Dollar trades slightly firmer as investors position ahead of FOMC minutes from January meeting. The hold decision itself is old news; what markets want to understand is how far policymakers are from resuming rate cuts. The dissent from Governors Christopher Waller and Stephen Miran was expected, given their dovish leanings. The more critical insight lies […]
Trading in Asian markets was subdued at the start of the week, with activity dampened by the U.S. holiday and the approach of Lunar New Year. Many regional desks are already lightly staffed, leaving liquidity thin and conviction limited. The holiday mood has kept volatility compressed. Major currency pairs and crosses are confined within Friday’s
There was no single, dominant theme in currency markets last week. Instead, price action reflected a mix of cross-asset divergences. Dollar ended as the worst performer, despite the fact that Fed expectations barely shifted following high-profile releases of non-farm payrolls and CPI. Meanwhile, US Equities experienced volatility, particularly around renewed AI disruption fears, yet there
Forex markets remained relatively steady following the January US CPI release, with the slightly softer-than-expected headline reading failing to trigger major repositioning. The moderation in inflation was largely driven by lower energy prices, while underlying pressures showed only gradual improvement. The data did little to materially alter Fed expectations. A March hold is effectively locked
January’s highly anticipated US non-farm payroll report delivered a decisive upside surprise, with job growth nearly doubling expectations and marking the strongest monthly gain since mid-2025. The data decisively push back against recent concerns that the labor market was deteriorating rapidly. Rather than rolling over, hiring appears to be regaining momentum at the start of
Risk-off sentiment intensified in US tech sector overnight, with another down day in the NASDAQ. The move reflected growing unease rather than a single catalyst, as investors continue to reassess the implications of artificial intelligence for earnings, valuations, and capital discipline. That weakness carried into Asia, where Japanese and Korean equities saw steep declines. So
Forex markets are trading relatively steady as the US session gets underway, with no strong directional conviction emerging. Early risk-on momentum from Asia has faded, leaving major pairs consolidating rather than extending moves. The initial lift in sentiment came from Asia following the announcement of a US–India trade deal, which helped support higher-beta currencies. Australian
Last week delivered yet another reminder that volatility has become a feature this year, rather than an exception. Sudden repricing episodes continue to emerge, often driven by political and institutional developments rather than changes in economic fundamentals. The latest bout of turbulence was triggered by market repricing around the nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin
US President Donald Trump today finally named former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed Chair, bringing an end to a prolonged and unusually turbulent succession process. Trump praised Warsh publicly, calling him a future “great” Fed chairman and signaling confidence in his leadership. The announcement removed a major overhang for markets
Dollar is consolidating within a narrow range today, reflecting a temporary balance between supportive near-term developments and persistent longer-term headwinds. Volatility has subsided, but price action lacks the conviction typical of a durable turnaround. A sharp pullback in precious metals has played a key role in easing pressure on the greenback. Gold has retreated below
Trading in the FX markets has turned notably listless, with Dollar continuing to drift lower but without broad-based follow-through. Political pressure, however, returned swiftly. US President Donald Trump again lashed out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell, criticizing the decision to keep rates unchanged and reviving his long-running argument that policy is far too tight. He
Market reaction to the Fed’s widely expected rate hold was muted overnight, with equities struggling to find direction. S&P 500 briefly pushed above the 7,000 mark, but the move lacked follow-through. By the close, all three major US indexes finished near flat. Away from equities, two developments stood out. US Treasury yields moved higher, with
Following three straight interest rate cuts to close out 2025, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced its widely expected decision to leave rates unchanged following its first monetary policy meeting of 2026. The Fed said it decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50 to 3.75 percent following three consecutive
Dollar found modest support in early US trading, managing a mild recovery as markets position cautiously ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. The move looked more like a pause in selling than a decisive shift in sentiment, with traders reluctant to press positions before policy clarity. Some stabilization came after comments from US Treasury
Dollar’s selloff extended through the week, only managing a brief pause after slipping through the key psychological level of 1.2 against Euro briefly. While the pace of decline has slowed, there is little sign of a meaningful recovery taking shape. The bounce has so far been shallow. And, Dollar remains under pressure on multiple fronts,
The forex market has finally slipped into a period of stabilization, with Dollar shifting into consolidation after several volatile sessions. All major pairs and crosses are trading within yesterday’s ranges, signaling a collective pause. Part of the calm reflects a temporary cooling in geopolitical and trade-war rhetoric. Recent fears of an imminent joint US–Japan intervention
Yen once again took center stage, staging a broad-based rally that gathered pace through the Asian session. USD/JPY dived below 154, a sharp reversal from last week’s run toward 160 — a level widely perceived by markets as Japan’s informal line in the sand. The move gained traction as Japanese assets reacted in tandem. Nikkei
