Trading news

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) depreciates after two days of gains, trading around $91.80 per barrel during the Asian hours on Friday.

Silver (XAG/USD) struggles to gain any meaningful traction on Friday and oscillates in a narrow trading band just above the $68.00 mark during the Asian session.

On Friday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.9141 compared to the previous day's fix of 6.9056 and 6.9089 Reuters estimate.

AUD/USD extends its losing streak for the fourth consecutive day, trading around 0.6880 during the Asian hours on Friday.

Federal Reserve (Fed) Vice Chair of Supervision Philip Jefferson said Thursday evening that the current policy stance should continue to support the labor market and allow inflation to resume its decline.

Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Michael Barr said on Thursday that the economy has remained resilient through a series of shocks, but those have complicated the central bank reaching its 2% inflation goal.

Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Stephen Miran said on Thursday that shrinking the size of the balance sheet allows for easier interest rate policy. Those who think that the Fed balance sheet can’t shrink ‘simply lack imagination’, Miran added further.

GBP/USD slipped about 0.1% on Thursday, settling around 1.3340 in a choppy session.

United Kingdom GfK Consumer Confidence above expectations (-24) in March: Actual (-21)

Ireland Consumer Confidence dipped from previous 65.2 to 56.7 in March

USD/JPY edged up about 0.1% on Thursday, trading around 159.70 and holding just below the session high near 159.85. The pair has rallied sharply from the early-March lows close to 152.10, gaining roughly 770 pips in under three weeks.

OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong observes that Asian FX has shown tentative stabilization after a multi-week sell-off linked to the Iran conflict, but characterizes the move as consolidation.

DBS Group Research economist Radhika Rao discusses how the Philippines’ declaration of a national energy emergency in response to Middle East supply risks could affect inflation, growth and the Philippines Peso (PHP).

The GBP/JPY consolidates around 213.00 for the second straight day, losses 0.09%, snapping a four-day streak of consecutive gains as traders clash with key resistance at the March 11 peak at 213.31.

UOB’s Senior Economist Alvin Liew reviews Singapore’s latest industrial production data and maintains the 2026 GDP growth forecast at 3.6%, with 2027 at 2.0%. The bank highlights broad-based weakness in February IP, despite continued AI-related support for electronics.

Geoff Yu at BNY notes that North Asian economies face supply-related risks to their balance of payments despite ample energy reserves.

New Zealand ANZ – Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence dipped from previous 100.1 to 91.3 in March

The NZD/USD pair slipped to the 0.5760 region, remaining under pressure as the US Dollar (USD) stays firm amid elevated United States (US) yields and a cautious market mood.

Commerzbank economists Dr. Henry Hao and Moses Lim highlight that USD/THB climbed to 32.65 as Thailand’s trade balance stayed in deficit and global energy prices rose.

South Korea BOK Manufacturing BSI down to 71 in April from previous 77