Posted at 16 April 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• US NY Empire State Manufacturing Index (Apr): 11.00, forecast 0.30, previous -0.20
• US Import Price Index (MoM) (Mar): 0.8%, forecast 2.3%, previous 0.9%
• US Export Price Index (MoM) (Mar): 1.6%, forecast 1.5%, previous 1.9%
• US Export Price Index (YoY) (Mar): 5.6%, , previous 3.5%
• US Import Price Index (YoY) (Mar): 2.1%, forecast 2.0%, previous 1.3%
• US NAHB Housing Market Index (Apr): 34, forecast 37, previous 38
• US Crude Oil Inventories: -0.913M, forecast 2.100M, previous 3.081M
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
•01:30 Australia Employment Change (Mar): 19.1K, forecast 48.9K, previous 48.9K
•01:30 Australia Full Employment Change (Mar): -30.5K previous
•01:30 Australia Unemployment Rate (Mar): 4.3%, forecast 4.3% previous
•01:30 Australia Reserve Assets Total (Mar): 1,11,675.0B previous
•01:30 Australia Participation Rate (Mar): 66.9% previous
•02:00 China GDP (YoY) (Q1): 4.8%, forecast 4.5% previous
•02:00 China Fixed Asset Investment (YoY) (Mar): 1.9%, forecast 1.8% previous
•02:00 China GDP YTD (YoY) (Q1): 5.0% previous
•02:00 China Industrial Production (YoY) (Mar): 5.4%, forecast 6.3% previous
•02:00 China GDP (QoQ) (Q1): 1.4%, forecast 1.2% previous
•02:00 China Industrial Production YTD (YoY) (Mar): 6.3% previous
•02:00 China Unemployment Rate (Mar): 5.2%, forecast 5.3% previous
•02:00 China Retail Sales YTD (YoY) (Mar): 2.80% previous
•02:00 China Retail Sales (YoY) (Mar): 2.4%, forecast 2.8% previous
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
• 11:00 US IMF Meetings
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro firmed on Wednesday as the evolving situation in the Middle East kept investors cautious. Markets weighed conflicting headlines, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could end soon. However, Iran's joint military ?command warned it would act to disrupt trade flows in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the ?Red Sea if the U.S. blockade of its ports continued.Optimism surrounding a diplomatic resolution has helped the euro recover , but worries over the impact of soaring oil prices on European economy persits. The European Union warned member countries that a prolonged supply ?shock due to the Iran conflict would force cuts to fuel consumption, EU diplomats told Reuters. On the monetary policy front, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said the bank is not yet in ?a position ?to determine if the inflation shock driven by oil prices is transitory or ?requires the bank to raise interest rates.Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1823(50%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1900(Psychological level).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1728(61.8%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1658(April 14th low).
GBP/USD: The pound firmed on Wednesday as sterling was supported improving risk sentiment amid renewed optimism that Iran peace negotiations could resume. U.S. President Donald Trump said the ?war was close to over, as officials from mediator Pakistan ?arrived in Tehran. A separate report said the ?U.S. and Iran were weighing an extension to the ceasefire.Sterling was last steady at $1.357, having staged a near-unbroken 3% rally since hitting four-month lows at the end of ?March. The pound had gained for seven days in a row, the longest such stretch since last April's 10-day run.Bank of England interest rate-setter Megan Greene, among the policymakers most worried about price pressures prior to the war, said on Tuesday it could take months to see how much long-lasting damage is caused to Britain's economy by the energy ?price spike ?and that upside risks to inflation were "paramount" to her thinking. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3591(Higher BB), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3655(38.2%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3532(50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3499(April 14th low).
USD/CAD: The Canadian dollar climbed to a three-week high against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, supported by continued weakness in the greenback as it unwound recent safe-haven gains, alongside stronger domestic data showing gains in factory sales and wholesale trade.Comments from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the Israel–Iran war was nearing its end also helped improve risk sentiment, with reports of diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan aimed at preventing a renewed escalation.Oil pricesone of Canada’s key exports—edged up slightly to $91.29 a barrel but remained well below recent peaks, limiting additional support for the currency.On the data front, Canadian factory sales grew by 3.6% in February from January on higher sales of motor vehicles, as well as machinery. ?Separate ?data for February showed wholesale trade rising by 2%..Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3808(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3838(SMA20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3681(50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3654(Lower BB)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar edged lower on Wednesday as signs of another round of talks between Washington and Tehran lifted risk appetite.Tehran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began on February 28, sending oil prices surging and igniting concerns about the hit to global growth and inflation.Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports after the collapse of weekend negotiations, but U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday talks to end the war could resume in Pakistan in the coming days. This helped shore up investor confidence enough to cut demand for dollars as a safe haven.Investor focus is squarely on the extent of the damage to the global economy from the energy shock, not least as prices for physical crude are above $140 a barrel,. Immediate resistance can be seen at 159.23(SMA 20) an upside break can trigger rise towards 160.00(Psychological level) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 158.73(38.2%fib) a break below could take the pair towards 158.07(Lower BB).
Equities Recap
European shares slipped on Wednesday as the evolving situation in the Middle East kept investors cautious, while they also assessed a range of corporate earnings.
UK's benchmark FTSE 100 closed down by 0.47 percent, Germany's Dax ended up by 0.9 percent, France’s CAC finished the day down by 0.67 percent.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both climbed to record closing highs on Wednesday, supported by strong corporate earnings and renewed optimism over potential progress in U.S.–Iran negotiations..
Dow Jones closed down by 0.15 percent, S&P 500 closed up by 0.80 percent, Nasdaq settled up by 1.60 percent.
Commodities Recap
Gold drifted lower ?on Wednesday after hitting a one-month peak as investors assessed the latest signals on the U.S.–Iran situation and what they could mean for the interest rate outlook.
Spot gold was down 0.9% at $4,798.89 per ounce as of 1:31 p.m. ET (1731 GMT), after hitting its highest ?since March 18 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures settled ?0.5% lower at $4,823.60.
Oil prices held steady on Wednesday as ongoing worries about supply disruptions offset comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that the war on Iran could be over soon.
Brent futures rose 14 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $94.93 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose one cent to settle at $91.29..