Finance: News, Insights, Predictions

Major banks, which previously viewed cryptocurrency mainly as a risk to manage, are now shifting their approach to actively engage with Bitcoin, stablecoins, and tokenized cash.

Bitcoin has experienced a significant decline of 28% since reaching its peak of over $126,000 on October 6. As of January 8, the cryptocurrency continues to fall, raising concerns among investors about its future performance in 2026.

According to the Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, Bitcoin and stablecoins are expected to follow distinct paths in terms of adoption in the years ahead.

VanEck has released a highly optimistic forecast, suggesting that Bitcoin could reach a value exceeding $50 million per coin by the year 2050.

Cathie Wood believes that as cryptocurrency becomes a significant political topic, President Trump may initiate a strategy for the U.S. to not only hold seized Bitcoin but also actively purchase it by 2026.

Crypto markets experienced a decline on Friday, January 9, following the release of U.S. labor data that indicated the economy added significantly fewer jobs than anticipated in December. Bitcoin (BTC) also saw a decrease in value.

After an early rally, Bitcoin's price has dipped back to approximately $90,000. Recent news highlights include updates on December employment figures.

ING Group, the largest banking institution in the Netherlands, projects that Azerbaijan's average annual inflation will reach 5.3% in 2026 and rise to 8.9% in 2027.

Azerbaijan's economic growth in 2025 is expected to slow down compared to the previous year, primarily due to a decrease in oil production and a slowdown in overall economic expansion.

The Turkish Central Bank (CBT) plans to expand its open market operations (OMO) portfolio as part of its economic strategy, according to a recent policy paper.

Sugar prices increased on Monday due to the strength of the Brazilian real, which led to short covering in sugar futures.

March arabica coffee prices have dropped by 12.70 cents, a decrease of 3.41%. Meanwhile, March ICE robusta coffee prices have fallen by 40 cents, which is a decline of 1.02%. These significant reductions in coffee prices are attributed to rain forecasts in Brazil.

BofA analysts predict a stronger British pound in the future, as the EUR/GBP currency pair faces pressure leading into 2026.

The GBP/USD exchange rate declined on Thursday as a weakening global risk appetite prompted investors to shift back toward safer assets.

The GBP/JPY currency pair shows resilience, bolstered by the strength of carry trades and differing central bank policies. Traders are targeting the level of 215, contingent on sustained risk appetite following the release of US jobs data.

City Index reports that the bullish conviction for the GBP/USD currency pair is decreasing, highlighting the need for updated news, forecasts, exchange rate data, and transfer comparisons.

This week's forecast from January 11th to 16th, 2026, provides insights into gold, silver, oil, various forex pairs, the NASDAQ 100, and the USD/MXN. It highlights key levels, trends, and the overall market outlook.

The US dollar remains volatile following the release of the jobs report, which showed an increase of 50,000 jobs last month, falling short of the anticipated 65,000.

Corn purchase prices in Ukrainian ports are increasing due to adverse weather conditions and delivery delays. Over the past week, export prices have risen by $2-3 per ton, reaching $204-206 per ton.

The Pound is gradually approaching the €1.15 mark against the Euro, indicating a notable shift in currency exchange rates.

EUR/USD remains under pressure, trading around 1.1650 after a negative close on Thursday. Market participants are now focused on the upcoming Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) report.

MUFG has forecasted that the GBP/EUR exchange rate will reach 1.11 during 2026-2027, driven by anticipated interest rate cuts from the Bank of England.

The Pound is poised to achieve its fourth consecutive weekly gain against the Euro, driven by favorable market conditions.

The Euro has faced resistance for the past four weeks, resulting in a decline of over 1.6% from its December highs. The EUR/USD selloff is now approaching significant trend support, indicating a crucial decision point ahead.

The forecast for EUR corporate supply is set at €485 billion for 2026. This marks an increase from the early 2025 projection of €400 billion, which was already higher than market expectations at that time.