Forex News
- Subdued volume during Indonesia's Independence Day holiday may lead to thin trading conditions for the USD/IDR pair.
- President Prabowo projected 6% GDP growth next year, boosting investor sentiment for the Indonesian Rupiah.
- The US Dollar weakened following unexpected drops in July Retail Sales and reduced Fed rate hike bets.
USD/IDR extends its losses for the second successive day, trading around 17,820 during the Asian hours on Monday. The pair may face thin trading conditions as trading volumes remain subdued amid Indonesia’s Independence Day holiday.
However, the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) found support following an optimistic Independence Day address to parliament by President Prabowo. Sentiment was lifted as he projected that GDP growth could reach 6% by next year, driven by ongoing investment realization and steady job creation. To further enhance fiscal credibility, the government plans to retain a portion of state-owned companies’ dividends, using the funds to construct a fiscal buffer and accelerate debt reduction.
Meanwhile, the USD/IDR pair depreciated alongside a broader decline in the US Dollar (USD), triggered by weaker-than-expected US economic data and shifting central bank expectations. According to the US Census Bureau, July Retail Sales dropped 0.6% month-over-month, reversing June's 0.2% increase and missing the market consensus of 0.1% growth. On an annual basis, Retail Sales grew by 5.0% in July, slowing from the 6.8% expansion recorded in the previous month.
In response to a wave of softer economic reports, including CPI, PPI, and Retail Sales, traders have significantly scaled back their expectations for Federal Reserve rate hikes. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets are now pricing in just a 30.1% probability of a rate hike next month, a sharp decrease from the 52.2% chance estimated a week ago.
Carry backdrop underpinned as Fed hike expectations ease
Strategists at OCBC say the environment remains supportive for carry trades, with “carry still favoured” as “lower Fed rate hike expectations, driven by benign inflation and softer labour market data, together with sticky long-end Treasury yields, have supported a steeper US yield curve.” They note that this combination of subdued policy tightening risks and a steeper curve continues to underpin demand for yield across currencies.
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.
- USD/JPY trades with a negative bias for the second straight day, though it lacks follow-through.
- Japan’s weak GDP print complicates BoJ’s rate-hike path, capping the JPY and limiting losses.
- The technical setup warrants some caution before positioning for any meaningful appreciation.
The USD/JPY pair attracts some sellers at the start of a new week, though it lacks bearish conviction and shows some resilience below the 159.00 mark during the Asian session. Moreover, spot prices remain close to a two-week top, touched last Thursday, warranting some caution amid mixed fundamental cues.
The US Dollar (USD) remains depressed amid receding Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike expectations, which, in turn, is seen as a key factor acting as a headwind for the USD/JPY pair. However, Japan's soft Q2 GDP print complicates the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) policy normalization path and holds back traders from placing aggressive bullish bets on the Japanese Yen (JPY). This should lend support to the currency pair and warrants some caution before positioning for deeper losses.
From a technical perspective, the recent recovery from the 155.25-155.20 area, or the lowest since early May, stalled near the 50% Fibonacci retracement level of the intervention-led slump from a four-decade peak. Moreover, the Relative Strength Index (14) sits near a neutral 48, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has slipped into negative territory, hinting that upside momentum is fading as the USD/JPY pair consolidates below these clustered resistance levels.
That said, some follow-through selling below the 38.2% Fibo. retracement support at 158.58 is needed to back the case for deeper losses to the Fibonacci floor at 157.30 and the broader structural low around 155.24, where buyers would be expected to show more conviction.
On the topside, immediate resistance is located at the 50% Fibo. retracement at 159.61, followed by the 100-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the 4-hour chart at 159.77. Sustained strength above these would open the way toward the 61.8% retracement at 160.64 and then the recent cycle high near 163.98.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
USD/JPY 4-hour chart
Japanese Yen Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies today. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the US Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.14% | -0.13% | -0.16% | -0.09% | -0.33% | -0.36% | -0.24% | |
| EUR | 0.14% | -0.01% | -0.02% | 0.04% | -0.17% | -0.23% | -0.10% | |
| GBP | 0.13% | 0.00% | -0.02% | 0.04% | -0.15% | -0.23% | -0.09% | |
| JPY | 0.16% | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.07% | -0.18% | -0.21% | -0.06% | |
| CAD | 0.09% | -0.04% | -0.04% | -0.07% | -0.24% | -0.28% | -0.14% | |
| AUD | 0.33% | 0.17% | 0.15% | 0.18% | 0.24% | -0.05% | 0.05% | |
| NZD | 0.36% | 0.23% | 0.23% | 0.21% | 0.28% | 0.05% | 0.13% | |
| CHF | 0.24% | 0.10% | 0.09% | 0.06% | 0.14% | -0.05% | -0.13% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Japanese Yen from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent JPY (base)/USD (quote).
- EUR/USD scales higher for the third day as receding Fed hike bets keep the USD depressed.
- Geopolitical risks and inflation fears stemming from volatile oil prices could limit USD losses.
- Traders now look forward to FOMC Minutes on Wednesday for some meaningful impetus.
The EUR/USD pair builds on last week's bounce from the vicinity of the 1.1500 psychological mark and attracts follow-through buyers for the third straight day. The momentum lifts spot prices to a two-month high during the Asian session, with bulls now awaiting a move beyond the 1.1600 round figure before placing fresh bets amid a broadly weaker US Dollar (USD).
The USD Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of currencies, languishes near the lower end of the monthly range as Friday's weak US data further tempered bets for an immediate rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed). In fact, the US Census Bureau reported that Retail Sales fell 0.6% in July, marking the biggest monthly fall since May last year and pointing to a slowdown in consumer spending. This comes on top of signs of moderating price pressures, which gives the US central bank headroom to keep interest rates steady.
Strategists at Scotiabank highlight that the “steepening US 2/30s yield curve, which has reached 108bps, reflects simmering investor concern about the Fed policy outlook alongside weak US fiscal dynamics.” They argue that this “steepening yield curve represents a further headwind for the USD generally,” reinforcing their view that “near-term risks are geared towards the DXY slipping back to the mid-98 area.”
The shared currency, on the other hand, draws support from growing acceptance that the European Central Bank (ECB) will deliver one final 25-basis-point (bps) rate hike at its September meeting as inflation remains above the 2% target. Meanwhile, the US-Iran standoff keeps the geopolitical risk premium in play. Apart from this, inflation fears stemming from volatile oil prices might hold back traders from placing aggressive bearish bets on the USD. This, in turn, might cap any further near-term appreciating move for the EUR/USD pair.
The market focus now shifts to the release of FOMC Minutes, due on Wednesday, which will be looked upon for more cues about the Fed's future policy path. The outlook will play a key role in influencing the USD price dynamics and producing short-term trading opportunities around the EUR/USD pair. In the meantime, the aforementioned fundamental backdrop suggests that the path of least resistance for spot prices remains to the upside. Hence, any corrective pullback is more likely to be bought into and remain limited.
EUR/USD daily chart
Technical Analysis
The EUR/USD pair holds just above the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the April-June downfall but the broader tone remains capped beneath the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.1630. This is followed by the 61.8% Fibo. retracement at 1.1645. A daily close above this cluster should open the way toward 1.1732 and 1.1843. On the downside, initial support is aligned with the 50% retracement at 1.1584 and a break below there would expose the 38.2% level at 1.1522, ahead of deeper support at 1.1447 and 1.1324.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Fed FAQs
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named 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 during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
- AUD/JPY gathers strength to around 113.00 in Monday’s early European session.
- Japan's economy expanded annually by 1.1% in Q2, weaker than expected.
- The cross holds a constructive bullish bias while holding above the 100-day SMA.
- The first downside target emerges at 112.21; the immediate resistance level is seen at 113.88.
The AUD/JPY cross trades in positive territory near 113.00 during the early European session on Monday. The Japanese Yen (JPY) softens against the Australian Dollar (AUD) amid weaker-than-expected Japanese Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data.
Japanese GDP for the second quarter (Q2) expanded at an annualised 1.1%, according to the Cabinet Office on Monday. This figure came in below the market consensus of 2.0% and the first quarter’s reading of 1.8% growth, compared to a 0.5% growth recorded in Q1 and missed market expectations of a 0.5% expansion.
"The details were a mixed bag," Capital Economics analysts wrote in a research note. "GDP expanded at a decent pace in Q2, and with the government still limiting the pass-through from higher energy prices," they wrote, while a jump in government consumption "suggests that Takaichi’s expansionary fiscal policies are starting to have an impact."
Traders await the release of the Australian July employment report on Thursday ahead of Japan’s National Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation data. Economists expect the Unemployment Rate in Australia to rise to 4.5% in July from 4.4% in June. If the report shows a stronger-than-expected outcome, this could lift the Aussie against the JPY.
Japan data in focus as Deutsche Bank flags solid Q2 growth and firmer inflation
Economists at Deutsche Bank highlight a busy week for Japan, with “key economic data” due including Q2 GDP on Monday and the national CPI on Friday. For GDP, the bank notes that its Chief Japan Economist expects “real GDP to grow at +1.6% QoQ,” while on prices he “forecasts core CPI ex. fresh food to rise to 1.8% YoY from 1.6% in June and core-core inflation ex. fresh food and energy to increase to 1.8% (1.7%).” The bank directs clients to “see more in his full week-ahead” for additional detail.
Technical Analysis: AUD/JPY keeps a mildly positive momentum tone in the near term
In the daily chart, AUD/JPY holds a constructive bullish bias as it sits above the Bollinger middle band and the 100-day simple moving average. The clustering of these supports just beneath spot suggests dips are being absorbed, while the 14-day Relative Strength Index around 54 keeps a mildly positive momentum tone without yet signalling overbought conditions.
On the downside, initial support is seen at the July 8 low of 112.21, followed by the August 10 low of 111.63. The next contention level is seen at the lower Bollinger band near 110.00, which acting as a deeper bearish target if selling accelerates.
On the topside, the immediate resistance to watch is the July 16 high of 113.88, en route to the July 27 high of 114.67. A clear break would open the door to the upper Bollinger band at 115.35.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
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.
Gold prices rose in India on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 13,495.00 Indian Rupees (INR) per gram, up compared with the INR 13,455.97 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to INR 157,403.00 per tola from INR 156,947.80 per tola on Friday.
Unit measure | Gold Price in INR |
|---|---|
1 Gram | 13,495.00 |
10 Grams | 134,949.20 |
Tola | 157,403.00 |
Troy Ounce | 419,741.70 |
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 tests the lower boundary of the rising wedge around 184.10.
- The 14-day Relative Strength Index at 50 indicates neutral momentum.
- The initial resistance lies at its 50-day EMA near 184.49.
EUR/JPY depreciates after two days of gains, trading around 184.20 during the Asian hours on Monday. The technical analysis of a daily chart indicates that the spot remains within a rising wedge, signaling that the upward trend is losing momentum and that the wedge typically acts as a bearish reversal.
The EUR/JPY cross retains a constructive near-term tone as it holds above the nine-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), keeping price supported despite last week's pullback from the highs. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 50 suggests neutral momentum after the prior correction, hinting that directional conviction is still tentative while the broader uptrend structure remains intact.
The EUR/JPY cross tests the immediate support at the lower boundary of the rising wedge around 184.10, followed by the nine-day EMA of 183.78. A decisive break below this confluence support zone would revive the bearish bias, potentially pressing the currency cross down toward its eight-month low of 179.37, recorded on August 3. If downward momentum continues, the next key technical target lies at the nine-month low of 175.70.
On the upside, the primary resistance lies at its 50-day EMA near 184.49, followed by the upper boundary of the rising wedge around 185.80. A sustained break above the wedge could signal a broader bullish resurgence, opening the path for the currency cross to retest the area surrounding its all-time peak of 187.95 set on April 17.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Euro Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.08% | -0.09% | -0.14% | -0.04% | -0.13% | -0.22% | -0.18% | |
| EUR | 0.08% | -0.04% | -0.07% | 0.02% | -0.03% | -0.15% | -0.09% | |
| GBP | 0.09% | 0.04% | -0.02% | 0.05% | 0.02% | -0.12% | -0.06% | |
| JPY | 0.14% | 0.07% | 0.02% | 0.10% | 0.02% | -0.08% | -0.01% | |
| CAD | 0.04% | -0.02% | -0.05% | -0.10% | -0.08% | -0.18% | -0.13% | |
| AUD | 0.13% | 0.03% | -0.02% | -0.02% | 0.08% | -0.10% | -0.10% | |
| NZD | 0.22% | 0.15% | 0.12% | 0.08% | 0.18% | 0.10% | 0.05% | |
| CHF | 0.18% | 0.09% | 0.06% | 0.01% | 0.13% | 0.10% | -0.05% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).
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