Forex News
- USD/CAD slips as easing US-Iran geopolitical tensions reduced safe-haven demand and sparked a market risk-on rally.
- Despite a brief US-Iran pause, markets fear supply disruptions following Houthi attacks on Saudi Red Sea facilities.
- Falling oil prices could weigh on the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar.
USD/CAD depreciates after posting minor gains in the previous trading day, hovering around 1.4080 during the Asian hours on Monday. The pair loses ground as the US Dollar (USD) falls sharply on easing geopolitical tensions following a weekend pause in military hostilities between the US and Iran.
The brief US-Iran pause came after 13 days of escalating conflict. However, market participants remain cautious about potential supply disruptions as Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities along the Red Sea.
Reports suggest that the US halted strikes amid growing concerns over depleting interceptor supplies and a shortage of remaining targets within Iran. Additionally, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly cautioned President Trump on Friday that continuing the campaign would severely strain critical munitions reserves.
On the policy front, the Fed is widely expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday before resuming rate hikes in September, though a minority of market participants still anticipate a surprise move at this week's meeting.
The downside of the USD/CAD pair is restrained as the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) could struggle on lower oil prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price opened at a bearish gap, down by over 5%, trading around $84.50 per barrel at the time of writing.
Canadian Dollar FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 attracts strong follow-through buying on Monday amid a broadly weaker USD.
- US-Iran diplomacy hopes and receding Fed rate hike bets undermine the safe-haven buck.
- Traders might refrain from placing aggressive bets ahead of the FOMC meeting this week.
The GBP/USD pair builds on Friday's modest bounce from a three-week low and gains strong follow-through positive traction at the start of a new week. This marks the second straight day of a positive move and lifts spot prices above mid-1.3300s during the Asian session amid a broadly weaker US Dollar (USD).
The USD Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of currencies, moves away from the vicinity of the monthly high, retested last week, amid reviving hopes for a diplomatic resolution to end a five-month-old US-Iran conflict. In fact, the US paused its bombing campaign following 13 consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian targets late on Friday, prompting Tehran to suspend its retaliatory attacks against Washington's allies in the Middle East.
US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Mike Waltz said that while forces remained locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give negotiations a little bit of room. Traders were quick to unwind some of the geopolitical risk premium, undermining the safe-haven buck. Moreover, the latest developments trigger a sharp fall in oil prices and ease inflation fears, tempering US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike bets and further weighing on the Greenback.
Meanwhile, restricted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait helps limit losses for oil prices. USD bears might also refrain from placing aggressive bets and opt to wait for the outcome of the highly-anticipated two-day FOMC meeting on Wednesday. Investors will look for more cues about the Fed's policy path, which, along with geopolitical developments, will drive the USD and provide some meaningful impetus to the GBP/USD pair.
(This story was corrected on July 27 at 03:26 GMT to correct the asset name in the first bullet point as GBP/USD, instead of GBP/JPY.)
Pound Sterling FAQs
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).
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.
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.
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 rises as falling oil prices and a pause in US-Iran strikes eased inflation and interest rate concerns.
- Upcoming policy decisions from the Fed, BoE, and BoJ could trigger further market movement.
- Iran confirmed it will refrain from retaliatory attacks as long as the US bombing pause holds.
Gold price (XAU/USD) gains ground for the second consecutive day, trading around 4,103 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Monday. Gold prices pushed higher as a sharp drop in oil prices eased market fears over inflation and interest rate hikes, following a weekend pause in military hostilities between the US and Iran.
Attention now shifts to a dense week of economic catalysts that could spark fresh market volatility. Investors face an unusually heavy lineup of central-bank decisions, including meetings by the Federal Reserve (Fed), Bank of England (BoE), and Bank of Japan (BoJ), alongside pivotal inflation and growth figures. Key releases such as US GDP, US core PCE inflation, and CPI reports from the Eurozone and Australia are expected to heavily influence global interest rate expectations.
The diplomatic landscape saw a reprieve after the US suspended its two-week bombing campaign against Iran late Friday. Tehran responded by holding back retaliatory strikes against Washington's Middle Eastern allies for a second consecutive night. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz noted that while American forces remain locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give room for potential negotiations.
Reuters corroborated this stance, quoting a senior Iranian official who stated that Tehran's policy remains "attack for attack"—meaning if US strikes halt, Iran will likewise suspend its military operations.
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.
- EUR/USD kicks off the new week on a positive note as US-Iran diplomacy hopes weigh on the USD.
- Falling oil prices ease inflation fears and temper Fed rate hike bets, further undermining the buck.
- Traders, however, seem hesitant as the focus remains on the crucial FOMC policy meeting this week.
The EUR/USD pair builds on a modest bullish gap opening and climbs back above the 1.1400 mark during the Asian session on Monday. The intraday move up is sponsored by a broadly weaker US Dollar (USD), weighed down by renewed optimism over a diplomatic resolution to end a five-month-old US-Iran war.
The US paused its bombing campaign following 13 consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian targets late on Friday, prompting Tehran to suspend its retaliatory attacks against Washington's allies in the Middle East. US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Mike Waltz said that while forces remained locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give negotiations a little bit of room. This, in turn, boosts investors' sentiment and undermines the safe-haven Greenback.
Meanwhile, the easing in hostilities triggers a sharp fall in crude oil prices and eases inflationary concerns, tempering US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike expectations. This turns out to be another factor that drags the USD Index (DXY), which tracks the buck against a basket of currencies, away from the vicinity of the monthly high retested last week. Traders, however, might refrain from placing aggressive bets on the EUR/USD pair ahead of the key central bank event risk.
The US central bank is scheduled to announce its policy decision at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday. Traders will look for fresh cues about the future policy path, which will play a key role in influencing the near-term USD price dynamics. Apart from this, the focus will be on further developments surrounding the Middle East crisis, which would further drive the USD demand and produce some meaningful trading opportunities around the EUR/USD pair.
According to TD Securities, the FOMC is expected to leave policy steady, with the bank stating, “We expect the FOMC to keep rates unchanged.” The team acknowledges that “higher oil prices driven by Middle East tensions have increased inflation risks and strengthened the case for a rate hike,” but they argue that “more evidence is needed to win majority support.” In their view, “hawkish momentum is building,” yet Chair Warsh is “unlikely to provide guidance,” and they anticipate “two dissents from Hammack and Logan.”
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.36% | -0.24% | -0.18% | -0.13% | -0.27% | -0.24% | -0.46% | |
| EUR | 0.36% | 0.09% | 0.15% | 0.21% | 0.08% | 0.13% | -0.12% | |
| GBP | 0.24% | -0.09% | 0.07% | 0.13% | -0.00% | 0.00% | -0.20% | |
| JPY | 0.18% | -0.15% | -0.07% | 0.02% | -0.09% | -0.07% | -0.27% | |
| CAD | 0.13% | -0.21% | -0.13% | -0.02% | -0.12% | -0.10% | -0.32% | |
| AUD | 0.27% | -0.08% | 0.00% | 0.09% | 0.12% | 0.05% | -0.20% | |
| NZD | 0.24% | -0.13% | -0.01% | 0.07% | 0.10% | -0.05% | -0.25% | |
| CHF | 0.46% | 0.12% | 0.20% | 0.27% | 0.32% | 0.20% | 0.25% |
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).
- WTI opens with a big bearish gap on Monday amid renewed hopes for US-Iran diplomacy.
- Shipping restrictions through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz limit losses.
- The mixed fundamental backdrop warrants caution before placing aggressive bearish bets.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – the benchmark US Crude Oil price – opens with a bearish gap at the start of a new at the start of a new week and retreats further from its highest level since June 8, around the $92.25 zone, touched last Thursday. The black liquid, however, recovers slightly from a four-day trough, touched during the Asian session, and currently trades near the $84.00 mark, still down nearly 6% for the day.
The US paused its bombing campaign following 13 consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian targets late on Friday, prompting Tehran to suspend its retaliatory attacks against Washington's allies in the Middle East. US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Mike Waltz said that while forces remained locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give negotiations a little bit of room. This revives hopes for a diplomatic resolution to end a five-month-old US-Iran conflict, leading to some unwinding of the geopolitical risk premium and exerting pressure on crude oil prices.
Meanwhile, traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell on 26 July after Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked Saudi oil installations along the coast of the Red Sea. This adds to concerns about significant disruptions to global oil supplies due to the restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which holds back traders from placing aggressive bearish bets and limits the downside for crude oil prices. Investors might also opt to wait for further developments surrounding the Middle East crisis before confirming that the commodity has topped out and positioning for deeper losses.
Analysts at Rabobank’s RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets team highlight that crude benchmarks have surged on renewed supply concerns, noting that “Brent, WTI, and refined products rallied sharply as Hormuz disruptions, intensified Russia-Ukraine strikes, CPC terminal outages, and record-tight diesel markets renewed fears of a broader supply crunch.” They frame these overlapping disruptions as reigniting worries over the durability of global oil supply, with the combination of geopolitical flashpoints and logistical bottlenecks driving the latest leg higher in the complex.
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.
- USD/JPY drops as lower oil prices boost the Yen after the US and Iran paused strikes.
- Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s approval rating fell in July to a term low, weighed down by rising living costs.
- US military caution and depleted interceptor supplies help curb further escalation with Iran for now.
USD/JPY remains subdued for the second successive day, trading around 163.60 during the Asian hours on Monday. The pair depreciates as the Japanese Yen (JPY) receives support from lower oil prices after the United States (US) decision to refrain from striking Iran over the weekend, paired with Tehran suspending its own retaliatory strikes. Japan remains heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil imports, making its economy particularly sensitive to supply disruptions and swings in crude prices.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s approval rating fell in July to its lowest point since she took office last year, driven by rising living costs. The slump intensifies pressure on Takaichi, whose expansionary economic policies have driven up bond yields and pushed the Yen to four-decade lows, according to a Yomiuri newspaper report on Sunday.
The USD/JPY pair loses ground as the US Dollar (USD) falls as risk aversion eases on the brief US-Iran pause, which came after 13 days of escalating conflict. However, market participants remain cautious about potential supply disruptions as Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities along the Red Sea.
Reports suggest that the US halted strikes amid growing concerns over depleting interceptor supplies and a shortage of remaining targets within Iran. Additionally, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly cautioned President Trump on Friday that continuing the campaign would severely strain critical munitions reserves.
On the policy front, the Fed is widely expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday before resuming rate hikes in September, though a minority of market participants still anticipate a surprise move at this week's meeting. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is also expected to hold rates on Friday.
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.
On Monday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.7911 compared to Friday's fix of 6.7939.
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.
Here’s a brief recap of the key developments in the Middle East war that occurred over the weekend, which are expected to have a significant impact on markets in the upcoming week.
- The US paused its two-week bombing campaign against Iran late on Friday, prompting Tehran to suspend its retaliatory attacks against Washington's allies in the Middle East for a second night.
- US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said that while forces remained locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give negotiations a little bit of room.
- According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official said that "Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations and the message has already been conveyed to the US."
- Shipping data showed that traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell on 26 July after Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked Saudi oil installations along the coast of the Red Sea, while transit through the Strait of Hormuz stayed low over the weekend.
- Another front emerged in the Caspian Sea, where Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel.
Market implications
Crude oil prices tumbled over 5% at the week’s open in reaction to the latest developments surrounding the Middle East crisis, which revived hopes for diplomacy to end the conflict. Furthermore, weaker oil prices eased inflation fears and tempered US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate-hike bets, dragging the safe-haven US Dollar (USD) away from the monthly high, retested last week.
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.
- AUD/USD rises as falling oil prices and a pause in the Middle East conflict weigh on the US Dollar.
- US military caution and depleted interceptor supplies help curb further escalation with Iran for now.
- Strong Australian June employment data boosts expectations of another RBA rate hike following upcoming inflation reports.
AUD/USD extends its gains for the second consecutive trading day, hovering near 0.7000 during the Asian hours on Monday. The pair appreciates as the US Dollar (USD) declines alongside a sharp drop in oil prices. This movement followed the United States (US) decision to refrain from striking Iran over the weekend, paired with Tehran suspending its own retaliatory strikes.
The brief US-Iran pause came after 13 days of escalating conflict. However, market participants remain cautious about potential supply disruptions as Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities along the Red Sea.
While the US did not officially disclose its reasons for halting the strikes, reports suggest growing concerns over depleting interceptor supplies and a shortage of remaining targets within Iran. Additionally, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly cautioned President Trump on Friday that continuing the campaign would severely strain critical munitions reserves.
Beyond geopolitical developments, investors are bracing for the upcoming Federal Reserve (Fed) policy meeting. The Fed is widely expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday before resuming rate hikes in September, though a minority of market participants still anticipate a surprise move at this week's meeting.
Meanwhile, strong June employment data out of Australia has reinforced expectations of further monetary tightening by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), which has already raised rates three times this year. Investors are now closely watching the June and Q2 inflation figures due later this week, as persistent price pressures continue to dominate the local outlook.
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.
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