Posted at 06 May 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• US Trade Balance (Mar): -60.30B, -61.00B forecast, -57.80B previous
• US Exports (Mar): 320.90B, 314.70B previous
• US Imports (Mar): 381.20B, 372.40B previous
• US Building Permits (Feb): 1.538M, 1.538M forecast, 1.386M previous
• Canada Imports (Mar): 70.99B, 72.17B previous
• Canada Exports (Mar): 72.77B, 67.06B previous
• US Building Permits (Feb MoM): 11.0%, 10.9% forecast, -4.7% previous
• US Building Permits (Mar): 1.363M, 1.372M forecast, 1.538M previous
• US Building Permits (Mar MoM): -11.4%, -10.8% forecast, 11.0% previous
• US Redbook (YoY): 7.8%, 7.7% previous
• Canada Services PMI (Apr): 49.20, 47.20 previous
• US S&P Global Services PMI (Apr): 51.0, 51.3 forecast, 49.8 previous
• US S&P Global Composite PMI (Apr): 51.7, 52.0 forecast, 50.3 previous
• US New Home Sales (Feb): 635K, 587K previous
• US New Home Sales (Feb MoM): 8.9%, -17.6% previous
• US New Home Sales (Mar): 682K, 652K forecast, 583K previous
• US JOLTS Job Openings (Mar): 6.866M, 6.860M forecast, 6.922M previous
• US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Apr): 53.6, 53.7 forecast, 54.0 previous
• US ISM Non-Manufacturing Employment (Apr): 48.0, 45.2 previous
• US ISM Non-Manufacturing Prices (Apr): 70.7, 70.7 previous
• US New Home Sales (Mar MoM): 7.4%, -19.9% previous
• US ISM Non-Manufacturing Business Activity (Apr): 55.9, 53.9 previous
• US ISM Non-Manufacturing New Orders (Apr): 53.5, 60.6 previous
• US IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism (May): 42.0, 42.8 previous
• New Zealand Participation Rate (Q1)70.40%, 70.50% forecast,70.50% previous
• New Zealand Labor Cost Index (YoY) (Q1) 2.0%, 2.0% forecast, 2.0% previous
• New Zealand Unemployment Rate (Q1) 5.3%, 5.4% forecast, 5.4% previous
• New Zealand Labor Cost Index (QoQ) (Q1) 0.5%, 0.4% forecast,0.4% previous
• New Zealand Employment Change (QoQ) (Q1) 0.2%, 0.3% forecast, 0.5% previous
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
•02:45 China Caixin Services PMI (Apr) 52.0 forecast,52.1 previous
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•No Events Ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro edged higher on Wednesday as investors assessed escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions. The U.S. and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf on Monday as they wrestled for control over the Strait of Hormuz with duelling maritime blockades, not long after U.S. President Donald Trump launched a new effort to get stranded tankers and other ships through the vital energy-trade chokepoint. Rising oil prices have hit energy-dependent Europe, fueling inflation concerns and raising expectations of 2–3 ECB rate hikes this year, while also pulling equities below pre-war levels. Attention shifts to Wednesday’s Eurozone producer price index, with market expectations pointing to a monthly rise of 3.3% and a 1.8% year-on-year increase. The data will be closely watched for further clues on inflation dynamics in the region. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1731(SMA20), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1806(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1644(Lower BB), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1585(382%fib).
GBP/USD: The British pound was broadly steady on Tuesday as traders focused on UK local elections on Thursday that could add to the pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the standoff between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.The fragile truce in the Middle East was under strain after the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf and wrestled for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Sterling has performed better than many rivals during the war so far, but UK local elections could be a headwind. Money markets were last pricing in at least two 25-basis-point rate hikes from the BoE this year, with a good chance of a third. The central bank last week kept policy on hold, but left the door open to rate increases. Markets are concerned that a potentially more left-wing successor could put public finances at risk. 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 steadied against its U.S. counterpart on Tuesday as the price of oil fell and data showed Canada's trade balance swung to a surprise surplus. Canada’s trade balance swung to a C$1.78 billion surplus in March from a C$5.11 billion deficit in February, beating expectations for a C$2.88 billion shortfall. The improvement was driven by a surge in exports, helped by higher crude oil prices and strong demand for gold, while imports declined.In addition, separate data showed that the contraction in Canada’s services sector eased in April, with new business activity picking up despite ongoing concerns over tariffs and geopolitical tensions linked to the U.S.-Israel–Iran situation.Meanwhile, Washington indicated that the ceasefire with Iran remains in place, easing fears that competing efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz could escalate into a broader conflict.. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3618(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3720(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3540 (Lower BB), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3499(23.6%fib)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar edged higher on Tuesday as yen nudged lower in somewhat muted trade after suspected intervention by Tokyo last week sparked sharp gains.. Market speculation suggests Tokyo may have spent around $35 billion in efforts to support the yen, although authorities have not officially confirmed any intervention. Market participants remain on alert for the risk of Japanese intervention as USD/JPY trades near levels that have historically drawn official attention. Traders are especially cautious given Tokyo’s preference for acting during thin liquidity conditions. The yen has languished for years, weighed down by Japan's ultra-low rates and a widening gulf with higher-yielding developed markets, compounded by mounting fiscal unease. The war-driven energy shock has piled on the pressure. Immediate resistance can be seen at 157.86(Daily high) an upside break can trigger rise towards 158.00(Psychological level) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 156.58(Lower BB) a break below could take the pair towards 155.60(May 4th low).
Equities Recap
European shares edged higher on Tuesday, staging a modest recovery after the previous session’s sharp decline, supported by gains in technology stocks and a series of upbeat corporate earnings.
UK's benchmark FTSE 100 was last trading down at 1.40 percent, Germany's Dax was up by 1.71 percent, France’s CAC was up by 1.83 percent.
U.S. stocks jumped on Tuesday, taking heart from a series of robust earnings, while oil prices eased despite still-simmering hostilities between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz..
Dow Jones closed up by 0.73 percent, S&P 500 closed up by 0.81 percent, Nasdaq settled up by 1.03 percent.
Commodities Recap
Gold prices rose on Tuesday after touching a more than one-month low in the previous session, as investors assessed a fragile Middle East truce and its potential impact on inflation and interest rate outlook.
Spot gold was up 0.8% ar $4,557.56 per ounce at 1:31 p.m. EDT (1731 GMT), after touching its lowest level since March 31 on ?Monday.
Oil prices dropped around 4% in volatile trading on Tuesday, as two vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz while the United States confirmed that its ceasefire with Iran remained in effect despite ongoing exchanges of fire.
After jumping about 6% in the prior session, Brent futures fell $4.57, or 4%, to settle at $109.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $4.15, or 3.9%, to settle at $102.27.