🌍 Market Pulse — October 20, 2025
Markets start the week on a positive note as equities rebound, Bitcoin climbs back above $110K, and gold extends its record run.
📊 Today’s Snapshot
- 📈 Stocks: Global equities opened higher on Monday, led by gains in industrials and mining shares in Europe and steady pre-market futures in the U.S.
- 🪙 Crypto: Bitcoin reclaimed $110,700, while Ethereum hovered near $4,000 as investors returned to risk assets.
- 🥇 Gold: Extended last week’s rally, supported by continued safe-haven demand and the “debasement trade” theme.
- 💵 Forex: The dollar eased modestly against major peers, with traders eyeing Fed comments and upcoming PMI data.
🏦 What’s Moving Markets
📈 Equities / Stocks
Global stock markets kicked off the week with cautious optimism. The FTSE 100 gained around 0.4%, lifted by industrials and mining names, while U.S. futures pointed to a firmer open as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing showed tentative signs of easing.
Investors are watching this week’s earnings releases from major U.S. tech firms to gauge whether momentum can sustain amid lingering inflation and fiscal uncertainty.
🪙 Crypto / Digital Assets
After a volatile week, Bitcoin bounced back above $110K as traders rotated back into digital assets. Ethereum also advanced toward $4K. Analysts attribute the move to renewed institutional inflows and broad risk-on sentiment.
Meanwhile, regulators continue to discuss stablecoin frameworks following the Fed’s comments last week highlighting potential systemic risks in the space.
🥇 Gold & Safe Havens
Gold held near fresh record highs above $4,250/oz, buoyed by a mix of rate-cut expectations and ongoing geopolitical caution. Strategists at multiple banks note that gold’s rally, alongside Bitcoin’s rebound, highlights investor appetite for hard assets amid concerns about currency debasement and real-yield compression.
📈 Technical View
- 💹 S&P 500: Support seen around 5,070; resistance near 5,180. A breakout above could trigger renewed bullish momentum.
- ₿ BTC/USD: Support at $108K; next resistance sits around $113.5K. Consolidation likely before next directional move.
- 💴 USD/JPY: Remains elevated near 150.8–151.2; watch for intervention chatter if yen weakness persists.
- 💶 EUR/USD: Trading near 1.1660; momentum remains neutral until macro catalysts later in the week.
- 🥇 XAU/USD: Strong bullish bias above $4,200; dips may find buyers toward $4,180.
🔮 What to Watch Next
- Major U.S. earnings from tech and financials later this week.
- Fed speakers for tone on inflation and policy easing expectations.
- Whether Bitcoin can sustain above $110K resistance and build momentum.
- Gold’s reaction if yields rebound midweek.
- Global PMI releases for fresh macro direction cues.
📡 Get real-time forex, crypto, and stock signals at fxsms.io.
