Nick Goold
Another strong week for equities as the market continued to recover recent losses. The S&P 500 recorded its ninth consecutive day of gains, marking its longest winning streak in 20 years. The NASDAQ and Dow also pushed higher as investor sentiment stayed positive.
The U.S. dollar recovered, with the U.S. Dollar Index moving back above 100. USD/JPY strengthened sharply after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged at Thursday’s meeting and expressed concerns about the negative impact of tariffs on the Japanese economy. Gold faced further selling pressure as market fears eased and demand for safe-haven assets dropped.
On the economic front, U.S. GDP for the first quarter of 2025 fell by 0.3%, worse than expected, signaling concerns about a slowing economy. However, the market reaction was limited. Stronger U.S. jobs data helped offset recession fears, with April payrolls rising by 177,000—well above the 133,000 expected. Overall, markets remain more focused on tariff developments than on economic data. Negotiations between the U.S. and China continue, with China maintaining a firm stance.
Markets This Week
U.S. Stocks
U.S. stocks finished last week strongly as investors continued to return to the market. Optimism remains around U.S. - China tariff negotiations, although expectations may be hard to meet given China’s firm stance, and markets are hoping President Trump will eventually soften his position. After the strong rally from the April lows, it’s getting harder to buy at these high levels. Buying on dips or looking for short-term selling opportunities looks safer this week. For the Dow Jones, support is at $40,000 and $39,000, while resistance is at $41,500, $42,000, and $42,500.
Japanese Stocks
The Nikkei 225 rose over 4% last week, supported by a stronger USD/JPY after the Bank of Japan meeting. However, Japanese officials ended their second round of tariff negotiations with the U.S. without an agreement, and a 25% auto parts tariff came into effect over the weekend, which could weigh on sentiment this week. Despite the strong uptrend, the market has created a large gap above the 10-day moving average, suggesting short-term selling opportunities might be better. Medium- to long-term investors should wait for a pullback before buying. Support is at 36,000円 and 35,000円, and resistance is at 38,000円 and 38,250円.
USD/JPY
USD/JPY had a strong week, rallying after the Bank of Japan expressed concerns about the negative impact of U.S. tariffs on Japan’s economy, possibly delaying future rate hikes. Even after last week’s sharp rise, more gains are possible because many traders are still not positioned heavily long. Support is at 144.00, 143.00, and 142.00, while resistance is at 146.00, 146.50, and 148.00.
USDJPY Daily Chart
Gold
Gold fell below the 10-day moving average early last week, ending its recent uptrend. Stronger U.S. stocks and a rising dollar reduced gold demand. Unless there’s major negative news about tariffs, gold is likely to stay weak. Selling into strength looks best this week, with resistance at $3,300, $3,350, and $3,400, and support at $3,200, $3,170, and $3,100.
Crude Oil
Crude oil broke below the key $60 support as fears grew that Saudi Arabia will not support the market with production cuts and that U.S. tariffs could hurt demand. Although momentum is still down, recent lows around $55 could offer some short-term support. Range trading between $55 and $60 with tight stops looks best this week.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin extended its rally last week, finding steady support at the 10-day moving average and benefiting from improving risk appetite. It looks on track to test the $100,000 mark soon, although traders should watch for any sudden negative tariff news. Support is at $92,500, $90,000, and $85,000, with resistance at $100,000 and $105,000.
This Week’s Focus
Monday: U.S. ISM Services Index
Tuesday: U.S. Trade Balance
Wednesday: U.S. FOMC Meeting
Thursday: U.K. Bank of England Interest Rate Decision
Friday: Speeches by various U.S. Federal Reserve Presidents
It will be a relatively light week for U.S. economic data. The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.50%, so market attention will focus on Chairman Powell’s comments about the U.S. economy and future monetary policy during Wednesday’s FOMC meeting. The Bank of England is expected to cut its official interest rate by 0.25% to 4.25% on Thursday. Markets will also be closely watching developments in U.S.–China trade negotiations, where hopes for progress remain, but risks are still high. In addition, tensions are rising as Japan has shown little willingness to compromise on new tariffs, adding another layer of uncertainty to global trade discussions.
Choose Your Trading Identity
The markets are full of opportunities right now. Trump’s new tariff policies are creating big price swings and lots of volatility. This is great news—but only for traders who know how they want to trade.
There are many ways to make money in trading. You don’t need to master everything. In fact, the best traders focus on just one or two strategies that fit their style. This makes it easier to make big profits without taking on too much risk.
If you don’t know your trading style, you are more likely to chase the market, make emotional trades, and lose money. Professional traders are all different, but they share one important thing: they understand themselves. They build trading plans that match their natural way of thinking and reacting.
Why It’s So Important to Specialize
- More Ready for Opportunities: You’ll spot good trades faster because you know exactly what you are looking for.
- Less Stress: You won’t panic or overthink because you have a clear plan to follow.
- Faster Improvement: By practicing the same style again and again, you learn and get better much faster.
- Higher Quality Trades: Knowing which types of trades you prefer leads to better setups, more confidence, and stronger performance.
How to Find Your Trading Personality
Ask yourself a few important questions:
- Do you enjoy making fast decisions under pressure?
- Can you hold trades patiently for several days or weeks?
- Do you feel stressed when trades move slowly, or are you comfortable waiting?
- Do you prefer clear, simple setups, or do you enjoy deeper, detailed analysis?
- Are you more comfortable trading during major news events or when markets are calm?
- When you look at your past trades, what kinds of trades made you the most profit—and felt the most natural?
Answering these questions will help you find your true trading personality and choose a path that suits you.
Choosing the Right Strategy
Once you understand your trading style, choose a strategy that matches it.
- Trend Trading: Best for patient traders who want bigger moves and can wait for longer setups.
- Range Trading: Best for traders who like more frequent action and quick trades.
- Scalping or Day Trading: Great for quick decision makers who enjoy high-energy, fast-moving markets..
- Swing Trading: Good for traders who plan carefully and want to hold trades for days.
Knowing which type of trades you enjoy will naturally lead you to make better decisions, take higher quality trades, and build better performance over time.
Choosing the Right Market
Each market has different characteristics like volatility, average trend strength, and reaction to news.
- FX: Often less volatile but steady. Good for range traders and calm trend followers.
- Stock Indices (Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nikkei 225): Tend to trend strongly after news. Great for patient trend traders.
- Commodities (Gold, Oil): Move quickly and can be volatile. Good for experienced traders who manage risk well.
- Bitcoin: Extremely volatile. Best for traders who can react fast and manage large swings.
The more you understand the behavior of the markets you trade, the better your performance will be. It takes time to fully understand your trading personality and find the right strategy and market for you. That’s normal. But once you do, trading will feel more natural. You’ll trade with less stress, see better results, and enjoy the process more. Trading should feel comfortable and controlled if you want long-term success.
Targeting profits in the market after Liberation Day with Titan FX
April 2 marks the start of Liberation Day — a major turning point in global markets. With new tariffs, shifting trade policies, and rising volatility across currencies, commodities, and equities, traders face both risk and opportunity. Whether you're trading FX, gold, indices, or crypto, Titan FX gives you the speed, tools, and tight spreads — especially for gold — so you can stay ahead and make the most of this high-impact event.
Why Trade FX & CFDs with Titan FX After Liberation Day?
✅ Ultra-Fast Execution – Stay ahead of sharp market movements in FX, indices, stocks, crypto, and commodities.
✅ Advanced Charting & Analysis Tools – Identify breakout points, trend shifts, and key trading levels with confidence.
✅ Trade Multiple Markets – From FX to gold, crude oil, stock indices, individual stocks, and crypto, trade it all from one platform.
✅ Secure and Flexible Funding – Focus on trading while we handle seamless deposits and withdrawals.
With markets moving at fast speed—tariffs reshaping global trade, central bank policies shifting currencies, and volatility presenting new opportunities daily—Titan FX ensures that you have the best execution, tight spreads, and cutting-edge tools to capitalize on every trading challenge.
Don’t just watch the action—profit from it. Start trading with Titan FX today!
