On track to test 6.80 with strong local demand – Societe Generale
Societe Generale analysts flag that CNY is on course to test 6.80 for the first time in three years, even as the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) moderates the pace of appreciation via weaker fixings. Robust domestic savings are supporting Chinese government bonds, while stronger‑than‑expected first‑quarter growth and a solid export performance underpin the Yuan […]
US President Trump confirms talks, threatens to destroy Iran
United States (US) President Donald Trump just confirmed on Truth Social that US representatives are going to Islamabad, where negotiations with Iran will take place on Monday. However, he also ranted on Tehran’s decision to re-close the Strait of Hormuz, and once again, threatened to destroy all Iranian power plants and bridges. Iran decided to […]
Will closely watch jobs data for growing signs of stress
Christopher Waller, a member of the Federal Reserve (Fed), speaks about the economic outlook and monetary policy at Auburn University in Alabama on Friday. He stated that the break-even rate for the job market is currently likely around zero. Key quotes: As the longer Middle East war remains unresolved, inflation and job risks increase. Job […]
Targeted easing over broad cuts – DBS
DBS Group Research expects the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) to keep the 1-year Loan Prime Rate at 3.00% as Chinese growth has firmed and price dynamics improved. The report notes external demand is supporting industrial activity while domestic momentum is uneven. Analysts see limited urgency for broad-based easing, with policymakers likely to stick to […]
USD/JPY slides as Iran reopens Hormuz, WTI plunges and USD weakens
USD/JPY edges lower on Friday as the Japanese Yen (JPY) strengthens against a softer US Dollar (USD), with easing Oil prices providing additional support, given Japan’s heavy reliance on imported energy. At the time of writing, the pair is trading around 158.18, down 0.61% on the day. Despite the decline, the pair remains largely range-bound […]
Hormuz uncertainty keeps markets on edge as USD softens
The US Dollar Index (DXY) is losing momentum near 98.00 as safe-haven demand fades on the reopening news, but downside remains limited amid lingering geopolitical risks. Markets are experiencing fluctuations between relief and renewed caution as developments around the Strait of Hormuz continue to evolve. Earlier reports confirmed that this vital Oil chokepoint is “fully […]
De-escalation hopes support regional currencies – MUFG
MUFG’s Senior Currency Analyst Lloyd Chan notes that improved diplomatic signals in the Middle East have boosted risk sentiment, softening the US Dollar (USD) and supporting Asian FX. However, high US front-end yields still underpin the Dollar, and bond markets remain cautious. Chan highlights that Asian currencies have rebounded on expectations of a quicker resolution, […]
Gold surges past $4,850 as Hormuz reopening crushes the US Dollar
Gold (XAU/USD) price rallies on Friday ahead of the weekend, breaking past the $4,850 level and rising more than 1.50%, as the US-Iran conflict seems to be de-escalating after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, easing inflationary pressures worldwide. Energy prices tumble, with WTI, the US crude oil benchmark, down more than 9%, while the […]
Policy easing expectations trimmed – DBS
DBS Group Research economists highlight that China’s Q1 2026 GDP growth accelerated to 5.0% year-on-year, driven by strong external demand and resilient industrial production, while domestic demand in consumption, investment and credit stayed weak. Improving PPI and CPI readings reduce urgency for aggressive monetary easing, leading DBS to scale back its 2026 1Y LPR cut […]
Competitive edge debate – UBS
UBS Chief Economist Paul Donovan assesses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) may affect productivity and whether the European Union (EU) could gain an advantage over the United States (US). He notes that AI’s productivity impact remains largely potential, but argues that education structures and skill distributions across workforces in the US, key European economies and the […]
