Posted at 18 July 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
•US Export Price Index (MoM) (Jun) -0.6%, -0.4% forecast, 1.2% previous
•US Import Price Index (MoM) (Jun) 0.3%, -0.7% forecast, 1.7% previous
•US Housing Starts (Jun) 1.427M, 1.310M forecast, 1.199M previous
•US Building Permits (Jun) 1.367M, 1.400M forecast, 1.410M previous
•US Housing Starts (MoM) (Jun) 19.0%, -15.2% previous
•Canada Foreign Securities Purchases by Canadians (May) 22.270B, -11.370B previous
•US Building Permits (MoM) (Jun) -3.0%, -0.9% previous
•US Export Price Index (YoY) (Jun) 10.2%, 11.2% previous
•US Import Price Index (YoY) (Jun) 7.1%, 6.7% previous
•US Industrial Production (YoY) (Jun) 1.14%, 1.58% previous
•US Industrial Production (MoM) (Jun) 0.1%, 0.2% forecast, 0.1% previous
•US Manufacturing Production (MoM) (Jun) 0.0%, 0.1% forecast, 0.1% previous
•US Capacity Utilization Rate (Jun) 76.1%, 76.2% forecast, 76.1% previous
•US Michigan Consumer Sentiment (Jul) 54.4, 51.0 forecast, 49.5 previous
•US Michigan 1-Year Inflation Expectations (Jul) 4.2%, 4.6% previous
•US Michigan 5-Year Inflation Expectations (Jul) 3.3%, 3.3% previous
•US Michigan Consumer Expectations (Jul) 54.0, 51.7 forecast, 50.7 previous
•US Michigan Current Conditions (Jul) 54.9, 48.7 forecast, 47.7 previous
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
•No Data Ahead
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•No Events Ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro weakened on Friday as escalating conflict between the United States and Iran boosted demand for the safe-haven U.S. dollar. The renewed exchange of attacks has largely erased last month's truce, while rising geopolitical tensions pushed oil prices to near one-month highs, raising concerns over global growth and inflation.Iran said it launched fresh strikes on U.S. facilities in the Gulf after a sixth consecutive night of U.S. attacks on Iranian military targets, keeping investors cautious.Attention now turns to the European Central Bank's policy meeting on July 23, where officials are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged. However, markets continue to price in a second rate hike later this year, likely in September, as higher oil prices threaten to reignite inflationary pressures.The euro was down at $1.1438. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1497(Higher BB), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1526(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1437(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1324(23.6%fib).
GBP/USD: Sterling slipped lower on Friday as safe-haven U.S. dollar found some support from ongoing strikes in ?the Middle East.United States escalated its renewed bombing campaign on Iran by hitting bridges and an ?airport, and Tehran responded with strikes on U.S. bases across the Middle East.On the political front, Andy Burnham, nicknamed the 'King of the North', ?will become leader of Britain's ?governing Labour Party, ?the final step before becoming its seventh prime minister in a decade on a pledge to thwart the rise of the populist Reform ?UK. Traders took news of the likely appointment as a sign that ?Burnham, who is set to become leader of the governing Labour Party on Friday and prime minister next Monday, is not planning to ramp up spending as some investors had ?originally feared. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3444(Daily high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3485(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3343(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards1.3296(SMA 20).
USD/CAD: The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart on Friday, supported by a sharp rise in oil prices.U.S. crude futures climbed 4.5% to settle at $82.49 a barrel, extending weekly gains as escalating U.S.-Iran attacks across the Gulf heightened concerns over potential supply disruptions. The rally in crude provided support for the Canadian dollar, given Canada's status as a major oil exporter.Meanwhile, domestic data showed foreign investors purchased a net C$7.90 billion ($5.63 billion) of Canadian securities in May, largely driven by demand for federal government bonds, following an upwardly revised C$46.92 billion in net purchases in April.In the bond market, the yield spread between Canadian and U.S. two-year government bonds narrowed by 3.2 basis points to around 130 basis points in favor of U.S. Treasuries, marking the smallest gap since June 16.Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3898(38.2% fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3956(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3836(50% fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3779(61.8% fib).
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar slipped against the Japanese yen on Friday as traders remained cautious over the risk of official intervention from Tokyo to support the currency.Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama reiterated that there had been no change in the government's position, emphasizing that decisions on monetary policy remain the responsibility of the Bank of Japan. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government remains committed to steadily lowering the debt-to-GDP ratio and noted that the council will discuss the proposed food tax ahead of a decision expected in early August.The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, edged up 0.05% to 100.75 but remained on course for a weekly decline of around 0.2%.The Japanese yen edged lower fetching 162.41 per U.S. dollar. Immediate resistance can be seen at 162.73(23.6%fib) an upside break can trigger rise towards 163.00(Psychological level) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 160.81(38.2%fib) a break below could take the pair towards 159.58(50%fib).
Equities Recap
European equities edged lower on Friday after a global tech-stock rout weighed on sentiment, with investors turning their focus to next week's ECB policy decision and corporate earnings.
UK's benchmark FTSE 100 closed up by 0.27 percent, Germany's Dax ended down by 0.34 percent, France’s CAC finished the day down by 0.47 percent.
U.S. stocks fell further on Friday as weakness in AI-linked shares spread across the market, prompting investors to shift away from riskier assets.
Dow Jones closed down by 0.77 % percent, S&P 500 closed down by 1.01% percent, Nasdaq settled down by 1.40% percent.
Commodities Recap
Gold edged higher on Friday, though it was set for its steepest weekly loss in six weeks as rising U.S.-Iran tensions boosted oil prices and strengthened expectations of further U.S. rate hikes.
Spot gold was up 1% at $4,011.29 per ounce by 2:20 p.m. EDT (1820 GMT). Prices touched their lowest level since June 30 earlier in ?the session and were down around 2.6% so far for the week. U.S. gold futures ?for August delivery settled 0.7% higher at $4,018.80.
Oil prices climbed to their highest levels in more than a month on Friday as the U.S. and Iran risked further escalation by expanding strikes to target critical infrastructure.
Oil prices climbed over 4% to their highest in more than a month as the U.S. and Iran expanded attacks across the Gulf, raising fears of further supply disruptions from threatened shipping routes and restricted Hormuz traffic.
Brent crude futures settled $3.87, or 4.59%, higher to $88.10 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose $3.54, or 4.48%, ?at $82.49. Both were at their highest since mid-June.