May 7, 2021
Cryptocurrency markets are seeing a drastic increase in trading, at a time when volumes in stocks and derivatives have dropped off, as reported in the Financial Times.
As more traders turn to speculative assets, cryptocurrencies are reaping the benefits. Trading on crypto exchanges climbed to $1.7t last month, compared to $1.2t in March and less than $100 billion in April of the previous year, according to data collated by The Block Crypto and reported in the Financial Times.
Meanwhile, equities volume fell 27% and equity options volume fell 14% in April compared to the previous month, hitting their lowest levels since October of 2020.
May 3, 2021
Gold is making a comeback. Despite speculation that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were rendering the metal less valuable by the day, the long-term prognosis for gold is looking brighter, finds a new report from Barron’s.
Recent crypto turbulence, including last week’s flash Bitcoin crash and the failure of “Doge day” to push the meme-inspired Dogecoin over $1, have J.P. Morgan’s derivatives strategists forecasting a shift in Bitcoin futures. After the cryptocurrency failed to break out above $60,000, traders began to reduce their positions.
Meanwhile, gold has been re-gaining strength. The yellow metal has seen a slow but steady recovery, closing in at an $1800/oz price. Though still down from its $1951/oz high, a client note published last Wednesday by Bespoke Investment Group said that gold had broken above its 50-day moving average, a sign of short-term trending strength.