Crypto Daybook Americas: Powell Will Set the Tone While Markets Eye Asia Battles, Trade
By Francisco Rodrigues (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)
It's Federal Open Market Committee day in the U.S., and while there's little expectation of a change in interest rates, the market's attention will be focused on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments at the FOMC's press conference.
The CME's FedWatch tool is pointing to a 97.6% chance of rates remaining unchanged and Polymarket traders are weighing a 98.3% chance, so it's the outlook that will take center stage.
Spanish bank Bankinter said in a note that a potential rally attempt for risk assets would for now be 'naive,' pointing to indicators showing main U.S. ports are seeing a reduction in containers from China, while Powell is 'likely to strike a chilly tone on both future cuts and the inflation cycle.'
'We are entering a phase of unclear direction, probably sideways but with a weakening bias that may last for several weeks,' Bankinter analysts wrote.
Adding to the cautionary tone is the military flare-up between India and Pakistan. India's 'Operation Sindoor' kicked off during Asian hours with strikes in parts of Pakistan, which has vowed to retaliate.
Still, spot gold retreated more than 1.7% as traders took an optimistic stance on a U.S.-China trade deal and cryptocurrency prices are rising after New Hampshire became the first state to allow the investment of public funds into crypto. Bitcoin (BTC) has added 3% in the past 24 hours and the broader crypto market, as measured via the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index, rose 2.57%. That's in contrast with equity markets, which fell Tuesday.
It's still too early to say whether markets will focus more on the need for safe havens as international belligerence ramps up, or on the desire to lock in a bit more volatility as trade tensions ease. One possible signal: The largest bitcoin ETF, BlackRock's IBIT has attracted greater net inflows than the largest gold ETF, SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), since the start of the year.
Ethereum's Pectra upgrade went live, the network's biggest upgrade since 2022. The upgrade includes 11 major improvement proposals (EIPs), but whether it can reverse ETH's decline against BTC remains to be seen.
Year-to-date, ether has lost around 47% of its value to the leading cryptocurrency, with the ETH/BTC ratio now sitting at 0.019. Stay alert!
What to Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oil prices hold gains ahead of US-China trade talks
By Colleen Howe BEIJING (Reuters) - Oil prices held on to last week's gains early on Monday as investors waited for U.S.-China trade talks to be held in London later in the day. Brent crude futures were flat at $66.47 a barrel at 0008 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was trading up 1 cent at $64.59. The prospect of a U.S.-China trade deal supported prices as three of Donald Trump's top aides were set to meet with counterparts in London on Monday for the first meeting of the U.S.-China economic and trade consultation mechanism. The announcement on Saturday followed a rare Thursday call between the two countries' top leaders, with both under pressure to dial down tensions as China's export controls on rare earths disrupt global supply chains. Oil prices posted their first weekly gain in three weeks on the news. A U.S. jobs report showing unemployment held steady in May appeared to increase the odds of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, further supporting last week's gains. Inflation data from China on Monday morning will give a reading of domestic demand in the world's largest crude importer. The economic data and the prospect of a trade deal that could support economic growth and increase demand for oil outweighed worries about increased OPEC+ supply after the group announced another big output hike for July on May 31. HSBC expects OPEC+ to accelerate supply hikes in August and September, which are likely to raise downside risks to the bank's $65 per barrel Brent forecast from the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a research note on Friday. Capital Economics researchers said they believe this "new faster pace of (OPEC+) production rises is here to stay".
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How Much the Average Homeowner Has in Savings vs. the Average Renter
Housing is the largest expense for the average American consumer. The more people have to spend on housing, the less money they have available to invest, save, or spend in other categories. But does owning your home instead of renting affect how much you have in your savings account? And is it the best financial decision for you right now? Check Out: Try This: The Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances suggests the answer is yes. Here's how the average renter's savings compares to those of the average homeowner. The Survey of Consumer Finances data goes back to 1989, and since then, homeowners have always had more in savings than renters, on average. However, the gap between homeowners' and renters' savings has been growing. For example, in 1995, on average, homeowners had around twice as much saved as renters. Now, homeowners have five times more in savings than the average renter. Up Next: The most recent national data estimates that the average renter had $16,930 in savings. That includes all money in savings, checking, emergency funds and money market accounts. Though rent amounts will vary greatly depending on your location and size of your space, the current national average rent in the United States ranges from about $1,625 to $2,100 per month, which is a 1.1% increase compared to last year. By comparison, the average homeowner had $85,430 in savings, which is nearly $70,000 more than the average renter. That's a big difference when it comes to what you're able to allocate for emergency savings and retirement accounts. However, buying a home is not an option for the average savings, as the national average house price in the U.S. for Q1 2025 is $503,800, whereas the median sales price in the same period was $416,900, Perhaps counterintuitively, renting is often less expensive than owning a home. In the largest 50 metropolitan areas in the U.S., the median cost of renting is currently $1,398. This figure has been trending modestly downward since the second half of 2022, and represents the middle ground, with half of rents being higher and half lower, so it is quite subject to fluctuations. The median home price is currently $416,900, and the average mortgage rate is 6.97%, per the Fed. With a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, your monthly mortgage payment likely ranges from $2,167 to $2,715, excluding taxes and insurance. High interest rates are likely driving most of the higher costs of homeownership. If mortgage rates go down as expected, monthly mortgage payments will decrease. However, despite the higher costs, homeowners still save more than renters. So why is there such a big difference between how much renters save and how much homeowners do? One explanation is that rental prices continually increase while the cost of owning a home stays relatively stable after the purchase. Say you buy a new home with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Your monthly housing costs will be stable for the 30 years of the loan. After you've paid off your mortgage, you'll have to pay only taxes, insurance and maintenance. Unexpected maintenance costs, such as roof damage or broken pipes, can eat into a homeowner's savings, whereas renters don't have to pay for these costs out of pocket since they're the landlord's responsibility. However, renters do have to cover rising rental rates nearly every year. Since 2019, rent prices have increased by around 19% nationwide. Rising rent prices can take up larger and larger chunks of renters' budgets. As their housing costs increase, they have less money to put toward savings and other financial goals. By comparison, homeowners have more of their income to put into savings after paying off their mortgages. The bottom line is that if you're a renter hoping to put more in your bank account, you should try these money-saving strategies: Pay off debt with high interest rates: High-interest debt can prevent you from building your savings. Start by paying off any loans with high interest rates, like credit card debt. Live with a roommate: Splitting your housing costs with a roommate will give you extra money each month to put toward savings. Renegotiate with your landlord: When your lease is up and it's time to sign a new one, negotiate your monthly payment. If your landlord charges more than the market rate, it may be worth moving to a more affordable home. Finally, remember to put at least some of your savings into a high-yield savings account so you can grow your money. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? 10 Unreliable SUVs To Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on How Much the Average Homeowner Has in Savings vs. the Average Renter Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hong Kong has all but abandoned the dollar peg
Interest rates in Hong Kong have been eerily low, raising the question of whether the city's dollar peg is now in name only. Interest rates in Hong Kong have been eerily low, raising the question of whether the city's dollar peg is now in name only. Hong Kong surrendered its monetary autonomy decades ago, thanks to a unique mechanism that restricts its currency fluctuation to a narrow band of 7.75 and 7.85 per dollar. That means the city's borrowing costs move in lockstep with those in the US, which are dictated by the Federal Reserve's rate policies. Lately, though, currency traders have been staring at an anomaly. The one-month Hong Kong interbank offered rate, or Hibor, has collapsed since early May. The gap with the US secured overnight financing rate, or SOFR, is at an unprecedented level of more than three percentage points. Investors are now asking what caused this divergence and whether Hibor will stay lower for longer. The first part of the story is well understood. Last month, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority purchased the greenback amid a global dollar rout to prevent its currency from strengthening beyond 7.75. HKMA's balance sheet ballooned while a flood of new local money pushed down Hibor. But such glaring bifurcation from SOFR should only be temporary. When local funding costs are significantly lower, traders can borrow Hong Kong dollars and sell them against the higher-yielding US counterpart. This, in turn, will lift the city's currency and rates over time. The fact that this rate gap has not narrowed shows there's little appetite to earn dollar carry trades. Wall Street banks are reinforcing their calls that the dollar will weaken further. In addition, there's talk of an Asian Financial Crisis in reverse, marked by a violent rally in local currencies such as the one Taiwan witnessed in early May. What if HKMA all of a sudden decides to move the currency peg to a stronger range? Gains from the carry trade would be instantly wiped out. Investors are right not to lose sight of the big picture. After all, Taiwan dollar's 8% melt-up last month proved painful for under-hedged insurers and exporters. On an economic level, this trend can be a huge boon for a financial hub that is trying to regain its footing. In recent years, businesses have complained about the dollar peg, saying that Fed rate hikes unnecessarily tightened the city's financial conditions and hamstrung its economic recovery. Hong Kong's anaemic residential real estate, for one, could see a rebound if the current trend continues. The prevailing new mortgage rate would be only 2.1%, versus 3.5% in early May. For a 30-year loan with a 70% loan-to-value ratio, monthly payments could be cut by about 15%, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. The value of underwater mortgages would fall as well. A persistent rate gap reveals two things: First, the 'Sell America' trade is real. Second, the city has practically moved on from a waning reserve currency, tearing itself from an interest rate trajectory mapped out by central bankers thousands of miles away. This peg is too archaic. See Also: Click here to stay updated with the Latest Business & Investment News in Singapore China's global income tax crackdown expands beyond ultra rich Hong Kong's 2025 growth outlook cut by AMRO on trade uncertainty Chinese listing spree sparks revival hopes in Hong Kong stocks Read more stories about where the money flows, and analysis of the biggest market stories from Singapore and around the World Get in-depth insights from our expert contributors, and dive into financial and economic trends Follow the market issue situation with our daily updates Or want more Lifestyle and Passion stories? Click hereError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
