Forex News
Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama warned that officials are in close contact around the clock with their US counterparts over speculative moves that are keeping the Japanese Yen (JPY) weak. Katayama confirmed that there are no plans to alter Japan's currency swap lines with the US.
Katayama also flagged a visible increase in speculative activity linked to oil prices and vowed decisive action on speculation, citing an existing agreement with the US as the basis. Katayama stressed continued close coordination with the US and global financial authorities across multiple forums.
Market Reaction:
Katayama's comments represent a classic verbal intervention but do little to provide any respite to the JPY, with the USD/JPY pair holding steady just below the 160.00 psychological mark, up for the fifth consecutive day.
Japanese Yen Price This week
The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies this week. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the Swiss Franc.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.49% | 0.15% | 0.61% | 0.08% | -0.08% | 0.09% | 0.65% | |
| EUR | -0.49% | -0.33% | 0.00% | -0.37% | -0.54% | -0.44% | 0.17% | |
| GBP | -0.15% | 0.33% | 2.17% | -0.04% | -0.21% | -0.11% | 0.50% | |
| JPY | -0.61% | 0.00% | -2.17% | -0.53% | -0.63% | -0.55% | 0.05% | |
| CAD | -0.08% | 0.37% | 0.04% | 0.53% | -0.07% | -0.04% | 0.55% | |
| AUD | 0.08% | 0.54% | 0.21% | 0.63% | 0.07% | 0.17% | 0.71% | |
| NZD | -0.09% | 0.44% | 0.11% | 0.55% | 0.04% | -0.17% | 0.58% | |
| CHF | -0.65% | -0.17% | -0.50% | -0.05% | -0.55% | -0.71% | -0.58% |
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).
- EUR/USD flats as the US Dollar holds ground due to safe-haven demand amid US–Iran uncertainty.
- US intercepted two Iranian supertankers evading its blockade, as Tehran threatens vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Eurozone private sector contracted in April at the fastest pace since November 2024 as higher energy costs hit demand and services.
EUR/USD steadies after three days of losses, trading around 1.1690 during the Asian hours on Friday. The pair remains flat as the US Dollar (USD) maintains its position as safe-haven demand increases amid persistent uncertainty surrounding the United States (US)–Iran conflict.
Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the US military intercepted two Iranian oil supertankers attempting to evade its blockade, as Washington continues efforts to restrict Iran’s shipping while Tehran threatens vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump warned that if Iran does not move its oil, its infrastructure would be targeted. Iranian officials, however, denied agreeing to any extension of the truce and accused Washington of breaching it by maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian trade.
Trump also said Israel and Lebanon would extend their ceasefire by three weeks, according to Bloomberg. The move could open the door for a longer-term agreement between the two countries and remove a key obstacle to ending the US conflict with Iran. He added that he plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.
The Greenback found additional support from resilient US economic data. Weekly Initial Jobless Claims rose to 215K from 212K, indicating continued strength in the labor market. Meanwhile, S&P Global PMIs surprised to the upside, with Manufacturing at 54.0 and Services at 51.3, pointing to sustained expansion in business activity.
The Eurozone’s preliminary HCOB Composite PMI unexpectedly declined to 48.6 in April, missing expectations of 50.2 from 50.7 in March. Germany’s flash Composite PMI also fell short, dropping to 48.3 versus forecasts of 51.1, compared to 51.9 in the prior month.
The Eurozone’s private sector contracted in April at the fastest pace since November 2024, as the Iran conflict pushed energy costs higher, weighing on consumer demand and the services sector. Meanwhile, Germany’s Economics Ministry halved its 2026 growth forecast, citing the energy shock stemming from the Middle East conflict.
Euro FAQs
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%).
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.
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.
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.
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.
- AUD/USD softens to around 0.7130 in Friday’s early Asian session.
- An escalation of the conflict in the Middle East underpins the US Dollar, a safe-haven currency.
- Markets expect the RBA to hike the Official Cash Rate in the May policy meeting.
The AUD/USD pair loses traction to near 0.7130 during the early Asian session on Friday. Renewed conflict in the Middle East provides some support for a safe-haven currency, such as the US Dollar (USD), against the Australian Dollar (AUD).
Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the US military intercepted two Iranian oil supertankers that tried to evade its blockade as Washington continues to stymie Iran’s shipping and Tehran threatens vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Later in the day, US President Donald Trump said that if Iran doesn’t move the oil, its infrastructure will explode. Signs of a prolonged war in the Middle East could boost a safe-haven currency such as the Greenback and create a headwind for the pair.
On the Aussie front, futures markets indicate a 72% probability of a 25 basis point (bps) increase to 4.35% at the May meeting. Westpac analysts expect the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will hike rates again in May, June and August, which would take the cash rate to 4.85% following two earlier hikes this year. This would be the highest cash rate since November 2008.
Australian Dollar FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
US military officials are developing new plans to target Iran’s capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz in the event the current ceasefire with Iran fails, CNN reported on Thursday.
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, the options, among several sets of target types under consideration, include strikes with a particular focus on “dynamic targeting” of Iran’s capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz, southern Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
Market reaction
At the time of writing, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is up 3.80% on the day at $95.45.
Brent Crude Oil FAQs
Brent Crude Oil is a type of Crude Oil found in the North Sea that is used as a benchmark for international Oil prices. It is considered ‘light’ and ‘sweet’ because of its high gravity and low sulfur content, making it easier to refine into gasoline and other high-value products. Brent Crude Oil serves as a reference price for approximately two-thirds of the world's internationally traded Oil supplies. Its popularity rests on its availability and stability: the North Sea region has well-established infrastructure for Oil production and transportation, ensuring a reliable and consistent supply.
Like all assets supply and demand are the key drivers of Brent Crude 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 Brent Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of Brent Crude 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.
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 Brent Crude 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.
US President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon will extend their ceasefire by three weeks, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. This move could creates space for Israel and Lebanon to work on a long-term deal and removes a roadblock to ending the US war with Iran.
Trump further stated that he would host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon President Joseph Aoun in the near future.
“The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” said Trump. The ceasefire had been set to expire on April 26.
Market reaction
At the time of writing, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is up 3.80% on the day at $95.45.
WTI Oil FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Gold price tumbles to near $4,690 in Friday’s early Asian session.
- A firming US dollar and intensifying tensions in the Middle East exert some pressure on the Gold price.
- Higher demand from major central banks could support the yellow metal.
Gold price (XAU/USD) falls to around $4,690 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal attracts some sellers amid a stronger US Dollar (USD) and elevated oil prices that stoked inflation worries.
The US military said it intercepted two Iranian oil supertankers that tried to evade its blockade as Washington continues to stymie Iran’s shipping and Tehran threatens vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Later in the day, US President Donald Trump said that if Iran doesn’t move the oil, its infrastructure will explode. Iranian officials did not say they had agreed to any extension of the truce, accusing Washington of violating it by maintaining a blockade on Iranian trade by sea.
“Gold continues to take its cues from the oil market, with rising energy costs keeping the risk of near-term dollar strength and elevated inflation in focus,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.
Oil prices surged this week, reflecting worries over ongoing supply disruptions. Higher crude oil prices can add to inflationary pressures, raising the bar for cutting rates. Gold is often used amid geopolitical uncertainty but does not yield interest, making it less attractive when interest rates are high.
However, demand from major central banks could underpin the yellow metal. Central banks in emerging markets, led by China, Poland, India, and Turkey, continue to aggressively diversify their foreign exchange reserves away from the USD by accumulating gold in 2025 and early 2026. The People's Bank of China (PBoC) added 5 tonnes in March, extending its monthly buying streak to 17 consecutive months.
(This story was corrected on April 23 at 23:30 GMT to say, in the first bullet point, that Gold price tumbles to near $4,690 in Friday’s early Asian session, not European session.
Gold FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
Forex Market News
Our dedicated focus on forex news and insights empowers you to capitalise on investment opportunities in the dynamic FX market. The forex landscape is ever-evolving, characterised by continuous exchange rate fluctuations shaped by vast influential factors. From economic data releases to geopolitical developments, these events can sway market sentiment and drive substantial movements in currency valuations.
At Rakuten Securities Hong Kong, we prioritise delivering timely and accurate forex news updates sourced from reputable platforms like FXStreet. This ensures you stay informed about crucial market developments, enabling informed decision-making and proactive strategy adjustments. Whether you’re monitoring forex forecasts, analysing trading perspectives, or seeking to capitalise on emerging trends, our comprehensive approach equips you with the insights needed to navigate the FX market effectively.
Stay ahead with our comprehensive forex news coverage, designed to keep you informed and prepared to seize profitable opportunities in the dynamic world of forex trading.
