Posted at 20 August 2025 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• Canada New Housing Price Index (MoM) (Jul): -0.1%, 0.1% forecast, -0.2% previous
•US Crude Oil Inventories: -6.014M, -0.800M forecast, 3.036M previous
•US EIA Refinery Crude Runs (WoW): 0.028M , 0.056M previous
•US Crude Oil Imports: -1.218M , 0.699M previous
•US Cushing Crude Oil Inventories: 0.419M , 0.045M previous
•US Distillate Fuel Production: 0.193M , 0.032M previous
•US EIA Weekly Distillates Stocks: 2.343M, 0.450M forecast, 0.714M previous
•US Gasoline Production: -0.259M , 0.010M previous
•US Heating Oil Stockpiles: -0.503M , 0.827M previous
•US Gasoline Inventories: -2.720M, -0.800M forecast, -0.792M previous
Looking Ahead Economic data(GMT)
• 22:45 New Zealand Exports (Jul): 6.63B previous
• 22:45 New Zealand Imports (Jul): 6.49B previous
• 22:45 New Zealand Trade Balance (MoM) (Jul): 70M forecast, 142M previous
• 22:45 New Zealand Trade Balance (YoY) (Jul): -4,370M previous
• 23:00 Australia Manufacturing & Services PMI (MoM) (Aug): 53.80% previous
• 23:00 Australia Judo Bank Manufacturing PMI (Aug): 51.3 previous
• 23:00 Australia Judo Bank Services PMI (Aug): 54.1 previous
•23:50 Japan Foreign Bonds Buying : 254.9B previous
•23:50 Japan Foreign Investments in Japanese Stocks: 489.3B previous
•00:30 Japan Manufacturing & Services PMI (MoM) (Aug): 51.60% previous
•00:30 Japan au Jibun Bank Manufacturing PMI (Aug): 49.2 forecast, 48.9 previous
•00:30 Japan au Jibun Bank Services PMI (Aug): , 53.6 previous
•01:00 Australia MI Inflation Expectations: , , 4.7% previous
•01:00 Australia MI Inflation Expectations (Aug): , 4.7% previous
•01:30 Australia Reserve Assets Total (Jul): , 102.5B previous
•03:00 New Zealand Credit Card Spending (YoY) (Jul): , 0.9% previous
Looking Ahead Events and Other Releases(GMT)
• 00:00 US Jackson Hole Symposium
Currency Summaries
EUR/USD : The euro edged higher on Wednesday as the dollar slipped amid fresh concerns that President Donald Trump was trying to influence Fed policy. Trump called on Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign over mortgage-related allegations raised by U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Meanwhile, the Fed’s recent meeting summary showed that two officials favoring rate cuts last month had little support from other policymakers. Market attention now turns to the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium from August 21-23, where Chair Jerome Powell will speak on the economic outlook and the central bank’s policy framework. Powell’s comments on the near-term interest rate outlook will be closely watched, as traders are nearly fully pricing in a rate cut next month.Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1732(Aug 13th high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1816(23.6%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1616 (38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1455(50%fib ).
GBP/USD: The pound eased against dollar on Wednesday as investors digested an inflation report that diminished hopes for a near-term Bank of England rate cut. Official data showedthe UK's consumer price inflation hit its highest in 18 months in July when it increased to 3.8% in the fastest annual rise for a Group of Seven economy and approaching the BoE's forecast of a 4% peak in September.The data further tempered the already low expectations of a rate cut by the British central bank, with traders now betting on a quarter-point reduction in March next year. Earlier this month, markets had anticipated a cut before the end of 2025. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, was last down 0.13% on the day at 98.20,with the Pound down 0.29% at $1.3451. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3549(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3588(Aug 14th high).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3439(61.8%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3396(SMA20).
USD/CAD: The Canadian dollar weakened against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday after inflation data raised expectations of renewed easing by the Bank of Canada. Tuesday’s data showed a sharp slowdown in three-month annualized measures of underlying inflation, closely watched by the BoC, prompting investors to increase bets on rate cuts in the coming months. The likelihood of a rate reduction by October rose to around 70% from 56% before the data. The central bank has kept its benchmark rate at 2.75% since March. The loonie was trading down at 1.3878 per U.S. dollar, after earlier touching its weakest intraday level since May 22 at 1.3883. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3901(38.2% fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3918 (Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3788(SMA20), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3758(38.2%fib).
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar slipped lower against the yen on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign.Trump cited allegations made by one of his political allies about mortgages Cook holds in Michigan and Georgia, intensifying his effort to gain influence over the U.S. central bank.Trump has also told aides he is considering attempting to fire Cook, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.Trump has been critical of Fed Chair Jerome Powellfor being too slow to cut rates, and traders expect he will replace Powell with a more dovish appointment when his term ends in May.But Powell may stay on the board of governors, which would limit how many appointments Trump may make and could crimp plans to form a more dovish composition of policymakers. Immediate resistance can be seen at 147.85(SMA20) an upside break can trigger rise towards 148.89(38.2%fib) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 147.15(50%fib) a break below could take the pair towards 145.40 (61.8%fib).
Equities Recap
European ended mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited remarks from Federal Reserve officials at their Jackson Hole symposium this week.
UK's benchmark FTSE 100 closed up by 1.08 percent, Germany's Dax ended down by 0.60 percent, France’s CAC finished the day up by 0.80 percent.
Wall Street fell on Wednesday as a tech selloff extended into a second day, with traders keeping an eye on a key central bankers’ meeting later this week for cues on currencies and interest rates.
Dow Jones closed up by 0.04% percent, S&P 500 closed down by 0.24 % percent, Nasdaq settled down by 0.67% percent.
Commodities Recap
Gold climbed on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar softened, with investors awaiting the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium.
Spot gold gained 0.9% to $3,344.37 per ounce, by 2:23 p.m. EDT (1823 GMT) after hitting its lowest level since August 1 earlier. U.S. gold futures closed 0.9% higher at $3,388.50.
Oil prices rose roughly 2% on Wednesday following a larger-than-expected weekly decline in U.S. crude inventories, as investors awaited developments in Ukraine peace talks while Russian crude sanctions remained in place.
Brent crude futures were up $1.05, or 1.6%, to settle at $66.84 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 86 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $63.21.