Forex News
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock testified on Thursday before the Senate Economics Legislation Committee.
Key quotes
Flow of data and developments since may has not been materially different to our expectations.
We expect inflation to increase further in the near term.
We will be carefully monitoring conditions to assess how the combined effects of higher interest rates and the energy price shock are playing out.
Having raised the cash rate three times, monetary policy is well placed to respond to developments.
Inflation is too high, and the board will do what it considers necessary to achieve our mandate to deliver price stability and full employment.
Market reaction
At the time of writing, the AUD/USD pair is trading 0.02% lower on the day to trade at 0.7127.
RBA FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- The Indian Rupee opens flat at around 95.72 against the US Dollar with investors await the RBI’s monetary policy.
- US President Trump said that Iran has agreed to give up its nuclear ambitions.
- Indian government approves scrapping capital gains tax on foreign investment in government bonds.
The Indian Rupee (INR) opens flat against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday after a strong Wednesday. The USD/INR pair holds onto previous day’s gains around 95.72 as oil prices remain higher, with United States (US)-Iran negotiations remaining in deadlock.
In the opening trade, MCX Crude Oil price opens 1.2% lower to near 9,120, but is close to its 10-day high of 9,290 posted on Wednesday.
Currencies from economies, such as India, which rely heavily on oil imports to meet their energy needs, tend to underperform in a high oil price environment.
US President Trump remains confident of early deal with Iran
US President Donald Trump said in The New York Post’s "Pod Force One" program on Wednesday that Iran has agreed over not having nuclear weapons, adding, “Iran's Ayatollah [referring Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei] is involved in negotiations with Washington” and he will meet him at some time. However, Trump warned that Iran could change its mind and can pursue its nuclear ambitions.
When asked about the timeframe in which the US and Iran could reach a deal, Trump said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the nations could reopen the Strait of Hormuz as early as this week; however, there is a possibility that the US blockade on Iranian sea ports could last till Labor Day, September 7.
India approves scrapping capital gains tax on foreign investment in government bonds
Earlier in the day, the Cabinet meeting has approved the scrapping of capital gains tax on foreign portfolio investment in government bonds, aiming to improve the condition of foreign flows in the Indian economy.
The move was highly anticipated by the Indian government as significant Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) selling in the Indian stock market has been one of key reasons behind Indian Rupee’s sharp depreciation.
On Monday, FIIs also remained net sellers in the Indian equity markets, offloading their stake worth Rs. 5,616.56 crore. So far in June, overseas investors have remains net sellers in all three trading days.
RBI’s policy comes into limelight
Going forward, the major trigger for the Indian Rupee will be the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy, which will be announced on Friday. The RBI is expected to hold the Repo Rate steady at 5.25% and guide a hawkish monetary policy outlook, as higher energy prices have de-anchored inflation expectations.
In the US, investors will pay close attention to the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for May, which will be released on Friday. The impact of the US NFP data will be significant on the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy outlook.
Technical Analysis: USD/INR holds above 20-day EMA
USD/INR trades aLmost flat at around 95.72 in the opening trade. The pair maintain a modest bullish bias as it stays above the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 95.47. The price action consolidates near recent highs while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at about 54.8 sits slightly above the neutral territory, suggesting steady but not overextended upward momentum.
On the downside, immediate support is aligned with the 20-day EMA around 95.47, which reinforces the underlying demand zone and would need to give way to signal a deeper corrective phase towards the June 2 low at 95.00, followed by the May 7 low at around 94.00. Looking up, the pair could reclaim the all-time high of 97.09 if it manages to rise above the May 28 high at 96.65.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
Indian Rupee FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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- USD/JPY retreats from over a one-month high set on Thursday, though it lacks follow-through.
- The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire weighs on the USD and the currency pair amid intervention fears.
- The bullish technical setup warrants some caution before positioning for any corrective decline.
The USD/JPY pair attracts some sellers during the Asian session on Thursday amid fears that authorities will step in again to prop up the Japanese Yen (JPY). Furthermore, the Israel-Lebanon truce prompts some profit-taking around the US Dollar (USD) and exerts downward pressure on the currency pair.
Spot prices, however, lack follow-through and remain close to the 160.00 psychological mark or over a one-month high set earlier today. Economic concerns stemming from the Middle East conflict hold back the JPY bulls from placing aggressive bets. Adding to this, the uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks, along with hawkish US Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations, acts as a tailwind for the USD and contributes to limiting the downside for the USD/JPY pair.
Spot prices retain a constructive near-term tone within an upward-sloping channel. The lower boundary of the said channel coincides with the 200-period simple moving average (SMA), which acted as a tailwind for the USD/JPY pair on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers above the midline, suggesting modest bullish momentum even as the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) flattens slightly below zero.
Momentum indicators hint at a slower advance rather than a sharp reversal. Hence, any corrective pullback might continue to attract fresh buyers near the 159.45 confluence support. A convincing break, however, might prompt some technical selling and pave the way for deeper losses. As long as buyers defend this support band above 159.44, the broader bias stays tilted higher, and a renewed push toward the channel top at 160.14 remains the primary topside scenario.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
USD/JPY 4-hour chart
Japanese Yen Price Last 30 days
The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies last 30 days. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.71% | 0.76% | 1.66% | 2.05% | 0.54% | -0.02% | 0.83% | |
| EUR | -0.71% | 0.06% | 0.97% | 1.36% | -0.20% | -0.70% | 0.17% | |
| GBP | -0.76% | -0.06% | 0.92% | 1.29% | -0.23% | -0.76% | 0.12% | |
| JPY | -1.66% | -0.97% | -0.92% | 0.35% | -1.16% | -1.66% | -0.82% | |
| CAD | -2.05% | -1.36% | -1.29% | -0.35% | -1.50% | -2.00% | -1.16% | |
| AUD | -0.54% | 0.20% | 0.23% | 1.16% | 1.50% | -0.54% | 0.39% | |
| NZD | 0.02% | 0.70% | 0.76% | 1.66% | 2.00% | 0.54% | 0.89% | |
| CHF | -0.83% | -0.17% | -0.12% | 0.82% | 1.16% | -0.39% | -0.89% |
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).
Gold prices rose in India on Thursday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 13,827.14 Indian Rupees (INR) per gram, up compared with the INR 13,688.53 it cost on Wednesday.
The price for Gold increased to INR 161,275.10 per tola from INR 159,660.40 per tola a day earlier.
Unit measure | Gold Price in INR |
|---|---|
1 Gram | 13,827.14 |
10 Grams | 138,269.70 |
Tola | 161,275.10 |
Troy Ounce | 430,072.50 |
FXStreet 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
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.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
- EUR/JPY trades with mild gains near 185.65 in Thursday’s early European session.
- The cross keep a modest bullish bias above the key 100-day SMA.
- The first upside barrier emerges at 186.00; the initial support level is seen at 185.15.
The EUR/JPY cross posts modest gains around 185.65 during the early European session on Thursday. The potential upside might be limited for the cross amid fears of foreign exchange intervention from Japanese authorities.
Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Wednesday that officials are standing ready to respond appropriately on foreign exchange if required. Katayama added that she aligns with the Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor on several matters.
On the other hand, the hawkish stance of the European Central Bank might help limit the EUR’s losses. The ECB is likely to raise its deposit rate to 2.25% at its upcoming June policy meeting, with another increase likely in September, a Reuters poll of economists showed.
Technical Analysis:
In the daily chart, EUR/JPY trades at 185.64, holding a modest bullish bias as it consolidates above the Bollinger middle band around 185.15 and the 100-day simple moving average (SMA) near 184.48. The pair is trading closer to the upper half of its recent Bollinger envelope, with the upper band near 186.02 acting as immediate overhead resistance, while the Relative Strength Index (14) around 55 suggests steady but not overstretched upside momentum.
On the topside, a daily close above the Bollinger upper band at 186.02 would open the way for a continuation of the advance toward higher highs in the coming sessions. On the downside, initial support is seen at the Bollinger middle band near 185.15, followed by the 100-day SMA at 184.48 and the lower Bollinger band around 184.28, where buyers would be expected to re-emerge if the current pullback deepens.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
(This story was corrected on June 4 at 04:40 GMT to say, in the second bullet point, that the cross keep a modest bullish bias above the key 100-day SMA, not EMA.)
Japanese Yen FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
- USD/CHF falls as the US Dollar struggles on easing risk aversion after Israel and Lebanon renewed their ceasefire on Wednesday.
- The Greenback may regain its ground as strong May jobs data fuels expectations that the Fed will raise interest rates.
- Schlegel said recently that the SNB is ready to intervene against Middle East-driven Swiss Franc overvaluation pressures.
USD/CHF halts its three-day winning streak, trading around 0.7910 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair depreciates as the US Dollar (USD) loses ground on easing risk aversion following the news that Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday agreed to renew a ceasefire. However, it would require a "complete cessation" of fire by Iran-backed Hezbollah. The agreement was announced in a joint statement after US-led talks in Washington.
The Israel and Lebanon do not have formal diplomatic relations, though also agreed to establish several “pilot security zones" in which the Lebanese armed forces "will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors."
The downside of the USD/CHF pair could be restrained as the Greenback may regain its ground amid rising expectations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will raise interest rates this year. Stronger-than-expected US jobs data, including the May ADP private payrolls and JOLTS job openings, suggested a resilient US labor market. These reports might prompt traders to raise their bets that the Fed will keep interest rates higher for longer.
Market expectations have shifted dramatically as the war in Iran continues to disrupt energy markets, driving up oil prices and fueling inflation. Consequently, traders are adjusting to a more hawkish outlook, with the CME FedWatch Tool now pricing in a nearly 42% probability of a Federal Reserve interest-rate hike in December.
Swiss National Bank (SNB) Chairman Martin Schlegel noted that the Swiss Franc’s real overvaluation is notably lower than its nominal overvaluation. Schlegel added that the central bank has increased its readiness to intervene in the foreign exchange market to counter safe-haven appreciation pressures driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Swiss Franc FAQs
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland’s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc’s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone.
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the country’s currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen as more risky to invest in.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets four times a year – once every quarter, less than other major central banks – to decide on monetary policy. The bank aims for an annual inflation rate of less than 2%. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF.
Macroeconomic data releases in Switzerland are key to assessing the state of the economy and can impact the Swiss Franc’s (CHF) valuation. The Swiss economy is broadly stable, but any sudden change in economic growth, inflation, current account or the central bank’s currency reserves have the potential to trigger moves in CHF. Generally, high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence are good for CHF. Conversely, if economic data points to weakening momentum, CHF is likely to depreciate.
As a small and open economy, Switzerland is heavily dependent on the health of the neighboring Eurozone economies. The broader European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner and a key political ally, so macroeconomic and monetary policy stability in the Eurozone is essential for Switzerland and, thus, for the Swiss Franc (CHF). With such dependency, some models suggest that the correlation between the fortunes of the Euro (EUR) and the CHF is more than 90%, or close to perfect.
- Gold rebounds from a one-week low as the Israel-Lebanon truce undermines the safe-haven USD.
- The US-Iran standoff keeps geopolitical risk premium in play and should limit deeper USD losses.
- Fed rate hike bets further favor USD bulls and might cap the upside for the non-yielding commodity.
Gold (XAU/USD) gains some positive traction on Thursday and climbs to the $4,475 area during the Asian session, reversing a major part of the previous day's slide to a one-week low. The Israel-Lebanon truce prompts some profit-taking around the US Dollar (USD) and supports the commodity. That said, the lack of a breakthrough in US-Iran diplomatic negotiations and renewed hostilities in the Middle East keep geopolitical risks in play, which should help limit USD losses. Furthermore, expectations that elevated oil prices can accelerate inflation and keep interest rates higher for longer warrant caution before placing aggressive bullish bets on the non-yielding yellow metal.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire after US-led talks in Washington on Wednesday. The joint statement said on Wednesday that the ceasefire was contingent on a complete cessation of fire by Iran-backed Hezbollah as well as the evacuation of the group’s operatives from southern Lebanon. Adding to this, the Republican-led US House of Representatives approved a resolution that seeks to block President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Iran. This raises hopes for a deal to end a three-month-old US-Israeli war with Iran, triggering a modest USD pullback following the overnight strong move up to its strongest level since April 7 and benefiting the Gold.
Meanwhile, a report by The Jerusalem Post suggests that the diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran hits a roadblock amid Tehran's rigid demand for the immediate unfreezing of capital at the very start of the process. Adding to this, senior US officials remain firm that the US will not unfreeze any funds at the outset without a significant Iranian move on the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz, keeping a lid on the latest optimism. This, along with expectations for a hawkish US Federal Reserve (Fed), might hold back the USD bears from placing aggressive bets and cap any further appreciation for the Gold price, which remains well below the $4,500 psychological mark.
Traders now look to the release of the US Weekly Jobless Claims data and speeches by influential FOMC members for some impetus later during the North American session. The focus, however, will remain on the US monthly employment details, popularly known as the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report on Friday, which should provide more cues about the Fed's policy path. Apart from this, the incoming geopolitical headlines might continue to infuse volatility across the global financial markets, which, in turn, will drive the USD and the Gold price in the near-term.
XAU/USD 4-hour chart
Gold might struggle to capitalize on intraday gains amid a bearish technical setup
From a technical perspective, the XAU/USD pair maintains a bearish near-term bias within a downward parallel channel and stays below the 100-period simple moving average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart. The latter is pegged at roughly $4,533, which now acts as overhead resistance.
Momentum indicators back this cautious tone, with the Relative Strength Index near 44 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) below zero and its signal line. This, in turn, suggests that rallies are likely to struggle while the broader downtrend remains intact.
Meanwhile, the channel’s lower boundary around $4,314 offers the main support level, and a clear drop through this floor would open the way for a deeper retracement within the broader bearish setup.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
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.
Technical Analysis:
In the four-hour chart, XAU/USD trades at $4,461.54,
- Silver price jumps to near $73.60; however, its broader outlook remains bearish.
- US President Trump said the maritime blockade could last until Labor Day.
- Investors await the US NFP data for May.
Silver price (XAG/USD) trades 1.2% higher to near $73.60 during the Asian trading session on Thursday. The white metal rebounds after a sharp sell-off on Wednesday even as fears of a prolonged United States (US) blockade on Iranian sea ports have raised concerns over its outlook, a scenario that will be in action if the US and Iran do not reach to a permanent resolution.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with The New York Post’s "Pod Force One" program that the maritime US blockade could last until Labor Day, while expressing confidence that the scenario is unlikely.
As the Labor Day will be held of September 7, the US blockade on Iran for that long, which means no permanent peace deal between the nations and energy flows remaining restricted through the Strait of Hormuz energy flows remaining restricted through the Strait of Hormuz will be unfavorable for precious metals and currencies from economies highly dependent on oil imports.
The Silver price has been underperforming since the onset of the Middle East war as higher oil prices have prompted inflationary pressures globally and have forced traders to price in hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) bets, a sharp turnaround from two interest rate cuts anticipated before the war started.
Theoretically, higher interest rates by the Fed bode poorly for non-yielding assets, such as Silver
On the US front, better-than-projected US ADP Employment Change data for May, released on Wednesday, has set a positive tone for the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for May, which is scheduled for Friday. The US ADP Employment data showed that 122K new jobs were created in the private sector, which were higher than 117K estimates and the prior reading of 105K.
Silver technical analysis
XAG/USD trades higher at around $73.35 at the time. However, the near-term tone of the Silver price remains bearish as it holds below the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is at $76.02. The downside bias is also reinforced by a subdued Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 43, which stays below the neutral 50 line and suggests lingering selling pressure rather than an imminent bullish reversal.
On the topside, the 20-day EMA at $76.02 is the immediate resistance that bulls would need to reclaim to ease the current bearish pressure and open the door for a more sustained recovery towards the May 25 high at $78.83. Looking down, the asset could slide towards the April 7 low of $68.28 if it decisively breaks below the May 28 low of $71.79.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
Silver FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
- US Dollar Index falls as easing risk aversion followed news that Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew their ceasefire on Wednesday.
- Geopolitical optimism was held in check after President Trump threatened to cancel the ceasefire if Tehran kills US troops.
- The Greenback may rally as strong May jobs data fuels expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, is remaining subdued after three successive days of gains and trading around 99.50 during the Asian hours on Thursday.
The Greenback lost ground on easing risk aversion following the news that Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday agreed to renew a ceasefire. However, it would require a "complete cessation" of fire by Iran-backed Hezbollah. The agreement was announced in a joint statement after US-led talks in Washington.
Israel and Lebanon do not have formal diplomatic relations, though also agreed to establish a number of “pilot security zones" in which the Lebanese armed forces "will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors."
However, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the US President Trump has told aides that he would consider ending the ceasefire with Iran if Tehran kills US troops. Trump insisted that the week-long pause in airstrikes remains intact despite a steady stream of violent skirmishes. Moreover, Trump said in a New York Post interview that the blockade lasting until Labor Day is unlikely but possible, effectively extending the market's timeline for a Hormuz reopening.
The US Dollar may regain its ground amid rising expectations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will raise interest rates this year. Stronger-than-expected US jobs data, including the May ADP private payrolls and JOLTS job openings, suggested a resilient US labor market. These reports might prompt traders to raise their bets that the Fed will keep interest rates higher for longer.
Expectations have shifted significantly as the ongoing war in Iran continues to impact energy markets, pushing prices higher and driving inflation upward. Markets are now pricing in nearly a 42% chance of a Fed rate hike in December, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
US Dollar FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
On early Thursday, a report from The Economic Times (ET) has shown that the Indian government plans to scrap capital gains tax on investments in government securities by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), in an attempt to improve the inflow of foreign funds into the economy.
Additional announcements
Cabinet meet on Wednesday approved the scrapping of capital gains tax on foreign portfolio investment in government bonds.
Decision likely to be implemented via an ordinance amending Income Tax rules.
Foreign investors currently pay 12.5% long term capital gains tax on listed shares and bonds held for more than 12 months.
They also pay 20% withholding tax on interest earned in government bonds. This may be removed as well.
Foreign investors have maintained net positive flows into Indian government debt this year, investing a net amount of $1.4 billion, while nearly $28 billion has been pulled from equity markets.
Indian economy FAQs
The Indian economy has averaged a growth rate of 6.13% between 2006 and 2023, which makes it one of the fastest growing in the world. India’s high growth has attracted a lot of foreign investment. This includes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into physical projects and Foreign Indirect Investment (FII) by foreign funds into Indian financial markets. The greater the level of investment, the higher the demand for the Rupee (INR). Fluctuations in Dollar-demand from Indian importers also impact INR.
India has to import a great deal of its Oil and gasoline so the price of Oil can have a direct impact on the Rupee. Oil is mostly traded in US Dollars (USD) on international markets so if the price of Oil rises, aggregate demand for USD increases and Indian importers have to sell more Rupees to meet that demand, which is depreciative for the Rupee.
Inflation has a complex effect on the Rupee. Ultimately it indicates an increase in money supply which reduces the Rupee’s overall value. Yet if it rises above the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 4% target, the RBI will raise interest rates to bring it down by reducing credit. Higher interest rates, especially real rates (the difference between interest rates and inflation) strengthen the Rupee. They make India a more profitable place for international investors to park their money. A fall in inflation can be supportive of the Rupee. At the same time lower interest rates can have a depreciatory effect on the Rupee.
India has run a trade deficit for most of its recent history, indicating its imports outweigh its exports. Since the majority of international trade takes place in US Dollars, there are times – due to seasonal demand or order glut – where the high volume of imports leads to significant US Dollar- demand. During these periods the Rupee can weaken as it is heavily sold to meet the demand for Dollars. When markets experience increased volatility, the demand for US Dollars can also shoot up with a similarly negative effect on the Rupee.
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