amid rising inflation pressures Japan signals FX intervention risk as yen weakness deepens China data strong but
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New Zealand prepares fuel contingency plan as Hormuz risks threaten supply Summary: New Zealand introduces four-phase fuel contingency framework Currently in monitoring phase with no immediate restrictions Government flags Hormuz disruption as key risk scenario Fuel stocks provide ~46–53 days of coverage including shipments Later phases could prioritise fuel for critical sectors Temporary rule change
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Fed’s Jefferson signals steady policy but flags rising energy-driven inflation risks and heightened uncertainty. Summary: Fed’s Jefferson says policy is well positioned, no urgency to adjust rates Inflation expected to rise near term due to energy shock Sustained higher oil prices seen as key upside risk to inflation Labour market “roughly in balance” but fragile,
Zain Vawda Market Analyst Zain is an experienced financial markets analyst and educator with a rich tapestry of experience in the world of retail forex, economics, and market analysis. Initially starting out in a sales and business development role, his passion for economics and technical analysis propelled him towards a career as an analyst. He
