Forex Today: Markets now focus on PMI-day

Pablo Piovano FXStreet

The Greenback extended its recovery and pushed the USD Index (DXY) back to the 105.00 region amidst higher yields and in response to the hawkish tone from the FOMC Minutes.

Here is what you need to know on Thursday, May 23:

The USD Index (DXY) rose to multi-day highs near the 105.00 barrier supported by the tighter-for-longer narrative around the Fed. On May 23, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index is due along with usual weekly Initial Jobless Claims, New Home Sales and the advanced Manufacturing and Services PMIs for the month of May. In addition, Fed’s Bostic (Atlanta) is due to speak.

EUR/USD tumbled to five-day lows near the 1.0820 region, an area coincident with the provisional 100-day SMA. The preliminary Consumer Confidence tracked by the European Commission (EC) in the broader Euroland is due on May 23, ahead of May’s flash Manufacturing and Services PMIs.

GBP/USD clung to daily gains on the back of renewed repricing of rate cuts by the BoE in the wake of UK inflation data. On May 23, flash Manufacturing and Services PMIs will be revealed prior to the speech by the BoE’s Pill.

Higher yields and the continuation of the rebound in the dollar lent extra legs to USD/JPY, which flirted with the area of three-week tops. On the domestic calendar, weekly Foreign Bond Investment are due on May 23, seconded by advanced Jibun Bank Manufacturing and Services PMIs.

AUD/USD retreated markedly to multi-session lows following the stronger dollar and the weak tone in the commodity space. The Consumer Inflation Expectations are next on tap in Oz on May 23 followed by the flash Judo Bank Manufacturing and Services PMIs.

Prices of the WTI dropped for the third straight session on the back of persistent dollar’s strength and expectations of delayed interest rate cuts by the Fed.

Gold prices added to Tuesday’s decline following hawkish FOMC Minutes, higher yields and a robust greenback. Silver followed suit and revisited three-day lows in the sub-$31.00 mark zone.

Author

Pablo Piovano

FXStreet

Born and bred in Argentina, Pablo has been carrying on with his passion for FX markets and trading since his first college years.

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold holds above $5,000 as bears seem hesitant amid Fed rate cut bets

Gold edges lower at the start of a new week, though it defends the $5,000 psychological mark through the Asian session. The underlying bullish sentiment is seen acting as a headwind for the bullion. However, bets for more rate cuts by the Fed, bolstered by Friday's softer US CPI, keep the US Dollar bulls on the defensive and continue to support the non-yielding yellow metal as the focus now shifts to FOMC Minutes on Wednesday.

Week ahead: Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

The US jobs report for January, which was delayed slightly, didn’t do the dovish Fed bets any favours, as expectations of a soft print did not materialize, confounding the raft of weak job indicators seen in the prior week.

Global inflation watch: Signs of cooling services inflation

Realized inflation landed close to expectations in January, as negative base effects weighed on the annual rates. Remaining sticky inflation is largely explained by services, while tariff-driven goods inflation remains limited even in the US.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.