Dollar strength persists on rate hike expectations, yen retreats.The US dollar remained close to a more than two-month high on Thursday as markets continued to price in the possibility of further monetary tightening from the Federal Reserve, despite an interim agreement between the United States and Iran that eased some geopolitical concerns. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged within a 3.50%-3.75% range.

Euro trims gains against the British Pound after UK jobs data, BoE rate decision looms.Euro trims gains against the British Pound after UK jobs data, BoE rate decision looms

UK Jobs Growth Stalls as Claimant Count Jumps, Wage Pressures Ease Slightly.The UK's labor market sent mixed signals in May, with employment growth stalling and unemployment edging lower even as the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits rose sharply. Payrolled employment increased by just 2k during the month, while the annual number of payrolled employees fell by -119k, or -0.4% yoy, leaving total payroll employment at 30.3m.

United Kingdom Claimant Count Rate climbed from previous 4.4% to 4.5% in May.United Kingdom Claimant Count Rate climbed from previous 4.4% to 4.5% in May

Norges Bank, BoE and SNB Expected to Keep Rates Unchanged.US-Iran Deal: President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian digitally signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at working toward a permanent peace agreement between the two countries. Following the announcement, Brent crude fell below USD 78/bbl, while prediction markets became somewhat more cautious regarding the speed of normalization in Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic.

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate falls to 4.9% in April: What it means for the British Pound.United Kingdom Unemployment Rate falls to 4.9% in April: What it means for the British Pound

160.80: Japanese Yen remains close to nearly two-year lows.160.80: Japanese Yen remains close to nearly two-year lows

Swiss Franc strengthens ahead of SNB rate decision.Swiss Franc strengthens ahead of SNB rate decision

Warsh debut raises rate-hike stakes.A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Ankur Banerjee

Indian Rupee advances as fading risk aversion weighs on US Dollar.Indian Rupee advances as fading risk aversion weighs on US Dollar

Netherlands, The Unemployment Rate s.a (3M) remains unchanged at 3.9% in May.Netherlands, The Unemployment Rate s.a (3M) remains unchanged at 3.9% in May

USD/JPY Hits Two-Year High as Hawkish Fed Revives Rate Hike Bets.USD/JPY surged to a fresh two-year high after the Federal Reserve delivered a significantly more hawkish message than markets had anticipated, reviving expectations that US interest rates could rise again before year-end. While the Fed left the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50%-3.75% as widely expected, the updated projections painted a much more inflation-focused picture.

New Zealand Q1 GDP Meets Forecasts at 0.8% as Manufacturing Drives Growth.New Zealand's economy expanded by 0.8% qoq in the first quarter of 2026, matching market expectations and accelerating from the 0.5% qoq growth recorded in the final quarter of 2025. GDP per capita rose 0.5% qoq, adding to signs that the recovery is becoming more broad-based.

investingLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed.The headline of the Asia-Pacific session was the formal signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, bringing the framework agreement to end the Middle East conflict into legal effect. President Trump signed his copy of the 14-point document during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles, with a photograph of the signed agreement transmitted to Tehran and the mediating countries.

First impressions: NZ GDP, March Quarter 2026.The New Zealand economy made a solid start to the year with GDP rising by 0.8% in the March quarter. Revisions to recent history made this a stronger overall result than we were expecting.

Research US: Fed Review: As Committed as Ever.Kevin Warsh set the tone for a new era of forward guidance (or lack thereof) as the Fed published an aggressively shortened statement with focus on only three main messages: policy remained unchanged today, the Fed remains committed to maintaining ample reserves and the committee will deliver price stability.

Warsh's Debut as Fed Chair UShers in a Hawkish Hold.The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the policy rate steady at the target range of 3.5%-3.75% for a fourth consecutive meeting. The move was fully expected by market participants.

WTI Crude Oil May Struggle to Recover as Sellers Stay Active.Looking at the 4-hour chart of XTI/USD, the price traded as low as $74.55. It settled below $80, the 100 simple moving average (red, 4-hour), and the 200 simple moving average (green, 4-hour).

Oil Price Forecast: WTI Breaks $80 as U.S.-Iran Deal Hits War Premium.Oil prices fell as the U.S.-Iran deal eased supply fears and hit the war premium, while WTI and Brent tested key support zones after the sharp selloff.

Indian rupee poised to slip after hawkish Fed surprise opens door to rate hike.The Indian rupee is set to open weaker on Thursday after a hawkish surprise from the U.S. Federal Reserve boosted bets of an ​interest rate hike later this year.

Japan's Kihara: Ready to respond 'appropriately' to Yen moves.Japan's Kihara: Ready to respond 'appropriately' to Yen moves

China rolls out third trade-in fund tranche as weak retail data keeps stimulus pressure on.The timing of the third tranche announcement, following weak retail sales data earlier this week (May retail sales falling 0.6%, the first decline since the pandemic), signals Beijing is prepared to sustain the trade-in program as a demand floor rather than wind it down as initially suggested. The 820 billion yuan in driven sales is a meaningful headline but the underlying retail trend remains soft, and the marginal impact of successive tranches is likely diminishing.

Japan's Kihara flags weak yen household burden but offers no fresh intervention signal.The remarks follow the standard Japanese official playbook and are unlikely to move the yen in isolation. The notable addition was Kihara's explicit acknowledgement that a weak yen, while supportive of corporate profits, increases the burden on households, a framing that edges slightly toward the dovish side of the intervention debate by validating the domestic cost argument.

Fed Rate Decision: Hawkish Shift Sparks Selloff Across Risk Assets.Risk-associated assets sold off sharply in the aftermath of the Fed rate decision that is now pointing to a potential end-2026 rate hike.

Japanese Yen bears turn cautious amid intervention fears as Iran deal undermines USD.Japanese Yen bears turn cautious amid intervention fears as Iran deal undermines USD

Dollar clings to two-month peak as Fed rate-hike bets mount, yen slides.The U.S. dollar clung to a more than two-month high on Thursday as markets ramped up wagers on Federal Reserve rate ​hikes this year, heaping fresh pressure on the Japanese yen toward intervention ‌territory.

Canadian Dollar inches higher as fading risk aversion weighs on US Dollar.Canadian Dollar inches higher as fading risk aversion weighs on US Dollar

Australian Dollar drifts higher above 0.7000 as Trump signs US-Iran deal.Australian Dollar drifts higher above 0.7000 as Trump signs US-Iran deal

British Pound recovers from two-month low ahead of BoE as Iran peace deal weigh on USD.British Pound recovers from two-month low ahead of BoE as Iran peace deal weigh on USD

WTI holds gains above $75.00 despite easing supply concerns, Fed rate hike odds in 2026.WTI holds gains above $75.00 despite easing supply concerns, Fed rate hike odds in 2026