Forex News
- Australian Dollar appreciates amid reports of renewed US–Iran talks ahead of the two-week ceasefire expiring.
- US Vice President Vance cited “significant progress” in initial Iran talks in Pakistan, with follow-up discussions likely within days.
- RBA’s Hauser warned that the coming months will be challenging amid the energy crisis and high inflation.
AUD/USD gains ground for the third successive day, trading around 0.7120 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair appreciates as the Australian Dollar (AUD) receives support from improved market sentiment due to the potential for further United States (US)-Iran talks.
The New York Post reported that US President Donald Trump signaled negotiations could resume this week, while also opposing a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance highlighted “significant progress” in the initial round of Iran talks held in Pakistan, with follow-up discussions potentially set to take place within days.
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser warned on Tuesday during a fireside chat that the months ahead will be challenging for Australia amid the energy crisis driven by Middle East tensions and elevated inflation pressures. Hauser noted that the economy is struggling to absorb the shock due to persistent inflation and supply constraints, increasing the risk of a stagflation-like scenario.
On the data front, softer-than-expected US Producer Price Index (PPI) data reinforced easing inflation pressures, reducing the need for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to raise rates. Notably, the services component, closely watched by the Fed, stood out, as it excludes direct energy and tariff-related effects.
The US PPI rose 0.5% month-over-month (MoM), well below the 1.2% consensus, while core PPI printed at 0.1% MoM versus expectations of 0.6%. On an annual basis, US PPI increased 4% in March, missing the 4.6% forecast and rising from February’s 3.4%, while Core PPI held steady at 3.8% YoY, unchanged from the prior month.
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.
Excerpts from US President Donald Trump’s interview with Fox News, to be aired in the American morning on Wednesday.
Key quotes
I view it as very close to over. If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country.
And we're not finished. We'll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly.
- WTI falls as traders expect renewed US–Iran talks before the current two-week ceasefire expires.
- The United States maintains a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz.
- IEA said global oil supply is expected to decline by 1.5 million barrels per day this year.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price extends its losses for the second consecutive day, trading around $87.50 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday. Crude oil prices fall amid easing supply concerns as traders anticipate a second round of peace talks between the United States (US) and Iran before the current two-week ceasefire expires.
The New York Post reported that US President Donald Trump signaled negotiations could resume this week, while also opposing a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance highlighted “significant progress” in the initial round of Iran talks held in Pakistan, with follow-up discussions potentially set to take place within days.
The United States continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran is reportedly considering a temporary halt in shipments via the corridor to support progress toward a potential agreement.
Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed US Crude Oil Stock rose by 6.1 million barrels in the week ending April 10, up from a 3.72 million-barrel increase in the prior week. This marks a second straight build, pointing to renewed stockpile accumulation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and shifting global supply expectations.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its latest monthly report that global oil supply is expected to decline by 1.5 million barrels per day this year, as attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure and Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupt production and exports. This represents about 1.5% of global demand and contrasts with earlier projections of supply growth, according to Reuters.
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.
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking at a public event, signaled that negotiations are ongoing and that Washington is pursuing a broader grand bargain aimed at reshaping Iran’s economic integration with the world.
Additional Quotes:
Discussions have made tremendous progress, and the current ceasefire holds for a seventh consecutive day.
Talks, taking place via channels including Pakistan, will continue as both sides work toward a deal.
Decades of mistrust between the two sides mean a deal will not be reached quickly.
Washington will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
If Tehran acts like a normal country, it would be treated economically as one — including deeper integration into global trade and financial systems.
Market Reaction:
The comments suggest that the door for Iran diplomacy remains open and remains supportive of the risk-on impulse, which is evident from a generally positive tone around the equity markets.
Risk sentiment FAQs
In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off'' refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest.
Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit.
The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity.
The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of “risk-off” are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world’s reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them – even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.
On Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.8582 compared to the previous day's fix of 6.8593 and 6.8096 Reuters estimate.
PBOC FAQs
The primary monetary policy objectives of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) are to safeguard price stability, including exchange rate stability, and promote economic growth. China’s central bank also aims to implement financial reforms, such as opening and developing the financial market.
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.
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.
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.
- USD/JPY struggles to attract any meaningful buyers during the Asian session on Wednesday.
- Hormuz risks continue to fuel economic worries, undermining the JPY and supporting the pair.
- Iran diplomacy hopes and reduced Fed rate hike bets weigh on the USD, capping spot prices.
The USD/JPY pair is seen consolidating the previous day's losses and oscillating in a narrow band below the 159.00 mark during the Asian session on Wednesday. Spot prices, however, remain confined in a broader trading range held over the past month or so, warranting some caution before placing aggressive directional bets amid mixed cues.
Despite the optimism over Iran diplomacy, the Japanese Yen (JPY) has been struggling to attract any meaningful buyers amid economic concerns stemming from the instability in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Navy blockade of Iranian ports took effect on Monday, threatening to further constrain already shuttered oil flows through the vital waterway. Given that Japan depends mostly on oil imports from the Middle East, the blockade fuels worries that the economy will come under substantial strain in the foreseeable future. This, in turn, undermines the JPY and acts as a tailwind for the USD/JPY pair.
Meanwhile, hopes that US-Iran peace talks would continue remain supportive of the risk-on impulse, which is evident from the upbeat mood across the global equity markets. Adding to this, the softer US Producer Price Index (PPI) released on Tuesday forced traders to further scale back bets for immediate interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve (Fed). This keeps the US Dollar (USD) depressed near its lowest level since early March, set the previous day. Furthermore, intervention fears might continue to offer some support to the JPY and contribute to capping the upside for the USD/JPY pair.
There isn't any relevant market-moving economic data due for release from Japan or the US on Wednesday, leaving the currency pair at the mercy of the USD price dynamics. Nevertheless, geopolitical developments would continue to infuse volatility in the financial markets and continue to produce some trading opportunities around the USD/JPY pair. The fundamental backdrop, however, makes it prudent to wait for a sustained breakout through a short-term trading range before positioning for a firm near-term trajectory.
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.
- EUR/USD may extend gains as the US Dollar weakens on optimism over renewed US–Iran talks.
- Trump signaled talks may restart this week, with opposing a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
- ECB’s Lagarde said the bank is well-positioned on Iran risks but warned it’s too early to dismiss the shock.
EUR/USD remains flat after seven days of gains, trading around 1.1790 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair may extend its gains as the US Dollar (USD) weakened amid rising optimism that the United States (US) and Iran could soon resume negotiations, boosting hopes for a deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The New York Post reported that US President Donald Trump signaled talks could restart this week, while also noting he opposes a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance highlighted “a lot of progress” in the initial round of Iran negotiations in Pakistan, with follow-up talks potentially scheduled within days.
Meanwhile, softer-than-expected US Producer Price Index (PPI) data reinforced the view of easing inflation pressures. Notably, the services component, closely watched by the Federal Reserve (Fed), stood out, as it excludes direct energy and tariff-related effects.
The US PPI rose 0.5% month-over-month (MoM), well below the 1.2% consensus, while core PPI printed at 0.1% MoM versus expectations of 0.6%. On an annual basis, US PPI increased 4% in March, missing the 4.6% forecast and rising from February’s 3.4%, while Core PPI held steady at 3.8% YoY, unchanged from the prior month.
The Euro (EUR) finds support as easing energy prices provide relief to the Eurozone, given its status as a net importer of crude oil and natural gas. Markets are pricing modest tightening by the European Central Bank (ECB) at the April 30 meeting, along with two additional rate hikes this year.
ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that the central bank is well-positioned to manage developments related to Iran, while cautioning that it is too early to dismiss the impact of the shock.
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.
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