Posted at 21 August 2025 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• New Zealand Exports (Jul): 6.71B, 6.53B previous
•New Zealand Imports (Jul): 7.28B, 6.33B previous
•New Zealand Trade Balance (YoY) (Jul): -3,940M, -4,380M previous
•New Zealand Trade Balance (MoM) (Jul): -578M, 70M forecast, 203M previous
•Australia Manufacturing & Services PMI (MoM) (Aug): 54.9, 53.8 previous
•Australia Judo Bank Manufacturing PMI (Aug): 52.9, 51.3 previous
•Australia Judo Bank Services PMI (Aug): 55.1, 54.1 previous
•Japan Foreign Bonds Buying: -313.6B, 254.7B previous
•Japan Foreign Investments in Japanese Stocks: 1,161.7B, 495.5B previous
•Japan Manufacturing & Services PMI (MoM) (Aug): 51.9, 51.6 previous
•Japan au Jibun Bank Manufacturing PMI (Aug): 49.9, 49.2 forecast, 48.9 previous
•Japan au Jibun Bank Services PMI (Aug): 52.7, 53.6 previous
•Australia MI Inflation Expectations: 3.9%, 4.7% previous
•Australia Reserve Assets Total (Jul): 104.3B, 102.5B previous
•New Zealand Credit Card Spending (YoY) (Jul): 1.4%, 0.9% previous
Looking Ahead Economic data(GMT)
•08:00 Eurozone HCOB Manufacturing PMI (Aug): 49.5 forecast, 49.8 previous
•08:00 Eurozone HCOB Composite PMI (Aug): 50.7 forecast, 50.9 previous
•08:00 Eurozone HCOB Services PMI (Aug): 50.8 forecast, 51.0 previous
•08:30 UK S&P Global Composite PMI (Aug): 51.6 forecast, 51.5 previous
•08:30 UK S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (Aug): 48.2 forecast, 48.0 previous
•08:30 UK S&P Global Services PMI (Aug): 51.8 forecast, 51.8 previous
•09:00 Belgium Consumer Confidence (Aug): -4 previous
•09:00 Eurozone Construction Output (MoM) (Jun): -1.68% forecast, - previous
•09:00 UK CBI Industrial Trends Orders (Aug): -28 forecast, -30 previous
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•No Events Ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro edged higher against the dollar on Thursday as investors looked forward to the U.S. Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole symposium for clarity on economic outlook and policy direction. Investors are now focused on the Fed's three-day annual symposium in Jackson Hole, which commences later in the day.While the event will draw central bankers from around the world, the spotlight is on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Friday for signals on the likelihood of a September interest rate cut.Separately, minutes from the U.S. central bank's July meeting showed that only two Fed policymakers supported a rate cut, while the rest favoured maintaining a status quo. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1792(23.6%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1829(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1631 (38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1488(50%fib ).
GBP/USD: The pound slipped against the dollar on Thursday as investors braced for potentially market-moving developments at the Federal Reserve’s annual Jackson Hole symposium. Central bankers from around the world are expected to attend the event, with market attention squarely on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday, as traders try to assess the likelihood of a September rate cut.Overnight, minutes from the Fed’s July meeting showed that Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman and Governor Christopher Waller were the only policymakers advocating for a rate reduction, while the rest voted to keep rates steady. This led traders to scale back expectations for a quarter-point cut on September 17 to 80%, down from 84% a day earlier. Markets are now pricing in a total of 53 basis points of easing for the remainder of the year.. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3509(Aug 20th high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3583(38.2%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3435(50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3403(Lower BB).
AUD/USD: The Australian dollar edged lower on Thursday as markets focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook ahead of the annual Jackson Hole symposium. Political uncertainty remains, with former President Trump expected to criticize the Fed if Chair Jerome Powell adopts a hawkish stance. Powell is scheduled to speak on the economic outlook and the central bank’s policy framework.On the domestic front, Australia’s manufacturing sector showed solid growth, with the Judo Bank Manufacturing PMI rising to 52.9 in August from 51.3 in July the fastest pace in nearly three years. The services sector also strengthened, with the S&P Global Flash Services PMI climbing to 55.1 from54.1, marking the strongest expansion in 40 months.At GMT 07:56, the Australian dollar was down 0.14% to 0.6421 against the greenback. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.6461 (Aug 20th high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.6489(38.2%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.6416(50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 0.6388(Lower BB).
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar edged higher against the yen on Thursday as yen weakened after data showed Japan's factory activity extends declines in August. Japan’s manufacturing sector shrank for a second straight month in August, with U.S. tariffs dampening overseas demand, a private survey showed Thursday.Japan’s August flash manufacturing PMI rose to 49.9 from July’s 48.9, but stayed below the 50 growth threshold for a second month. Activity in Japan’s services sector expanded in August but at a weaker pace, with the flash services PMI dropping to 52.7 from July’s 53.6.Japan’s composite PMI, combining manufacturing and services, climbed to 51.9 in August from 51.6 in July, marking the strongest growth in six months. Immediate resistance can be seen at 148.72(38.2%fib) an upside break can trigger rise towards 147.70(Higher BB) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 146.64(50%fib) a break below could take the pair towards 145.93 (Lower BB).
Equities Recap
Asian stock markets were mixed as investors braced for three days of potentially market-moving news from the Federal Reserve's annual symposium in Jackson Hole.
South Korea’s KOSPI was up 0.37% , Hang Seng was up 0.28, Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down`0.58 %
Commodities Recap
Gold held steady on Thursday as investors awaited guidance from the Fed ahead of its Jackson Hole symposium.
Spot gold was down 0.2% at $3,338.89 per ounce, as of 0603 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery also lost 0.2% to $3,381.20.
Oil prices rose Thursday on strong U.S. demand and lingering Ukraine conflict uncertainty.
Brent crude futures hit a two-week high in early trade and were up 41 cents, or 0.61%, to $67.25 a barrel at 0637 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 45 cents, or 0.72%, to $63.16 a barrel.