US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hit newswires on Thursday, touching on a variety of topics that suggest the President Donald Trump's administration will achieve both US Dollar (USD) strength and a general decline in Treasury yields at the same time.
Mexico Central Bank Interest Rate in line with expectations (9.5%)
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against a basket of currencies, struggles to hold its recent gains, trading below 108.00 on Thursday.
The Mexican Peso (MXN) appreciated during the North American session as traders braced for Banco de Mexico's (Banxico) first monetary policy decision of 2025.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) slid on Thursday, falling around 150 points to retest the 44,750 level.
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) spun in a tight circle on Thursday, churning chart paper near 1.4300 against the US Dollar (USD) as markets gear up for another Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) Friday.
United States 4-Week Bill Auction unchanged at 4.25%
The EUR/USD pair pulled back on Thursday, declining by 0.45% to 1.0370 as bullish momentum faded.
United States EIA Natural Gas Storage Change below expectations (-167B) in January 31: Actual (-174B)
The Pound Sterling fell during Thursday’s North American session, down 0.79% after the Bank of England (BoE) reduced the Bank Rate by 25 basis points.
Canada Ivey Purchasing Managers Index s.a below expectations (53) in January: Actual (47.1)
The EUR/GBP pair surges and posts a fresh weekly high to near 0.8380 in Thursday’s North American session.
US citizens filing new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 219K for the week ending February 1, as reported by the US Department of Labor (DoL) on Thursday.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) slid in the wake of the BoE rate decision, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.
German Factory Orders data for December rose a solid 6.9% in the month, versus expectations for a 2.0% gain, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.
The softer CAD reflects the general trend in the majors against the broadly higher USD on the session.
United States Continuing Jobless Claims above expectations (1.87M) in January 24: Actual (1.886M)
United States Initial Jobless Claims came in at 219K, above forecasts (213K) in January 31
United States Unit Labor Costs came in at 3%, below expectations (3.8%) in 4Q
United States Initial Jobless Claims 4-week average: 216.75K (January 31) vs 212.5K
The US Dollar (USD) is trading a little higher overall this morning, partially reversing three days of losses following the tariff turmoil at the start of the week, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.
The GBP/JPY pair faces an intense sell-off and dives vertically to near 188.40 in Thursday’s North American session, the lowest level seen in two months.
Russia Central Bank Reserves $ increased to $620.8B from previous $619.7B
Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey speaks on the policy outlook and responds to questions from the press following the decision to lower the policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) at the February meeting.
Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey speaks on the policy outlook and responds to questions from the press following the decision to lower the policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) at the February meeting.
Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey speaks on the policy outlook and responds to questions from the press following the decision to lower the policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) at the February meeting.
United States Challenger Job Cuts: 49.795K (January) vs 38.792K
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the performance of the US Dollar against six major currencies, ticks up in the European trading session on Thursday, trading slightly below 108.00 at the time of writing.
Mexico Consumer Confidence: 47.1 (January) vs previous 47.3
Mexico Consumer Confidence s.a dipped from previous 47.1 to 46.7 in January
United Kingdom BoE MPC Vote Rate Hike in line with forecasts (0)
United Kingdom BoE Interest Rate Decision meets forecasts (4.5%)
United Kingdom BoE MPC Vote Rate Unchanged came in at 0, below expectations (1)
USD/MXN carved out an interim high near 21.28 earlier this week and re-integrated within its multi-month range; this denotes lack of steady upward momentum, Societe Generale’s FX analysts note.
The next SNB policy meeting is not scheduled until March 20, Rabobank’s FX analyst Jane Foley notes.
JPY is outperforming. Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy board member Naoki Tamura argued for a faster normalization cycle, BBH FX analysts note.
US Dollar (USD) is expected to trade in a range between 7.2650 and 7.3050. In the longer run, outlook is mixed; USD could trade in a 7.2430/7.3580 range for now, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Peter Chia note.
Gold rallied to a new all-time high amid trade war concerns that risk higher inflation and slower economic growth, spurring demand for safe-haven assets, ING’s commodity analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey notes.
The Bank Of England's (BoE) trade-weighted sterling index has rallied 1.7% since the middle of January. The recovery from the gilt-triggered January sell-off has undoubtedly been helped by the rally in US Treasuries.
New Zealand Dollar (NZD) could edge above 0.5705 before levelling off; the next resistance at 0.5725 is unlikely to come under threat. In the longer run, there has been a tentative buildup in momentum; NZD could rise gradually to 0.5725, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Peter Chia note.
While conditions remain overbought, AUD could edge higher and test 0.6310. A sustained rise above this level is unlikely. In the longer run, If AUD closes above 0.6310, it could trigger an advance to 0.6355, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Peter Chia note.
EUR/USD corrects to near 1.0360 in Thursday’s European session.
The DXY dollar index is roughly 2% off its recent highs and the question for investors is whether a further 1-2% is required.
US Dollar (USD) could drop further; given the oversold conditions, it might not be able to break the significant support at 151.80. In the longer run, outlook for USD is negative but note the significant support level at 151.80, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Peter Chia note.
The EUR/GBP pair rises to near 0.8333 in Thursday’s European session.
The oil market sold off yesterday despite US President Trump’s directive to increase economic pressure on Iran, which would include targeting oil exports from the country. Instead, the market focused on the tariff story, a theme likely to dictate sentiment for much of this year.
Spain 10-y Obligaciones Auction dipped from previous 2.743% to 2.23%
Spain 3-y Bond Auction dipped from previous 2.586% to 2.388%
Eurozone’s Retail Sales rose 1.9% in the year through December after increasing by a revised 1.6% in November, the official data released by Eurostat showed on Thursday.
France 10-y Bond Auction: 3.15% vs previous 3.4%
Gold’s price (XAU/USD) sees its rally stall this Thursday and trades around $2,857 at the time of writing. The slide is mainly triggered by comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said that the Trump administration's focus is on bringing
Eurozone Retail Sales (YoY) meets forecasts (1.9%) in December
Eurozone Retail Sales (MoM) came in at -0.2% below forecasts (-0.1%) in December
Spain 30-y Bond Auction: 3.691% vs previous 3.877%
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is expected to consolidate in a 1.2460/1.2540 range. In the longer run, GBP has to break and remain above 1.2550 before a sustained advance can be expected, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Peter Chia note.
Silver prices (XAG/USD) fell on Thursday, according to FXStreet data.
United Kingdom S&P Global/CIPS Construction PMI below expectations (53.4) in January: Actual (48.1)
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price holds modest gains after three consecutive days of losses, trading around $71.10 per barrel during European trading hours on Thursday.
Silver (XAG/USD) attracts some sellers following an intraday uptick on Thursday and snaps a three-day winning streak to a three-month top, around the $32.55 region touched the previous day.
European natural gas prices saw renewed strength yesterday with TTF settling almost 2.7% higher on the day. Forecasts for colder weather have raised concerns that we will see steeper draws in gas storage in the coming days, ING’s commodity analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey notes.
One wild card for EUR/USD this year is what happens in Ukraine. Yesterday the FX market took note of the further rise in Ukraine's hard currency bonds.
The AUD/USD pair weakens to near 0.6260 on Thursday during the European trading hours, pressured by rising fears over US-China trade war tensions and lower-than-expected Australian Trade Balance data.
Instead of continuing to rise, Euro (EUR) is likely to trade between 1.0360 and 1.0430. In the longer run, outlook is unclear; EUR could trade in a broad range of 1.0250/1.0490 for the time being, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Peter Chia note.
The NZD/USD pair breaks its four-day winning streak, trading around 0.5660 during the European hours on Thursday.
Here is what you need to know on Thursday, February 6: Major currency pairs stay relatively quiet early Thursday as investors gear up for the upcoming key events.
The EUR/JPY cross extends its decline to around 158.45 during the early European session on Thursday.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) stabilizes against its major peers, except safe-haven currencies, on Thursday ahead of the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy decision, which will be announced at 12:00 GMT.
GBP/JPY continues to lose ground for the second consecutive day, trading around 190.40 during the early European hours on Thursday.
Speaking on US tariffs, Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Thursday, “China won't proactively provoke trade disputes, willing to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation.” Additional comments China willing to work with relevant countries to jointly respond to challenges of unilateralism and trade protectionism.
The official data published by the Federal Statistics Office showed Thursday that Germany's Factory Orders rebounded firmly in December, suggesting that the country’s manufacturing sector is seeing a sharp turnaround.
Germany Factory Orders n.s.a. (YoY) fell from previous -1.7% to -6.3% in December
Germany Factory Orders s.a. (MoM) came in at 6.9%, above expectations (2%) in December
The Bank of England (BoE) will announce its decision on monetary policy on Thursday after completing the first meeting of 2025.
Switzerland Unemployment Rate s.a (MoM) up to 2.7% in January from previous 2.6%
The EUR/GBP cross remains on the defensive around 0.8320 during the early European session on Thursday.
European Central Bank (ECB) executive board member Piero Cipollone said on Thursday, “rate cuts are coherent with declining inflation picture.” Additional quotes Inflation is almost reaching the target.
FX option expiries for Feb 6 NY cut at 10:00 Eastern Time via DTCC can be found below.
The USD/CHF pair defends the 0.9000 psychological mark and attracts some dip-buyers during the Asian session on Thursday, snapping a three-day losing streak to over a one-week low touched the previous day.
Bank of Japan (BoJ) board member Naoki Tamura is back on the wires, via Reuters, clarifying his earlier remarks on the central bank’s interest rate.
The GBP/JPY cross trades in a negative territory around 190.25 during the early European trading hours on Thursday.
EUR/USD depreciates after two days of gains, trading around 1.0390 during the Asian session on Thursday.
The USD/CAD pair ticks higher during the Asian session on Thursday and moves away from over a two-week low, around the 1.4270 region touched the previous day.
Gold prices rose in India on Thursday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
GBP/USD halts its three-day winning streak, trading around 1.2490 during the Asian hours on Thursday.
Gold price (XAU/USD) trades with a mild positive bias during the Asian session on Thursday and remains close to the all-time peak touched the previous day.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said late Wednesday, the “focus is on bringing down 10-year Treasury yields, rather than the Fed’s benchmark short-term interest rate.” Additional comments Failure to get the tax bill done will result in the "largest tax hike in history".
The Indian Rupee (INR) extends its downside on Thursday. The local currency remains under selling pressure amid the expectation that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might cut the interest rates on Friday.
Silver price (XAG/USD) extends its winning streak for the fourth consecutive session, trading near $32.30 per troy ounce during Asian hours on Thursday.
The Japanese Yen (JPY) remains on the front foot against its American counterpart during the Asian session on Thursday amid the growing acceptance that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) would keep raising interest rates.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $71.00 during the early Asian session on Thursday.
AUD/JPY extends its losses for the second successive day, trading around 95.60 during the Asian hours on Thursday.
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) board member Naoki Tamura on Thursday suggested a gradual rate hike in a timely manner.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said on Thursday that he is happy to keep the Fed Funds on hold at the current level, adding that he will wait to see the net effect of Trump policies.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) set the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead on Thursday at 7.1691 as compared to the previous day's fix of 7.1693 and 7.2535 Reuters estimates.
Japan's Finance Minister, Katsunobu Kato, said on Thursday that the end of deflation has not yet been achieved.
The Australian Dollar (AUD) edges lower against the US Dollar (USD) following lower-than-expected Trade Balance data released on Thursday.
Ireland Purchasing Manager Index Services down to 53.4 in January from previous 57.1
Australia National Australia Bank's Business Confidence (QoQ) up to -4 in 4Q from previous -6
Australia’s trade surplus decreased to 5,085M MoM in December versus 7,000M expected and 6,792M (revised from 7,079) in the previous reading, according to the latest foreign trade data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.
Australia Exports (MoM) down to 1.1% in December from previous 4.8%
Australia Imports (MoM) increased to 5.9% in December from previous 1.7%
Australia Trade Balance (MoM) below expectations (7000M) in December: Actual (5085M)
The NZD/USD pair trades with mild gains around 0.5690 during the early Asian session on Thursday.
Japan Foreign Investment in Japan Stocks dipped from previous ¥753B to ¥-315.2B in January 31
EUR/USD dragged its feet on Wednesday, finding some topside bidding action as a broad-market recovery in risk appetite keeps bids behind the US Dollar under pressure.
GBP/USD found some bidding action amid a broad-market easing in the Greenback.
China initiated a World Trade Organization (WTO) over the new tariffs imposed by the United States on goods from China, the WTO said on Wednesday.
South Korea Current Account Balance increased to 12.37B in December from previous 9.3B
The USD/CAD pair posts modest losses near 1.4315 during the late American session on Wednesday.
The USD/JPY plummeted 175 pips on Wednesday, posting losses of over 1.13% as the pair cleared the Ichimoku Cloud (Kumo).
The NZD/USD pair extended its winning streak on Wednesday, posting a 0.67% gain to reach 0.5685.