This week, we caught up with newly-funded TopstepFX trader Shavar H. to talk about his trading journey, how he develops strategies, and why he decided to trade forex in the first place. He reminds us that trading is about more than just money, it's about learning and acquiring a skill that can open all sorts of opportunities down the road.

The British Pound took off last Thursday after French President Emmanuel Macron said that the terms of Britain's proposed exit from the European Union could be amended. This was great news for the ailing British currency, and also for two of our funded forex traders, Johnny P. from Canada and Gnasso T. from Italy, who each racked up more than $4,000 that day riding the Pound higher.

In this episode, Jeff and Martin shift their focus across the Atlantic to Europe, where there’s no shortage of news impacting the markets. From Brexit, to the impact of cryptocurrencies and the evolving state of the Eurozone, Martin has a front row seat to some of the most important market shifting stories in the financial world.

In November 2017, the Bank of England hiked interest rates for the first time in 10 years. The market dubbed that a “dovish hike,” encapsulating the idea that though the BoE hiked interest rates, it provided forward guidance that made it very clear it would not be hiking in the near-term future. Then, Brexit uncertainties grew and the BoE has not hiked interest rates since.

Right now, the market is high on euphoria around the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates. But what happens when it’s a hawkish cut? The Dollar gets sent on its next leg higher, that’s what.

Our base case: the Fed rate cut will be the impetus for the Dollar to strengthen—maybe not immediately, but in the days and weeks after.

The dollar is experiencing notable ups and downs amid changing interest rate expectations lately. The volatility comes ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next rate announcement, which happens just a few hours before markets close on the last trading day of the month. Also making things interesting, a bunch of key economic reports are due in the days just before and after the anticipated rate cut.

Mark Meadows is our forex trading guru here at the Topstep headquarters. Perhaps you have heard some of his sage insights on the  Limit Up! podcast or read his scorching-hot takes in the now-retired MARKet Reaction email. Well, we are proud to announce that Mark is once again expanding his media empire and recently appeared on the immensely popular DailyFX Podcast hosted by Martin Essex.

Four days into his Funded Account®, Nick S. in Texas found himself 51% to his total Account Loss Limit. That's right, his $5,000 balance fell to a closing low of $3,307 — putting him just $1,600 from losing his account. But instead of spiraling deeper and deeper and taking larger risks, Nick says that he was hit with the realization: "This is real money." 

Indeed it was, and Nick finally got back to the strategy that helped him pass the Trading Combine® and earn live trading capital in the first place. That led him on a path to $6,700 in withdrawals over the next two months. 

Here's how Nick did it. 

Euro bulls have had little to cheer about lately. After losing 4.5% to the Dollar in 2018, the currency is again facing losses in the early parts of 2019. In fact, the 2% drop in the first quarter was its worst in four years. EUR/USD is now facing an important test heading into the next European Central Bank meeting this Wednesday, April 10. 

Will this be the impetus leading EUR/USD on it's next leg lower?

Did you see that move in EUR/USD yesterday?

Since hitting a low in early March, EUR/USD has been on a tear, gaining eight out of 11 trading days. Heading into yesterday's Federal Reserve meeting, that put the price pushing up towards some critical resistance.

To make things more interesting, the FOMC went ultra-dovish in their statement, backing away from any interest rate increases in 2019, downgrading the outlook for growth and setting an end date for its quantitative tightening. That hit the U.S. Dollar hard and has EUR/USD threatening to reverse a year-long downtrend. Let's take a closer look.

We have a HUGE WEEK for markets ahead. Take a look at the economic events that are poised to move forex markets in the next five days:

• Monday, 10:30 PM ET: Reserve Bank of Australia
• Wednesday, 10:00 AM ET: Bank of Canada
• Thursday, 7:45 AM ET: European Central Bank
• Friday, 8:30 AM ET: U.S. February Non-Farm Payroll Report

Here’s a look at how all these events may shake out in the market.