Global multi-asset leader in online trading HF Markets
Group (with brand names HFM and HF Markets),
is proud to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to providing traders with
unparalleled security and peace of mind. With advanced security technologies,
fund protection measures, and a robust risk management framework, the HF Markets
Group ensures a seamless trading experience for millions of traders worldwide.

Your Security, Our Priority

By employing cutting-edge security measures, HF
Markets Group safeguards its traders‘ accounts and personal information,
empowering them to trade with confidence.

Their dedication to security goes beyond compliance; it’s
about creating a transparent and trusted trading environment. With a proactive
approach, they constantly enhance their systems to stay ahead of emerging
threats and ensure their clients’ peace of mind. Every layer of protection is
designed to let traders focus on their strategies without worrying about
safety.

Their ongoing commitment to security includes staying
updated with the latest industry regulations and adopting advanced encryption
technologies. This ensures that all transactions and personal data remain
confidential and protected from external threats. The Group believes that trust
is built through consistent action, and security is at the heart of that trust.

HF Markets Group takes fund protection
seriously, offering comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of its traders’
assets:

• Segregated
  Accounts: Traders‘ funds are held in segregated
  accounts, separate from company funds.
• Seamless
  Withdrawals: With fast processing and robust
  security, clients can access their funds effortlessly.

Advanced Risk Management

HF Markets Group’s proactive risk management tools empower
traders to mitigate losses and manage their portfolios effectively:

• Negative
  Balance Protection: Never owe more than your account
  balance; we reset negative balances to zero.
• Stop
  Out Calls: Automatically close trades when the
  market moves against you to protect your account from excessive losses.
• Stop-Loss
  & Take-Profit Orders: Predetermined trade
  closures at set levels ensure potential losses are minimized.

Global Trust, Global Reach

HF Markets Group stands as a trusted partner to millions of
traders worldwide, earning a stellar reputation for safety and excellence. They
continue to lead the industry in security innovation and client satisfaction,
solidifying their position as a global leader in trading.

About HF Markets Group

Established in 2010, HF Markets
Group has been a leader in the online trading industry, known for its
cutting-edge technology and trading conditions. The company holds licenses from
7 regulatory bodies and has earned more than 60 prestigious industry awards,
demonstrating its commitment to excellence and trader security.

The Group offers traders access to a diverse range of financial instruments,
including forex, indices, commodities, bonds, and ETFs. With tailored account
types and three advanced trading
platforms—including the proprietary HFM platform—HF Markets Group provides
a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to meet the needs of traders
worldwide.

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.

FBS, a leading global broker, unveils its latest analysis of cryptocurrency market trends for 2024 and predictions for 2025. FBS analysts explore how pivotal events have shaped the digital finance landscape and identify emerging opportunities for the coming year.

A Closer Look at 2024

According to FBS analysts, 2024 was shaped by transformative events that drove significant growth in the crypto market. Bitcoin led the charge, gaining over 146% following its halving event. Ethereum also thrived as institutional investments surged after ETF approvals, underscoring its expanding role in the global financial system.

U.S. cryptocurrency policies under Donald Trump’s administration were another major factor in 2024’s growth. Initiatives such as exploring Bitcoin for debt reduction bolstered market sentiment, pushing Bitcoin past the $100,000 milestone and driving broader adoption.

The year also saw the rapid rise of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), a trend highlighted by FBS analysts as pivotal in revolutionizing traditional asset management. By making illiquid assets more accessible, tokenization is redefining investment landscapes across industries such as real estate and commodities.

2025: What Lies Ahead?

FBS analysts forecast that Bitcoin’s momentum will continue, with a potential price target of $250,000 by year-end. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is expected to surpass $3.4 trillion, supported by the rapid rise of altcoins and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).

Ethereum’s position is set to strengthen further, with FBS anticipating new ETF approvals for altcoins like Solana and XRP. The expansion of tokenization initiatives and advances in blockchain infrastructure will likely drive new waves of institutional and retail participation.

FBS remains committed to equipping traders with actionable insights, advanced tools, and seamless platforms to navigate the dynamic market confidently.

Users can find the full analysis and in-depth insights here.

Disclaimer: This material does not constitute a call to trade, trading advice, or recommendation and is intended for informational purposes only.

About FBS

FBS is a global brand that unites several independent brokerage companies under the licenses of FSC (Belize), CySEC (Cyprus), and ASIC (Australia). With 15 years of experience and over 90 international awards, FBS is steadily developing as one of the market’s most trusted brokers. Today, FBS serves over 27,000,000 traders and more than 700 000 partners around the globe.

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.

The monthly retail sales balance only saw a marginal improvement in December but continues to keep in negative territory. Similarly, the measure of expected retail sales for January remains negative at -11 but at least is an improvement to -29 in the month before. CBI notes that:

„Retailers have endured a gloomy festive period. Looking ahead, retailers expect sales to fall again in January while wholesalers and motor traders are braced for sharper sales declines.“

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

• But what we see now is inflation momentum more in the direction of being around 2%

In other words, he’s saying the ECB need not be restrictive anymore considering the latest inflation developments. Sure, sure. I’m certain they’re not speeding up the narrative because the economy is slowing down or whatever. Pfft. /s

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

easyMarkets,
a pioneer in the CFD brokerage industry, and Real Madrid C.F., the record
holders of UEFA Champions League and LaLiga titles, have announced the renewal
of their fruitful partnership at an event attended by Nikos Antoniades, CEO of
easyMarkets, and Emilio Butragueño, Director of Institutional Relations at Real
Madrid.

The renewal of the partnership reinforces the bonds between
these two powerhouses and reflects the shared ambition and winning mindset both
parties believe in, continuing a successful collaboration since 2020. This
partnership aims to bring even more exclusive and unique experiences to clients
in covered regions providing new initiatives and opportunities that enhance
their engagement with both Real Madrid and easyMarkets.

Real Madrid C.F., the Best Club of the twentieth century
-title awarded by FIFA-, has one of the largest fanbases in the world. Real
Madrid C.F. is an example of leadership beyond the sports industry and has in
the commitment to excellence one of its signs of identity, being an essential
part of the club since its foundation. The club is proud to continue its
partnership with a global-leading brand in its industry as easyMarkets, an
excellent partner with great reputation.

Mr. Nikos Antoniades, CEO of easyMarkets, said, ‘Our
partnership thus far has been very successful for both our organizations. Real
Madrid’s long-standing, victorious reputation perfectly complements
easyMarkets, a company that has been active in the CFD brokerage industry for
more than 20 years. We eagerly look forward to extending our successful
collaboration and are excited about what this strengthened bond will
bring.’

‘We are thrilled to continue as the Official Trading Partner
for a top-tier titan in the world’s most popular sport, Real Madrid C.F.. With
an established history of recognized excellence, Real Madrid C.F. embodies the
winning mindset that easyMarkets instils in the trading world,’ stated Mr.
Garen Meserlian, Chief Marketing Officer. Leveraging our global reach across
100+ countries, we aim to enhance our pursuit of trading excellence, reinforced
by the shared spirit and rigor that define our two brands.’

Alongside the renewal of this sponsorship, easyMarkets has
also obtained the FSCA license, further expanding the company’s regulatory
portfolio (CySEC, ASIC, FSA and FSC). This achievement reflects easyMarkets
continued commitment to providing additional value to clients and enhancing
their overall trading experience.

For more
information about the renewal of our partnership, please click here.

ABOUT easyMarkets

easyMarkets, founded in 2001, is an award-winning global
broker. One of the first to offer an online experience with innovative risk
management tools, including free guaranteed stop loss, easyTrade, Freeze Rate,
and dealCancellation, easyMarkets provides its sizeable clientele with a
streamlined, accessible, and flexible trading experience. Offering over 275
tradeable instruments, tight fixed spreads, and 24/5 dedicated support to
traders around the world, easyMarkets continues to revolutionize the trading sector
by providing unparalleled security and safeguards for client funds and
consistently prioritizing client commitment and satisfaction.

ABOUT REAL MADRID C.F.

Real Madrid C.F. is a sport entity with 122 years of
history. It is the club with the most European Cups of both football (15) and
basketball (11) and was awarded by FIFA as the Best Club of the twentieth
century. Real Madrid has millions of fans in all corners of the world, with
more than 590 million followers on social networks. Real Madrid is the most
valuable football brand in the world for Brand Finance for the third year in a
row and the highest earning football club in the world for the 22-23 season (Deloitte’s
Football Money League). More information about Real Madrid C.F. is available at
www.realmadrid.com, the most visited soccer club website for the seventh
consecutive year.

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.

Fundamental
Overview

The Russell 2000 yesterday
sold off aggressively following the FOMC decision as the market perceived it as more
hawkish than expected.

Overall, apart from some
slight tweaks, the Fed was in line with the market’s expectations, and the
selloff might have been an overreaction. There’s lots of noise during such big
events, so be careful of that.

The data is what really
matters now as it will decide what the Fed is going to do. It will likely take
just one soft CPI report in January to see the market reacting in a dovish way
and print new all-time highs.

For now, the conditions for
further upside remain in place. In fact, Trump’s policies should be a positive
driver for growth in 2025 and with the Fed remaining in an easing cycle, growth
should remain positive and might even accelerate as seen already recently by
the Atlanta Fed GDPNow indicator.

The risk in 2025 is of
course inflation and the Fed’s reaction function. Right now, the Fed’s reaction
function is that a strong economy would warrant a slower pace in the easing
cycle and not a tightening. That should still be supportive for the stock market.

If the Fed’s reaction
function were to change to a potential tightening, then that will likely
trigger a big correction in the stock market (if not even a bear market given
the stretched valuations) on expected economic slowdown. For now, we remain in
a “buy the dip” environment.

Russell 2000
Technical Analysis – Daily Timeframe

On the daily chart, we can
see that the Russell 2000 broke below the 2290 support following the FOMC decision. The sellers will
likely pile in around these levels with a defined risk above the 2290 level to
extend the drop into the major trendline. The buyers, on the other hand,
will want to see the price rising back above the 2290 level to start targeting
new highs.

Russell 2000 Technical
Analysis – 4 hour Timeframe

On the 4 hour chart, we can
see more clearly the support turned resistance around the 2290 level where we
have also the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level for confluence. That’s where we can expect the
sellers to step in to extend the drop into new lows, while the buyers will look
for a break higher to target a rally back into the all-time highs.

Russell 2000 Technical
Analysis – 1 hour Timeframe

On the 1 hour chart, we can
see that we have a minor upward trendline defining the current pullback into
the resistance. The buyers will likely keep on leaning on it to push into new
highs, while the sellers will look for a break lower to position for new lows. The
red lines define the average daily range for today.

Upcoming
Catalysts

Today we get the latest US jobless claims figures, while tomorrow we conclude
the week with the US PCE data.

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.

• Don’t see persistent economic stagnation, inflation undershooting
• A 50 bps move would require projections showing persistent undershooting of inflation
• Don’t see a situation where rates would need to fall below neutral
• Euro weakness not creating inflationary pressures

The message has been consistent across the board from the ECB since last week. So, this just adds to that.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

Rate cuts by year-end

• Fed 2025: 36 bps (92% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)
• ECB 2025: 110 bps (93% probability of rate cut at the upcoming meeting)
• BoE 2025: 47 bps (50% probability of rate cut at the upcoming meeting)
• BoC 2025: 49 bps (50% probability of rate cut at the upcoming meeting)
• RBA 2025: 67 bps (60% probability of rate cut at the upcoming meeting)
• RBNZ 2025: 118 bps (88% probability of 50 bps rate cut at the upcoming meeting)
• SNB 2025: 48 bps (84% probability of 25 bps rate cut at the upcoming meeting)

Rate hikes by year-end

• BoJ 2025: 43 bps (50% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)

*where you see 25 bps rate cut, the rest of the probability is for a 50 bps cut

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.

On the bank rate vote, here’s what the calls are:

• Barclays: 8-1 vote for a hold but minor possibility it could be as much as 6-3
• BofA: 8-1 vote for a hold with risks for a 9-0
• Deustche: 9-0 vote for a hold
• Goldman Sachs: 8-1 vote for a hold
• HSBC: 8-1 vote for a hold
• JP Morgan: 8-1 vote for a hold
• Morgan Stanley: 8-1 vote for a hold
• Nomura: 8-1 vote for a hold

Besides Barclays‘ outside call, there is more or less a general consensus expecting a 8-1 vote with Dhingra set to be the only policymaker to dissent in favour of a rate cut.

As for the central bank’s guidance, there is also a consensus is expecting the „gradual“ approach to be maintained. In essence, the language will mostly be the same as per what we saw in November here.

But amid recent developments in the UK economy, the calls for next year are differing. While most are anticipating quarterly rate cuts at the moment, there are a few standouts.

Barclays is seeing that the BOE might have to readjust their pacing and „move to sequential 25bp moves in May, June, August and September, leaving the bank rate at
3.50%.. we think a majority of the committee will see this as consistent with policy being
neutral“.

Meanwhile, Deutsche sees the BOE taking it slow in the first half of next year before accelerating the pace in the second half of the year. The firm sees „three rate cuts in 2H 2025, taking
place in August, November and December.. The bank rate settling at 3.25% in Q1-26 –
broadly consistent with our view of medium-term r-star“.

As for HSBC, the firm sees rate cuts in February, May, August, September, November and December 2025
with a final cut to 3.00% in February 2026.

(h/t @ MNI – Market News)

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

January 2025
– Vantage
Markets, a leading multi-asset trading platform, is excited to announce its
participation at the highly anticipated iFX EXPO Dubai 2025, scheduled for
January 14-16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As one of the premier global
events for the FX, fintech, and crypto industries, the expo offers an
unparalleled opportunity for attendees to engage with industry leaders,
discover cutting-edge technologies, and gain valuable insights into the
evolving financial landscape.

For anyone undecided about attending,
Vantage’s Souhail
Fadlallah, Business Development Manager at the Global Sales Department,
emphasizes:
„It’s not just an event; it’s an opportunity to connect with some of
the best experts in the industry, discover the latest innovations, and gain
awareness that can drive your business forward. Missing out means missing a
chance to stay ahead in an industry that’s evolving faster than ever.“

The iFX EXPO Dubai 2025 has earned a
reputation as the ultimate networking hub for financial services professionals.
With thousands of attendees, exhibitors, and speakers from across the globe,
the event provides a dynamic platform for exploring the latest trends in FX,
fintech, and crypto.

At this year’s expo, Vantage will showcase
its commitment to empowering traders and partners through innovative solutions,
transparency, and customer-centric services. Attendees visiting the Vantage
booth can expect:

1. Cutting-Edge Trading Tools:
   Discover the latest advancements in trading platforms, including enhanced
   features designed to streamline user experiences and optimize performance.
2. Advanced Educational Resources:
   Vantage’s suite of learning tools offers traders access to valuable
   insights, training, and materials to sharpen their skills and achieve
   success in the financial markets.
3. Affiliate and Partner Programs:
   Vantage is dedicated to creating value for affiliates and partners,
   offering robust programs designed to drive mutual growth and success.

„We’re passionate about empowering
traders with the tools, resources, and education they need to succeed in
today’s markets,“ Fadlallah adds. „Our
presence at the expo reflects our commitment to being more than a broker—we’re
a partner in your success.“

For Vantage, participation at iFX EXPO
Dubai 2025 is about more than showcasing its offerings; it’s about building
trust and fostering meaningful connections.
„We want attendees to leave iFX EXPO Dubai 2025 with the clear message
that Vantage is more than just a trading platform,“ Fadlallah
emphasizes. „We’re a partner deeply committed to innovation,
transparency, and the success of all our clients.“

The feeling Vantage hopes to inspire is one
of trust and excitement, assuring attendees that with Vantage’s cutting-edge
tools and exceptional service, they are well-equipped for a successful trading
journey.

Vantage’s participation at iFX EXPO Dubai
2025 underscores its vision for shared growth in the rapidly evolving financial
markets. The company remains steadfast in its mission to provide clients and
partners with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to excel in a dynamic
trading environment.

About Vantage

Vantage
Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset CFD broker offering clients access to
a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 15 years of market experience,
Vantage transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem,
an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that
empowers clients to seize trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on
App Store or Google Play.

trade smarter @vantage

RISK
WARNING: CFD trading carries significant risks. You could lose more than your
initial investment.

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.