Posted at 19 December 2025 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
•New Zealand ANZ Business Confidence (Dec)73.6,67.1 previous
•New Zealand NBNZ Own Activity (Dec) 60.9%, 53.1% previous
•Australia Private Sector Credit (MoM) (Nov) 0.6%, 0.6% forecast, 0.7%previous
•Australia Housing Credit (Nov)0.6%, 0.6%previous
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
•08:00 EU Current Account (Oct): 19.6B forecast, 23.1B previous.
•08:00 EU EU Current Account n.s.a. (Oct): 38.1B previous.
•11:00 UK CBI Distributive Trades Survey (Dec): -29, -32 previous.
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•No events Ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro slipped lower against the dollar on Friday as the currency came under pressure after European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde offered no forward guidance and said all policy options remained on the table, pushing back against more hawkish voices. The ECB kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday and revised higher some growth and inflation forecasts, a move that likely closes the door to further near-term cuts in borrowing costs. Recent euro zone growth data has exceeded the ECB’s expectations, supported by exporters coping better than anticipated with U.S. tariffs and by resilient domestic spending that has offset weakness in manufacturing. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1766(Daily high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1795(23.6%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1705(Daily low), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1649(50%fib).
GBP/USD: Sterling slipped against the dollar on Friday as weaker U.K. retail sales data weighed on the pound. British retail sales fell 0.1% in November from October, official figures showed, adding to a run of data pointing to a slowdown in the broader economy ahead of Finance Minister Rachel Reeves’ budget at the end of last month.October sales were revised to a 0.9% decline, slightly less severe than the initially reported 1.1% fall, according to the Office for National Statistics. The November data was collected between November 2 and 29, with Reeves unveiling her budget on November 26.Recent updates from U.K. retailers have flagged challenging market conditions heading into the Christmas period, with greater budget clarity doing little to lift sentiment. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3450(23.6%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3480(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3369(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3304(50%fib).
AUD/USD: The Australian edged lower on Friday after an earlier rally triggered by softer-than-expected U.S. CPI data faded.The Antipodean rallied briefly overnight after U.S. consumer price inflation slowed sharply in November, but have since unwound gains as analysts cautioned the data were clearly distorted lower by the government shutdown.The Australian dollar is unlikely to extend gains beyond the 2025 high of 0.6707 in the near term, as fading momentum and policy uncertainty continue to weigh on market sentiment.Attention now turns to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s December monetary policy board meeting minutes, due for release on Tuesday, for fresh guidance on the domestic rate outlook. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.6633(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.6682(23.6%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.6591(50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 0.6576(SMA 20)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar firmed on Friday as after BOJ raise policy rate to 0.75% from 0.5% as widely expected.The move underscored the central bank’s confidence that Japan is on track to sustainably meet its 2% inflation goal, supported by wage growth, and remains ready to continue normalising monetary policy.The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to levels not seen in three decades, marking another landmark step in unwinding decades of massive monetary stimulus and near-zero borrowing costs.As anticipated, the central bank unanimously lifted short-term interest rates from 0.5% to 0.75%.Data released on Friday showed core consumer inflation hit 3.0% in November, steady from the previous month and well exceeding the BOJ's target. Governor Kazuo Ueda remained vague on the exact timing and pace of future interest rate hikes. Immediate resistance can be seen at 157.00(Psychological level) an upside break can trigger rise towards 157.40(23.6%fib) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 155.20 (38.2%fib) a break below could take the pair towards 154.67 (SMA 20).
Equities Recap
Asian share markets held on to Wall Street-driven gains on Friday, while the yen softened after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a three-decade high and signalled it remained open to further policy tightening.
China’s A50 down 0.11%,Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 1.02%,Hang Seng was up 0.83%
Commodities Recap
Oil prices edged lower on Friday and were on track to post a second consecutive weekly decline, as growing optimism over a potential Russia–Ukraine peace deal outweighed concerns about supply disruptions stemming from a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.
Brent crude futures fell 9 cents, or 0.2%, to $59.73 a barrel by 0456 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was trading 13 cents, or 0.2% lower, at $56.02 a barrel.
Gold prices eased on Friday as a softer-than-expected U.S. inflation reading dampened bullion’s appeal as an inflation hedge, while a firmer dollar added further pressure.
Spot gold 0.1% to $4,328.24 an ounce as of 0615 GMT, but was setto end the week 0.6% higher. U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $4,356.80.