In October, Ireland’s AIB Services PMI rose to 56.7 from 53.5 last month, showing a strong improvement in the service sector. The Euro gained strength as traders anticipated a careful stance from the European Central Bank in the next policy meeting. The British Pound stayed above 1.3000, affected by expected tax increases in the UK budget. Gold prices increased due to safe-haven demand amid fears of a continuing US government shutdown. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple stabilized after recent market corrections, showing less volatility. Stellar’s (XLM) price is at risk of falling 15% due to a bearish trend and weaker retail demand. Traders are cautious as different approaches from central banks are impacting currencies like the Australian Dollar and the Pound. FXStreet underlines that market information is for informational use only. Investing carries inherent risks, including possible total losses, so readers should do thorough research. Neither the author nor FXStreet gives direct investment advice. The strong Irish services PMI score of 56.7 in October indicates solid economic activity in key areas of the Eurozone. This could be a sign to consider long positions in the Euro, especially through EUR/USD call options, as the pair stays around 1.1500. This data, showing Ireland’s Q3 2025 GDP growth at a healthy 1.1%, suggests a possible divergence trade against slower parts of the region. The ongoing US government shutdown is creating significant uncertainty, driving a preference for safety that has been rising for some time. With gold prices exceeding $3,950 an ounce and silver above $47.50, using derivatives to stay long on precious metals seems wise. This situation is highlighted by the latest US CPI data from September 2025, which showed persistent inflation at 4.5%, making real assets more appealing than they were back in 2023. For the British Pound, we are seeing mixed signals around the 1.3025 mark against the dollar. While weakness in the US dollar provides support, hints from the UK Finance Minister about future tax increases could limit any significant gains. Given this situation, traders might consider strategies like straddles or strangles on GBP/USD to take advantage of potential volatility around upcoming central bank meetings. China’s decision to lift agricultural tariffs is a positive sign for global trade, benefiting commodity currencies directly. We are looking at the Australian Dollar with renewed interest, especially after the Reserve Bank of Australia adopted a more hawkish tone in its recent meeting. Australia’s trade surplus with China widened to a record in Q3 2025, suggesting that buying AUD call options could be a smart way to engage with this risk-on sentiment.

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