Posted at 15 May 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
•Canada Housing Starts (Apr): 279.3K, 244.0K forecast, 239.7K previous.
•Canada Foreign Securities Purchases (Mar): 4.62B, 11.40B forecast, 5.84B previous.
•US NY Empire State Manufacturing Index (May): 19.60, 7.30 forecast, 11.00 previous.
•Canada Foreign Securities Purchases by Canadians (Mar): 3.900B, 25.270B previous.
•Canada Manufacturing Sales (MoM) (Mar): 3.0%, 3.5% forecast, 3.4% previous.
•US Industrial Production (MoM) (Apr): 0.7%, 0.3% forecast, -0.3% previous
•US Manufacturing Production (MoM) (Apr): 0.6%, 0.2% forecast, 0.1% previous
•US Capacity Utilization Rate (Apr): 76.1%, 75.8% forecast, 75.7% previous
•US Baker Hughes Oil Rig Count: 415, 410 previous
•US Baker Hughes Total Rig Count: 551, 548 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 dipped on Friday as dollar firmed as mounting inflationary pressures from higher energy prices fuelled bets on a Federal Reserve rate hike this year.The dollar's climb on Friday came alongside rising U.S. Treasury yields that have jumped to one-year peaks as traders ramped up bets that the Fed would need to raise rates this year.The U.S. dollar's rally has been gathering pace all week on evidence that while domestic inflation is mounting, the U.S. economy remains resilient despite the ongoing Middle ?East conflict.Investors are now pricing in a more than 55% chance that the Fed could raise rates by December, compared with ?less than a 20% chance a week ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1666(50%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1727(SMA 20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1547(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1501(April 67th low).
GBP/USD: Sterling dipped to hit 5-week low on Friday as investors weighed a possible leadership challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer from Andy Burnham, while also remaining concerned about inflation risks.Andy Burnham said he would contest a vacant parliamentary seat, potentially paving the way for a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer after Labour’s poor local election performance last week.Investors fear Andy Burnham’s “business-friendly socialism” could lead to higher government spending and borrowing, adding pressure to Britain’s strained public finances.Separately, global markets were spooked by the prospect of escalation in the Iran conflict after U.S. President Donald Trump said his patience with Tehran was running out. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3414(Daily high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3475(38.2%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3321(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3154(23.6%fib).
USD/CAD: The Canadian dollar weakened to a one-month low against its U.S. counterpart on Friday as the greenback posted broad gains as market expectations for the path of monetary policy from the Federal Reserve continued to shift towards possible rate hikes. The price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, rose 3.9% to $105.10 a barrel on reduced hopes of a deal to end ship attacks and seizures around the Strait of Hormuz.The Bank of Canada has said that if oil prices stay high and begin to push up inflation, it might have to respond with consecutive interest rate hikes. Canada's inflation report for April is due on Tuesday.Domestic data on Friday showed that housing starts rose more than expected in April, jumping 17% from the previous month, and factory sales were up 3% month-over-month in March. The loonie was trading 0.1% lower at 1.3735 per U.S. dollar after touching its weakest intraday level since April 15 at 1.3767. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3733(May 14th high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3770(38.2%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3691(50%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3664(SMA 20)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar firmed on Friday as market expectations for the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path tilt further toward possible rate hikes. Several Fed officials this week indicated that keeping inflation pressures in check was a top priority, while others did not rule out the possibility that rate hikes may be needed if price pressures continued to mount. The dollar's advance comes as U.S. Treasury yields continue to ascend, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury note reaching 4.599%, its highest in a year. A raft of economic data earlier this week pointed to rising price pressures as energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely blocked due to the Iran war. The yen has weakened more than 1% on the week, pushing it back towards the 160 mark that recently prompted intervention in the currency by Japanese officials .Immediate resistance can be seen at 158.83(Daily high) an upside break can trigger rise towards 159.00(Psychological level) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 158.25(SMA 20) a break below could take the pair towards 156.84(50%fib ).
Equities Recap
Europe's STOXX 600 slid and logged weekly losses on ?Friday as concerns over energy-induced inflation pressures due to the U.S.-Iran standoff rattled global markets.
UK's benchmark FTSE 100 closed down by 1.71 percent, Germany's Dax ended down by 2.07percent, France’s CAC finished the day down by 1.60 percent.
U.S. stocks retreated from artificial-intelligence-fueled record highs on Friday, as spiking crude prices ignited global inflation fears.
Dow Jones closed down by 1.07 percent, S&P 500 closed down by 1.24 percent, Nasdaq settled down by 1.54 percent.
Commodities Recap
Gold fell to a more than one-week low on Friday as U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar climbed, while heightening inflation concerns due to the Iran war reinforced bets for higher interest rates.
Spot gold was down 2% at $4,557.61 per ounce by ?2:06 p.m. EDT (1806 GMT) after hitting its lowest level since May 4 ?earlier in the session. Prices were down 2.5% so far this ?week.U.S. gold futures for June settled 2.7% lower at $4,561.90.
Oil prices gained ?more than 3% on Friday, after comments by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister further dented hopes of a deal to end ship attacks and seizures around the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures settled at $109.26 a barrel, up $3.54, or 3.35%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures finished at $105.42 a barrel, up $4.25, or 4.2%.