Posted at 22 April 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• Japan Trade Balance (Mar): 667.0B, 1,106.0B forecast, 44.3B previous.
• Japan Exports (YoY) (Mar): 11.7%, 11.0% forecast, 4.0% previous.
• Japan Adjusted Trade Balance: 0.09T, 0.23T forecast, -0.37T previous.
• Japan Imports (YoY) (Mar): 10.9%, 7.1% forecast, 10.3% previous.
• UK CPI (YoY) (Mar): 3.3%, 3.3% forecast, 3.0% previous.
• UK PPI Input (MoM) (Mar): 4.4%, 2.8% forecast, 0.9% previous.
• UK CPI (MoM) (Mar): 0.7%, 0.6% forecast, 0.4% previous.
• UK Core PPI Output (YoY) (Mar): 2.0%, 2.0% previous.
• UK Core PPI Output (MoM) (Mar): 0.2%, -0.7% previous.
• UK PPI Input (YoY) (Mar): 5.4%, 0.7% previous.
• UK PPI Output (YoY) (Mar): 2.6%, 1.8% previous.
• UK RPI (MoM) (Mar): 0.8%, 0.7% forecast, 0.4% previous.
• UK CPI, n.s.a (Mar): 141.00, 140.10 previous.
• UK Core RPI (MoM) (Mar): 0.8%, 0.4% previous.
• UK Core RPI (YoY) (Mar): 4.0%, 3.5% previous.
• UK RPI (YoY) (Mar): 4.1%, 3.9% forecast, 3.6% previous.
• UK Core CPI (MoM) (Mar): 0.4%, 0.5% forecast, 0.6% previous.
• UK Core CPI (YoY) (Mar): 3.1%, 3.2% forecast, 3.2% previous.
• UK PPI Output (MoM) (Mar): 0.9%, 1.0% forecast, -0.5% previous.
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
• 11:00Belgium Consumer Confidence (Apr)-6 previous.
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
• No Events ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro edged higher on Wednesday as traders responded positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of an indefinite ceasefire with Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks, hours before it was set to expire. Despite the positive market reaction, geopolitical uncertainty continues to linger. Trump's ceasefire declaration appears to be a unilateral move, ?with no clear indication whether Iran or Israel, ?Washington's key ally in the two-month conflict, would honour the agreement.Trump also ?said the U.S. Navy would maintain its blockade of Iranian ports and coastlines, which means Iran will likely keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to maritime ?traffic. 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 against the dollar on Wednesday after UK inflation accelerated in March. British consumer price inflation rose to 3.3% in March from 3.0% in February, according to official data showing the first impact on prices from the Iran war which the Bank of England worries could lead to a return of persistently high inflation.Factory gate prices also jumped and by much more than expected, the figures from the Office for National Statistics showed on Wednesday..Core inflation, which excludes more volatile food, ?energy, alcohol and tobacco prices and is also watched closely by the BoE, weakened to 3.1% from 3.2% in February.The British central bank is ?expected to keep borrowing costs on hold on April 30 at the end of its next scheduled Monetary ?Policy Committee meeting.. 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).
AUD/USD: Australian dollar eased slightly on Wednesday as markets balanced fresh U.S.–Iran geopolitical developments.U.S. Vice President Vance cancelled his Pakistan trip, while President Trump described the Iran ceasefire as open-ended, adding to uncertainty around the durability of de-escalation efforts.Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly kept the Strait of Hormuz closed and classified any U.S. naval presence as hostile, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supply routes and broader market risk appetite.Attention also turns to domestic policy signals, with RBA officials Hunter and Plumb scheduled to appear before the Senate productivity committee. Their remarks will be closely watched for any confirmation of the central bank’s tightening bias or signs of shifting economic assessment. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.7156 (Higher BB), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.7183(23.6%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.7073(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 0.6990(50%fib).
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar dipped on Wednesday as investors weighed the Bank of Japan’s policy outlook ahead of its meeting next week.The Bank of Japan is likely to hold off raising interest rates next week as fading prospects of a near-term end to the Middle East war keep the country's economic and price outlook highly uncertain.The protracted Middle East conflict has complicated the BOJ's plan to push up still-low borrowing costs with surging oil prices adding to mounting price pressures, while threatening to hurt an economy hugely reliant on imported fuel from the region.The BOJ ended a decade-long, massive stimulus in 2024 and raised interest rates including in December on the view that Japan was making progress in durably hitting its 2% inflation target. Immediate resistance can be seen at 159.43(Daily high) 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
Asian stocks were mixed on Wednesday as investors looked past the Iran ceasefire extension, focusing instead on the impact of disrupted crude supplies on regional inflation and growth..
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up by 0.53% , Hang Seng was down at 115%, China A50 was up at 0.56 %
Commodities Recap
Oil prices eased on Wednesday as investors assessed the outlook for U.S.-Iran peace talks after the U.S. announced an extension of the ceasefire.
Brent crude futures were down 32 cents, or 0.3%, at $98.16 a barrel at 0721 GMT, after touching $99.38 per barrel earlier in the session. West Texas Intermediate futures were down 53 cents, or 0.6%, to $89.14 after climbing ?as high as $90.71 at the open.Both benchmark contracts rose about 3% on Tuesday.
Gold prices climbed on Wednesday as easing oil prices, following the U.S. extension of the Iran ceasefire, reduced concerns over rising inflation and prolonged high interest rates.
Spot gold rose 1% to $4,759.63 per ounce, as of 0809 GMT, after falling to its lowest level ?since April 13 on Tuesday.U.S. gold futures for June delivery gained 1.3% to $4,778.30.