Pending home sales in the United States rose by 2.6% in November, compared to a drop of 0.4% the previous year. Gold prices fell significantly after hitting record highs, but remain above $4,300. This drop was influenced by profit-taking and hopes for a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

Cryptocurrency Market Update

In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple saw gains of about 3%. Their rise occurred despite low trading volume, boosted by peace talks between the US and Russia. Looking ahead, the economic outlook for advanced countries in 2026 looks bright. Many positive factors from 2025 are expected to carry over, supporting economic growth. The crypto market in 2026 may be unpredictable. Some positive influences could be new regulations in the US, the growth of Digital Asset Treasuries, and the increasing use of AI and the tokenization of Real-World Assets. Several guides for 2025 detail the top brokers for different trading styles. These include brokers with low spreads, those focused on EUR/USD and gold trading, and those offering Islamic and swap-free accounts.

US Pending Home Sales Increase

The recent increase in U.S. pending home sales to 2.6% year-over-year in November indicates a potential stabilization in the housing market. This uptick follows a prolonged pause on interest rates in 2024. We need to pay close attention to the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes; any indication of possible rate cuts in 2026 could lead to significant shifts in interest rate futures. As the year closes with low trading volume, market volatility has lessened. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) hovered around a low of 12 at the end of 2023. With positive economic forecasts for 2026, this might be a good time to sell options premium on stock indices. This strategy allows us to generate income during a quiet market while setting up for potential growth in the new year. Gold is sharply falling from its peak of $4,550, which is much higher than the previous record of about $2,400 seen in mid-2024. This decline is driven by profit-taking and increasing hopes for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Buying put options on gold could be advantageous, as a confirmed agreement would likely lower much of the geopolitical risk that led to its high price. The potential for a peace deal is also impacting currency markets by reducing the U.S. dollar’s status as a safe haven. While the dollar is currently stable, a strong resolution to the conflict could strengthen riskier currencies like the euro and pound. This suggests we should prepare for possible dollar weakness as we move into the first quarter of 2026. Create your live VT Markets account and start trading now.

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