Forex Today: Tension mounts ahead of critical events

FXStreet Team FXStreet

What you need to know on Tuesday, April 28th:

The market’s mood was up at the beginning of the week, but only benefited commodity-linked currencies, which were up against the greenback, despite easing oil and gold prices.
The EUR/USD pair advanced just modestly to close the day little changed around 1.0830, while the Pound recovered the 1.2400 level against its American rival.
The trigger for the better market mood was hope, amid gradual economic re-openings. The coronavirus-related curves continued to flatten in most European countries, although countries are not out of the woods yet.
Overall, investors are in wait-and-see mode ahead of central banks and GDP figures to be out later this week.
UK PM Johnson returned to Downing Street and offered a speech, acknowledging the risk that the lockdown poises to the economy, but also warned about the risks of lifting restrictions two early. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sunak announced a loan program to support small businesses.
Crude oil prices came under selling pressure, with Brent below $20.00 a barrel and WTI losing the 13.00 level amid storage concerns. Drillers keep working throughout the pandemic, but demand is pretty much null in a paused world.
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EUR/USD meets initial support around 1.1800

EUR/USD remains on the back foot, although it has managed to reverse the initial strong pullback toward the 1.1800 region and regain some balance, hovering around the 1.1850 zone as the NA session draws to a close on Tuesday. Moving forward, market participants will now shift their attention to the release of the FOMC Minutes and US hard data on Wednesday.

GBP/USD bounces off lows, retargets 1.3550

After bottoming out just below the 1.3500 yardstick, GBP/USD now gathers some fresh bids and advances to the 1.3530-1.3540 band in the latter part of Tuesday’s session. Cable’s recovery comes as the Greenback surrenders part of its advance, although it keeps the bullish bias well in place for the day.

Gold hangs near one-week low; looks to FOMC Minutes for fresh impetus

Gold is consolidating just above the $4,850 level, having touched a one-week low on Tuesday, amid mixed cues. Signs of progress in US–Iran talks dent demand for the traditional safe-haven bullion. Meanwhile, rising bets for more Fed rate cuts keep the US Dollar bulls on the defensive and act as a tailwind for the non-yielding yellow metal. Traders also seem reluctant ahead of the FOMC Minutes, which would offer cues about the Fed's rate-cut path and provide some meaningful impetus.

RBNZ set to pause interest-rate easing cycle as new Governor Breman faces firm inflation

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand remains on track to maintain the Official Cash Rate at 2.25% after concluding its first monetary policy meeting of this year on Wednesday.

UK jobs market weakens, bolstering rate cut hopes

In the UK, the latest jobs report made for difficult reading. Nonetheless, this represents yet another reminder for the Bank of England that they need to act swiftly given the collapse in inflation expected over the coming months.

Ripple slides to $1.45 as downside risks surge

Ripple edges lower at the time of writing on Tuesday, from the daily open of $1.48, as headwinds persist across the crypto market. A short-term support is emerging at $1.45, but a buildup of bearish positions could further weaken the derivatives market and prolong the correction.