Chronologiczny zapis wiadomości forex

piątek, luty 6, 2026

The report by Nordea, authored by Jan von Gerich, discusses the recent rebound of the USD against the EUR and JPY. Despite the rebound, the report maintains a bearish outlook for the USD in the long term as investors seek alternatives.

The report by Nordea, authored by Jan von Gerich, discusses the recent rebound of the USD against the EUR and JPY. Despite the rebound, the report maintains a bearish outlook for the USD in the long term as investors seek alternatives.Recent USD movements and market outlook"Such moves once again suggest that the USD is not on the verge of collapse and worries towards the status of the USD can ease as fast as they arise.""That said, we continue to think the USD will weaken further going forward, as investors continue to seek alternatives to the USD, even if such a moves will not take place on a one-way street.""We maintain our core views of no rate moves from either the Fed or the ECB this year, while we continue to expect longer rates to creep higher."(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Switzerland Foreign Currency Reserves dipped from previous 725B to 712B in January

Switzerland Unemployment Rate s.a (MoM) fell from previous 3% to 2.9% in January

Austria Wholesale Prices n.s.a (MoM): 0.7% (January) vs -0.9%

Austria Wholesale Prices n.s.a (YoY): 0.4% (January) vs 0.1%

Spain Industrial Output Cal Adjusted (YoY): -0.3% (December) vs previous 4.5%

France Current Account rose from previous €-0.8B to €-0.6B in December

France Trade Balance EUR came in at €-4.8B below forecasts (€-4.1B) in December

France Exports, EUR increased to €53.1B in December from previous €52.2B

France Imports, EUR climbed from previous €56.4B to €57.9B in December

AUD/CAD remains in the positive territory after recovering its daily losses, trading around 0.9520 during the European hours on Friday. However, the upside of the currency cross could be limited as the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) receives support from higher Oil prices.

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However, the upside of the currency cross could be limited as the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) receives support from higher Oil prices. Traders will watch Canada’s labor market data and Ivey Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for January due for release later in the North American session.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price advances after registering modest losses in the previous session, trading around $64.00 per barrel at the time of writing. However, WTI price is on track for a weekly decline after six consecutive weeks of gains, largely driven by expectations surrounding a United States (US)–Iran meeting scheduled later in the day.Any meaningful progress in US-Iran talks could ease near-term fears of military escalation and potential supply disruptions involving the major OPEC producer, which accounts for roughly one-third of global crude output.The AUD/CAD cross also came under pressure as the Australian Dollar (AUD) weakened amid broad-based selling in global equities and other risk-sensitive assets. The commodity-linked AUD, often viewed as a liquid proxy for global risk sentiment, was hit by a tech-led equity sell-off driven by concerns over heavy AI-related spending, which unsettled investor confidence.However, the AUD later regained some ground against its major peers following comments from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock, who said the board raised the Official Cash Rate (OCR) as the economy is more capacity-constrained than previously assessed, requiring a tighter policy stance. Bullock added that the RBA must curb demand growth unless supply capacity expands more rapidly. Canadian Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar? The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar. How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar? The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive. How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar? The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD. How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar? While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar. How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar? Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.

Here is what you need to know on Friday, February 6:

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In the second half of the day, the University of Michigan (UoM) will publish the preliminary Consumer Confidence data for February. The Canadian economic calendar will feature January employment data and investors will pay close attention to comments from central bankers throughout the day. US Dollar Price This week The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies this week. US Dollar was the strongest against the Japanese Yen. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD 0.47% 0.91% 1.18% 0.61% -0.05% 0.61% 0.64% EUR -0.47% 0.39% 0.74% 0.13% -0.52% 0.17% 0.16% GBP -0.91% -0.39% 0.23% -0.26% -0.92% -0.26% -0.23% JPY -1.18% -0.74% -0.23% -0.55% -1.23% -0.53% -0.80% CAD -0.61% -0.13% 0.26% 0.55% -0.62% 0.02% 0.03% AUD 0.05% 0.52% 0.92% 1.23% 0.62% 0.66% 0.68% NZD -0.61% -0.17% 0.26% 0.53% -0.02% -0.66% 0.04% CHF -0.64% -0.16% 0.23% 0.80% -0.03% -0.68% -0.04% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote). Major equity indexes in the US lost more than 1% on Thursday, further supporting the USD during the American trading hours. In the European morning on Friday, US stock index futures are down between 0.2% and 0.5%, reflecting a risk-averse market atmosphere. The data from the US showed on Thursday that there were 6.54 million Job Openings in December. This print came in worse than the market expectation of 7.2 million.The European Central Bank (ECB) left key rates unchanged, as expected, following the February policy meeting. In the press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde noted that a stronger Euro (EUR) could bring inflation down more than expected. Although Lagarde added that they don't have a target for the Euro exchange rate, she noted that they will continue to keep a close eye on the situation. EUR/USD lost more than 0.2% on Thursday and continued to push lower in the early Asian session on Friday before staging a rebound. At the time of press, EUR/USD, was trading slightly below 1.1800.The Bank of England (BoE) announced on Thursday that they maintained the bank rate at 3.75% after an unexpectedly close vote. Four members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted in favor of a rate cut. BoE Governor Bailey said that disinflation is running ahead of the schedule they projected in November. Regarding the rate outlook, "judgements around further rate cuts will become a closer call," Bailey added. Pound Sterling came under heavy selling pressure against its rivals following the BoE event and GBP/USD lost about 0.9% on a daily basis. The pair corrects higher on Wednesday and trades above 1.3550. Gold came under heavy selling pressure on Thursday and lost more than 3.5%. After falling to the $4,650 region in the Asian session on Friday, XAU/USD gathered recovery momentum and was last seen rising about 1.5% on the day near $4,860. Silver lost about 20% on Thursday and touched its lowest level since mid-December near $64 early Friday. XAG/USD gains traction to start the European session and trades in positive territory near $73.The Unemployment Rate in Canada is expected to remain unchanged at 6.8% in January. In this period, Net Change in Employment is seen rising by 7K. USD/CAD trades marginally lower on the day below 1.3700 after rising more than 0.3% on Thursday.USD/JPY closed the fifth consecutive trading day in positive territory on Thursday. The pair stays in a consolidation phase and fluctuates in a tight channel above 156.50 in the European morning on Friday. Investors could refrain from taking large positions in the pair ahead of this weekend's general election in Japan. Central banks FAQs What does a central bank do? Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%. What does a central bank do when inflation undershoots or overshoots its projected target? A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing. Who decides on monetary policy and interest rates? A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%. Is there a president or head of a central bank? Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.

Commerzbank's report by Dr. Jörg Krämer and Bernd Weidensteiner discusses the recent fluctuations in Gold prices, highlighting a partial recovery from a slump.

Commerzbank's report by Dr. Jörg Krämer and Bernd Weidensteiner discusses the recent fluctuations in Gold prices, highlighting a partial recovery from a slump. The analysis suggests that while uncertainties persist, the price of Gold may have further upside potential, but significant geopolitical risks could dampen its rise. The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring macroeconomic factors influencing Gold's value.Gold price outlook and market dynamics"The prices of gold and silver have partially recovered from their temporary slump. We show how things could develop going forward.""Unlike in most previous cases, the rise in the price of gold in recent months has not been accompanied by a significant decline in interest rates or an increase in (long-term) inflation expectations, which make gold more attractive as a non-interest-bearing investment and store of value.""Even though the gold price has now recovered a large part of its recent losses, the past few days have shown that an easing of these uncertainties could halt the gold price's surge at any time and trigger a correction.""However, if uncertainties persist, the price of gold – and, as a result, the price of silver – is likely to have further upside potential.""In the medium term, we expect gold and silver to stabilize and recover somewhat from their recent decline."(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

NZD/USD gains after two days of losses, trading around 0.5980 during the early European hours on Friday. Traders will watch the preliminary February US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, due for release later in the North American session.

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Traders will watch the preliminary February US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, due for release later in the North American session.The NZD/USD pair appreciates as the US Dollar (USD) softens, as recent US labor data point to a cooling job market, reviving dovish Fed expectations. Markets now price two rate cuts this year, starting in June, with another potentially in September.The CME FedWatch tool suggests that markets are pricing in nearly a 77.3% chance that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will hold interest rates steady at its March policy meeting, with anticipation of a first rate reduction in June.On the data front, the US Department of Labor showed on Thursday that Initial Jobless Claims rose to 231K in the week ending January 31, above estimates of 212K and the prior 209K. Meanwhile, ADP reported on Wednesday, private payrolls rose by just 22K in January, well below expectations of 48K and the previous 37K (revised from 41K).However, the upside in the NZD/USD pair may remain capped as the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) continues to face headwinds from fading expectations of an imminent rate hike by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).A mixed New Zealand labor market report earlier this week weighed on sentiment, with unemployment unexpectedly rising to a decade high, even as employment growth exceeded forecasts. The data prompted markets to push back expectations for near-term policy tightening.Traders are now not fully pricing in a rate increase until October, while the implied probability of a September move stands near 70%. The RBNZ’s first policy meeting under new Governor Anna Breman is scheduled for February 18 and is widely expected to result in no change to interest rates. Updated economic and rate projections will also be released at the meeting. New Zealand Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the New Zealand Dollar? The New Zealand Dollar (NZD), also known as the Kiwi, is a well-known traded currency among investors. Its value is broadly determined by the health of the New Zealand economy and the country’s central bank policy. Still, there are some unique particularities that also can make NZD move. The performance of the Chinese economy tends to move the Kiwi because China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner. Bad news for the Chinese economy likely means less New Zealand exports to the country, hitting the economy and thus its currency. Another factor moving NZD is dairy prices as the dairy industry is New Zealand’s main export. High dairy prices boost export income, contributing positively to the economy and thus to the NZD. How do decisions of the RBNZ impact the New Zealand Dollar? The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) aims to achieve and maintain an inflation rate between 1% and 3% over the medium term, with a focus to keep it near the 2% mid-point. To this end, the bank sets an appropriate level of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the RBNZ will increase interest rates to cool the economy, but the move will also make bond yields higher, increasing investors’ appeal to invest in the country and thus boosting NZD. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken NZD. The so-called rate differential, or how rates in New Zealand are or are expected to be compared to the ones set by the US Federal Reserve, can also play a key role in moving the NZD/USD pair. How does economic data influence the value of the New Zealand Dollar? Macroeconomic data releases in New Zealand are key to assess the state of the economy and can impact the New Zealand Dollar’s (NZD) valuation. A strong economy, based on high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence is good for NZD. High economic growth attracts foreign investment and may encourage the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to increase interest rates, if this economic strength comes together with elevated inflation. Conversely, if economic data is weak, NZD is likely to depreciate. How does broader risk sentiment impact the New Zealand Dollar? The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) tends to strengthen during risk-on periods, or when investors perceive that broader market risks are low and are optimistic about growth. This tends to lead to a more favorable outlook for commodities and so-called ‘commodity currencies’ such as the Kiwi. Conversely, NZD tends to weaken at times of market turbulence or economic uncertainty as investors tend to sell higher-risk assets and flee to the more-stable safe havens.

The yen continues to weaken as political dynamics add downward pressure ahead of the 8 February election in Japan.

The yen continues to weaken as political dynamics add downward pressure ahead of the 8 February election in Japan. MUFG's Senior Currency Analyst Lloyd Chan suggests that Prime Minister Takaichi's ruling coalition could secure a majority, which may bolster market expectations for increased government spending. The USD/JPY is retracing back toward the 160.00 handle after a recent fall to the 152.00 level.Political pressures impact the yen"The yen continues to soften, with USDJPY retracing back toward the 160.00 handle after falling sharply to the 152.00 level recently. Political dynamics are adding to the downward pressure: ahead of the 8 February election, local media report suggests Prime Minister Takaichi’s ruling coalition could potentially secure a majority in the 465-seat lower house.""A solid mandate would likely give the administration greater latitude on fiscal policy, bolstering market expectations for increased government spending."(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Germany’s industrial sector activity fell sharply in December, the latest data published by Destatis showed on Friday.

.fxs-major-currency-prices-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:8px 16px}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table{width:100%;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:1rem}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table th{background-color:#f2f2f2}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td{color:#fff}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.green{background-color:#9cd6cd}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.red{background-color:#faafb5}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.blue-grey{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-legend{font-size:11px;margin:8px;color:#49494f}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.dark-green{background-color:#39ad9a}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-green{background-color:#9cd6cd}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.gray{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-red{background-color:#faafb5}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.strong-red{background-color:#f55e6a} Germany’s industrial sector activity fell sharply in December, the latest data published by Destatis showed on Friday. Industrial Output, in the Eurozone’s economic powerhouse, dropped by 1.9% over the month in December, the federal statistics authority Destatis said in figures adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, compared with the expected 0.3% decline and a 0.2% growth recorded in November (revised from 0.8%).Annually, the German Industrial Production declined by 0.6% in the same period, following November’s revised 0.5% increase.EUR/USD reaction to the German Industrial Production data
At the press time, the EUR/USD pair remains firm near 1.1797, up 0.14% on the day. Euro Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the strongest against the US Dollar. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD -0.13% -0.24% -0.19% -0.06% -0.20% -0.26% -0.24% EUR 0.13% -0.11% -0.07% 0.07% -0.08% -0.12% -0.11% GBP 0.24% 0.11% 0.04% 0.18% 0.05% -0.01% 0.00% JPY 0.19% 0.07% -0.04% 0.16% 0.00% -0.06% -0.03% CAD 0.06% -0.07% -0.18% -0.16% -0.15% -0.21% -0.18% AUD 0.20% 0.08% -0.05% -0.01% 0.15% -0.06% -0.04% NZD 0.26% 0.12% 0.01% 0.06% 0.21% 0.06% 0.02% CHF 0.24% 0.11% -0.00% 0.03% 0.18% 0.04% -0.02% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).

Germany Industrial Production n.s.a. w.d.a. (YoY) declined to -0.6% in December from previous 0.8%

United Kingdom Halifax House Prices (MoM) registered at 0.7% above expectations (0.1%) in January

Germany Imports (MoM) registered at 1.4% above expectations (0.2%) in December

Germany Trade Balance s.a. registered at €17.1B above expectations (€14.1B) in December

Germany Industrial Production s.a. (MoM) registered at -1.9%, below expectations (-0.3%) in December

Germany Exports (MoM) came in at 4%, above expectations (1%) in December

The USD/CAD pair trades with mild losses near 1.3685 during the early European session on Friday. The US Dollar (USD) softens against the Canadian Dollar (CAD) amid weaker-than-expected US economic data and a rise in crude oil prices.

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The US Dollar (USD) softens against the Canadian Dollar (CAD) amid weaker-than-expected US economic data and a rise in crude oil prices. The preliminary reading of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index report for February will be in the spotlight later on Friday. Data released on Thursday showed that the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week. Meanwhile, US job openings unexpectedly fell in December to the lowest level since 2020, and layoffs rose. Companies revealed the most job cutbacks in January since the Great Recession in 2009. Signs of weakening in the US labor market could drag the Greenback lower against the CAD. Meanwhile, ongoing geopolitical risks could boost crude oil prices and provide some support to the commodity-linked Loonie. It is worth noting that Canada is a major oil-exporting country, and high crude oil prices generally have a positive impact on the CAD. However, the downside for the pair might be limited amid hawkish shifts in Federal Reserve (Fed) leadership expectations. US President Donald Trump nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as Fed chair last week. Traders anticipate a slower pace of interest rate cuts under his tenure and a focus on shrinking the Fed's balance sheet. Canadian Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar? The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar. How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar? The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive. How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar? The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD. How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar? While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar. How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar? Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.

GBP/USD suffered a double whammy, tumbling by 0.8% to 1.3550 overnight. The market significantly increased bets that the Bank of England would cut the bank rate by 25 bps at the next March meeting.

GBP/USD suffered a double whammy, tumbling by 0.8% to 1.3550 overnight. The market significantly increased bets that the Bank of England would cut the bank rate by 25 bps at the next March meeting. Additionally, GBP’s political risk premium has increased significantly amid a political crisis for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, notes Philip Wee, Senior FX Strategist at DBS.GBP/USD declines amid political turmoil"GBP/USD suffered a double whammy, tumbling by 0.8% to 1.3550 overnight.""First, the market significantly increased bets, from 18.6% to 61%, that the Bank of England would cut the bank rate by 25 bps cut at the next March 19 meeting.""Second, GBP’s political risk premium has increased significantly."(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price recovers its recent losses from the previous session, trading around $63.90 per barrel during the Asian hours on Friday.

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However, WTI price is on track for a weekly decline after six consecutive weeks of gains, largely driven by expectations surrounding a United States (US)–Iran meeting scheduled later in the day.Tehran is expected to center the talks on its long-standing nuclear dispute with Western powers, while Washington aims to broaden the agenda to include Iran’s ballistic missile program, regional proxy support, and human rights concerns.Any meaningful progress could ease near-term fears of military escalation and potential supply disruptions involving the major OPEC producer, which accounts for roughly one-third of global crude output.That said, differing views on the scope of the discussions raise doubts about whether key differences can be resolved. A renewed escalation in US–Iran tensions could threaten Oil flows, as nearly 20% of global Oil consumption transits the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran.Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia lowered official selling prices for its flagship crude to Asia to the weakest level since late 2020, signaling oversupply conditions, although the smaller-than-anticipated cut suggested underlying confidence in demand.Markets are also watching developments in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, following renewed strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, even as Washington and Moscow moved to reestablish senior-level military dialogue. WTI Oil FAQs What is WTI Oil? WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media. What factors drive the price of WTI Oil? Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa. How does inventory data impact the price of WTI Oil The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency. How does OPEC influence the price of WTI Oil? OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.

UOB's report, authored by Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann, suggests that the EUR/USD is facing downside risks, with potential support levels highlighted. The report indicates that a break below 1.1750 could occur, although a significant drop to 1.1725 is deemed unlikely at this time.

UOB's report, authored by Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann, suggests that the EUR/USD is facing downside risks, with potential support levels highlighted. The report indicates that a break below 1.1750 could occur, although a significant drop to 1.1725 is deemed unlikely at this time. The overall sentiment remains bearish for the Euro against the Dollar.EUR/USD downside risk outlook"Risk for EUR is tilted to the downside; a break below 1.1750 is not ruled out, but 1.1725 is likely out of reach for now.""While EUR has not been able to make much headway on the downside since then, we will continue to hold the same view as long as 1.1860 ('strong resistance' level was at 1.1875 yesterday) is not breached."(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

South Africa Net $Gold & Forex Reserve climbed from previous $71.144B to $74.877B in January

South Africa Gross $Gold & Forex Reserve up to $80.19B in January from previous $75.89B

GBP/USD rebounds after two days of gains, trading around 1.3560 during the Asian hours on Friday. The technical analysis of the daily chart points to a potential bearish reversal as the pair is positioned near the lower boundary of an ascending channel pattern.

.fxs-major-currency-prices-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:8px 16px}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table{width:100%;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:1rem}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table th{background-color:#f2f2f2}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td{color:#fff}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.green{background-color:#9cd6cd}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.red{background-color:#faafb5}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.blue-grey{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-legend{font-size:11px;margin:8px;color:#49494f}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.dark-green{background-color:#39ad9a}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-green{background-color:#9cd6cd}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.gray{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-red{background-color:#faafb5}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.strong-red{background-color:#f55e6a}GBP/USD rebounded from support near 1.3520 at the channel base, followed by the 50-day EMA.The 14-day Relative Strength Index holds at 50 signals neutral momentum.The initial resistance lies at the nine-day EMA of 1.3626.GBP/USD rebounds after two days of gains, trading around 1.3560 during the Asian hours on Friday. The technical analysis of the daily chart points to a potential bearish reversal as the pair is positioned near the lower boundary of an ascending channel pattern.The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum indicator, at 50 is neutral. RSI hovering around the midline would turn more supportive on a move above 50 and weaken below it.The GBP/USD pair holds above the rising 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 1.3496, while capped by the nine-day EMA at 1.3626. The short-term average is rolling over, restraining upside as the medium-term slope stays positive. The moving average structure keeps the broader tone supported, yet near-term traction is fading and favors consolidation before direction resumes.The immediate support is seen at the lower boundary of the ascending channel around 1.3520, followed by the 50-day EMA at 1.3496. A break beneath the longer average would strengthen the bearish bias and put downward pressure on the GBP/USD pair to test the support reversal zone around 1.3350.On the upside, the GBP/USD pair may target the nine-day EMA of 1.3626. A daily close above the short-term average could unlock a move toward resistance at 1.3869, the highest since September 2021, reached on January 27. Further advances would support the pair to test the upper boundary of the ascending channel around 1.4050. A break above the channel could open a fresh leg higher toward 1.4248, the highest since April 2018.GBP/USD: Daily Chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.) Pound Sterling Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the strongest against the US Dollar. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD -0.14% -0.21% -0.20% -0.03% -0.11% -0.22% -0.22% EUR 0.14% -0.07% -0.07% 0.10% 0.03% -0.08% -0.07% GBP 0.21% 0.07% 0.00% 0.19% 0.10% -0.01% -0.01% JPY 0.20% 0.07% 0.00% 0.18% 0.10% -0.01% 0.00% CAD 0.03% -0.10% -0.19% -0.18% -0.08% -0.19% -0.17% AUD 0.11% -0.03% -0.10% -0.10% 0.08% -0.11% -0.11% NZD 0.22% 0.08% 0.01% 0.01% 0.19% 0.11% 0.00% CHF 0.22% 0.07% 0.00% 0.00% 0.17% 0.11% -0.00% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).

Bank of Japan (BoJ) policy board member Kazuyuki Masu said on Friday that central bank is not behind the curve in dealing with inflation. Masu further stated that BoJ shouldn't raise rates too quickly in a way that derails Japan's economic recovery.

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Not thinking of particular pace of rate hike.

It's obvious BoJ shouldn't raise rates too quickly in a way that derails Japan's economic recovery.

I'm not saying that food prices are rising in a way that needs immediate policy action.

Don't have specific timeframe in mind on how soon boj should raise rates to levels deemed neutral to economy,

BoJ should scrutinise economic developments and guide policy in an appropriate way so that underlying inflation moves around 2%.

It would be wrong to have preset idea in mind on how soon to raise rates.

If there is sufficient data that convinces us we should act, then we should act without hesitation.Market reactionAs of writing, the USD/JPY pair is down 0.21% on the day at 156.70. Bank of Japan FAQs What is the Bank of Japan? The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is the Japanese central bank, which sets monetary policy in the country. Its mandate is to issue banknotes and carry out currency and monetary control to ensure price stability, which means an inflation target of around 2%. What has been the Bank of Japan’s policy? The Bank of Japan embarked in an ultra-loose monetary policy in 2013 in order to stimulate the economy and fuel inflation amid a low-inflationary environment. The bank’s policy is based on Quantitative and Qualitative Easing (QQE), or printing notes to buy assets such as government or corporate bonds to provide liquidity. In 2016, the bank doubled down on its strategy and further loosened policy by first introducing negative interest rates and then directly controlling the yield of its 10-year government bonds. In March 2024, the BoJ lifted interest rates, effectively retreating from the ultra-loose monetary policy stance. How do Bank of Japan’s decisions influence the Japanese Yen? The Bank’s massive stimulus caused the Yen to depreciate against its main currency peers. This process exacerbated in 2022 and 2023 due to an increasing policy divergence between the Bank of Japan and other main central banks, which opted to increase interest rates sharply to fight decades-high levels of inflation. The BoJ’s policy led to a widening differential with other currencies, dragging down the value of the Yen. This trend partly reversed in 2024, when the BoJ decided to abandon its ultra-loose policy stance. Why did the Bank of Japan decide to start unwinding its ultra-loose policy? A weaker Yen and the spike in global energy prices led to an increase in Japanese inflation, which exceeded the BoJ’s 2% target. The prospect of rising salaries in the country – a key element fuelling inflation – also contributed to the move.

The USD/CHF pair trades 0.22% lower to near 0.7765 during the late Asian trading session on Friday. The Swiss Franc pair is under pressure as the rally in the US Dollar (USD) has paused, following an increase in dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations.

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The Swiss Franc pair is under pressure as the rally in the US Dollar (USD) has paused, following an increase in dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations.During the press time, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which gauges the Greenback’s value against six major peers, is down 0.2% to near 97.75.According to the CME FedWatch tool, the possibility of the Fed reducing interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.25%-3.50% in the March meeting has improved to 22.7% from 9.4% seen on Wednesday.Trades raise dovish Fed bets as latest United States (US) job market-related data showed signs of continued slowdown in the labor demand. On Thursday, the US JOLTS Job Openings data for December showed that US employers posted 6.542 million fresh job vacancies, significantly lower than estimates of 7.2 million and the previous reading of 6.928 million.Meanwhile, the ADP reported on Wednesday that the private sector hired 22K fresh workers in January, fewer than 37K in December.In the Swiss region, investors seek fresh cues on the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) monetary policy outlook. The SNB is likely to hold interest rates at 0% in the near term as they remain concerned over soft inflationary pressures. Earlier this week, SNB Chairman Martin Schelegl said, “My greatest concern is of course inflation and price stability, and we [SNB] do everything we can to ensure that,” Reuters reported.  US Dollar FAQs What is the US Dollar? The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away. How do the decisions of the Federal Reserve impact the US Dollar? The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback. What is Quantitative Easing and how does it influence the US Dollar? In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar. What is Quantitative Tightening and how does it influence the US Dollar? Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.
 

Netherlands, The Consumer Spending Volume up to 0.8% in December from previous 0.5%

The GBP/JPY cross attracts some buyers near the 211.60 area, or a four-day low touched during the Asian session on Friday, and climbs to the top end of the intraday range.

.fxs-major-currency-prices-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:8px 16px}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table{width:100%;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:1rem}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table th{background-color:#f2f2f2}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td{color:#fff}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.green{background-color:#9cd6cd}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.red{background-color:#faafb5}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.blue-grey{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-legend{font-size:11px;margin:8px;color:#49494f}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.dark-green{background-color:#39ad9a}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-green{background-color:#9cd6cd}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.gray{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-red{background-color:#faafb5}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.strong-red{background-color:#f55e6a}GBP/JPY reverses a modest Asian session dip as a modest USD weakness benefits the GBP.Expectations of a BoJ rate hike and risk aversion support the JPY, potentially capping the cross.The divergent BoE-BoJ policy outlooks also warrant caution for aggressive bullish traders.The GBP/JPY cross attracts some buyers near the 211.60 area, or a four-day low touched during the Asian session on Friday, and climbs to the top end of the intraday range. Spot prices currently trade just below mid-212.00s, and, for now, seem to have stalled this week's modest pullback from the 215.00 mark, or the highest level since July 2008.As investors digest the Bank of England's (BoE) policy update on Thursday, the British Pound (GBP) benefits from the emergence of some US Dollar (USD) selling and turns out to be a key factor acting as a tailwind for the GBP/JPY cross. However, the BoE's dovish outlook might hold back the GBP bulls from placing aggressive bets and cap the upside for the currency pair amid a broadly firmer Japanese Yen (JPY).The BoE signaled a future cut if inflation continued to slow following the 5-4 MPC vote split decision to leave rates unchanged at the end of the February policy meeting. Moreover, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, addressing reporters during the post-meeting press conference, said that inflation is set to reach the target level sooner than expected. Traders are now pricing in a 50 basis points (bps) rate cut by the BoE this year.This marks a significant divergence in comparison to the growing acceptance that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will stick to its policy normalization path. Data released earlier today showed Japan’s Household Spending fell sharply in December, underscoring the drag from higher prices on consumer activity and reinforcing bets for an early BoJ rate hike. This provides a modest boost to the JPY and might cap the GBP/JPY cross.Furthermore, the possibility of a coordinated Japan-US intervention supports the JPY. That said, concerns over Japan's fiscal situation and political uncertainty might cap the JPY ahead of the snap lower house election on February 8. Nevertheless, the GBP/JPY cross remains on track to register modest weekly gains, though the mixed fundamental backdrop warrants some caution for aggressive bullish traders. Japanese Yen Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies today. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD -0.15% -0.19% -0.27% -0.02% -0.08% -0.19% -0.23% EUR 0.15% -0.03% -0.13% 0.13% 0.08% -0.03% -0.07% GBP 0.19% 0.03% -0.08% 0.17% 0.11% 0.00% -0.04% JPY 0.27% 0.13% 0.08% 0.27% 0.20% 0.09% 0.06% CAD 0.02% -0.13% -0.17% -0.27% -0.07% -0.18% -0.20% AUD 0.08% -0.08% -0.11% -0.20% 0.07% -0.11% -0.14% NZD 0.19% 0.03% -0.00% -0.09% 0.18% 0.11% -0.04% CHF 0.23% 0.07% 0.04% -0.06% 0.20% 0.14% 0.04% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Japanese Yen from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent JPY (base)/USD (quote).

The EUR/CAD cross gathers strength to around 1.6160 during the early European session on Friday. The Euro (EUR) edges higher against the Canadian Dollar (CAD) amid the differing approaches between the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Canada (BoC).

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RSI at 48.97 is neutral, stabilizing after prior soft readings. Failure to reclaim the mid-band would keep pressure toward the lower Bollinger Band at 1.6064, with the 100-EMA acting as initial support; a decisive move back above the midline would improve momentum and shift focus to overhead band resistance.(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.) Canadian Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar? The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar. How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar? The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive. How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar? The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD. How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar? While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar. How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar? Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.

The Indian Rupee (INR) remains broadly unchanged against the US Dollar (USD) at around 90.35, despite the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy announcement, in which it has left the Repo Rate unchanged at 5.25%, as expected.

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The Indian central bank has maintained a “neutral” stance on the monetary policy outlook, citing that India’s economy is in a “good spot” even as global uncertainties remain “elevated”.Broadly, the Indian Rupee has been outperforming across the board since the confirmation from India and the United States (US) that both will reduce tariffs. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said through a post on Truth Social that tariffs on imports from New Delhi will be lowered to 18%, from 50% prior, and there will be zero tariff charged on exports from Washington to India, which was later acknowledged by Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.The event led to a sharp increase in the Indian Rupee, strong demand for Indian stocks, and a significant inflow of foreign funds into the Indian equity market. However, the lack of follow-up buying by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) is weighing on market sentiment.According to data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE), FIIs turned out to be net sellers on Thursday, offloading their stake worth Rs. 2,150.51 crore. On Tuesday, a day after the US-India trade truce, FIIs bought shares worth Rs. 5,236.28 crore.Daily Digest Market Movers: US employers posted fewer-than-projected fresh jobs in DecemberThe US Dollar struggles to extend its week-long rally on Friday as prospects of the Federal Reserve (Fed) reducing interest rates have improved, following a string of weak labor market data.At the press time, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades 0.1% lower to near 97.85. Still, the DXY is close to its weekly high of 97.98 posted on Thursday.The CME FedWatch tool shows that traders see a 22.7% chance that the Fed will cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.25%-3.50% in the March policy meeting, up from 9.4% seen on Wednesday.The US JOLTS Job Openings data for December showed on Thursday that employers posted 6.542 million fresh jobs, significantly lower than estimates of 7.2 million and the previous reading of 6.928 million.On Wednesday, the ADP reported that the private sector created 22K jobs in January, fewer than 37K in December.A majority of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members have been expressing concerns over weak labor market conditions, citing the need for more interest rate cuts to support the same.For more cues on the current state of employment, investors will focus on the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for January, which will be released on Wednesday. The data has been delayed due to a partial federal shutdown, which resumed on Tuesday.Technical Analysis: USD/INR stays below 20-day EMAIn the daily chart, USD/INR trades at 90.3790. Price holds beneath the 20-EMA at 90.9282, which slopes lower and caps rebounds. This alignment keeps the short-term bias tilted to the downside. RSI at 42 (neutral) sits below its 50 midline, confirming fading momentum. As long as spot remains under the 20-EMA, rallies could stall and the pair would continue to test lower levels.Trend signals remain soft, with the 20-EMA turning down in recent sessions and reinforcing persistent supply. RSI continues to slip, now at 42 (neutral), without reaching oversold. A recovery through the 20-EMA at 90.9282 would improve tone and open room for stabilization, while failure to reclaim it would preserve downside risk.(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.) Indian Rupee FAQs What are the key factors driving the Indian Rupee? The Indian Rupee (INR) is one of the most sensitive currencies to external factors. The price of Crude Oil (the country is highly dependent on imported Oil), the value of the US Dollar – most trade is conducted in USD – and the level of foreign investment, are all influential. Direct intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in FX markets to keep the exchange rate stable, as well as the level of interest rates set by the RBI, are further major influencing factors on the Rupee. How do the decisions of the Reserve Bank of India impact the Indian Rupee? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) actively intervenes in forex markets to maintain a stable exchange rate, to help facilitate trade. In addition, the RBI tries to maintain the inflation rate at its 4% target by adjusting interest rates. Higher interest rates usually strengthen the Rupee. This is due to the role of the ‘carry trade’ in which investors borrow in countries with lower interest rates so as to place their money in countries’ offering relatively higher interest rates and profit from the difference. What macroeconomic factors influence the value of the Indian Rupee? Macroeconomic factors that influence the value of the Rupee include inflation, interest rates, the economic growth rate (GDP), the balance of trade, and inflows from foreign investment. A higher growth rate can lead to more overseas investment, pushing up demand for the Rupee. A less negative balance of trade will eventually lead to a stronger Rupee. Higher interest rates, especially real rates (interest rates less inflation) are also positive for the Rupee. A risk-on environment can lead to greater inflows of Foreign Direct and Indirect Investment (FDI and FII), which also benefit the Rupee. How does inflation impact the Indian Rupee? Higher inflation, particularly, if it is comparatively higher than India’s peers, is generally negative for the currency as it reflects devaluation through oversupply. Inflation also increases the cost of exports, leading to more Rupees being sold to purchase foreign imports, which is Rupee-negative. At the same time, higher inflation usually leads to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raising interest rates and this can be positive for the Rupee, due to increased demand from international investors. The opposite effect is true of lower inflation.

Japan Leading Economic Index above expectations (109.8) in December: Actual (110.2)

Japan Coincident Index: 114.5 (December) vs previous 114.9

EUR/JPY extends its losses for the second successive session, trading around 184.70 during the Asian hours on Friday. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests that the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 55.67 (neutral) stays north of 50, confirming a mild upside skew.

.fxs-major-currency-prices-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:8px 16px}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table{width:100%;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:1rem}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table th{background-color:#f2f2f2}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td{color:#fff}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.green{background-color:#9cd6cd}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.red{background-color:#faafb5}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.blue-grey{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-legend{font-size:11px;margin:8px;color:#49494f}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.dark-green{background-color:#39ad9a}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-green{background-color:#9cd6cd}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.gray{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-red{background-color:#faafb5}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.strong-red{background-color:#f55e6a}EUR/JPY may rebound toward the immediate resistance aligned at the psychological level of 185.00The 14-day Relative Strength Index at 55.67 stays above 50, signaling a mild upside bias.The initial support lies at the nine-day EMA near 184.35.EUR/JPY extends its losses for the second successive session, trading around 184.70 during the Asian hours on Friday. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests that the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 55.67 (neutral) stays north of 50, confirming a mild upside skew. RSI leans upward, keeping momentum on the buy side.The EUR/JPY cross holds above the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and the 50-day EMA, keeping a bullish bias. The short-term average continues to rise above the longer one, endorsing the positive momentum. The ascending 50-day EMA underpins the broader trend, while the nine-day EMA caps intraday pullbacks.The immediate resistance aligns at the psychological level of 185.00, followed by the two-week high of 185.51, reached on February 5. Further advances would support the EUR/JPY cross to test the all-time high of 186.88, which was recorded on January 23.The EUR/JPY cross may find its immediate support at the nine-day EMA of 184.35, followed by the 50-day EMA at 182.99 and an eight-week low of 181.79, recorded on January 26. A break below this confluence would cause the emergence of bearish bias and put downward pressure on the currency cross to navigate the region around the three-month low of 175.70.EUR/JPY: Daily Chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.) Euro Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the weakest against the Japanese Yen. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD -0.11% -0.12% -0.25% 0.00% 0.05% -0.09% -0.20% EUR 0.11% -0.01% -0.13% 0.11% 0.16% 0.02% -0.09% GBP 0.12% 0.01% -0.11% 0.13% 0.18% 0.03% -0.08% JPY 0.25% 0.13% 0.11% 0.27% 0.30% 0.16% 0.05% CAD -0.00% -0.11% -0.13% -0.27% 0.04% -0.10% -0.21% AUD -0.05% -0.16% -0.18% -0.30% -0.04% -0.14% -0.25% NZD 0.09% -0.02% -0.03% -0.16% 0.10% 0.14% -0.12% CHF 0.20% 0.09% 0.08% -0.05% 0.21% 0.25% 0.12% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).

Gold (XAU/USD) rebounds swiftly from the vicinity of mid-$4,600s, or a four-day trough touched during the Asian session on Friday, though it lacks follow-through.

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}}Gold attracts some dip buyers on Friday following an Asian session decline to a four-day low.A turnaround in the risk sentiment and Fed rate cut bets act as a tailwind for the precious metal.The USD preserves its recent strong recovery gains and limits the upside for the XAU/USD pair.Gold (XAU/USD) rebounds swiftly from the vicinity of mid-$4,600s, or a four-day trough touched during the Asian session on Friday, though it lacks follow-through. A turnaround in the risk sentiment – as depicted by a sea of red across the global equity markets – drives flow toward traditional safe-haven assets and acts as a tailwind for the commodity. Moreover, bets on more interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) in 2026, bolstered by signs of weakness in the US job market, turn out to be another factor offering support to the non-yielding yellow metal.Meanwhile, the White House said that diplomacy is US President Donald Trump's first choice for dealing with Iran, but warned that he has military options at his disposal. This keeps geopolitical risks in play and further underpins the safe-haven Gold. That said, expectations that the incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will be less dovish assist the US Dollar (USD) to preserve its recent recovery gains from a four-year low and cap the upside for the precious metal. This makes it prudent to wait for strong follow-through buying before placing fresh bullish bets around the XAU/USD pair.Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold bears seem hesitant as flight to safety and Fed rate cut bets counter USD strengthAsian stocks extended losses into a second day as a selloff on Wall Street intensified amid a global rout in tech equities. Adding to this, prospects for lower interest rates in the US assist the non-yielding Gold to reverse an Asian session slide to the $4,655 area on Friday.According to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool, traders are currently pricing in the possibility that the US Federal Reserve will deliver at least two 25-basis-point rate cuts in 2026. The bets were reaffirmed by this week's US data, which pointed to weakness in the labor market.The Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Research Institute reported on Wednesday that private-sector employers added 22K new jobs in January. This marked a notable decline from the previous month's downwardly revised reading of 37K and missed estimates of a 48K rise.Adding to this, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) released on Thursday revealed that the number of job openings on the last business day of December stood at 6.542 million, compared to the previous month's downwardly revised print of 6.928 million.Furthermore, the US Department of Labor reported that the number of citizens submitting new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 231K for the week ending January 31 from the previous week’s 209K. The reading was also higher than estimates for a rise to 212K.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would have passed on Kevin Warsh as his nominee for the Fed Chair if he had expressed a desire to hike interest rates. Trump added that there was not much doubt that the US central bank would lower rates.The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that diplomacy is Trump's first choice for dealing with Iran, and he will wait to see whether a deal can be struck at high-stakes talks on Friday amid differences over the agenda, keeping geopolitical risks in play.Later during the North American session, traders will take cues from the preliminary Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and Inflation Expectations. This, along with comments from influential FOMC members, would drive USD demand and the XAU/USD pair.Gold consolidates between 50- and 200-SMAs on H4 amid a mixed technical setupThe overnight failure to build on momentum beyond the 50-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart favors bearish traders. The subsequent fall, however, finds decent support near the 200-period SMA, warranting some caution. Meanwhile, the 50-period SMA remains above the 200-period SMA, which continues to rise, sketching a mixed backdrop and keeping a consolidative bias within the broader uptrend.The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) line holds below the Signal line near the zero level. Its negative but contracting histogram suggests fading bearish momentum, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) prints 45 (neutral). Near-term traction would improve on a close back above the 50-period SMA at 5,026.76, with that level acting as initial resistance, whereas failure to stabilize risks a drift toward the 200-period SMA at 4,691.87, which serves as dynamic support.A MACD move back above the Signal line and into positive territory, alongside an RSI break through 50, would bolster the recovery; otherwise, momentum remains capped, and price could continue consolidating between these averages.(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.) Gold FAQs Why do people invest in Gold? Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government. Who buys the most Gold? Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves. How is Gold correlated with other assets? Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal. What does the price of Gold depend on? The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

Gold prices rose in India on Friday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}} Gold prices rose in India on Friday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.The price for Gold stood at 14,016.39 Indian Rupees (INR) per gram, up compared with the INR 13,982.07 it cost on Thursday.The price for Gold increased to INR 163,484.40 per tola from INR 163,084.10 per tola a day earlier.Unit measureGold Price in INR1 Gram14,016.3910 Grams140,163.90Tola163,484.40Troy Ounce435,959.10FXStreet calculates Gold prices in India by adapting international prices (USD/INR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly. Gold FAQs Why do people invest in Gold? Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government. Who buys the most Gold? Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves. How is Gold correlated with other assets? Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal. What does the price of Gold depend on? The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up. (An automation tool was used in creating this post.)

India Reverse Repo Rate remains unchanged at 3.35%

India RBI Interest Rate Decision (Repo Rate) meets forecasts (5.25%)

The EUR/USD pair attempts to regain ground near 1.1770 during the Asian trading session on Friday. The major currency pair attracts slight bids as the US Dollar ticks down amid an improvement in speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could cut interest rates in the March policy meeting

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}}EUR/USD attracts slight bids near 1.1770 as the US Dollar struggles to extend its rally.An increase in Fed dovish expectations has restricted the US Dollar’s rally.The ECB held interest rates steady in the policy meeting on Thursday.The EUR/USD pair attempts to regain ground near 1.1770 during the Asian trading session on Friday. The major currency pair attracts slight bids as the US Dollar ticks down amid an improvement in speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could cut interest rates in the March policy meetingAs of writing, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades 0.1% lower to near 97.85. Still the DXY is close to its weekly high of 97.98 posted on Thursday.The odds of the Fed reducing interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.25%-3.50% in the March policy meeting have increased to 22.7% from 9.4% seen on Wednesday, according to the CME FedWatch tool.Fed dovish projections have accelerated, following the release of job market-related economic data this week, which pointed to soft labor demand. The US JOLTS Job Openings data for December showed on Thursday that employers posted 6.542 million fresh jobs, significantly lower than estimates of 7.2 million and the previous reading of 6.928 million.On Wednesday, the ADP reported that the private sector created 22K jobs in January, lower than 37K in December.Meanwhile, the Euro (EUR) is broadly under pressure even as the European Central Bank (ECB) has shrugged off the recent dip in the Eurozone inflation in the policy meeting on Thursday, where it left interest rates steady, as expected. In the updated assessment, the ECB reconfirmed that inflation should stabilise at its 2% target in the medium term and warned of an uncertain geopolitical environment.  US Dollar FAQs What is the US Dollar? The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away. How do the decisions of the Federal Reserve impact the US Dollar? The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback. What is Quantitative Easing and how does it influence the US Dollar? In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar. What is Quantitative Tightening and how does it influence the US Dollar? Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.

Silver price (XAG/USD) slumps to around $71.90, the lowest since January 2, during the Asian trading hours on Friday. The white metal extends the decline amid easing geopolitical tensions and profit-taking. Traders will closely monitor the upcoming US-Iran talks later on Friday. 

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The white metal extends the decline amid easing geopolitical tensions and profit-taking. Traders will closely monitor the upcoming US-Iran talks later on Friday. A reduction in tensions between the United States (US) and Iran weakens the safe-haven demand for precious metals. Iran aims to focus talks on its long-standing nuclear dispute with Western powers, while the US wants the agenda to include Tehran's ballistic missile program, its alleged backing of armed groups across the Middle East, and its domestic human rights record.  Analysts believe that speculative flows, leveraged positioning, and options-driven trading, rather than physical demand, are the primary drivers of recent price movements. “You’d seen a lot of speculator positions build up ... I don’t think it’s been fully flushed out,” said Sunil Garg, managing director of Lighthouse Canton.On the other hand, signs of a weakening US labor market could undermine the US Dollar (USD) and support the USD-denominated commodity price in the near term. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed on Wednesday that US job openings unexpectedly fell in December to the lowest level since 2020, and layoffs rose. Furthermore, applications for US unemployment benefits rose by more than forecast last week.  Silver FAQs Why do people invest in Silver? Silver is a precious metal highly traded among investors. It has been historically used as a store of value and a medium of exchange. Although less popular than Gold, traders may turn to Silver to diversify their investment portfolio, for its intrinsic value or as a potential hedge during high-inflation periods. Investors can buy physical Silver, in coins or in bars, or trade it through vehicles such as Exchange Traded Funds, which track its price on international markets. Which factors influence Silver prices? Silver prices can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can make Silver price escalate due to its safe-haven status, although to a lesser extent than Gold's. As a yieldless asset, Silver tends to rise with lower interest rates. Its moves also depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAG/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Silver at bay, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to propel prices up. Other factors such as investment demand, mining supply – Silver is much more abundant than Gold – and recycling rates can also affect prices. How does industrial demand affect Silver prices? Silver is widely used in industry, particularly in sectors such as electronics or solar energy, as it has one of the highest electric conductivity of all metals – more than Copper and Gold. A surge in demand can increase prices, while a decline tends to lower them. Dynamics in the US, Chinese and Indian economies can also contribute to price swings: for the US and particularly China, their big industrial sectors use Silver in various processes; in India, consumers’ demand for the precious metal for jewellery also plays a key role in setting prices. How do Silver prices react to Gold’s moves? Silver prices tend to follow Gold's moves. When Gold prices rise, Silver typically follows suit, as their status as safe-haven assets is similar. The Gold/Silver ratio, which shows the number of ounces of Silver needed to equal the value of one ounce of Gold, may help to determine the relative valuation between both metals. Some investors may consider a high ratio as an indicator that Silver is undervalued, or Gold is overvalued. On the contrary, a low ratio might suggest that Gold is undervalued relative to Silver.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, edges lower after two days of gains and trades around 97.90 during the Asian hours on Friday.

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Traders will watch the preliminary February Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, due for release later in the North American session.The Greenback softens as recent US labor data point to a cooling job market, reinforcing dovish Fed expectations. Markets now price two rate cuts this year, starting in June, with another potentially in September.The CME FedWatch tool suggests that markets are pricing in nearly a 77.3% chance that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will hold interest rates steady at its March policy meeting, with anticipation of a first rate reduction in June.Data from the US Department of Labor showed Initial Jobless Claims rose to 231K in the week ending January 31, above estimates of 212K and the prior 209K. Meanwhile, ADP reported private payrolls rose by just 22K in January, well below expectations of 48K and the previous 37K (revised from 41K).However, the DXY remains near two-week highs, supported by the slowing pace of potential Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. Fed Governor Lisa Cook said she would not back another cut without clearer evidence that inflation is easing, stressing greater concern over stalled disinflation than labor market weakness.Traders also weighed the implications of Kevin Warsh’s nomination as Fed chair, citing his preference for a smaller balance sheet and a less aggressive approach to rate reductions. The nomination also eased concerns about the Fed’s independence. US Dollar FAQs What is the US Dollar? The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away. How do the decisions of the Federal Reserve impact the US Dollar? The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback. What is Quantitative Easing and how does it influence the US Dollar? In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar. What is Quantitative Tightening and how does it influence the US Dollar? Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) attracts some buyers during the Asian session on Friday and, for now, seems to have snapped a five-day losing streak against its American counterpart, reaching a two-week low the previous day.

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Traders remain on high alert amid the possibility of a coordinated Japan-US intervention to stem the JPY's decline. This, along with a turnaround in the global risk sentiment and a rise in volatility, benefits the JPY's safe-haven status. Moreover, hawkish Bank of Japan (BoJ) expectations turn out to be another factor underpinning the JPY.Meanwhile, data released earlier today showed Japan’s Household Spending fell sharply in December, underscoring the drag from higher prices on consumer activity and reinforcing expectations for an earlier BoJ rate hike. However, growing concerns over Japan's fiscal situation and political uncertainty might hold back the JPY bulls from placing aggressive bets. Furthermore, the recent strong US Dollar (USD) recovery momentum from a four-year low could limit the downside for the USD/JPY pair ahead of Japan's snap lower house election on February 8.Japanese Yen benefits from hawkish BoJ expectations and a turnaround in risk sentimentData released earlier this Friday showed that Household Spending in Japan declined 2.6% YoY in December 2025, marking a sharp contraction after a 2.9% rise in the previous month. This suggests that elevated living costs are weighing on consumption, reinforcing the Bank of Japan's resolve to counter inflation and backing the case for an early interest rate hike.In fact, the Summary of Opinions from the BoJ's January meeting, released earlier this week, showed that policymakers debated mounting price pressures from a weak Japanese Yen. Moreover, board members judged that further interest rate increases were appropriate over time. This assists the JPY to gain some positive traction during the Asian session on Friday.Asian stocks extended losses into a second day as a selloff on Wall Street intensified amid a global rout in tech equities, and also benefited the safe-haven JPY. The US Dollar, on the other hand, consolidates its recent gains to a two-week peak and prompts traders to lighten their USD/JPY bullish bets ahead of Japan's snap lower house election on Sunday, February 8.Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) looks set for a big victory. This would give Takaichi a greater grip on Japan's parliament and more headroom to carry out her pro-stimulus macro policies much more forcefully. The market seems worried that expansionary fiscal plans may hurt Japan's already strained public finances quite badly.From the US, the US Department of Labor reported on Thursday that the number of citizens submitting new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 231K for the week ending January 31 from the previous week’s 209K. The reading was also higher than the 212K initial estimates and comes on top of dismal private-sector employment details released Wednesday.Adding to this, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) revealed that the number of job openings on the last business day of December stood at 6.542 million compared to the previous month's downwardly revised print of 6.928 million. This pointed to labor market weakness and strengthened the case for more interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve.In fact, traders are currently pricing in the possibility that the US central bank will lower borrowing costs two more times in 2026. This, in turn, keeps a lid on the recent strong US Dollar recovery from a four-year trough and also contributes to the USD/JPY pair's modest pullback from a two-week high, levels above the 157.00 mark, touched on Thursday.Traders now look forward to the preliminary release of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and Inflation Expectations. This, along with comments from influential FOMC members, would drive the USD and the USD/JPY pair later during the North American session. The market reaction, however, is likely to be muted ahead of the key political event in Japan.USD/JPY bulls have the upper hand above the 200-SMA resistance breakpoint on H4The overnight breakout through the 156.50 hurdle, or the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart, was seen as a key trigger for the USD/JPY bulls. The SMA’s gradual ascent underscores a steady broader trend, with spot prices holding above it to maintain a bullish bias. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) slips below the Signal line near the zero level as the histogram turns negative and begins to expand, suggesting fading upside momentum. RSI stands at 63, easing from earlier overbought readings and reinforcing a moderating tone.Staying above the rising 200-period SMA would keep the path of least resistance pointed higher, while a sustained break below that average could tilt the bias toward a corrective phase. On momentum, further expansion of the negative MACD histogram would reinforce downside pressure, whereas a quick return above zero would neutralize the bearish crossover. RSI holding above 50 supports an upside bias; a drop toward 50 would flag waning demand.(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.) Economic Indicator Overall Household Spending (YoY) The Overall Household Spending released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is an indicator that measures the total expenditure by households. The level of spending can be used as an indicator of consumer optimism. It is also considered as a measure of economic growth. A high reading is positive (or Bullish) for the JPY, while a low reading is negative (or bearish). Read more. Last release: Thu Feb 05, 2026 23:30 Frequency: Monthly Actual: -2.6% Consensus: 0% Previous: 2.9% Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan

USD/CAD remains steady after paring daily gains, trading around 1.3700 during the Asian hours on Friday. The pullback reflects support for the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) as Oil prices recover.

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The pullback reflects support for the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) as Oil prices recover. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price has rebounded to around $63.50 at the time of writing, though upside may be capped after the United States (US) and Iran agreed to hold talks in Oman on Friday.Tehran is expected to focus discussions on its long-running nuclear dispute with Western powers, while Washington wants talks to also cover Iran’s ballistic missile program, regional proxy support, and human rights issues.The USD/CAD pair may regain its ground as the US Dollar Index (DXY) remains near two-week highs, supported by the slowing pace of potential Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. Fed Governor Lisa Cook said she would not back another cut without clearer evidence that inflation is easing, stressing greater concern over stalled disinflation than labor market weakness.Investors also weighed the implications of Kevin Warsh’s nomination as Fed chair, citing his preference for a smaller balance sheet and a less aggressive approach to rate reductions. The nomination also eased concerns about the Fed’s independence.Meanwhile, a run of US labor data this week signaled a cooling job market, reinforcing dovish Fed expectations. Markets now price two rate cuts this year, starting in June, with another possibly in September. Canadian Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar? The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar. How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar? The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive. How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar? The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD. How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar? While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar. How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar? Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $62.85 during the Asian trading hours on Friday. The WTI price declines after the United States (US) and Iran agreed to hold talks in Oman on Friday. 

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}}WTI price edges lower to $62.85 in Friday’s Asian session. Traders brace for the upcoming US-Iran talks and ongoing Russia-Ukraine negotiations. US crude inventories fell by 3.455 million barrels last week, according to the EIA. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $62.85 during the Asian trading hours on Friday. The WTI price declines after the United States (US) and Iran agreed to hold talks in Oman on Friday. Tehran aims to focus talks on its long-standing nuclear dispute with Western powers, while the US wants the agenda to include Iran's ballistic missile program, its alleged backing of armed groups across the Middle East, and its domestic human rights record. US President Donald Trump warned last month that he could order strikes on Iran if Tehran fails to agree to a deal around its nuclear program. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding the US-Iran negotiations.  Easing concerns of a potential military conflict between them could weigh on the WTI price in the near term. “There is still scepticism that any reasonable deal can be made with Iran, so even though the market right now is giving talks the benefit of the doubt, we still don’t know what the outcome will be of those talks,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group.According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly report, crude oil stockpiles in the US for the week ending January 30 fell by 3.455 million barrels, compared to a decline of 2.296 million barrels in the previous week. The market consensus was for a decrease of 2 million barrels. The significant drop in crude inventories might help limit the WTI’s losses.  WTI Oil FAQs What is WTI Oil? WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media. What factors drive the price of WTI Oil? Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa. How does inventory data impact the price of WTI Oil The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency. How does OPEC influence the price of WTI Oil? OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.

Bank of Japan (BoJ) policy board member Kazuyuki Masu said on Friday that Japan has shifted into inflation as policy normalization continues.

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BOJ is closely monitoring FX market moves and their impact on economy and prices.

BOJ expected to continue increasing interest rates if economic and price forecasts materialize.

Underlying inflation remains below 2 percent but approaches that level considerably.

It is clear deflationary customs are being eradicated as Japan enters a period of inflation.

What is important is to raise rates in timely and appropriate fashion to ensure underlying inflation does not exceed 2%.

BOJ must also move cautiously to avoid excessive rate hikes destroying cycle of moderate rises in inflation and wages that is just starting to roll.

BOJ must scrutinize market developments while examining future pace of its bond buying.

I am personally focusing on how prices of processed food excluding rice would move since that would be key to Japan's inflation outlook.

We also need to look carefully at whether Japan inflation is driven only by supply factors or by a combination of supply and demand factors.

Japan's real interest rate remains deeply negative.

Neutral rate estimate is only one reference in setting monetary policy.

As BOJ's policy rate nears estimated range of neutral, BOJ must more thoroughly examine price, jobs, financial market conditions.

BOJ needs to proceed with further rate hikes to complete policy normalization.Market reactionAs of writing, the USD/JPY pair is down 0.28% on the day at 156.60. Japanese Yen FAQs What key factors drive the Japanese Yen? The Japanese Yen (JPY) is one of the world’s most traded currencies. Its value is broadly determined by the performance of the Japanese economy, but more specifically by the Bank of Japan’s policy, the differential between Japanese and US bond yields, or risk sentiment among traders, among other factors. How do the decisions of the Bank of Japan impact the Japanese Yen? One of the Bank of Japan’s mandates is currency control, so its moves are key for the Yen. The BoJ has directly intervened in currency markets sometimes, generally to lower the value of the Yen, although it refrains from doing it often due to political concerns of its main trading partners. The BoJ ultra-loose monetary policy between 2013 and 2024 caused the Yen to depreciate against its main currency peers due to an increasing policy divergence between the Bank of Japan and other main central banks. More recently, the gradually unwinding of this ultra-loose policy has given some support to the Yen. How does the differential between Japanese and US bond yields impact the Japanese Yen? Over the last decade, the BoJ’s stance of sticking to ultra-loose monetary policy has led to a widening policy divergence with other central banks, particularly with the US Federal Reserve. This supported a widening of the differential between the 10-year US and Japanese bonds, which favored the US Dollar against the Japanese Yen. The BoJ decision in 2024 to gradually abandon the ultra-loose policy, coupled with interest-rate cuts in other major central banks, is narrowing this differential. How does broader risk sentiment impact the Japanese Yen? The Japanese Yen is often seen as a safe-haven investment. This means that in times of market stress, investors are more likely to put their money in the Japanese currency due to its supposed reliability and stability. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen the Yen’s value against other currencies seen as more risky to invest in.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) extends its losses for the third successive session against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday following the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock’s comments, saying that the board lifted the Official Cash Rate (OCR) because the economy is more capacity cons

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Bullock added that the RBA needs to dampen demand growth unless supply capacity can expand faster.Australia’s Trade Balance data showed on Thursday that the trade surplus widened to AUD 3,373M in December 2025, up from a downwardly revised AUD 2,597M in November and slightly above market expectations of AUD 3,300M. Meanwhile, Exports grew 1.0% month-on-month (MoM) in December, rebounding from an upwardly revised 4.0% drop in November, largely driven by metal ores and minerals. Imports fell 0.8% MoM, steeper than the downwardly revised 0.2% decline previously, weighed down by other merchandise goods.The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.85% on Tuesday, citing stronger-than-expected growth and a sticky inflation outlook. As the tightening cycle begins, markets have lifted the probability of a May hike to 80% and now price in roughly 40 bps of further tightening over the rest of the year.US Dollar declines after two days of gainsThe US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar against six major currencies, declines after two days of gains and is trading near 97.90 at the time of writing. The Greenback may regain as markets price in a slower pace of potential Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts.Fed Governor Lisa Cook said she would not back another cut without clearer evidence that inflation is easing, stressing greater concern over stalled disinflation than labor market weakness.Investors also weighed the implications of Kevin Warsh’s nomination as Fed chair, citing his preference for a smaller balance sheet and a less aggressive approach to rate reductions. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he would not have nominated Warsh if he favored rate hikes. Trump further stated that there was “not much” doubt the US central bank would lower rates because “we’re way high in interest,” but now “we’re a rich country again.”ADP Employment Change showed private payrolls increased by just 22K in January, well below market expectations for a stronger 48K reading and 37K (revised from 41K) prior. The weak print carried extra weight given the postponement of official government data.China's Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 52.3 in January from 52.0 in December. This figure came in stronger than the expectations of 51.8. China is a key trading partner of Australia, so any changes in the Chinese economy could impact the AUD.Australia’s S&P Global Composite PMI rose to 55.7 in January from 51.0 in December. The expansion was the strongest in 45 months. Meanwhile, Services PMI climbed to 56.3 from 51.1, marking its highest level since February 2022. The reading beat the flash estimate of 56.0 and remained above the 50.0 threshold, extending the run of expanding services activity to two years.Australian Dollar falls to near 0.6900 after breaking below nine-day EMAThe AUD/USD pair is trading around 0.6910 on Friday. Daily chart analysis indicates that the pair is positioned below the ascending channel pattern, indicating a potential for a bearish reversal. However, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 57; signals an ongoing bullish momentum.The AUD/USD pair may test the immediate barrier at the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) of 0.6946. A rebound within the ascending channel would strengthen the bullish bias and target 0.7094, the highest level since February 2023, which was recorded on January 29. A break above this level would support the pair to test the upper ascending channel boundary around 0.7270. On the downside, the primary support lies at the 50-day EMA at 0.6771.AUD/USD: Daily Chart Australian Dollar Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the weakest against the Japanese Yen. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD -0.03% 0.03% -0.28% 0.08% 0.25% 0.17% -0.12% EUR 0.03% 0.06% -0.26% 0.12% 0.28% 0.20% -0.09% GBP -0.03% -0.06% -0.30% 0.05% 0.23% 0.14% -0.15% JPY 0.28% 0.26% 0.30% 0.38% 0.54% 0.45% 0.17% CAD -0.08% -0.12% -0.05% -0.38% 0.17% 0.08% -0.20% AUD -0.25% -0.28% -0.23% -0.54% -0.17% -0.09% -0.37% NZD -0.17% -0.20% -0.14% -0.45% -0.08% 0.09% -0.29% CHF 0.12% 0.09% 0.15% -0.17% 0.20% 0.37% 0.29% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Australian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent AUD (base)/USD (quote). Australian Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the Australian Dollar? One of the most significant factors for the Australian Dollar (AUD) is the level of interest rates set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Because Australia is a resource-rich country another key driver is the price of its biggest export, Iron Ore. The health of the Chinese economy, its largest trading partner, is a factor, as well as inflation in Australia, its growth rate and Trade Balance. Market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – is also a factor, with risk-on positive for AUD. How do the decisions of the Reserve Bank of Australia impact the Australian Dollar? The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) influences the Australian Dollar (AUD) by setting the level of interest rates that Australian banks can lend to each other. This influences the level of interest rates in the economy as a whole. The main goal of the RBA is to maintain a stable inflation rate of 2-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively high interest rates compared to other major central banks support the AUD, and the opposite for relatively low. The RBA can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former AUD-negative and the latter AUD-positive. How does the health of the Chinese Economy impact the Australian Dollar? China is Australia’s largest trading partner so the health of the Chinese economy is a major influence on the value of the Australian Dollar (AUD). When the Chinese economy is doing well it purchases more raw materials, goods and services from Australia, lifting demand for the AUD, and pushing up its value. The opposite is the case when the Chinese economy is not growing as fast as expected. Positive or negative surprises in Chinese growth data, therefore, often have a direct impact on the Australian Dollar and its pairs. How does the price of Iron Ore impact the Australian Dollar? Iron Ore is Australia’s largest export, accounting for $118 billion a year according to data from 2021, with China as its primary destination. The price of Iron Ore, therefore, can be a driver of the Australian Dollar. Generally, if the price of Iron Ore rises, AUD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Iron Ore falls. Higher Iron Ore prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance for Australia, which is also positive of the AUD. How does the Trade Balance impact the Australian Dollar? The Trade Balance, which is the difference between what a country earns from its exports versus what it pays for its imports, is another factor that can influence the value of the Australian Dollar. If Australia produces highly sought after exports, then its currency will gain in value purely from the surplus demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase its exports versus what it spends to purchase imports. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens the AUD, with the opposite effect if the Trade Balance is negative.

The NZD/USD pair attracts some sellers to around 0.5940 during the early Asian session on Friday, pressured by a stronger US Dollar (USD). The rising Unemployment Rate in New Zealand weighs on the Kiwi, dragging the pair to the lowest level in almost two weeks.

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}}NZD/USD weakens to near 0.5940 in Friday’s early Asian session. Expectations that Warsh would pursue a more restrictive policy compared to other candidates support the US Dollar. US Job Openings fell to the lowest since 2020. The NZD/USD pair attracts some sellers to around 0.5940 during the early Asian session on Friday, pressured by a stronger US Dollar (USD). The rising Unemployment Rate in New Zealand weighs on the Kiwi, dragging the pair to the lowest level in almost two weeks. Traders will keep an eye on the preliminary reading of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index report for February, which will be released later on Friday. The Greenback receives some support as traders turn more risk-averse and markets assess shifts in Federal Reserve (Fed) leadership expectations. Analysts expect Warsh would pursue a "more gradual path lower" compared to other "dovish" candidates. Financial markets are pricing in nearly a 75.3% chance that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will hold interest rates steady at its March policy meeting, with anticipation of a first rate reduction in June, according to the CME FedWatch tool. New Zealand's Unemployment Rate climbed to 5.4% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, the highest since 2015, Statistics New Zealand reported on Wednesday. This reading came in worse than the estimations of 5.3%. This report has led markets to push back expectations for further Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) rate hikes to later in 2026, which could undermine the Kiwi against the USD. Swaps markets are now pricing in over a 60% probability of a rate reduction by the May policy meeting.On the other hand, weaker-than-expected US labor market data might weigh on the USD and cap the downside for the pair. US job openings unexpectedly fell in December to the lowest level since 2020 and layoffs rose. Companies revealed the most job cutbacks in January since the Great Recession in 2009, while applications for US unemployment benefits rose more than forecast last week. New Zealand Dollar FAQs What key factors drive the New Zealand Dollar? The New Zealand Dollar (NZD), also known as the Kiwi, is a well-known traded currency among investors. Its value is broadly determined by the health of the New Zealand economy and the country’s central bank policy. Still, there are some unique particularities that also can make NZD move. The performance of the Chinese economy tends to move the Kiwi because China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner. Bad news for the Chinese economy likely means less New Zealand exports to the country, hitting the economy and thus its currency. Another factor moving NZD is dairy prices as the dairy industry is New Zealand’s main export. High dairy prices boost export income, contributing positively to the economy and thus to the NZD. How do decisions of the RBNZ impact the New Zealand Dollar? The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) aims to achieve and maintain an inflation rate between 1% and 3% over the medium term, with a focus to keep it near the 2% mid-point. To this end, the bank sets an appropriate level of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the RBNZ will increase interest rates to cool the economy, but the move will also make bond yields higher, increasing investors’ appeal to invest in the country and thus boosting NZD. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken NZD. The so-called rate differential, or how rates in New Zealand are or are expected to be compared to the ones set by the US Federal Reserve, can also play a key role in moving the NZD/USD pair. How does economic data influence the value of the New Zealand Dollar? Macroeconomic data releases in New Zealand are key to assess the state of the economy and can impact the New Zealand Dollar’s (NZD) valuation. A strong economy, based on high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence is good for NZD. High economic growth attracts foreign investment and may encourage the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to increase interest rates, if this economic strength comes together with elevated inflation. Conversely, if economic data is weak, NZD is likely to depreciate. How does broader risk sentiment impact the New Zealand Dollar? The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) tends to strengthen during risk-on periods, or when investors perceive that broader market risks are low and are optimistic about growth. This tends to lead to a more favorable outlook for commodities and so-called ‘commodity currencies’ such as the Kiwi. Conversely, NZD tends to weaken at times of market turbulence or economic uncertainty as investors tend to sell higher-risk assets and flee to the more-stable safe havens.

On Friday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.9590 compared to the previous day's fix of 6.9570 and 6.9517 Reuters estimate.

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}} On Friday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.9590 compared to the previous day's fix of 6.9570 and 6.9517 Reuters estimate. PBOC FAQs What does the People's Bank of China do? The primary monetary policy objectives of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) are to safeguard price stability, including exchange rate stability, and promote economic growth. China’s central bank also aims to implement financial reforms, such as opening and developing the financial market. Who owns the PBoC? The PBoC is owned by the state of the People's Republic of China (PRC), so it is not considered an autonomous institution. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee Secretary, nominated by the Chairman of the State Council, has a key influence on the PBoC’s management and direction, not the governor. However, Mr. Pan Gongsheng currently holds both of these posts. What are the main policy tools used by the PBoC? Unlike the Western economies, the PBoC uses a broader set of monetary policy instruments to achieve its objectives. The primary tools include a seven-day Reverse Repo Rate (RRR), Medium-term Lending Facility (MLF), foreign exchange interventions and Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR). However, The Loan Prime Rate (LPR) is China’s benchmark interest rate. Changes to the LPR directly influence the rates that need to be paid in the market for loans and mortgages and the interest paid on savings. By changing the LPR, China’s central bank can also influence the exchange rates of the Chinese Renminbi. Are private banks allowed in China? Yes, China has 19 private banks – a small fraction of the financial system. The largest private banks are digital lenders WeBank and MYbank, which are backed by tech giants Tencent and Ant Group, per The Straits Times. In 2014, China allowed domestic lenders fully capitalized by private funds to operate in the state-dominated financial sector.

The GBP/USD pair adds to the previous day's dovish Bank of England (BoE)-inspired heavy losses and drifts lower for the third straight day on Friday.

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The downward trajectory is sponsored by sustained US Dollar (USD) buying and drags spot prices to a two-week low during the Asian session, with bears now awaiting a break below the 1.3500 psychological mark before placing fresh bets.The nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve (Fed) chair fueled speculations that the US central bank will be less dovish than expected. This, along with a rise in volatility, benefits the USD's status as the global reserve currency. In fact, the USD Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of currencies, climbs to a fresh high since January 23 and turns out to be a key factor exerting pressure on the GBP/USD pair.The British Pound (GBP), on the other hand, is undermined by the 5-4 MPC vote split to leave rates unchanged at the end of the February policy meeting on Thursday and the BoE's dovish outlook. In fact, the central bank signaled a future cut if inflation continued to slow. Moreover, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, addressing reporters during the post-meeting press conference, said that inflation is set to reach the target level sooner than expected.Traders were quick to react and are now pricing in a 50 basis points (bps) rate cut by the BoE this year, which further contributes to the offered tone surrounding the GBP/USD pair. Meanwhile, the US Fed is also expected to lower borrowing costs two more times in 2026. This, in turn, holds back the USD bulls from placing aggressive bets and offers some support to the currency pair, though the fundamental backdrop backs the case for further losses. Pound Sterling FAQs What is the Pound Sterling? The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE). How do the decisions of the Bank of England impact on the Pound Sterling? The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects. How does economic data influence the value of the Pound? Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall. How does the Trade Balance impact the Pound? Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.

Gold price (XAU/USD) tumbles to around $4,680 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal extends the decline as traders cover losses from equities and adjust positions. The preliminary reading of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index report for February is due later on Friday. 

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Traders book some profits amid broader market weakness, weighing on the Gold price.  Potential diplomatic talks between the US and Iran in Oman contribute to the downside of precious metals. Gold price (XAU/USD) tumbles to around $4,680 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal extends the decline as traders cover losses from equities and adjust positions. The preliminary reading of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index report for February is due later on Friday. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME), the world's leading derivatives marketplace, has raised initial margin requirements for Gold and Silver futures contracts again, increasing the amount of collateral traders must post to open and maintain positions. Additionally, falling technology stocks have forced some traders to liquidate gold positions to meet margin requirements, exerting some selling pressure on the yellow metal.  Easing geopolitical tensions also undermines the safe-haven demand for bullion. Irian and US officials confirmed that the two sides will hold talks in Oman on Friday. Market participants will closely monitorgeopolitical developments surrounding the negotiation. On the other hand, renewed concerns over the Federal Reserve (Fed) independence could drag the US Dollar (USD) lower and provide some support to the USD-denominated commodity price. US President said on Thursday that he would have passed on Kevin Warsh as his nominee to lead the US central bank if Warsh had expressed a desire to hike interest rates. Gold FAQs Why do people invest in Gold? Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government. Who buys the most Gold? Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves. How is Gold correlated with other assets? Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal. What does the price of Gold depend on? The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

Japan JP Foreign Reserves climbed from previous $1369.8B to $1394.8B in January

Japan JP Foreign Reserves down to $1B in January from previous $1369.8B

Australia National Australia Bank's Business Confidence (QoQ) up to 3 in 4Q from previous 2

The USD/JPY pair gains momentum to a two-week high near 157.00 during the early Asian session on Friday. The Japanese Yen (JPY) remains under selling pressure against the US Dollar (USD) ahead of Japan's snap general election on Sunday.

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The Japanese Yen (JPY) remains under selling pressure against the US Dollar (USD) ahead of Japan's snap general election on Sunday. The preliminary reading of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index report for February will be released later on Friday. Markets expect that a victory for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will lead to expanded fiscal stimulus and continue the JPY’s weakness. Takaichi said that she aims to begin implementing a two-year suspension of the 8% consumption tax on food and beverage items within fiscal 2026, starting in April. This raises concerns about Japan’s fiscal outlook amid fears of debt-funded spending. However, the upside for the pair might be limited amid weaker-than-expected US labor market data. US job openings unexpectedly fell in December to the lowest level since 2020 and layoffs rose. Companies revealed the most job cutbacks in January since the Great Recession in 2009, while applications for US unemployment benefits rose more than forecast last week. A partial government shutdown delayed January Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data to February 11, which was previously scheduled for Friday.Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Lisa Cook said on Monday that she is more concerned about stalled progress on inflation than a weakening labor market. Her remarks signaled that she will not support another interest-rate cut until tariff-induced price pressures begin to recede. Japanese Yen FAQs What key factors drive the Japanese Yen? The Japanese Yen (JPY) is one of the world’s most traded currencies. Its value is broadly determined by the performance of the Japanese economy, but more specifically by the Bank of Japan’s policy, the differential between Japanese and US bond yields, or risk sentiment among traders, among other factors. How do the decisions of the Bank of Japan impact the Japanese Yen? One of the Bank of Japan’s mandates is currency control, so its moves are key for the Yen. The BoJ has directly intervened in currency markets sometimes, generally to lower the value of the Yen, although it refrains from doing it often due to political concerns of its main trading partners. The BoJ ultra-loose monetary policy between 2013 and 2024 caused the Yen to depreciate against its main currency peers due to an increasing policy divergence between the Bank of Japan and other main central banks. More recently, the gradually unwinding of this ultra-loose policy has given some support to the Yen. How does the differential between Japanese and US bond yields impact the Japanese Yen? Over the last decade, the BoJ’s stance of sticking to ultra-loose monetary policy has led to a widening policy divergence with other central banks, particularly with the US Federal Reserve. This supported a widening of the differential between the 10-year US and Japanese bonds, which favored the US Dollar against the Japanese Yen. The BoJ decision in 2024 to gradually abandon the ultra-loose policy, coupled with interest-rate cuts in other major central banks, is narrowing this differential. How does broader risk sentiment impact the Japanese Yen? The Japanese Yen is often seen as a safe-haven investment. This means that in times of market stress, investors are more likely to put their money in the Japanese currency due to its supposed reliability and stability. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen the Yen’s value against other currencies seen as more risky to invest in.

Japan Overall Household Spending (YoY) came in at -2.6%, below expectations (0%) in December

The Euro extends its losses on Thursday as the European Central Bank held rates unchanged in an uneventful monetary policy decision. Jobs data in the United States was softer than expected fueling speculation for rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The EUR/USD trades at 1.1777, down 0.25%.

.fxs-major-currency-prices-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:8px 16px}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table{width:100%;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:1rem}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table th{background-color:#f2f2f2}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td{color:#fff}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.green{background-color:#9cd6cd}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.red{background-color:#faafb5}table.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-table td.blue-grey{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-prices-legend{font-size:11px;margin:8px;color:#49494f}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-major-currency-prices-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}.fxs-major-currency-prices-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.dark-green{background-color:#39ad9a}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-green{background-color:#9cd6cd}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.gray{background-color:#888a93}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.light-red{background-color:#faafb5}.fxs-major-currency-prices-currency-price td.strong-red{background-color:#f55e6a} .fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}}EUR/USD extends losses as ECB holds rates and maintains neutral, data-dependent stance.Risk-off mood lifts Dollar as equities and crypto slide, led by sharp US tech losses.Softer US labor data boosts Fed cut bets, with markets pricing deeper easing.The Euro extends its losses on Thursday as the European Central Bank held rates unchanged in an uneventful monetary policy decision. Jobs data in the United States was softer than expected fueling speculation for rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The EUR/USD trades at 1.1777, down 0.25%.Euro weakens below 1.1800 as an uneventful ECB decision meets risk aversion and softer US jobs dataRisk aversion pushed investors’ attention on the US Dollar in the FX space. Wall Street plunge dragged by nine out of the eleven sectors that compose the S&P 500, which lost 1.2%, the Nasdaq sank over 1.59%, while other assets like Bitcoin plummeted by over 13%.Aside from this, US jobs data revealed that private companies are slashing job posts, remaining reluctant to hire. Consequently, the number of Americans filling for unemployment benefits, rose. Given the backdrop, expectations that the Fed would need to reduce interest rates had risen, with money markets expecting 60 basis points of easing, revealed Prime Market Terminal data.Earlier the ECB  kept interest rates unchanged and reiterated that it does not have a pre-committed path and that it would remain data-dependent on a meeting-by-meeting basis. At the press conference, ECB’s President Lagarde, struck a neutral tone and affirmed that monetary policy was “in a good place.”After the ECB’s decision and the US data, the EUR/USD failed to gain traction, remaining below 1.1800, but its losses were capped as well amid growing expectations for a dovish Fed.What’s in the calendar in Europe and the US on February 6?In Europe, the docket will feature speeches by ECB Cipollone and Kocher. In the US, the University of Michigan will release the Consumer Sentiment. This and a speech by the Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, would be the market moving events. Euro Price This week The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies this week. Euro was the strongest against the Japanese Yen. USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF USD 0.63% 1.28% 1.35% 0.78% 0.46% 1.15% 0.82% EUR -0.63% 0.60% 0.74% 0.17% -0.14% 0.52% 0.19% GBP -1.28% -0.60% 0.02% -0.44% -0.75% -0.09% -0.41% JPY -1.35% -0.74% -0.02% -0.54% -0.88% -0.16% -0.78% CAD -0.78% -0.17% 0.44% 0.54% -0.28% 0.38% 0.04% AUD -0.46% 0.14% 0.75% 0.88% 0.28% 0.69% 0.35% NZD -1.15% -0.52% 0.09% 0.16% -0.38% -0.69% -0.33% CHF -0.82% -0.19% 0.41% 0.78% -0.04% -0.35% 0.33% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote). Daily market movers: Euro treads water despite lackluster US dataOn Thursday, US jobs data was poor. Challenger, Gray and Christmas revealed that US employers cut 108,435 people of the workforce, with Amazon, UPS and Dow, Inc accounting for almost 50% of the total in December.This and the jump on Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending January 31 can prompt the Fed to consider rate cuts rather sooner than later. Jobless claims rose by 231K, exceeding estimates of 212K, up from the previous print 209K.The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for December reinforced signs of a cooling labor market, with vacancies falling to 6.542 million from 6.928 million in November, well below the 7.2 million forecasts.Nevertheless, the Greenback rose. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the greenback against a basket of six currencies, edged up 0.31% to 97.95.Money markets have since increased expectations for Fed easing by year-end, pricing in 56 basis points of cuts, up from 50 bps previously, according to Prime Market Terminal data.In the press conference, Lagarde struck a neutral tone and spent time speaking about exchange rate moves. She said the ECB is keeping a close eye on markets but concluded that no big change has taken place in recent months. Lagarde’s added that the central bank has taken to their baseline, moves in the FX markets, disregarding any intentions of intervention.Technical outlook: EUR/USD to trade sideways within 1.1750-1.1800The bullish bias remains intact as prices sit above the 50-, 100- and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs). The EUR/USD first support is the 50-day SMA at 1.1732. The Relative Strength Index RSI) although neutral, suggests consolidation while the pair remains above the 50-day SMA.The rising trendline from 1.1469 underpins the bullish tone, with support seen at 1.1632. Holding above keeps the higher-low structure intact, keeping risks skewed to the upside.Conversely, for a bullish continuation, traders need to regain the 1.1800 figure, which could exacerbate an upward move towards the 1.1900 figure.EUR/USD Daily Chart Euro FAQs What is the Euro? The Euro is the currency for the 20 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%). What is the ECB and how does it impact the Euro? The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde. How does inflation data impact the value of the Euro? Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money. How does economic data influence the value of the Euro? Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy. How does the Trade Balance impact the Euro? Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Bullock said on Friday that the board lifted the Official Cash Rate (OCR) because the economy is more capacity constrained than previously judged, meaning policy needed to be tighter.

.fxs-faq-module-wrapper{border:1px solid #dddedf;background:#fff;margin-bottom:32px;width:100%;float:left;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif}.fxs-faq-module-title{color:#1b1c23;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:22.4px;text-transform:uppercase;background:#f3f3f8;padding:8px 16px;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-container{padding:16px;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px}.fxs-faq-module-section{padding-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #ececf1;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-section:last-child{border:none;margin-bottom:0}.fxs-faq-module-container input[type=checkbox]{display:none}.fxs-faq-module-header{padding:4px 0;background-color:#fff;border:none;position:relative;cursor:pointer;margin:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label{display:block;cursor:pointer}.fxs-faq-module-header label span{display:block;width:calc(100% - 50px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;right:16px;width:8px;height:2px;background-color:#49494f;transition:all .2s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(4px)}.fxs-faq-module-header label:after,.fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transition:transform .3s ease-in-out}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:after{transform:rotate(45deg) translateX(4px)}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-header label:before{transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(-4px)}.fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:all .3s ease-in-out;color:#49494f;font-weight:300;padding:0;font-size:14.72px;line-height:20px;margin:0}input[type=checkbox]:checked+.fxs-faq-module-section .fxs-faq-module-content{max-height:1000px;margin-top:8px}@media (min-width:680px){.fxs-faq-module-title{font-size:19.2px;line-height:27.2px}.fxs-faq-module-header{font-size:19.2px;line-height:25.92px}.fxs-faq-module-content{font-size:16px;line-height:21.6px}} Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Bullock said on Friday that the board lifted the Official Cash Rate (OCR) because the economy is more capacity constrained than previously judged, meaning policy needed to be tighter. Bullock added that the RBA needs to dampen demand growth unless supply capacity can expand faster.Key quotesWe need to dampen the growth of demand unless the supply side of the economy can expand a little quicker.

Based on its assessment that the economy is more capacity constrained, the board judged that monetary policy needed to be tighter.

Much of the recent increase in inflation is judged to be temporary but some of it seems to be persistent.

Board will be monitoring closely the extent to which the stronger inflation we have observed is persistent or temporary.Market reactionAt the time of writing, the AUD/USD pair is trading 0.95% lower on the day to trade at 0.6930. RBA FAQs What is the Reserve Bank of Australia and how does it influence the Australian Dollar? The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sets interest rates and manages monetary policy for Australia. Decisions are made by a board of governors at 11 meetings a year and ad hoc emergency meetings as required. The RBA’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means an inflation rate of 2-3%, but also “..to contribute to the stability of the currency, full employment, and the economic prosperity and welfare of the Australian people.” Its main tool for achieving this is by raising or lowering interest rates. Relatively high interest rates will strengthen the Australian Dollar (AUD) and vice versa. Other RBA tools include quantitative easing and tightening. How does inflation data impact the value of the Australian Dollar? While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for currencies since it lowers the value of money in general, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Moderately higher inflation now tends to lead central banks to put up their interest rates, which in turn has the effect of attracting more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in the case of Australia is the Aussie Dollar. How does economic data influence the value of the Australian Dollar? Macroeconomic data gauges the health of an economy and can have an impact on the value of its currency. Investors prefer to invest their capital in economies that are safe and growing rather than precarious and shrinking. Greater capital inflows increase the aggregate demand and value of the domestic currency. Classic indicators, such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can influence AUD. A strong economy may encourage the Reserve Bank of Australia to put up interest rates, also supporting AUD. What is Quantitative Easing (QE) and how does it affect the Australian Dollar? Quantitative Easing (QE) is a tool used in extreme situations when lowering interest rates is not enough to restore the flow of credit in the economy. QE is the process by which the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) prints Australian Dollars (AUD) for the purpose of buying assets – usually government or corporate bonds – from financial institutions, thereby providing them with much-needed liquidity. QE usually results in a weaker AUD. What is Quantitative tightening (QT) and how does it affect the Australian Dollar? Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse of QE. It is undertaken after QE when an economic recovery is underway and inflation starts rising. Whilst in QE the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) purchases government and corporate bonds from financial institutions to provide them with liquidity, in QT the RBA stops buying more assets, and stops reinvesting the principal maturing on the bonds it already holds. It would be positive (or bullish) for the Australian Dollar.

South Korea Current Account Balance up to 18.7B in December from previous 12.24B

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