Here is what you need to know on Thursday, September 15:
Following Wednesday's choppy action, markets stay relatively quiet on Thursday. The US Dollar Index holds in positive territory but stays below 110.00, the US stock index futures trade flat and the 10-year US Treasury bond yield moves sideways above 3.4%. In the second half of the day, August Retail Sales data will be featured in the US economic docket alongside the weekly Initial Jobless Claims, NY Empire State Manufacturing Survey and Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey. Finally, the Fed will publish August's Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization figures.
US Retail Sales Preview: Can consumers keep up with inflation? A breather could weigh on the dollar.
During the Asian trading hours, China’s State Council announced that the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will provide more than 200 billion yuan ($28.7 billion) in special lending funds to commercial banks to boost loans to companies. Furthermore, Reuters reported that China's largest four state-owned banks cut deposit rates, effective Thursday. Despite these developments, Shanghai Composite Index ended up closing the day in negative territory.
Earlier in the day, the data from Australia revealed that the Unemployment Rate edged higher to 3.5% in August from 3.4%. The participation rate improved to 66.6% from 66.4% and the Employment Change arrived at +33.5K, slightly below the market expectation of 35K. Following a mixed immediate reaction, AUD/USD started to stretch higher and was last seen rising 0.15% on the day at around 0.6750.
Statistics New Zealand reported the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded at an annualized rate of 0.4% in the second quarter, surpassing analysts' forecast for a growth of 0.2%. Despite the upbeat GDP data NZD/USD struggles to gather momentum and trades in a relatively tight range near 0.6000.
EUR/USD continues to trade below parity on Thursday. The trade deficit in the euro area is expected to widen to €35.5 billion in July from €30.8 billion in June.
GBP/USD managed to register modest gains on Wednesday and seems to have stabilized above 1.15000 early Thursday.
USD/JPY fell sharply on Wednesday amid speculations that the Bank of Japan might be preparing to intervene in foreign exchange markets. The pair gained traction during the Asian trading hours and was last seen trading modestly higher on the day at around 143.50.
Gold broke below $1,700 during the Asian trading hours and failed to reclaim that level. With European traders entering the markets, XAU/USD extended its slide toward $1,680.
Bitcoin continues to move sideways slightly above $20,000. Ethereum holds steady near $1,600 after having gained more than 4% on Wednesday.
BREAKING: Ethereum Merge begins, the good, bad and ugly of crypto’s $22 billion bet.
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 dips below 1.1000 as Trump authorizes 90-day pause on tariffs
EUR/USD retreated below the 1.1000 mark on headlines indicating that United States President Donald Trump authorized a 90-day pause on non-retaliating countries. The pause applies to reciprocal and 10% tariffs, effective immediately, according to a Truth Social post. FOMC Minutes indicated increasing uncertainty.
GBP/USD eases further on tariffs pause announcement, USD still weak
GBP/USD's correction seems to have met a decent contention around the 1.2750 zone so far on Wednesday, as investors continue to assess the ongoing US-China trade war. US doubles the bet, announced 125% levies on Chinese imports.
Gold recedes to $3,050 on Trump's headlines
Gold prices now give away part of their advance and revisit the $3,050 zone per troy ounce after President Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal and 10% tariffs. FOMC Minutes passed unnoticed as optimism returned.
Dow Jones Industrial Average rockets 6% higher on tariff suspension
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) skyrocketed on Wednesday, surging over 6% on the day and returning to the 40,000 handle after the Trump administration announced yet another pivot on its own tariff policies.
Tariff rollercoaster continues as China slapped with 104% levies
The reaction in currencies has not been as predictable. The clear winners so far remain the safe-haven Japanese yen and Swiss franc, no surprises there, while the euro has also emerged as a quasi-safe-haven given its high liquid status.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.