Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
GBP/JPY loses ground to around 195.65 in Tuesday’s early European session.
UK Unemployment Rate rose to 4.6% in three months to April; Claimant Count Change came in at 33.1K in May.
Hawkish BoJ expectations support the Japanese Yen and act as a headwind for the cross.
The GBP/JPY cross weakens to near 195.65 during the early European session on Tuesday. The Pound Sterling (GBP) remains weak against the Japanese Yen (JPY) after the UK employment data. Traders will keep an eye on the monthly UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for April, which is due on Thursday.
Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics on Tuesday showed that the country’s ILO Unemployment Rate ticked higher to 4.6% in the three months to April versus 4.5% prior. This figure came in line with the expectations of 4.6% during the reported period.
Meanwhile, the Claimant Count Change increased by 33.1K in May versus -21.2K prior (revised from 5.2K), below the consensus of 9.5K. The GBP attracts some sellers in an immediate reaction to the weaker UK employment report.
Japan’s GDP shrank at an annual rate of 0.2% in Q1, compared to the initial estimate of a 0.7% fall, Japan’s Cabinet Office showed on Monday. An upward revision of Japan’s Q1 GDP has reaffirmed the Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hike bets and could underpin the JPY.
BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Tuesday that the central bank will raise interest rates if it has enough confidence that the underlying inflation is near or moves around 2%. The Japanese central bank is set to hold a two-day policy meeting next week.
Employment FAQs
Labor market conditions are a key element to assess the health of an economy and thus a key driver for currency valuation. High employment, or low unemployment, has positive implications for consumer spending and thus economic growth, boosting the value of the local currency. Moreover, a very tight labor market – a situation in which there is a shortage of workers to fill open positions – can also have implications on inflation levels and thus monetary policy as low labor supply and high demand leads to higher wages.
The pace at which salaries are growing in an economy is key for policymakers. High wage growth means that households have more money to spend, usually leading to price increases in consumer goods. In contrast to more volatile sources of inflation such as energy prices, wage growth is seen as a key component of underlying and persisting inflation as salary increases are unlikely to be undone. Central banks around the world pay close attention to wage growth data when deciding on monetary policy.
The weight that each central bank assigns to labor market conditions depends on its objectives. Some central banks explicitly have mandates related to the labor market beyond controlling inflation levels. The US Federal Reserve (Fed), for example, has the dual mandate of promoting maximum employment and stable prices. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) sole mandate is to keep inflation under control. Still, and despite whatever mandates they have, labor market conditions are an important factor for policymakers given its significance as a gauge of the health of the economy and their direct relationship to inflation.
The US Dollar dropped as US-Sino trade talks began in London on Monday, amid an improvement in risk appetite and the first reports that talks are going well, according to US President Donald Trump. US equities are trading mixed, US Treasury bond yields down, as traders brace for the release of UK jobs data, ECB Survey of Monetary Analysis, and ECB speakers.
Here’s what to watch on Tuesday, June 10:
The US Dollar Index (DXY) retreated after posting solid gains last Friday, but it has fallen below the 99.00 level, poised to end the day down 0.28%. Last week’s Nonfarm Payrolls figures were solid despite the ongoing slowdown. Still, the data, along with the latest Atlanta Fed GDP Now, suggests a rebound in Q2 2025 is expected, following the contraction in the first quarter. Data-wise, Tuesday’s schedule will feature the US NFIB Optimism Index amid the Fed speaker’s absence due to the blackout period ahead of the June 17-18 meeting.
EUR/USD rose past 1.1420 on the ECB’s speakers turning hawkish, particularly Peter Kazimir, who commented that the central bank is near, if not already at, the end of its easing cycle. This, and ECB’s Schnabel adding that the central bank might not decouple from the Fed, provided a tailwind for the shared currency. The docket will feature the ECB Survey of Monetary Analysis, ECB Speakers, and the Sentix Index.
GBP/USD continues to climb, regaining 1.3500 as overall US Dollar weakness persists amid a sparse economic calendar. Market players are focused on the release of April’s Employment Change, the ILO Unemployment Rate, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, traders will eye the release of Britain’s government spending plans.
The USD/JPY prints modest losses after the Japanese Yen appreciated as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures showed an improvement, despite remaining in contractionary territory, at -0.2% YoY, from the -0.7% plunge from the previous print. However, Japanese PM Ishimba saying that the economy is facing a phase of higher prices suggests that the Bank of Japan tightening cycle could continue to underpin the Yen.
Both antipodean currencies, the AUD/USD and the NZD/USD, advanced to fresh two-day highs. The Aussie Dollar rose by 0.41% to 0.6515, with market players eyeing the release of Consumer Sentiment data and Business Confidence. The kiwi gained 0.61% at 0.6046 due to US Dollar weakness, across the board along with an improvement on Manufacturing Sales.
Gold prices rose as bulls bought the dip below $3,300, while US Treasury bond yields and the US dollar fell. Nevertheless, a positive outcome of the US-China talks could send XAU/USD into a tailspin as flows move toward riskier assets.
US Dollar PRICE This week
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies this week. US Dollar was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.
USD
EUR
GBP
JPY
CAD
AUD
NZD
CHF
USD
-0.21%
-0.18%
-0.17%
0.02%
-0.31%
-0.52%
-0.02%
EUR
0.21%
0.02%
0.03%
0.22%
-0.08%
-0.32%
0.18%
GBP
0.18%
-0.02%
0.08%
0.20%
-0.09%
-0.34%
0.16%
JPY
0.17%
-0.03%
-0.08%
0.20%
-0.19%
-0.39%
0.03%
CAD
-0.02%
-0.22%
-0.20%
-0.20%
-0.35%
-0.54%
-0.04%
AUD
0.31%
0.08%
0.09%
0.19%
0.35%
-0.24%
0.26%
NZD
0.52%
0.32%
0.34%
0.39%
0.54%
0.24%
0.50%
CHF
0.02%
-0.18%
-0.16%
-0.03%
0.04%
-0.26%
-0.50%
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).
USD/CHF trades cautiously around 0.8200, while investors await key US NFP data for May.
Disappointing US ADP Employment and ISM Services PMI data for May have battered the US Dollar.
The Swiss CPI deflated by 0.1% in May, paving the way for more interest rate cuts from the SNB.
The USD/CHF pair trades with caution near the six-week low around 0.8200 during late Asian trading hours on Thursday. Investors brace for significant volatility in the pair as the United States (US) Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data takes centre stage, which will reflect the current status of the labor market.
The US Dollar (USD) fell sharply on Wednesday after the release of a string of disappointing US economic data for May, notably a sharp slowdown in the private sector labor demand. The ADP Employment Change data showed that the private sector added 37K fresh workers, the lowest reading seen since the Covid era in February 2021.
Additionally, weak Services PMI and rising input costs in the services sector, which accounts for the two-third of the overall economic activity, have prompted stagflation risks. According to the US ISM Services PMI report, activities in the sector unexpectedly declined, and the sub-component Prices Paid grew at a faster pace. The scenario of rising input costs and labor market slowdown often leads to stagflation.
On the trade front, investors seek fresh cues on trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing. On Wednesday, the comments from US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth.Social signaled that trade negotiations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping won’t be easy. “I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” Trump wrote.
In the Swiss region, the scenario of deflation has raised expectations of an interest rate cut by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) in the monetary policy meeting on June 19. On Tuesday, the data showed that the Swiss Consumer Price Index (CPI) deflated by 0.1% on year, as expected, in May after remaining flat in April.
SNB President Martin Schlegel already warned in an event in Basel in the last week of May that Swiss inflation could enter negative territory, Reuters reported. However, he ruled out expectations that short-term inflation hiccups could lead to monetary policy adjustments, stating that the central bank is more focused on maintaining price stability in the medium term.
“Even negative inflation figures cannot be ruled out in the coming months,” Schlegel said and added, “The SNB does not necessarily have to react to this.”
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.
Payroll processor ADP released a report on Wednesday showing private sector employment in the U.S. increased by much less than expected in the month of April.
ADP said private sector employment climbed by 62,000 jobs in April after surging by a downwardly revised 147,000 jobs in March.
Economists had expected private sector employment to jump by 125,000 jobs compared to the addition of 155,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.
“Unease is the word of the day. Employers are trying to reconcile policy and consumer uncertainty with a run of mostly positive economic data,” said ADP chief economist Dr. Nela Richardson. “It can be difficult to make hiring decisions in such an environment.”
ADP said the weaker than expected private sector job growth came as the education and health services, information, and professional and business services industries lost jobs, while hiring in other sectors was moderate.
The report also said pay for job-stayers rose 4.5 percent in April compared to the same month a year ago, reflecting a slight deceleration from March.
Meanwhile, year-over-year pay growth for job-changers accelerated to 6.9 percent in April from 6.7 percent in March.
The Labor Department is scheduled to release its more closely watched monthly employment report, which includes both public and private sector jobs, on Friday.
Economists currently expect employment to jump by 130,000 jobs in April after surging by 228,000 jobs in March, while the unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.2 percent.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Economic News
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Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
The Pound Sterling outperforms most of its peers on upbeat UK employment data for three months ending February.
Investors await the UK CPI data for March, which will be released on Wednesday.
US President Trump will likely announce a temporary suspension of automobile tariffs.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) advances against its major peers, except antipodeans, on Tuesday after the release of the United Kingdom (UK) labor market data for three months ending February. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the economy added 206K fresh workers, significantly higher than the 144K recorded in three months ending January.
The agency reported that the ILO Unemployment Rate came in line with estimates and the prior release of 4.4%. The scenario of upbeat employment data is favorable for the British currency. However, financial market participants expect that employers could slow down their hiring process in the face of an increase in contributions to social security schemes starting in April.
In the Autumn budget, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rache Reeves raised employers’ contribution to National Insurance (NI) from 13.8% to 15%.
Meanwhile, Average Earnings Excluding Bonuses, a key measure of wage growth, grew at a slightly slower pace of 5.9% compared to estimates of 6%. In three months ending January, the wage growth measure rose by 5.8%, downwardly revised from 5.9%. Average Earnings Including Bonuses rose steadily by 5.6% but slower than the expectations of 5.7%.
Mixed Average Earnings data is unlikely to change market expectations for the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy outlook significantly, which indicates that the central bank would cut interest rates in the May policy meeting.
For fresh cues on the interest rate outlook, investors will focus on the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for March, which will be released on Wednesday. Economists expect the UK core CPI – which excludes volatile food and energy prices – to have grown at a steady pace of 3.5%.
Daily digest market movers: Pound Sterling refreshes six-month high against US Dollar
The Pound Sterling posts a fresh six-month high near 1.3250 during North American trading hours on Tuesday. The GBP/USD pair trades firmly as the US Dollar remains under pressure, with investors losing confidence in its structural attractiveness due to back-and-forth decisions on trade policies by United States (US) President Donald Trump.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades cautiously slightly above the three-year low of 99.00.
The ever-shifting tariff headlines from US President Trump, from the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on all of its trading partners, except China, to signals of temporary suspension on additional levies on imported vehicles, have forced traders to reassess the safe-haven appeal of the US Dollar.
On Monday, Donald Trump signaled that he is exploring temporary exemptions for tariffs on imported vehicles and related parts as domestic Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) need more time to set up manufacturing facilities at home. “I’m looking at something to help car companies with it,” Trump said and added, “They’re switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico and other places, and they need a little bit of time, because they’re going to make them here,” Bloomberg reported.
Meanwhile, economic risks prompted by Trump’s policies have stemmed the need for interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve (Fed). On Monday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller backed monetary policy easing in the scenario of an economic recession despite inflationary pressures remaining escalated. “I expect the risk of recession would outweigh the risk of escalating inflation, especially if the effects of tariffs in raising inflation are expected to be short-lived,” Waller said.
British Pound PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the strongest against the Swiss Franc.
USD
EUR
GBP
JPY
CAD
AUD
NZD
CHF
USD
0.33%
-0.26%
0.01%
0.00%
-0.88%
-1.05%
0.39%
EUR
-0.33%
-0.58%
-0.37%
-0.31%
-1.13%
-1.36%
0.08%
GBP
0.26%
0.58%
0.23%
0.27%
-0.55%
-0.79%
0.66%
JPY
-0.01%
0.37%
-0.23%
0.05%
-0.81%
-1.14%
0.42%
CAD
-0.01%
0.31%
-0.27%
-0.05%
-0.86%
-1.06%
0.39%
AUD
0.88%
1.13%
0.55%
0.81%
0.86%
-0.24%
1.23%
NZD
1.05%
1.36%
0.79%
1.14%
1.06%
0.24%
1.46%
CHF
-0.39%
-0.08%
-0.66%
-0.42%
-0.39%
-1.23%
-1.46%
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 British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).
Technical Analysis: Pound Sterling jumps to near 1.3250
The Pound Sterling extends its winning streak for the sixth trading day and jumps above 1.3200 against the US Dollar (USD) at the time of writing on Tuesday. The near-term outlook of the pair is upbeat as all short-to-long Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) are sloping higher below the current price.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) demonstrates a V-shape recovery from 40.00 to 65.00, suggesting a strong bullish momentum.
Looking down, the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement plotted from late September high to mid-January low, near 1.2927, will act as a key support zone for the pair. On the upside, the three-year high of 1.3430 will act as a key resistance zone.
Employment FAQs
Labor market conditions are a key element to assess the health of an economy and thus a key driver for currency valuation. High employment, or low unemployment, has positive implications for consumer spending and thus economic growth, boosting the value of the local currency. Moreover, a very tight labor market – a situation in which there is a shortage of workers to fill open positions – can also have implications on inflation levels and thus monetary policy as low labor supply and high demand leads to higher wages.
The pace at which salaries are growing in an economy is key for policymakers. High wage growth means that households have more money to spend, usually leading to price increases in consumer goods. In contrast to more volatile sources of inflation such as energy prices, wage growth is seen as a key component of underlying and persisting inflation as salary increases are unlikely to be undone. Central banks around the world pay close attention to wage growth data when deciding on monetary policy.
The weight that each central bank assigns to labor market conditions depends on its objectives. Some central banks explicitly have mandates related to the labor market beyond controlling inflation levels. The US Federal Reserve (Fed), for example, has the dual mandate of promoting maximum employment and stable prices. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) sole mandate is to keep inflation under control. Still, and despite whatever mandates they have, labor market conditions are an important factor for policymakers given its significance as a gauge of the health of the economy and their direct relationship to inflation.
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GBP/USD rose another 0.75% on Monday, climbing for a week straight.
The Sterling’s broad recovery against the Greenback is poised to run up against key UK data this week.
UK labor figures are due on Tuesday, followed by UK CPI inflation data on Wednesday.
GBP/USD rose three-quarters of one percent on Monday, climbing for a fifth straight trading session as the Pound Sterling continues to reclaim ground against the softening Greenback. Despite the GBP’s firm run up the charts against the USD, challenges still lie ahead with key UK economic data on the release docket for this week.
UK labor data will be posted early during the Tuesday London market session. The ILO Unemployment Rate for the 3 months ended in February is expected to hold steady at 4.4%, and the Claimant Count Change for March is forecast to ease to 30.3K from February’s 44.2K.
UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figures will be posted on Wednesday. Headline UK CPI inflation is forecast to tick down to 2.7% YoY from the previous period’s 2.8%, while core CPI inflation is expected to remain stubbornly pinned at 3.5% YoY.
GBP/USD price forecast
GBP/USD is testing multi-month highs near the 1.3200 handle after rising for a week straight. Cable has risen 3.88% bottom-to-top after the last swing low into the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near 1.2700.
GBP/USD daily chart
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.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Finally, the Greenback managed to regain some composure and clocked acceptable gains following multi-month lows. The broader scenario, however, remained clouded by intense tariff uncertainty as well as fears of a US recession.
Here is what you need to know on Thursday, March 13:
The US Dollar Index (DXY) set aside part of the multi-day deep sell-off, retesting the 103.80 zone amid rising yields. Producer Prices will be in the spotlight seconded by the usual Initial Jobless Claims.
EUR/USD met some resistance and receded to the sub-1.0900 region in response to the mild bounce in the US Dollar. Industrial Production in the euro area will be published along with speeches by the ECB’s De Guindos, Nagel and Villeroy.
GBP/USD pushed harder and came just pips away from the key 1.3000 threshold, just to give away some impulse afterwards. The RICS House Price Balance will be the sole release across the Channel.
USD/JPY added to Tuesday’s uptick, climbing to multi-day highs and briefly surpassing the 149.00 barrier. The weekly Foreign Bond Investment figures are due.
Despite tariff concerns and the uptick in the US Dollar, AUD/USD rose further north of the 0.6300 hurdle, hitting two-day peaks at the same time. The final Building Permits and Private House Approvals are expected, followed by the speech by the RBA’s Jones.
Prices of WTI rose to three-day highs near the $68.00 mark per barrel despite the ounce in the US Dollar and persistent trade war concerns.
Gold prices advanced to two-week tops around $2,940 per troy ounce following tariff jitters and the lower-than-expected US CPI print. Silver prices rose past the $33.00 mark per ounce, coming just short of the yearly peak.
In February, private sector employment in the US grew by just 77K, coming in short of initial estimates of 140K, according to the latest Automatic Data Processing (ADP) report. In addition, the reading was lower than January’s 186K (revised from 183K).
Following the release, Nela Richardson, ADP’s Chief Economist, said that policy uncertainty and a slowdown in consumer spending might have led to layoffs or reduced hiring during the previous month. She noted that ADP’s data, along with other recent indicators, pointed to a cautious approach among employers as they evaluated the economic outlook.
Market reaction
The Greenback extends its decline and challenges the 105.00 support for the first time since early November when tracked by the US Dollar Index (DXY).
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 Japanese Yen.
USD
EUR
GBP
JPY
CAD
AUD
NZD
CHF
USD
-0.88%
-0.27%
0.10%
-0.53%
-0.51%
-0.59%
-0.01%
EUR
0.88%
0.62%
0.99%
0.35%
0.37%
0.29%
0.89%
GBP
0.27%
-0.62%
0.34%
-0.26%
-0.25%
-0.33%
0.26%
JPY
-0.10%
-0.99%
-0.34%
-0.64%
-0.64%
-0.72%
-0.12%
CAD
0.53%
-0.35%
0.26%
0.64%
0.02%
-0.06%
0.53%
AUD
0.51%
-0.37%
0.25%
0.64%
-0.02%
-0.07%
0.52%
NZD
0.59%
-0.29%
0.33%
0.72%
0.06%
0.07%
0.60%
CHF
0.00%
-0.89%
-0.26%
0.12%
-0.53%
-0.52%
-0.60%
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).
This section below was published as a preview of the US ADP Employment Change data at 08:30 GMT.
The ADP Employment Change, and the US labour market, take centre stage this week.
The US private sector is seen adding 140K new jobs in February.
The US Dollar Index continues to trade in the lower end of the range.
The US labor market is set to take center stage this week as fresh concerns mount that the economy may be losing its momentum — a sentiment echoed by recent slower growth and worrisome fundamental data.
In the spotlight, the ADP Research Institute is poised to release its February Employment Change report on Wednesday, offering a snapshot of private-sector job creation.
Typically coming out two days before the official Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, the ADP survey is often seen as an early indicator of trends expected in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report — even if the two don’t always tell the same story.
The economic equation: Job growth and Fed policy in focus
Employment is critical as it forms one of the two legs of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) dual mandate. The US central bank is tasked with maintaining price stability while pursuing maximum employment. As inflationary pressures remain stubborn, the focus appears to have temporarily shifted to the performance of the US labour market following the Fed’s hawkish stance at its January 28–29 meeting.
In the meantime, investors continue to closely monitor the White House’s trade policies and their consequences, particularly after US tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports took effect on March 4. Fears that these levies could fan the flames of a resurgence in inflationary pressure have driven both the Fed’s prudent approach and the cautious remarks from many of its policymakers.
So far, and in light of the recent set of weaker-than-expected results that have challenged the notion of US “exceptionalism”, market participants now expect the Fed to reduce interest rates by 50 basis points this year.
Amid the ongoing tariff turmoil, the apparent slowing momentum of the US economy, and persistent consumer price pressures, the ADP report — and especially Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls report — has gained renewed relevance and could help shape the Fed’s next move.
When will the ADP Report be released, and how could it affect the US Dollar Index?
The ADP Employment Change report for February is set to drop on Wednesday at 13:15 GMT with forecasts pointing to an addition of 140K new jobs following January’s gain of 183K. In anticipation, the US Dollar Index (DXY) remains securely on the defensive, putting the key support at 106.00 to the test amid rising jitters over the US economy.
If the ADP report delivers robust numbers, it could momentarily cool the mounting concerns over the US economic slowdown. However, if the results fall short of expectations, it might reinforce worries that the economy is losing momentum—potentially prompting the Fed to reconsider an earlier restart of its easing cycle.
According to Pablo Piovano, Senior Analyst at FXStreet, “If the recovery gains traction, the DXY could revisit the weekly peak of 107.66 (February 28), a region that appears reinforced by the proximity of the transitory 55-day SMA around 107.90, ahead of the February high of 109.88 set on February 3, and the YTD peak of 110.17 from January 13. Surpassing that level might pave the way toward the next resistance at the 2022 high of 114.77 recorded on September 28.
“On the flip side, if sellers manage to seize control, the index might first find support at the 2025 bottom of 105.89 reached on March 4, prior to the December 2024 bottom of 105.42, and eventually at the critical 200-day SMA in the 105.00 zone. Staying above that key threshold is essential for sustaining bullish momentum,” Piovano concludes.
GDP FAQs
A country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the rate of growth of its economy over a given period of time, usually a quarter. The most reliable figures are those that compare GDP to the previous quarter e.g Q2 of 2023 vs Q1 of 2023, or to the same period in the previous year, e.g Q2 of 2023 vs Q2 of 2022. Annualized quarterly GDP figures extrapolate the growth rate of the quarter as if it were constant for the rest of the year. These can be misleading, however, if temporary shocks impact growth in one quarter but are unlikely to last all year – such as happened in the first quarter of 2020 at the outbreak of the covid pandemic, when growth plummeted.
A higher GDP result is generally positive for a nation’s currency as it reflects a growing economy, which is more likely to produce goods and services that can be exported, as well as attracting higher foreign investment. By the same token, when GDP falls it is usually negative for the currency. When an economy grows people tend to spend more, which leads to inflation. The country’s central bank then has to put up interest rates to combat the inflation with the side effect of attracting more capital inflows from global investors, thus helping the local currency appreciate.
When an economy grows and GDP is rising, people tend to spend more which leads to inflation. The country’s central bank then has to put up interest rates to combat the inflation. Higher interest rates are negative for Gold because they increase the opportunity-cost of holding Gold versus placing the money in a cash deposit account. Therefore, a higher GDP growth rate is usually a bearish factor for Gold price.
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.
