Preferred G10 relief trade on de-escalation – OCBC
OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong highlights Australian Dollar (AUD) as the preferred G10 expression of de-escalation and pro-growth after the US-Iran ceasefire. They note that high-beta energy importers like Swedish Krona (SEK) and New Zealand Dollar (NZD) led the snapback, but AUD stands out as a pro-cyclical currency relatively resilient to energy […]
German Industrial Production declines 0.3% MoM in February vs. 0.9% expected
Germany’s industrial sector activity fell sharply in February, the latest data published by Destatis showed on Thursday. Industrial Output, in the Eurozone’s economic powerhouse, declined by 0.3% over the month in February, the federal statistics authority Destatis said in figures adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, compared with the expected 0.9% rise and 0% recorded in January […]
Gold stays on the back foot as fragile US-Iran truce underpins USD
Gold (XAU/USD) once again shows some resilience below the $4,700 mark during the Asian session on Thursday, and for now, seems to have stalled the previous day’s retracement slide from a three-week high. Skepticism over the durability of the US-Iran ceasefire benefits the US Dollar’s (USD) reserve currency status and acts as a headwind for […]
Iran says peace talks would be ‘unreasonable’ as Israel expands Lebanon strikes
Sporadic fighting continued in the Middle East, including in Lebanon, killing hundreds of people and drawing a threat of retaliation from Iran, Reuters reported on Thursday. Iran officials cast that as violating the terms of the less than day-old ceasefire, suggesting that it would be “unreasonable” to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace […]
FOMC Minutes reinforce ‘higher-for-longer’ as markets digest the ceasefire
Here is what you need to know for Thursday, April 9: The US Dollar Index (DXY) holds firm near 99.10, supported by safe-haven demand late in the American session with expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will remain cautious on easing. Markets reacted swiftly after the release of the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) […]
Fed Minutes to provide clues on March hold decision amid hawkish stance
The Federal Reserve (Fed) will publish its Minutes from the March 18 meeting on Wednesday. The release should be less about the decision itself and more about the officials’ “no rush to cut” narrative. Let’s recall that the Fed matched consensus last month, leaving its Fed Funds Target Range (FFTR) unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%, although both […]
Bearish momentum gains traction below 0.7900
The US Dollar (USD) accelerated its reversal against the Swiss Franc (CHF) on Wednesday, as investors pared back US Dollar long positions following the announcement of a ceasefire in Iran. The pair’s reversal from weekly highs right above 0.8000 extended to session lows near 0.7870 before picking up to the 0.7890 area at the time […]
Gold retains positive as US‑Iran ceasefire, easing Fed bets hit USD
Gold (XAU/USD) builds on the previous day’s bounce from the $4,600 neighborhood and gains strong positive traction for the second straight day, hitting a nearly three-week peak during the Asian session on Wednesday. The precious metal, however, retreats slightly from the daily swing high and currently trades around the $4,800 round figure, still up 2.0% […]
PBOC sets USD/CNY reference rate at 6.8680 vs. 6.8854 previous
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead on Wednesday at 6.8680 compared to the previous day’s fix of 6.8854 and 6.8369 Reuters estimate. PBOC FAQs The primary monetary policy objectives of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) are to safeguard price stability, including exchange rate stability, […]
Iran confirms US negotiations, says ceasefire hinges on finalising 10-point proposal
An Iranian official stated that it has accepted a two-week ceasefire after US President Donald Trump said he would suspend attacks, subject to Tehran agreeing to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran added that negotiations with the US will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, to finalize details, aiming to confirm Iran’s battlefield achievements politically within […]
