The U.S. Census Bureau reported that retail and food services sales rose 0.5% in April 2026, matching economists’ forecasts and marking the third consecutive monthly gain. But there’s a major asterisk: a big chunk of that increase was likely driven by higher prices, not higher spending volumes — with the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran keeping gasoline costs well…
The GBPUSD is the biggest mover in the FX market today, falling -0.92% as political uncertainty in the UK weighs heavily on the pound. The resignation of Wes Streeting as Health Secretary has fueled speculation about a potential leadership challenge to Prime Minister Starmer. At the same time, Andy Burnham has emerged as another possible contender after signaling a…
Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Stephen Miran submitted his resignation letter from the Fed board on Thursday, effective on or shortly before Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the Fed’s next chair, since there is no other open seat on the seven-member board for Warsh to fill, and Miran’s term had expired in January. Miran was appointed by US President…
2026.05.14 2026.05.14 What Is the Petrodollar and How Does It Affect the Global Economy? Gleb Kabanovhttps://www.litefinance.org/blog/authors/gleb-kabanov/ What is the petrodollar, and why has this concept shaped the architecture of the global economy for decades? The term describes a mechanism in which oil is traded mainly in US dollars, while oil exporters reinvest their oil revenues in US Treasury bonds….
UK real GDP grew 0.6% in Q1 2026 (January to March), matching economist forecasts and marking the fastest quarterly expansion in a year. The data, released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows a clear acceleration from the revised 0.2% growth in Q4 2025 — but economists are already warning that the momentum is unlikely to carry…
High risk warning: Foreign exchange trading carries a high level of risk that may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage creates additional risk and loss exposure. Before you decide to trade foreign exchange, carefully consider your investment objectives, experience level, and risk tolerance. You could lose some or all your initial investment; do not invest money that you…
Silver (XAG/USD) trades lower on Thursday, falling 3.20% to around $84.70 at the time of writing as investors take profits after the metal’s recent rally. The decline comes as higher US Treasury yields and a firmer US Dollar (USD) reduce the attractiveness of non-yielding assets, while markets reassess expectations for the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy path. The correction in…
2026.05.14 2026.05.14 Brent Price Remains High Despite China Demand Pullback. Forecast as of 14.05.2026 Dmitri Demidenkohttps://www.litefinance.org/blog/authors/dmitri-demidenko/ Brent is not breaking records despite a roughly 20% drop in supply—a seeming paradox, but one with clear explanations. Rising US exports, falling global inventories, and weaker Chinese imports are supporting the oil market. The key question is whether this balance can last. Let’s…
If you’ve been watching the dollar quietly firm up this week while traders shovel more dirt on their interest rate cut hopes, two reports tell the tale. They came from different corners of the economy and measured different things, but both were singing from the same song sheet: inflation hasn’t packed its bags, and the Fed knows it. PPI:…
The 1% rule is a popular and time-tested strategy to consider. In this article, Elev8, a global CFD broker, provides a mathematical basis for traders to elevate their risk management and support long-term participation in the financial markets. What is the 1% rule The 1% rule is a risk management principle stating that a trader should risk no more…
