For most of 2024, tech stocks dominated headlines and investor attention. But in 2025, something unexpected happened: oil stocks quietly took the lead. While names like Nvidia and Meta stumbled out of the gate, traditional energy companies – think ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell – posted steady gains. In fact, the MSCI ACWI Energy Index was up nearly 9% by the end of Q1, while the broader S&P 500 was down around 4%.

A major reveal is on the way at EC Markets. After months of behind-the-scenes discussions and careful planning, EC Markets is preparing its biggest partnership to date, one that could reshape the company’s future. Keep your eyes open as everything will be revealed soon!   So what’s happening? 

The latest US data gave a bit of a mixed signal. On one hand, the economy is clearly slowing down. But on the other, inflation – or the general rise in prices — is still hanging around.

Every time the economy wobbles or the stock market dives, the same terms get tossed around: recession and market crash. Sometimes, they even show up in the same headline – as if they’re interchangeable. But here’s the thing: they’re not.

Every few weeks, traders and investors alike brace for impact. Central banks (whether it’s the Fed or the ECB) step up to the mic to deliver interest rate decisions that could jolt the markets. But here’s something seasoned traders know: the charts often whisper before the officials speak.

You know what’s funny? For most of the last 30 years, nobody really talked about Japanese stocks unless it was to reference that massive bubble in the 1980s. Since then, the Nikkei mostly drifted – some up years, more down years, and a general sense that the whole thing was just... stuck.

This week’s economic data showed a mix of cooling inflation and slow-but-steady growth. In the US, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure – core PCE – rose just 0.2% in May, bringing the annual rate to 2.7%. That’s close to the Fed’s 2% target, supporting the idea that price pressures are easing. However, Americans are spending more cautiously: personal spending dipped for the second time this year, and consumer confidence fell sharply in June as worries about jobs and the economy grew. Jobless claims edged down slightly, suggesting the labour market is cooling gradually.

Ever wonder why the stock market reacts so strongly when someone from the US Federal Reserve speaks? Or why the value of the euro shifts after a decision from the European Central Bank (ECB)? That’s the power of central banks – institutions that might seem far removed from everyday life, but actually have a big say in how much we pay on our mortgages, how expensive groceries get, and whether the economy runs hot or cold.

Support zones act like the floor beneath a market – a price area where falling prices typically pause or reverse because buyers step in. Think of it as the point where traders say, “This looks cheap,” and start buying. These zones are crucial in technical analysis because when support breaks, it can signal that the underlying demand has weakened – and that often leads to a much bigger move.

The vibrant city of Limassol, Cyprus has once again hosted one of the biggest and most important events in the world of finance and fintech: the iFX Expo International 2025. With over 6,000 professionals and 1,600 companies gathering from around the world, the iFX Expo was a week of high-energy filled with fresh, innovative ideas, tech startups, and big announcements