MARKETS week ahead: August 5 – 10
Last week in the news
Previous week was marked with a lot of news, unfortunately with a negative sentiment for investors in financial markets. The FOMC meeting brought “nearing” a rate cut, which was generally positive, however, surprisingly weak jobs data made investors to re-think their positions, fearing a potential recession in the US. The Bank of Japan also surprised markets with a rate increase of 25 bps, pushing parity of the Yen 8% higher against US Dollar. The US equity markets continued with a correction, with S&P 500 ending the week at the level of 5.346. The US Dollar and the US Treasury yields reacted strongly on weak jobs data on Friday, bringing the USD lower and 10Y Treasury benchmark at the level of 3.78%. Aside from weakening of USD, the price of gold reacted to increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, still ending the week at the level of $2.443, after a profit taking. The crypto market was the worst weekly performer, where BTC reached a support level at 60K.
The Federal Reserve held a regular meeting on Wednesday, and held the rates unchanged for the ninth consecutive meeting. Still, the only significant change in Fed Chair Powell`s rhetoric is that the first rate cut is “nearing”. The markets are now strongly perceiving that the first rate cut will occur in September. At this moment, there are some 58% odds that the rate cut will be 50 bps, instead of previously anticipated 25 bps, considering weak July`s jobs data. There is also discussion among investors that July`s jobs data showed the potential that the US is slowly entering into the recession. However, there are also few analysts who are noting that there might be a seasonal effect in July`s weak jobs data.
The Bank of Japan lifted interest rates to the levels around 0.25%, from the previous range of 0.0%-0.1% and is halving its bond-buying purchase program. The BoJ Governor Ueda did not rule out another hike of rates during this year. At the same time, Yen strengthened against the US Dollar by around 8%. A move from the BoJ is significant for the US markets due to heavy carry trade which investors are traditionally using. Namely, investors are using interest rate differentials, and through leveraged funds in Yen with low interest rates to finance investments in the US markets. Increased interest rates and strengthening of Yen will impact investors to close some positions, which might bring additional negative impact to the US financial markets.
Another news that hit the US stock markets during the previous week, was that Warren Buffet`s Berkshire Hathaway cut holdings of AAPL by almost 50%. At the same time, their cash holdings reached $276 billion from $189 billion posted for the first quarter. These figures were obtained from the company's quarterly filings, but the company itself did not make any comments. The analysts are referring to Warren Buffet`s comment to shareholders made in may, where he noted that the current stocks are too expensive in order to make a solid profit for the company.
Crypto market cap
The previous week was a tight one for the crypto market. The week started with unconfirmed news that the US Government has transferred around $2 billion worth of BTC to the unknown address. Based on a name provided, it seems that this transfer is related to the Silk Road DoJ. A lot of investors were concerned that this might be related to a potential sale of BTC, and started closing positions, in a fear of a potential BTC price drop. The week continued with news that BoJ increased interest rates, in which sense, some decrease in a carry trade might be expected. Friday`s weak jobs data increased fears among investors over a potential for a recession in the US. All these factors had an impact for investors' re-positioning, in which sense, the crypto market suffered another losing week. Total crypto market capitalization decreased by 11% on a weekly basis, whipping out around 263B from the crypto market. Daily trading volumes reached levels around 170B on a daily basis, which is significantly higher from 101B traded a week before. Total crypto market capitalization increase from the end of the previous year dropped to $ 468B, which represents a 29% surge from the beginning of this year.
Almost all coins lost value during the previous week. Certainly, BTC was the one to lose the most in nominal terms. BTC decreased its market capitalization by almost 171B, which represents a 12.5% drop on a weekly basis. ETH was following the general market trend, and decreased its cap by almost 12% or 46B. Previous week Solana was the one of the coins with a significant drop in the market cap of 19.2B or 22.6% on a weekly basis. Another coin which should be mentioned in this group is Binance Coin, which decreased its cap by 8.5B or 10%. In relative terms altcoins lost a significant portion of their value, which ranges from 10% - 20%. Among higher losers in relative terms were Filecoin, with a drop of 20.5%, DOGE was down by almost 20%, Theta lost 21.2% in value. One of the rare coins which managed to actually increase its market cap on a weekly level is Zcash, which managed to add almost 2% to its market cap.
There has been some increased activity when coins in circulation are in question. Polkadot was the coin which strongly increased the number of its coins on the market by 2.7%. Filecoin traditionally increased its circulating coins by 0.3% this week, while Stellar and Tether had an increase of the number of coins by 0.2% w/w.
Crypto futures market
The crypto futures market closed on Friday, so developments on the spot market have not been fully captured in the closing prices for the week. Nevertheless, both BTC and ETH futures closed the week more than 8% lower from the week before.
BTC futures maturing in December this year were last traded at price $64.775, while those maturing a year later closed the week at $71.780. On a positive side is that the futures maturing in December 2025 are still holding above the 70K level, which is a positive sign that the market is perceiving current drop in prices as only a temporary. ETH December 2024 futures closed the week at $3.125, while those maturing in December 2025 were last traded at $3.346.
Previous week was marked with a lot of news, unfortunately with a negative sentiment for investors in financial markets. The FOMC meeting brought “nearing” a rate cut, which was generally positive, however, surprisingly weak jobs data made investors to re-think their positions, fearing a potential recession in the US. The Bank of Japan also surprised markets with a rate increase of 25 bps, pushing parity of the Yen 8% higher against US Dollar. The US equity markets continued with a correction, with S&P 500 ending the week at the level of 5.346. The US Dollar and the US Treasury yields reacted strongly on weak jobs data on Friday, bringing the USD lower and 10Y Treasury benchmark at the level of 3.78%. Aside from weakening of USD, the price of gold reacted to increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, still ending the week at the level of $2.443, after a profit taking. The crypto market was the worst weekly performer, where BTC reached a support level at 60K.
The Federal Reserve held a regular meeting on Wednesday, and held the rates unchanged for the ninth consecutive meeting. Still, the only significant change in Fed Chair Powell`s rhetoric is that the first rate cut is “nearing”. The markets are now strongly perceiving that the first rate cut will occur in September. At this moment, there are some 58% odds that the rate cut will be 50 bps, instead of previously anticipated 25 bps, considering weak July`s jobs data. There is also discussion among investors that July`s jobs data showed the potential that the US is slowly entering into the recession. However, there are also few analysts who are noting that there might be a seasonal effect in July`s weak jobs data.
The Bank of Japan lifted interest rates to the levels around 0.25%, from the previous range of 0.0%-0.1% and is halving its bond-buying purchase program. The BoJ Governor Ueda did not rule out another hike of rates during this year. At the same time, Yen strengthened against the US Dollar by around 8%. A move from the BoJ is significant for the US markets due to heavy carry trade which investors are traditionally using. Namely, investors are using interest rate differentials, and through leveraged funds in Yen with low interest rates to finance investments in the US markets. Increased interest rates and strengthening of Yen will impact investors to close some positions, which might bring additional negative impact to the US financial markets.
Another news that hit the US stock markets during the previous week, was that Warren Buffet`s Berkshire Hathaway cut holdings of AAPL by almost 50%. At the same time, their cash holdings reached $276 billion from $189 billion posted for the first quarter. These figures were obtained from the company's quarterly filings, but the company itself did not make any comments. The analysts are referring to Warren Buffet`s comment to shareholders made in may, where he noted that the current stocks are too expensive in order to make a solid profit for the company.
Crypto market cap
The previous week was a tight one for the crypto market. The week started with unconfirmed news that the US Government has transferred around $2 billion worth of BTC to the unknown address. Based on a name provided, it seems that this transfer is related to the Silk Road DoJ. A lot of investors were concerned that this might be related to a potential sale of BTC, and started closing positions, in a fear of a potential BTC price drop. The week continued with news that BoJ increased interest rates, in which sense, some decrease in a carry trade might be expected. Friday`s weak jobs data increased fears among investors over a potential for a recession in the US. All these factors had an impact for investors' re-positioning, in which sense, the crypto market suffered another losing week. Total crypto market capitalization decreased by 11% on a weekly basis, whipping out around 263B from the crypto market. Daily trading volumes reached levels around 170B on a daily basis, which is significantly higher from 101B traded a week before. Total crypto market capitalization increase from the end of the previous year dropped to $ 468B, which represents a 29% surge from the beginning of this year.
Almost all coins lost value during the previous week. Certainly, BTC was the one to lose the most in nominal terms. BTC decreased its market capitalization by almost 171B, which represents a 12.5% drop on a weekly basis. ETH was following the general market trend, and decreased its cap by almost 12% or 46B. Previous week Solana was the one of the coins with a significant drop in the market cap of 19.2B or 22.6% on a weekly basis. Another coin which should be mentioned in this group is Binance Coin, which decreased its cap by 8.5B or 10%. In relative terms altcoins lost a significant portion of their value, which ranges from 10% - 20%. Among higher losers in relative terms were Filecoin, with a drop of 20.5%, DOGE was down by almost 20%, Theta lost 21.2% in value. One of the rare coins which managed to actually increase its market cap on a weekly level is Zcash, which managed to add almost 2% to its market cap.
There has been some increased activity when coins in circulation are in question. Polkadot was the coin which strongly increased the number of its coins on the market by 2.7%. Filecoin traditionally increased its circulating coins by 0.3% this week, while Stellar and Tether had an increase of the number of coins by 0.2% w/w.
Crypto futures market
The crypto futures market closed on Friday, so developments on the spot market have not been fully captured in the closing prices for the week. Nevertheless, both BTC and ETH futures closed the week more than 8% lower from the week before.
BTC futures maturing in December this year were last traded at price $64.775, while those maturing a year later closed the week at $71.780. On a positive side is that the futures maturing in December 2025 are still holding above the 70K level, which is a positive sign that the market is perceiving current drop in prices as only a temporary. ETH December 2024 futures closed the week at $3.125, while those maturing in December 2025 were last traded at $3.346.
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