This growth is part of a bigger picture: Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to expand by 4.3% in 2026, while global forex turnover already hit an estimated $9.6 trillion daily in April 2025. However, there’s more to it than macroeconomic figures.

The trends reshaping the market are happening from within. Here are six worth paying close attention to.

1. Trading Has Moved to the Phone

The number of people accessing the market via mobile phones exceeds those accessing it via traditional bank systems. GSMA states that in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are more than 1.1 billion registered mobile money accounts.

The International Monetary Fund states that digitalisation and increased usage of the internet are changing payment systems in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Mobile access changes traders’ behaviour. It lowers the barrier to entry and speeds up deposits and withdrawals. Therefore, brokers who can provide a quality mobile trading experience will have a huge advantage.

2. Regulators Are Watching

The market is becoming more structured and more transparent. In South Africa, the FSCA regulates market conduct for financial institutions. In Kenya, the Capital Markets Authority regulates capital markets and maintains a licensing system that includes online forex brokers.

Nigeria’s SEC has publicly warned that online retail forex trading can be subject to abuse when unregulated. It also provides tools for investors to check operators’ registrations.

As a result, in 2026, more traders are likely to favour brokers that can show clear licensing, transparent operations, and stronger investor safeguards.

3. Volatility Varies by Country

A common mistake is perceiving the African market as one entity. In reality, according to RegTech Afrika, there are 21 countries out of a total of 54 that have a chance of seeing their currencies depreciate in 2025, with some of them losing value by as much as 6% or more.

A trader watching the rand, naira, shilling, or cedi, regional headlines needs more than regional headlines. Country-level macro data, central bank moves, and the US dollar will still play a major role.

4. Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure Is Quietly Improving

Platforms like PAPSS are helping make payments across African countries faster and easier to complete in local currencies. According to official announcements of PAPSS, it has become operational in 18 countries across Africa, with its latest launch in Algeria in 2025.

It has also become operational in Kenya through a partnership with KCB Group, as well as in Rwanda through a partnership with Bank of Kigali.

Step by step, Africa is becoming a more financially connected continent.

5. Execution Quality Is the New Standard

Data from the BIS shows that in April 2025, three-quarters of FX trades were intermediated by the global centers of the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Therefore, the best liquidity and best prices are still linked to global conditions.

For local markets, this raises the bar. Forex traders are becoming increasingly aware that tight spreads, while important, mean little without reliable prices and execution.

Brokers like JustMarkets that can bring all of these elements together are in a much stronger position than competitors.

6. Education as a Necessity

Regulatory disclosures from major global brokers illustrate how tough it is to trade without proper knowledge.

According to publicly available disclosures, between 70% and 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

Forex traders who understand risk management and which financial news to follow have a better chance of surviving the market.

Brokers who invest in education are more likely to be seen by traders as valuable partners rather than mere facilitators.

The Market Rewards the Prepared

Africa’s forex market in 2026 is shaped by volatility, stricter rules, and mobile-first trading. The traders who combine market knowledge with the right tools and the right broker will find real opportunity here, while those who don’t adapt will find the market increasingly unforgiving.

From its role as a traditional store of value to its sensitivity to inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty, gold continues to attract traders seeking efficient and predictable trading opportunities during a period of global uncertainty and high volatility.

For traders looking to effectively access gold markets, choosing the right trading environment is as important as timing their entry.

One of the most popular and effective gold trading platforms is JustMarkets, offering the tools, conditions, and infrastructure to enable traders to achieve their most ambitious gold trading goals.

Tight Spreads on XAU/USD

Cost efficiency is a critical factor in gold trading, especially for active day traders. JustMarkets offers extremely competitive XAU/USD spreads, allowing traders to open and close positions with reduced transaction costs.

Lower spreads can significantly impact short-term strategies, where precision and timing are key to effectively entering a trade.

By minimizing trading costs, JustMarkets helps traders focus more on market analysis and finding the ideal entry point, and less on overhead.

Fast and Reliable Execution

Gold is recognized for its volatility, especially during the day, especially with economic announcements or geopolitical events. Speed is of the essence in volatile markets. JustMarkets provides high-speed execution of orders, which helps minimize the risks of delays, especially during periods of high volatility. This ensures that traders are able to respond better to market conditions, thereby having better control over trade management.

Flexible Trading Conditions

Each trader has their own approach to gold, ranging from intraday trading to position trading. JustMarkets offers flexible leverage and account types, enabling traders to adjust their exposure based on their risk tolerance and trading style.

This flexibility is suitable for both conservative and aggressive traders while still allowing them to access the same global gold market.

Advanced Platforms and Tools

Successful gold trading is based on thorough technical and fundamental analysis. JustMarkets provides access to industry-standard trading platforms equipped with advanced charting tools, multiple timeframes, and a wide range of indicators for recognizing divergences and clear entry points. These features help traders analyze price trends, identify key levels, and plan their trades with greater confidence.

Accessibility via mobile devices and computers via the JustMarkets Mobile Trading app also ensures traders can monitor positions and market movements from anywhere and at any time.

Education and Market Support

Gold is also affected by factors such as inflation rates, central bank policies, and currency fluctuations. Understanding these factors is important for developing a structured trading strategy.

JustMarkets offers resources for traders, which provide information on how global events can impact the price of gold like case studies, daily, bank and weekly analysis.

This is a knowledge-based system, which enables the trader to make more informed decisions rather than relying on the price movements of gold.

Trading Activities That Keep Gold Traders Engaged

In addition to the competitive trading environment, JustMarkets also runs various special activities and campaigns that aim to make the trading experience more interesting.

At certain intervals, the special activities may include trading contests on specific trading instruments, such as gold, which are highly sought after by traders. This will give the traders an added impetus to keep trading.

The special activities are designed to encourage trading, consistency, and skill-building among the traders, along with the additional motivation for the trading strategies.

This is also in line with the overall philosophy of JustMarkets to create a dynamic trading environment where trading, learning, and motivation are linked together.

A Trading Environment Built for Gold Traders

Gold is still one of the most dynamic markets with the greatest number of opportunities in the world. With tight spreads on XAU/USD, fast execution, flexible trading terms, and access to advanced analytical tools, JustMarkets creates an optimal trading environment for those who want to trade gold efficiently.

In addition to the comprehensive educational assistance, JustMarkets continues to position itself as a strong competitor for traders who are looking for professional trading conditions combined with growth opportunities.

Although the year may pose various threats to traders, it also comes along with unparalleled opportunities that may be leveraged to achieve trading success through various trading assets set to display notable volatility trends in the year 2026.

From long-term fundamentals to trading dynamics, these five key assets on JustMarkets are set to continue to be at the forefront in trading in 2026.

1. Gold (XAU/USD): The Ultimate Macro-Driven Asset

The gold price in 2025 reached $4,500 per troy ounce, and it continues to be one of the most traded assets world-wide. Gold is extremely sensitive to changes in the levels of inflation, interest rate forecasts, geopolitical events, and currency exchange rate movements. The recent years have shown the ability of the gold market to provide an extremely strong bullish momentum, as well as intraday momentum.

The relevance of the market of gold in the year 2026 specifically stems from the fact that the environment surrounding the economy of the world is facing challenges associated with growth, debt, and the policies of monetary easing. Despite the falling inflation rate in the economy, the real interest rates are also expected to be pressured downward, which has traditionally translated to favorable market conditions for the price of gold.

The factor of geopolitics uncertainty and tensions between specific countries also adds to the significance of the market of gold.

For traders, the market offers favorable conditions because of its high volatility regime with adequate liquidity.

2. Silver (XAG/USD): Volatility with a Dual Personality

Silver often overshadows gold, but its performance in 2025 significantly outperformed its main competitor. The precious metal briefly reached $85, making it one of the best-performing assets in 2025. While silver, like gold, is sensitive to monetary policy and market sentiment, it also enjoys strong industrial demand related to energy transition technologies, electronics, and manufacturing.

This dual nature makes silver one of the most volatile and fastest-growing precious metals and trading instruments overall. In 2026, as global growth expectations fluctuate and industrial cycles remain uneven, silver will experience sharp directional movements and prolonged periods of volatility, but will fundamentally maintain a growth trend similar to gold.

For traders seeking high volatility, silver offers even greater percentage swings than gold, making it a powerful tool for well-managed strategies, both scalping and holding positions for multiple days.

3. Oil (WTI & Brent): Trading Supply, Politics, and Policy

Oil is still among the market-sensitive commodities. The change in OPEC+ production levels, global events affecting major oil-producing nations, as well as changes in global demand can cause prices to surge within a matter of hours.

Turning the focus on the outlook for the year 2026, it seems likely that the oil market will face well-supplied conditions. However, this will not mean extremely small degrees of volatility. Events surrounding Venezuela represent yet another key source of uncertainty. Changes within US policies regarding Venezuela, the export of oil, and the political leadership of the country could represent important influences on the levels of supply, especially when the focus shifts towards the heavier grades. Yet, the possibility of a substantial recovery looks very unlikely.

Even in highly saturated markets, surprise disruptions, production policy changes, or geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, can cause sharp price moves. Conversely, macroeconomic growth slowdowns or money market cycles may exert pressures on demands, thereby leading to highly two-sided markets.

4. US Stock Indices (Dow 30, S&P 500, Nasdaq): Liquidity and Trend Potential

US indices continue to be key trading assets in global trading activity. The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq reflect US economic performance, as well as global risk appetite, capital flows, and technological leadership, primarily driven by the AI boom.

In 2026, stock markets are likely to face divergent forces. On the one hand, monetary easing is supporting valuations, while slowing economic growth, declining interest in AI, and political uncertainty are increasing volatility and the risk of a deeper sell-off. This combination often leads to strong moves, deep corrections, and renewed all-time highs.

Indices offer unrivaled liquidity, clear technical behavior, and the ability to express macroeconomic views without the risk associated with individual stocks, making them important tools for both short-term and position traders.

5. EUR/USD: The World’s Most Traded Currency Pair

EUR/USD remains the benchmark for forex trading. Its deep liquidity, tight spreads, and technical clarity make it a favorite among professional traders. More importantly, the euro reflects the balance between the world’s two most influential central banks: the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

As interest rate differentials narrow and fiscal dynamics shift on both sides of the Atlantic, there’s every reason to believe EUR/USD will experience prolonged and powerful trending phases, punctuated by strong reactions to economic data and central bank signals.

In 2026, shifts in growth expectations, inflation trajectories, and political developments in both regions will keep this pair highly active, making EUR/USD a preferred option for traders who value stability, transparency, and adaptability across all trading styles.

Perfect Assets to Trade in 2026 

These five markets unite their relevance on a global stage, and the responsiveness of these markets to macroeconomic and geopolitical events. Markets traded in gold, silver, oil, US indices, and the currency pair EUR/USD include the combination of markets most traders seek: deep liquidity, clear structure, and meaningful volatility.

On the JustMarkets trading platform, these instruments excel because of the optimal trading conditions offered, ensuring effective active trading.

Tight spreads, fast execution of orders, as well as high leverage of up to 3000, enable traders to react swiftly to key market drivers, such as central bank statements or inflation figures, as well as geopolitical events.

Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Ensure you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Neither JustMarkets nor Techeconomy provide investment advice or recommendations 

The correlation between gold and currencies, equities, bonds, and even energy markets provides a broader framework for interpreting global risk sentiment.

A growing number of Nigerian investors use this correlation to hedge against inflation, read capital-flow trends, and adjust trading strategies across major currency pairs.

Why Gold Matters in Today’s Macro Environment

This can be explained by looking at the larger picture and how global factors either positively or negatively impact the price of gold: spiraling inflation, geopolitical tension, tightening by central banks, and the flight-to-safety dynamic that heightens in moments of market stress.

African traders, especially those active with international brokers such as JustMarkets, are very sensitive to how gold performs not only as a commodity but also as a macro indicator.

Indeed, the strongest correlations of gold are more often found with the US dollar, major bond markets, equity indices, and energy instruments in periods of high geopolitical risk.

Each one of these offers a different angle for Nigerian traders to approach macroeconomic changes.

Gold and US Dollar: The Most Watched Correlation

The inverse correlation between XAU and the USD remains one of the bedrock relationships in global finance. It usually weighs on gold because a stronger dollar raises the opportunity cost of holding the metal. Conversely, the opposite has occurred when the market has priced in rate cuts, rising inflation, or policy uncertainty.

This relationship provides Forex traders in Nigeria with a macro perspective:

• USD strength; pressure on gold; bullish signals for USD-pairs like USD/JPY or USD/CHF
• USD weakness; appreciation of gold; potential strengthening of the non-USD majors

This dynamic is often emphasized by platforms such as JustMarkets in their markets analytics, allowing traders to match the technical setup with real policy shifts from the Federal Reserve.

Gold and Bond Yields: A Window into Global Risk Appetite

Gold is highly sensitive to real interest rates. When US real yields fell, it sent gold higher because investors saw it as a hedge against inflation and thus a haven. Yet higher yields tend to dampen demand for precious metals.

To traders, this correlation is a reason for short-run volatility around announcements like:

• US CPI
• FOMC decisions
• Results of Treasury auctions

In countries like Nigeria, when domestic inflation is high and Naira pressure amplifies sensitivity to global risk, the movement of gold often proves an early indicator of how capital might rotate between safe havens and risk assets worldwide.

Gold and Equity Markets: The Fear Gauge

While geopolitical tensions or recession fears tend to deflate equity markets, they strengthen gold. This negative relationship is considered helpful for traders looking to deduce spikes in volatility and risk-off flows. Examples include:

• Sharp US30 or NAS100 declines coupled with XAU/USD rallies
• Broad-based sell-offs driven by political uncertainty or commodity shocks

This dynamic helps explain to the Nigerian analysts focused on policy and political economy how global risk events transmit to the local market through capital-flow sentiment.

Gold and Energy: Transmission via the Inflation Channels

Although gold and oil are not directly correlated, both respond to inflation expectations. Surging oil prices can fuel inflation forecasts that support the price of gold.

This channel is particularly important in the case of Nigeria, a major oil exporter. When crude markets temporarily tighten due to supply disruptions or OPEC policy decisions, gold becomes a complement to hedge against global inflation risk.

Trading with the Use of Gold Correlations

A structured approach allows traders to put gold’s relationships into practice:

1. Start with the macro driver.
   Identify whether inflation, geopolitics, or monetary policy is the primary force shaping markets.
2. Translate the macro event into correlation expectations.
   Example: falling bond yields lead to a weaker USD, which in turn supports gold and could lead to upside in EUR/USD.
3. Use correlation clusters instead of isolated signals.
   Gold + USD + bonds provide a more reliable picture than gold alone.
4. Apply risk management aligned with volatility cycles.
   Gold’s volatility often spills over into major currency pairs.

Market platforms like JustMarkets emphasize these cross-asset links to help traders simplify complex macro interactions into actionable insights.

Why Nigerian Traders Pay Close Attention 

The Nigerian economy is highly integrated into global commodity flows; inflation cycles, dollar liquidity, and geopolitical developments tend to reach the local market faster than the pace at which policy adjustments can be made.

Gold serves as a barometer of global risk, a hedge against currency depreciation, and a signal of moves in the key USD pairs that headline Nigeria’s trading activity.

In a region increasingly active in the Forex market, understanding the relationships involving gold is not just about trading but also a strategic tool for analyzing global economic behaviour.

The upgraded IB structure is designed to give even higher returns, more partner transparency, commission flexibility, long-term growth, and clearer rules, adapted to the current macroeconomic environment.

Let’s see why this program is so groundbreaking and what benefits it offers to each partner.

Benefit #1. Income for 100% of client trading volume

The standout change is the shift from a fixed-per-lot payout to a percentage-based commission model, allowing partners to earn:

• Up to 45% of the spread on Standard, Standard Cent accounts.
• Up to 30% of the spread on Pro accounts.

Such a flexible system helps partners to get rewards for 100% of client trading volume, including scalping, intraday, and other short-term strategies often excluded under traditional fixed-lot programs.

Benefit #2. Higher spreads in times of market volatility 

Under the percentage-based model, spreads can increase during periods of market volatility. As a result, commissions will increase, too. Regardless of what traders prefer: gold, oil, Forex, or digital assets, partners can benefit directly from market movement, which makes this program exceptionally profitable during active trading conditions.

Benefit #3. No longer bound by strict MTP rules

Perhaps the biggest frustrations for IBs have been the Minimum Trading Point requirement, which filters out a huge portion of eligible trades.

JustMarkets has fully removed it, meaning every completed trade went straight to the partner earnings.

This creates a better, more predictable revenue stream, especially valuable for high-frequency traders.

Benefit #4. More tools, transparency, and rewards

JustMarkets has also improved its Partner Area with real-time reporting tools, updated commission details, and full visibility into client spreads directly in the trading terminal.

This change aimed to build more trustful broker-traders and broker-partners relationships by showing exactly how commissions are calculated.

To further support growth, the program offers loyalty rewards worth up to $500,000, including cash bonuses, luxury gadgets, and even cars. Nigerian partners also benefit from naira-friendly deposits and withdrawals, as well as access to marketing assets like banners, landing pages, and analytics.

A program built for long-term partnerships

JustMarkets is strengthening its commitment to partner success with a next-level IB program built for today’s market dynamics. This upgrade removes outdated requirements like the MTP, ensuring that every trade contributes to partner earnings. It also features a flexible, percentage-based commission system, offering up to 45% of the spread for all instruments, from gold and oil to Forex and digital assets.

According to Yasser Mansour, who is JustMarkets senior key account manager, all these changes were made with partners and traders in mind:

“We did everything to deliver a fairer, more adaptable, and more rewarding partnership model. Our team believes that traders and partners are the heart of every innovation and service we work on. The revamped IB program is a great tool for partners to get new opportunities, grow their businesses, and succeed in highly volatile markets. Our sincere aim is to provide the most transparent and rewarding partnership environment for partners and traders worldwide.”

To start using the JustMarkets Trading app, simply register and download it on your Android or iOS device.

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Billed as the largest fintech and online trading gathering in the region, the expo brought together brokers, investors, fintech innovators, and financial institutions from across Asia and beyond.

The award recognises firms with a strong international presence, cutting-edge technology, and a proven commitment to supporting traders in achieving success.

Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of the company, Prem Pandey, business development manager at JustMarkets, described the recognition as a milestone for both the team and its clients:

“Winning ‘Best Global Broker 2025’ at Money Expo India is a fantastic achievement for our brand, our people, and every client and partner who trusts us. It shows that our efforts to make trading accessible and transparent are paying off, not just in recognition, but in the real success stories of our traders, the growth of our partners, and the appreciation we receive from people all over the world.”

Pandey also delivered a keynote address during the event, outlining the future of forex trading under three core themes: opportunities, responsibilities, and the right partnerships.

Strong Presence at Money Expo India 2025

As an Elite Sponsor, JustMarkets was a central part of this year’s expo. Over two days, the team showcased new features on the JustMarkets Trading App, engaged with clients and industry partners, and shared insights into the evolving Indian financial market.

The expo offered a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration, reinforcing India’s role as one of the fastest-growing hubs in the global fintech and trading ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

The award underscores JustMarkets’ mission to build a transparent and trader-focused environment where both beginners and professionals can thrive.

With its continued global expansion, the company aims to strengthen its role as a reliable partner for traders worldwide, helping them build not just portfolios, but sustainable financial futures.