Growth risks and steady rates – UOB
UOB’s Global Economics & Markets Research, led by Julia Goh and Loke Siew Ting, notes Malaysia’s 1Q26 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 5.4% year-on-year, slightly above estimates but slower than 4Q25. Domestic demand and services remained key drivers, while external headwinds and the Middle East conflict are intensifying downside risks. UOB keeps its 2026 GDP […]
Crashes below $77 as RSI shifts bearish
Silver (XAG/USD) price collapses by 7.90% on Friday as US Treasury yields skyrocket amid investor fears of a second round of inflation, fueling speculation that major central banks could raise interest rates in the near term. The XAG/USD pair trades at $76.88 after reaching a high of $83.87. XAG/USD Price Forecast: Technical outlook In the […]
Dollar strength caps RMB-led optimism – OCBC
OCBC’s strategist Christopher Wong says Asian FX remains constrained by a firm Dollar and higher US yields, despite some optimism around US–China talks. The Renminbi (RMB) is the main outperformer on lower USD/CNY fixes and policy-tolerated appreciation, but broader Asia FX stays soft. The bank characterizes the backdrop as measured, selective optimism rather than a […]
Markets shift focus to PMIs and central bank events
The US Dollar Index (DXY) climbs above the 99.30 region, reaching fresh multi-week highs on Friday as stronger-than-expected United States (US) economic data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) may keep interest rates elevated for longer. April Retail Sales rose 0.5%, highlighting resilient consumer spending despite elevated borrowing costs, while hotter Consumer Price Index […]
Energy shock lifts inflation more than GDP – ING
ING’s Min Joo Kang expects Japan’s economy to maintain similar growth to the previous quarter, with first-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) seen rising 0.3% quarter-on-quarter. The war-related energy shock is judged to have limited impact on trade and growth but a more visible effect on inflation. ING forecasts April inflation at 1.8% year-on-year, helped by […]
NODX gains extend on AI cycle – DBS
DBS economists Taimur Baig and Radhika Rao anticipate Singapore’s April 2026 non-oil domestic exports to rise 11.5% year-on-year, marking an eighth consecutive month of expansion after 15.3% in March. The performance is expected to be driven by strong electronics benefiting from global artificial intelligence demand, while non-electronics lag and petrochemicals face downside risks from Middle […]
Tech exports sustain strong growth – ING
ING analysts see Taiwan’s external demand remaining a key growth driver, led by technology exports. They expect export orders to stay very strong, even as the year-on-year rate moderates. Robust higher-tech product prices are supporting headline export values and overall growth, although they also raise import costs, tempering some of the positive impact on Taiwan’s […]
Growth outlook improves on US-China talks – DBS
DBS Group Research economist Samuel Tse assesses how recent US-China talks are shaping the outlook for Chinese growth and Chinese Yuan (CNY) rates. He highlights a more constructive bilateral tone, prospects for improved US market access, and potential easing of trade frictions. Stronger exports and sector-specific agreements are seen supporting China’s economy and putting mild […]
British Pound tumbles as UK turmoil, Iran risks lift USD
The GBP/USD pair extends on Friday its losses for the fourth straight day, poised to finish the week down more than 2% as political turmoil in the UK and increased speculation that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s successor could widen fiscal deficits weigh on the currency. At the time of writing, GBP/USD trades at 1.3343, its […]
Gold drops to over one-week lows as hawkish Fed bets boost US Dollar, Treasury yields
Gold (XAU/USD) slides to over one-week lows on Friday, pressured by a stronger US Dollar (USD) and rising Treasury yields as mounting Oil-driven inflation risks strengthen expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could keep interest rates elevated for longer. At the time of writing, XAU/USD is trading around $4,545, down 2.25% on the day. The […]
