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Macro

Yield curve, FRED indicators, Fed policy and rate markets

Macro

+2

What Is the CFTC COT Report, and Which Version Should You Actually Read?

Jul 20, 2026

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3 min read

What Is the CFTC COT Report, and Which Version Should You Actually Read?

GBP net short just hit a record. The CFTC publishes three different COT reports, and most traders read the wrong one for currencies.

Macro

Nonfarm Payrolls Explained: What the NFP Report Actually Means for Traders

Jun 28, 2026

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5 min read

Nonfarm Payrolls Explained: What the NFP Report Actually Means for Traders

NFP prints Thursday July 2 at 8:30AM ET. May came in at 172K vs 85K consensus. Here is what the jobs report actually measures and why it moves every market at once.

Macro

+3

Week in Markets: SpaceX Goes Public, Inflation Hits 4.2%, and All Eyes Turn to Warsh

Jun 13, 2026

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4 min read

Week in Markets: SpaceX Goes Public, Inflation Hits 4.2%, and All Eyes Turn to Warsh

SpaceX surged 19% on its historic debut, CPI hit a 3-year high of 4.2%, and Warsh's first dot plot lands Wednesday. Here is everything that moved markets this week.

Macro

+3

Week in Markets: The Streak Snaps, Chips Crack, and Rate Hike Odds Just Doubled

Jun 6, 2026

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4 min read

Week in Markets: The Streak Snaps, Chips Crack, and Rate Hike Odds Just Doubled

The S&P 500's nine-week winning streak ended on chips, an $80B Alphabet raise, and a blowout jobs report that pushed rate hike odds from 31% to 66%.

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