Tickshift Weekly Brief Issue #2

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Tickshift Weekly Brief - Issue #2

Issue #2

May 3, 2026

Trade Deficit

8:30 AM EST

U.S. goods and services trade balance for the latest reporting period.

GDP (Advance)

8:15 AM EST

Advance estimate of Q1 2026 GDP growth rate — key gauge of economic expansion.

JOLTS Job Openings

8:30 AM EST

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey — measures labor demand and hiring trends.

Non-Farm Payroll

8:30 AM EST

April 2026 jobs report — most watched labor market indicator for Fed policy direction.

🏦 CENTRAL BANK

The FOMC voted unanimously to keep rates unchanged for a third straight meeting. Chair Powell acknowledged growth risks from the Iran conflict but said inflation remains 'too elevated' to justify cuts. June rate-cut odds collapsed to under 8% after the statement.

🌎 MACRO

The US economy grew 2.0% annualized in Q1 2026, beating the 0.4% consensus, driven by a partial reversal in government spending. However, Core PCE re-accelerated to 3.2% YoY — its highest since mid-2025 — effectively ending the rate-cut conversation for 2026.

⚠️ GEOPOLITICAL

Brent crude topped $126 a barrel this week as the US-Iran conflict showed no signs of resolution. Iran sent an updated peace proposal to mediators in Pakistan on Friday, briefly pulling oil lower. The World Bank forecasts energy prices up 24% in 2026 — the highest since Russia's 2022 invasion.

💼 INSTITUTIONAL

The S&P 500 surged over 10% in April and notched 7 record highs, its best month in over 5 years. The index closed Friday at a new record, marking 5 straight weeks of gains. Big Tech earnings (Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple) all beat estimates, fueling the AI-driven rally.

⚡ DIGITAL ASSETS

Bitcoin traded at $78,178 on May 1, up 0.5% on the week, as institutional demand offset macro headwinds. Strategy (MSTR) now holds 713,502 BTC under fair-value accounting. Gold slipped -1.1% to $4,599/oz as a stronger dollar weighed, while Ethereum dipped -0.5% to $2,312.

Issue #2 of the Tickshift Weekly Brief is out now. This week we cover the biggest macro events of the week — GDP, NFP, JOLTS, and Trade Deficit — plus the latest prop firm rankings, key news, and stream schedule. Stay ahead of the market every week.

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