Ethereum Approaches Historic Trendline Amid Price Optimism

Britons reacted overwhelmingly negatively to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' budget, the first opinion poll since it took place has found, suggesting little relief for the Labour government's slumping popularity.

Respondents to a YouGov survey conducted after Wednesday's statement said they saw it as unfair rather than fair by a margin of 48% to 21%. That's the second-worst score recorded by YouGov for a budget since it began tracking sentiment in 2010. Only the infamous market-roiling "mini-budget" held under former Conservative prime minister Liz Truss in 2022 fared worse.

Half of those surveyed by YouGov said Reeves' budget would leave them and their family worse off, compared with 3% who said they would be better off. Only 3% said the economy was in a "quite good" state, with 0% saying it was in a "very good" state. Two-thirds said they expect it to get worse in the next 12 months.

The numbers show the scale of the challenge faced by Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer to turn around their fortunes. Just 16 months into power, voters have turned on the Labour government after a series of mis-steps and policy U-turns that have left Starmer's position in question.

YouGov found some individual measures were popular, such as reductions in energy bills, a freeze on rail fares and new taxes on mansions and gambling. However, a tax rise on workers and the expansion of family benefits were considered by a majority of voters the wrong thing to do at this time.

Taxing workers, by freezing thresholds for a further two years, contradicts Labour's key election promise not to increase the tax burden on 'working people.' A day later, the government announced it would drop a key measure from its flagship workers' rights package that awarded day one protections against unfair dismissal, another manifesto pledge.

Another pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common, said voters would be unimpressed by the chaotic run-up to the budget, and noted that Starmer and Reeves appeared to have prioritised the interests of their governing Labour Party and financial markets over voters.

"If they had three audiences, the public, the markets and the parliamentary Labour Party, they chose the last two because they matter most for short term-survival and they think they've got longer with the public," Tryl said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Markets rallied after Reeves expanded her buffer against her fiscal rules though declined on Thursday in something of a reality check. Labour members of Parliament, especially those on the left of the party, expressed support for measures such lifting the two-child cap on benefits and higher taxes on the wealthy.

"Measures to help with the cost of living such as lowering energy bills are likely to be well received. Some Labour voters will also like scrapping the two child benefit cap," said Ipsos' Keiran Pedley. However, he cautioned that "tax rises are likely to be controversial, as we are already seeing a gradual increase in sentiment that taxes should be cut".

"The wider issue for the government is that public negativity about the state of the economy and performance of the government is at such a level that it is very hard for them to get the benefit of the doubt," Pedley said.

Leading economists also criticised the lack of a plan to boost economic growth in Reeves' statement and warned that her proposals to repair the public finances may not be credible.

"It was a bits-and-pieces budget. There was no sense of reform or direction, I think is the most worrying part of this," Paul Johnson, a former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, told Bloomberg Radio. "You look at what they have actually done so far, and net, it's clearly had a negative impact on growth."

"Most of the fiscal repair job has been put on hold for three years," said Ruth Curtice from the Resolution Foundation, a left-of-centre think tank with close links to the Labour government. "Appearances can be deceiving," she added, warning the country faced "plenty more bracing budgets".

Source: Theedgemarkets

Euro zone consumers raised their near-term inflation expectations a touch but kept them unchanged further out, a European Central Bank survey showed, supporting bets that price growth remains around target and no more rate cuts are needed.

Inflation has been hovering around the ECB's 2% target for most of this year and policymakers see it around this level even over the medium-term, a rare success for a bank that struggled with ultra-low inflation for a decade before a post-pandemic surge to above 10%.

Consumers surveyed in October see inflation in the next year at 2.8%, above the 2.7% predicted a month earlier, while price growth three years ahead was seen at 2.5% and five years out at 2.2%, the ECB said on Friday.

The figures, based on a survey of 19,000 adults in 11 euro zone nations, appear consistent with policymaker views that inflation is no longer a worry and, even if some domestic price pressures continue to linger, prices are on the way down to target.

This is why financial markets see almost no chance of a rate cut next month and see only a one-in-three chance of any further easing next year, with most economists betting that the interest rate cycle has bottomed out.

Income and spending bets also supported this narrative. Consumers' income growth expectations in the next year rose to 1.2% from 1.1%, while expected spending growth was unchanged at 3.5%.

While the ECB is keeping the door open to more rate cuts, it made clear it was in no hurry to change policy and some policymakers even argue the bank may be done cutting after halving the deposit rate in the year to June.

Source: Investing

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Source: Reuters

Global Markets:

News & Data:

Markets Update:

Asian stock markets were mixed on Friday, taking in slightly positive signals from Europe and no guidance from Wall Street due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Traders continued to respond to growing expectations of a U.S. Fed rate cut in December after soft economic data and dovish comments from several Fed officials. The global equity rally seen over the past week also slowed.

Markets now price in an 84.7 percent chance of a 25-basis-point cut in December, sharply higher than 30.1 percent just a week earlier, with additional cuts expected next year.

In Australia, stocks traded slightly higher in choppy action, extending gains from earlier sessions. The S&P/ASX 200 held above 8,600 as strength in gold miners and tech names offset weakness in iron ore miners and financials. Major miners were mixed, while technology stocks such as Appen, Xero and WiseTech gained. Banks traded mostly lower, and gold miners advanced modestly.

Japanese shares were slightly weaker as the Nikkei slipped below 50,150, pressured by declines in exporters and tech stocks, though financials provided some support. SoftBank gained, while Fast Retailing and major chip equipment makers declined. Economic data showed retail sales and industrial production rising in October, both beating expectations. Inflation in Tokyo's Ku-area remained above the Bank of Japan's target, while unemployment held at 2.6 percent.

Elsewhere, South Korea, Hong Kong and Malaysia traded lower, while New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan edged higher. European markets finished modestly positive, and crude oil extended its decline ahead of the OPEC+ meeting.

Source: IC Markets

The AUDUSD rate is moderately rising, having consolidated above the 0.6500 level. The Reserve Bank of Australia does not plan to cut rates in the near term. Discover more in our analysis for 28 November 2025.

AUDUSD forecast: key trading points

• Market focus: private sector credit in Australia rose by 0.7% month-on-month in October
• Current trend: upward momentum
• AUDUSD forecast for 28 November 2025: 0.6430 or 0.6550

Fundamental analysis

According to the published data, private sector credit in Australia grew by 0.7% month-on-month in October 2025, exceeding both last month's figure and market expectations of 0.6% growth. On an annual basis, private sector credit increased by 7.3%.

The Australian dollar is rising, reaching a two-week high. Inflation growth in Q3 strengthens the hawkish stance of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Markets now estimate the likelihood of a rate cut in May next year at just 7%, down from 40% earlier, and even price in a 40% chance of a rate hike by the end of 2026.

AUDUSD technical analysis

The AUDUSD pair is showing solid growth after reversing upwards from the daily support level at 0.6430. The Alligator indicator is pointing upwards, confirming bullish momentum. The key resistance level is 0.6550.

The short-term AUDUSD forecast suggests growth towards the 0.6550 resistance level and higher if the bulls maintain initiative. However, if bears reverse the price downwards, the pair could slip towards support near 0.6430.

Summary

The AUDUSD pair is rising moderately, consolidating above 0.6500. Unlike the Fed, the Reserve Bank of Australia does not intend to cut rates in the near term.

Source: RoboForex

German unemployment dropped by 25,700, bringing the unemployment figure to 2.885 million, a surprisingly positive outcome. According to the just-released data, seasonally adjusted unemployment increased by 1,000, keeping the unemployment rate unchanged at 6.3%.

Today's labour market numbers will bring some relief, at least in the political debate. The feared worsening of the labour market that emerged after the number of unemployed reached the symbolic three-million mark in August has so far been avoided. That said, since reaching a low of 2.2 million in May 2022, the number of unemployed has steadily increased. It's not up by some half a million compared with then.

This trajectory reflects textbook economics: with the economy effectively stagnating for over five years and industry facing severe structural challenges, a worsening of the labour market was just a matter of time.

Improvements, yes, but far from a turning point

Looking ahead, recruitment plans in both manufacturing and services have continued to weaken, and the number of vacancies is down to levels last seen during the pandemic. Still, other indicators like social media vacancies and hiring indicators at least point to some bottoming out. At the same time, ongoing announcements of potential cost-cutting measures across the automotive and other industries, along with the continuing increase in some bankruptcies, suggest that things could get worse before they get better.

With the worsening labour market, political uncertainty about the future of Germany's pension system, and a broader sense of sombreness in the economy, it is no surprise that private consumption has worsened again. After a brief indulgence at the turn of last year, German consumers have again closed their wallets. This morning's news that retail sales dropped by 0.3% month-on-month in October just strengthens this point. Even more so, as real wages were still up by almost 3% on the year in the third quarter, and the savings rate has almost come down to pre-pandemic levels - a statistical conundrum.

Overall, despite today's favourable news from the labour market, a turning point is clearly not in sight. Instead, the very gradual worsening of the German labour market is likely to continue, clearly complicating any comeback of private consumption.

Source: ING