TRADING CENTRAL

DAILY NEWS BRIEF - MARKET OUTLOOK

January 2, 2026

Here are today's directional views from the global research desks of Ventura Prime FX! These are starting points for your own research to identify opportunities that make sense for you.

Gold USD/JPY EUR/USD S&P 500 (CME) GBP/USD Silver Crude Oil (WTI) Dow Jones (CME)

Market Wrap

Market Wrap: Stocks, Bonds, Commodities

On Thursday (January 1), U.S. markets were closed for the New Year Day holiday.

On Wednesday, the last trading day of 2025, U.S. stocks extended its decline to a fourth session:

S&P 500 -50 points (-0.74%) to 6,845

Nasdaq 100 -212 points (-0.84%) to 25,249

Dow Jones -303 points (-0.63%) to 48,063

Concluding the whole year, the three major stock indexes posted gains for a third consecutive year:

S&P 500 +16.39%

Nasdaq 100 +20.17%

Dow Jones +12.97%

Nike (NKE) rose 4.12% on Wednesday, becoming the best-performing stock in the S&P 500. The company’s chief executive bought about one million dollars worth of company shares.

Fair Isaac (FICO), a data analytics company, fell 3.16%, becoming the biggest laggard in the S&P 500.

Micron (MU) dropped a further 2.47%, Intel (INTC) lost 1.07%, and Palantir (PLTR) was down 1.71%.

The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rebounded a further 3.7 basis points to 4.163%.

In Europe, Germany's market was closed on Wednesday, while

CAC 40 -18 points (-0.23%) to 8,149

FTSE 100 -9 points (-0.09%) to 9,931.

Gold price remained under pressure at 4,319 dollars after a 4% pull-back on Monday.

U.S. WTI crude futures dipped 53 cents to 57.42 dollars a barrel.

Market Wrap: Forex

The U.S. dollar kept rebounding, with the dollar index climbing to 98.28.

The U.S. Labor Department reported that weekly initial jobless claims fell to 199,000, the lowest level in a month.

EUR/USD dipped to 1.1746.

USD/JPY +28 pips to 156.67.

GBP/USD +9 pips to 1.3475.

AUD/USD -23 pips to 0.6671.

USD/CHF +6 pips to 0.7920.

USD/CAD +26 pips to 1.3722.

Bitcoin climbed back to levels above 88,000 dollars.

Please note that due to market volatility, some of the key levels may have already been reached and scenarios played out.

Gold Intraday: key resistance at 4353.

Pivot:

4353

Our preference:

Short positions below 4353 with targets at 4302 & 4274 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 4353 look for further upside with 4380 & 4404 as targets.

Comment:

As long as 4353 is resistance, look for choppy price action with a bearish bias.

Trade

USD/JPY Intraday: bullish bias above 156.40.

Pivot:

156.40

Our preference:

Long positions above 156.40 with targets at 156.95 & 157.20 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Below 156.40 look for further downside with 156.20 & 156.00 as targets.

Comment:

Even though a continuation of the consolidation cannot be ruled out, its extent should be limited.

Trade

EUR/USD Intraday: rebound expected.

Pivot:

1.1720

Our preference:

Long positions above 1.1720 with targets at 1.1760 & 1.1780 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Below 1.1720 look for further downside with 1.1700 & 1.1680 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI calls for a rebound.

Trade

S&P 500 (CME)‎ (H6)‎ Intraday: under pressure.

Pivot:

6915

Our preference:

Short positions below 6915 with targets at 6890 & 6880 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 6915 look for further upside with 6932 & 6950 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI is bearish and calls for further downside.

Trade

GBP/USD Intraday: rebound expected.

Pivot:

1.3425

Our preference:

Long positions above 1.3425 with targets at 1.3495 & 1.3520 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Below 1.3425 look for further downside with 1.3400 & 1.3380 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI advocates for further upside.

Trade

Silver Intraday: key resistance at 73.70.

Pivot:

73.70

Our preference:

Short positions below 73.70 with targets at 70.00 & 68.60 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 73.70 look for further upside with 75.70 & 78.00 as targets.

Comment:

The upward potential is likely to be limited by the resistance at 73.70.

Trade

Crude Oil (WTI)‎ (G6)‎ Intraday: under pressure.

Pivot:

58.05

Our preference:

Short positions below 58.05 with targets at 57.05 & 56.65 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 58.05 look for further upside with 58.50 & 58.90 as targets.

Comment:

The RSI advocates for further downside.

Trade

Dow Jones (CME)‎ (H6)‎ Intraday: watch 48160.

Pivot:

48560

Our preference:

Short positions below 48560 with targets at 48315 & 48160 in extension.

Alternative scenario:

Above 48560 look for further upside with 48675 & 48770 as targets.

Comment:

A break below 48315 would trigger a drop towards 48160.

Trade

TRADING FOREIGN EXCHANGE ON MARGIN CARRIES A HIGH LEVEL OF RISK AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS.

THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT YOU COULD SUSTAIN A LOSS OF SOME OR ALL OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT AND THEREFORE YOU SHOULD NOT INVEST MONEY THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE.

THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. BEFORE DECIDING TO TRADE FOREIGN EXCHANGE OR CFD’S YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER YOUR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, AND RISK APPETITE.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF ALL THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND OTHER CFD TRADING, AND SEEK ADVICE FROM AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS. VPFX RECOMMENDS READING THE RISK DISCLOSURE SECTION OF THE PROSPECTUS FOR ANY FINANCIAL PRODUCT MENTIONED.

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