Here is what you need to know on Thursday, January 21:
Markets have positively greeted President Biden's first moves in office amid high hopes of fiscal stimulus. The ECB is set to follow the BOJ to leave rates unchanged. After Australia reported upbeat jobs figures, weekly US Unemployment Claims are eyed.
President Joe Biden entered the White House and signed a long list of Executive Orders, such as canceling the Keystone XL pipeline – as expected and already priced into the loonie. The administration said it aimed to reach a bipartisan agreement on the covid relief plan worth $1.9 trillion.
More President Joe Biden: The Markets And The First 100 Days
The S&P 500 Index reached new highs around the inauguration and is on course to continue higher on Thursday. The safe-haven US dollar is edging lower, especially against commodity currencies. Gold broke out of range and has topped $1870.
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, may issue a warning about the euro's high exchange rate in her first rate decision of the year. The ECB is set to leave its policy unchanged and discuss weak inflation, the current damage from the virus, and prospects for the rest of the year.
See ECB Preview: Lagarde may trigger a “buy the dip” opportunity by trying to talk down the euro
GBP/USD has been trading around 1.37 as coronavirus deaths hit new highs in the UK, but cases are falling.
The Bank of Japan stayed put as expected, marginally upgrading its growth forecast for fiscal 2021.
USD/CAD is trading closer to 1.26 after the Bank of Canada upgraded its growth forecasts and hinted that it could taper its bond-buying scheme if the economy grows rapidly. WTI Crude Oil is stable at around $53.
Australia reported an increase of 50,000 positions in December, and the unemployment rate dropped to 6.6%, better than estimated. AUD/USD is advancing toward 0.78, underpinned by the weakening USD.
Apart from the ECB, the US jobless claims are of high interest after their disappointing leap last week. They are expected to retreat from near one million.
See US Initial Jobless Claims Preview: Waiting for the second recovery
Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin has been on the back foot, sliding below $35,000. Ethereum is also struggling.
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.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD climbs back above 1.0750 ahead of ADP, Fed Minutes
EUR/USD has regained lost ground above 1.0750 in the European session on Wednesday. The pair draws support from the renewed US Dollar weakness, in the aftermath of the dovish Fed Chair Powell's comments. Eyes turn to US ADP data, Fed Minutes.
GBP/USD retakes 1.2700, looks to US data/Fed minutes
GBP/USD is battling 1.2700 in European trading on Wednesday, attempting a modest bounce. Traders appear reluctant and prefer to wait on the sidelines ahead of the FOMC minutes while the UK elections on Thursday also keep them on the edge. US ADP data eyed as well.
Gold jumps toward $2,350, with eyes on key US events
Gold price is closing in on $2,350 in the European trading hours on Wednesday, staging a rebound amid a fresh leg down in the US Dollar. Gold price capitalizes on dovish Fed Chair Powell's remarks on Tuesday, which added to the September rate cut expectations. US ADP data and Fed Minutes on tap.
Bitcoin price struggles around $61,000 as German government transfers, miners activity weigh
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs registered slight outflows on Tuesday. The German Government transferred another 832.7 BTC, valued at $52 million, on Tuesday.
ADP Employment Change Preview: US private sector expected to add 160K new jobs in June
The United States ADP Research Institute will release its monthly report on private sector job creation for June. The announcement is expected to show that the country’s private sector added 160K new positions in June after adding 152K in May.