Insights 
VT 
In October, Ireland’s AIB Services PMI increased to 56.7 from 53.5 the previous month. This signifies a notable improvement in the service sector’s performance.
The Euro strengthened as traders expected a cautious approach from the European Central Bank in the upcoming policy meeting. Meanwhile, the pound held above 1.3000, influenced by potential tax rises in the UK budget.
Gold And Crypto Market
Gold prices climbed due to safe-haven demand amid fears of ongoing US government shutdowns. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple showed stability after a recent market correction, indicating reduced volatility.
Stellar’s (XLM) price faced risks of a 15% downturn as a bearish pattern emerged and retail demand weakened. Traders remained cautious as central banks’ approaches varied, affecting currencies like the Aussie and the Pound.
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The strong Irish services PMI reading of 56.7 for October points to solid economic activity in key parts of the Eurozone. We see this as a signal to consider long positions in the Euro, perhaps through call options on EUR/USD, especially with the pair holding near 1.1500. This data, showing Ireland’s Q3 2025 GDP growth at a robust 1.1%, suggests a divergence trade could be forming against more sluggish parts of the bloc.
US Economic Uncertainty
The ongoing US government shutdown is creating significant uncertainty, fueling a flight to safety that we’ve seen build for some time. With gold pushing past $3,950 an ounce and silver above $47.50, we believe using derivatives to stay long on precious metals is the prudent move. This situation is amplified by the latest US CPI data from September 2025, which showed stubborn inflation at 4.5%, making real assets more attractive than they were back in 2023.
For the British Pound, we are seeing conflicting signals around the 1.3025 level against the dollar. While US dollar weakness provides a floor, the UK Finance Minister’s hints at future tax hikes could cap any significant rally. Given this tension, traders might consider strategies like straddles or strangles on GBP/USD to play potential volatility around upcoming central bank meetings.
China’s move to lift agricultural tariffs is a positive signal for global trade, directly benefiting commodity currencies. We are looking at the Australian Dollar with renewed interest, especially after the Reserve Bank of Australia adopted a more hawkish tone in its meeting just yesterday. Australia’s trade surplus with China widened to a record in the third quarter of 2025, suggesting that buying AUD call options could be a good way to gain exposure to this risk-on sentiment.
