Trading news

ING’s Chief Economist for Greater China, Lynn Song, notes that Taiwan’s April trade data showed slower export and import growth versus expectations, with the trade surplus easing to USD14.35bn.

Standard Chartered’s Aldian Taloputra notes Indonesia’s GDP growth accelerated to 5.6% year-on-year in Q1 2026, driven by front-loaded fiscal stimulus, seasonal festival spending and limited pass-through from higher Oil prices.

Silver price advances more than 2.50% on Friday, set to end the week with gains of over 7% sponsored by US Dollar weakness and falling oil prices. At the time of writing, the XAG/USD trades at $80.72, after bouncing off daily lows of $78.16.

Wells Fargo Economics projects Brazil’s April IPCA inflation to rise 0.9% month-over-month and around 4.5% year-over-year, near or above the target band. Energy and food pressures are intensifying, while inflation expectations have risen.

MUFG economists Lin Li, Michael Wan, Lloyd Chan and Khang Sek Lee outline a base case where the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by end‑May eases pressures on Asian currencies.

United Kingdom CFTC GBP NC Net Positions down to £-63.9K from previous £-60.6K

United States CFTC Gold NC Net Positions climbed from previous $159.6K to $163.3K

United States CFTC S&P 500 NC Net Positions fell from previous $-101.4K to $-103.9K

United States CFTC Oil NC Net Positions dipped from previous 191.9K to 178.8K

Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions: $78.7K vs $71.9K

Eurozone CFTC EUR NC Net Positions dipped from previous €35.7K to €32.2K

Japan CFTC JPY NC Net Positions increased to ¥-61.7K from previous ¥-102.1K

Indian investors continue to pile up their bets on Gold via Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), contributing to the rebound in demand for the precious metal as spot prices stabilize after March’s sharp decline.

WTI, the US crude oil benchmark, falls some 2.49%, poised to end the week with losses of over 7.39%, amid growing speculation that the US and Iran will reach an agreement to end the conflict.

Commerzbank’s Thu Lan Nguyen argues that any relief from a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for Aluminium will likely be short‑lived.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell toward the 97.90 region on Friday, pressured by improving risk sentiment and easing safe-haven demand after reports suggested the United States (US) and Iran are still attempting to preserve a fragile ceasefire framework despite renewed military incidents in the Middle

ING’s Peter Virovacz notes that Hungary’s inflation accelerated in April but remained a positive surprise versus expectations, with headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 2.1% year-on-year and 0.4% month-on-month.

DBS Group Research economist Radhika Rao assesses how a projected below normal monsoon in India, linked to a strong El Niño, could affect growth and inflation.

The USD/JPY pair fell toward the 156.60 region on Friday, as the Japanese Yen (JPY) gained modest support from safe-haven flows despite resilient United States (US) labor-market data limiting broader downside pressure on the US Dollar (USD).

Gold (XAU/USD) rises some 0.75% on Friday as financial markets remain optimistic about a possible end to the Middle East conflict, which could potentially drive Oil prices lower and ease inflationary pressures.