Warren Takunda

Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, tracking gains on Wall Street, while investors awaited earnings reports from US tech giants this week. The strong dollar pressured the Japanese yen to fresh 34-year lows. European markets are expected to open higher.

ECB divided on publishing interest rate forecasts like the Fed. Worried it would invite political pressure from member states on individual central bankers. Some see merit in the proposal, but a decision is unlikely before the ECB's next review in 2025.

China's Q1 tax revenue fell 4.9% due to tax cuts, but excluding those it grew 2.2%. Spending grew slower than expected at 2.9%. The government plans to support tech innovation and boost domestic demand to counter a weak economy.

Bitcoin surprised traders with a strong rebound after the halving, possibly setting a bullish path for BNB, NEAR, MNT and RNDR to follow.

The Pound to Dollar exchange rate is forecast to recover recent losses in the coming week, with focus falling on UK PMI data and U.S. PCE inflation numbers.

Oil prices fell over 1% on Monday as tensions between Israel and Iran eased. Rising US crude stocks and a strong dollar added to the selling pressure. Despite ongoing fighting in the Middle East, the market expects oil supply disruptions to be unlikely.

Busy week ahead for markets: US earnings season peaks with tech titans reporting, US GDP growth expected to slow, central bank decisions from BOJ and PBOC eyed, global PMI data deluge, and inflation jitters in focus.

The British Pound fell after lower-than-expected retail sales data. This adds to a weak week for the Pound versus the Euro and Dollar.

Federal Reserve is worried about rising inflation expectations in the bond market, which could force them to raise interest rates even though they prefer not to. This could hurt the popular strategy of expecting short-term rates to stay low.

Bitcoin liquidates shorts as seesaw BTC price moves accompany changing geopolitical signals.