Posted at 26 May 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• Japan BoJ Core CPI (YoY) (Apr): 2.8%, 1.7% forecast, 2.5% previous.
• Japan Leading Index (MoM) (Mar): 0.8%, 1.3% forecast, 1.3% previous.
• Japan Leading Index (Mar): 114.0, 114.5 forecast, 113.2 previous.
• Japan Coincident Indicator (MoM) (Mar): 0.2%, 0.3% forecast, -1.7% previous.
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
• 10:30 Italian 2-Year CTZ Auction 2.890% previous
•11:00 UK CBI Distributive Trades Survey (May) -52 forecast, -68 previous
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
• No Events Ahead
Currency Summaries
EUR/USD : The euro dipped against dollar on Tuesday as investor hopes of an imminent deal to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz and end the Iran war were dented by fresh U.S. attacks on Iranian targets and comments that reaching an agreement may take some time.Comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday that negotiating a deal with Iran ?could "take a few days," a day after U.S. forces conducted what Washington called defensive strikes ?in southern Iran, tempered that market optimism.The prospect of a peace deal has kept oil prices below $100 a barrel, eased pressure on emerging-market currencies, and boosted risk sentiment slightly this ?week.The euro eased slightly to $1.163 on Tuesday after rising 0.3% on Monday.Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1648(May 25th high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1693(SMA 20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1577(23.6%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1561(Lower BB).
GBP/USD: Sterling eased on Tuesday as fading optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement prompted investors to trim risk exposure.Market sentiment had initially improved after reports that Iran’s senior negotiators were holding discussions with Qatar’s prime minister regarding a possible peace framework with the United States.However, both Washington and Tehran later played down expectations for a quick diplomatic breakthrough, keeping geopolitical uncertainty elevated.Investor caution increased further following reports of fresh U.S. strikes targeting Iranian boats and missile launch sites, dampening overall market mood.Rising geopolitical tensions lifted Brent crude futures by 1.8%, while U.S. stock futures pared earlier gains and European equity futures traded mixed.. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3505(SMA 20), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3526(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3473(Daily low), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3382(61.8%fib).
AUD/USD: Australian eased against dollar on Tuesday as renewed U.S. military strikes on Iran cast doubt on a peace deal and tempered a rally in risk assets.Investors also monitored reports that Iranian officials were holding talks with Qatari representatives over a possible peace agreement with the United States, although expectations for a quick breakthrough remained limited.Attention now turns to Australia’s April monthly CPI data due Wednesday and Q1 capital expenditure figures scheduled for Thursday, both of which could influence expectations for the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy outlook.Median forecasts are for a 0.6% monthly rise in the CPI. That would pull the annual pace back a touch to 4.4% from 4.6%, though mostly because of a government tax break on petrol. Estimates are unusually wide at 4.1% to 4.8%, suggesting the risk of a surprise is considerable.The key trimmed mean measure of core inflation is seen rising 0.3% in April, nudging the annual pace up to 3.4% from 3.3%. Forecasts are narrower at 3.3% to 3.5%.. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.7178(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.7189(SMA 20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.7104(Lower BB), a break below could take the pair towards 0.7088(50%fib).
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar gained some traction against yen on Tuesday as investors awaited fresh developments from the Middle East and new trading flows following the return of major financial centres.Market sentiment stayed fragile after fresh U.S. military strikes in southern Iran, while conflicting signals from President Donald Trump on Iran policy kept traders wary.Japan's core consumer inflation rate excluding one-off factors, as measured by the central bank's new gauge, hit 2.8% in April, exceeding its 2% target and accelerating from 2.5% in March, the Bank of Japan said on Tuesday. The new index, which strips ?out institutional factors such as education and energy-related subsidies, showed a much faster year-on-year rise than the 1.4% rate in the benchmark core consumer price index figure the government announced last week. Immediate resistance can be seen at 159.30(38.2%fib) an upside break can trigger rise towards 160.00(Psychological level) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 158.23(SMA 20) a break below could take the pair towards 157.78(50%fib ).
Equities Recap
A relief rally in Asian markets faded on Tuesday as U.S. strikes against Iran sent oil prices higher and triggered renewed uncertainty over a peace deal.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down by 0.29% , Hang Seng was up at 0.23%, China A50 was up at 0.84%
Commodities Recap
Gold fell on Tuesday as fresh U.S. attacks in Iran pushed oil prices higher, fuelling concerns around inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates.
Spot gold was down 0.9% at $4,529.50 per ounce, as of 0545 GMT. ?U.S. gold futures for June delivery gained 0.2% to $4,529.60.
Oil prices rose on Tuesday and stocks dithered as investor optimism over an imminent U.S.-Iran peace deal was tempered by new U.S. strikes in the Middle East.
U.S. West Texas ?Intermediate crude was up slightly from Monday's last traded price but down 4.9% from Friday's close. There was no settlement on ?Monday due to the U.S. Memorial Day holiday