Posted at 18 April 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
•Canada Housing Starts (Mar): 235.9K, 258.0K forecast, 251.0K previous
•Canada Foreign Securities Purchases (Feb): 6.17B, 23.81B forecast, 46.79B previous
•Canada Foreign Securities Purchases by Canadians (Feb): 25.36B, 11.42B previous
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
• No Data ahead
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•No Events Ahead
Currency Summaries
EUR/USD : The euro initially gained but reversed course on Friday as investors digested news of Iran's decision to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz . All ships can sail through the Strait of Hormuz but this needs to be coordinated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a ?senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that unfreezing Iranian funds was part of the deal.Trump said on Friday that the U.S. will enter Iran at ?a "leisurely pace" to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the U.S.Trump also said on Friday that the U.S. has banned Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, using a harsher tone than usual with the ?longtime U.S. ally. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.3% to 97.96 after earlier dropping to 97.632, its lowest in seven weeks. 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 British pound initially rose but later pared gains as investors reacted to Iran’s decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the move followed a Lebanon ceasefire, while U.S. President Donald Trump added that a peace deal with Tehran could come “soon,” though without a clear timeline.Oil prices fell below $90 a barrel after the announcement, supporting equities and government bonds. Meanwhile, Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill criticized his colleagues' "wait and see" messaging on holding policy steady while the Iran war plays out, saying tackling inflation should remain the main focus despite competing trade-offs. 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 rose to a one-month high against the U.S. dollar on Friday as global sentiment improved after Iran signalled the Strait of Hormuz was open. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the move followed a Lebanon ceasefire, while U.S. President Donald Trump said talks could take place over the weekend and a deal to end the conflict may come soon.The waterway, which typically carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG flows, had been effectively disrupted by the conflict. U.S. crude futures fell 11.45% to settle at $83.85 a barrel, while the U.S. dollar extended its recent declines.On the data front, Canadian housing starts unexpectedly fell 6% in March. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said inflation is likely to rise in the near term, adding that a short-term increase in inflation expectations would not be a concern for the central bank. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3713(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3770 (23.6%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3659 (50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3578(61.8%fib)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar slipped lower on Friday as greenback dipped after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is open, boosting optimism that the Middle East conflict is winding down. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X the strait is open to all commercial vessels for the remainder of a U.S.-brokered 10-day truce agreed between Israel and Lebanon to halt fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.Trump told Reuters on Friday that the U.S. will work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States as part of any deal. Following the announcement, oil prices plunged, Wall Street shares posted sharp gains and U.S. Treasuries surged, pushing their yields lower. 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
The ?STOXX 600 jumped more than 1% and notched its fourth straight weekly gain on Friday, after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the world's energy shipments, was now open.
UK's benchmark FTSE 100 closed up by 0.73 percent, Germany's Dax ended up by 2.27 percent, France’s CAC finished the day up by 1.97 percent.
The benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq each notched a third straight record close on Friday, while the Dow posted its highest finish since late February, as investors cheered Iran’s move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and grew optimistic about a potential U.S.-Iran deal to end the conflict.
Dow Jones closed up by 1.79 percent, S&P 500 closed up by 1.20 percent, Nasdaq settled up by 1.52 percent.
Commodities Recap
Gold prices extended gains on Friday, supported by a weaker dollar and comments from Iran's foreign minister that passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains open during the ceasefire, which pushed oil prices lower and eased some inflation concerns.
Spot gold was up 1.5% ?at $4,861.32 per ounce at 1:58 p.m. ET (1758 GMT), rising more than 2% so ?far this week.U.S. gold futures settled 1.5% higher at $4,879.60.
Oil prices settled down by around 9% on Friday after Iran said passage for all ?commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period and U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never close the strait again.
Brent crude futures settled down $9.01, or 9.07%, to $90.38 a barrel, after falling to a session low of $86.09. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down $10.48, or 11.45%, at $83.85 a barrel, after touching a low of $80.56.