Posted at 20 August 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
• Japan Trade Balance (Jul) -634.5B, -680.0B forecast, -409.9B previous
•Japan Exports (YoY) (Jul) 23.2%, 19.9% forecast, 19.3% previous
•Japan Adjusted Trade Balance (Jul) -0.69T, -0.44T forecast, -0.93T previous
•Japan Imports (YoY) (Jul) 27.8%, 26.5% forecast, 25.4% previous
•Japan Foreign Bonds Buying 1,135.1B, 1,636.7B previous
•Japan Foreign Investments in Japanese Stocks 621.2B, -368.6B previous
•Australia MI Inflation Expectations (Aug) 4.9%, 4.7% previous
•China PBoC Loan Prime Rate (Aug) 3.50%, 3.50% forecast, 3.50% previous
•China PBoC Loan Prime Rate 3.00%, 3.00% forecast, 3.00% previous
•Australia Unemployment Rate (Jul) 4.5%, 4.4% forecast, 4.4% previous
•Australia Full Employment Change (Jul) 16.3K, 48.9K previous
•Australia Employment Change (Jul) -15.8K, 11.7K forecast, 80.2K previous
•Australia Reserve Assets Total (Jul) 117.4B, 118.8B previous
•Australia Participation Rate (Jul) 66.9%, 66.9% forecast, 67.0% previous
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
• No Events Ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro strengthened against the U.S. dollar on Thursday as investors digested a surprise U.S. Treasury announcement aimed at supporting the bond market.U.S. Treasury Department said it would double buyback operations for longer-dated government bonds to support market liquidity.The announcement came after a major bond selloff as investors demanded higher returns on the back of increased inflationary risks stemming from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Meanwhile, concern about inflation deepened at the Fed's meeting last month, with several policymakers ready to raise interest rates and many saying a hike in borrowing costs would be needed if inflation did not decline to the U.S. central bank's 2% target, the minutes of the session showed. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1707(Higher BB), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1743(23.6%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1640(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1556(50%fib).
GBP/USD: The pound strengthened on Thursday as sterling received a significant boost from the U.S. Treasury’s decision to increase buybacks of longer-dated government debt. The move helped ease pressure in the long-end Treasury market, pushing long-term U.S. yields lower and weakening the dollar. Lower U.S. yields have reduced the dollar’s yield advantage, while markets have also scaled back expectations for another Federal Reserve rate hike. On the UK side, July CPI rose as expected to 3.0%, limiting the scope for an aggressive easing cycle from the Bank of England. The BoE kept Bank Rate at 3.75% at its July meeting, with the MPC voting 6–3 to hold .Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3651(23.6%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3687(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3557(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards1.3480(50%fib).
AUD/USD: The Australian dollar edged lower on Thursday after Australia’s July employment report showed an unexpected decline in jobs. Australian employment unexpectedly fell in July, while the unemployment rate rose to its highest level since late 2021, pointing to a cooling labour market and reducing pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates again. Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed employment fell by 15,800 in July, following a revised 80,300 increase in June and missing forecasts for a 15,000 gain. However, full-time employment rose by 16,300.The unemployment rate edged up to 4.5%, above the 4.4% forecast and already matching the Reserve Bank of Australia’s year-end projection. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.7135(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.7164(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.7070 (61.8%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 07046(SMA 20)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar edged higher on Thursday after data showed Japan trade deficit widened in July.Japan’s trade deficit widened in July as imports surged, while the government said it expects to secure nearly all of its usual monthly crude oil supplies without routing tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.Japan’s trade deficit widened sharply to JPY 634.5 billion in July 2026 from JPY 156.3 billion a year earlier, but remained below the JPY 680 billion market forecast.It marked the third consecutive month of deficit and the largest since January, as imports rose faster than exports. Imports jumped 27.8% year-on-year to a record JPY 12,146.3 billion in July, accelerating from a 25.4% increase in June.. Immediate resistance can be seen at 160.20 (SMA 20), an upside break can trigger rise towards 160.67(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 158.62(Aug 14th low) a break below could take the pair towards 157.63 (38.2%fib).
Equities Recap
Asian shares rallied on Thursday as the U.S. Treasury’s decision to at least double long-term bond buybacks eased concerns over sharply rising borrowing costs..
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was upby 1.46% , KOSPI was down at 5.89%, China A50 was down at 0.25%
Commodities Recap
Gold fell on Thursday as ?investors booked profits after prices climbed to an over two-month peak on a surprise U.S. Treasury liquidity-support announcement for long-duration bonds, which weakened the dollar and sent Treasury yields lower.
Spot gold was down 0.7% at $4,487.63 per ounce by 0604 GMT. Earlier, bullion was at $4,525.79, ?its highest since June 2, after a more than 4% advance on Wednesday.
Oil prices climbed on Thursday as the ongoing deadlock in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran raised fears that supply disruptions from the key Middle Eastern producing region could persist.
Brent crude futures for October delivery rose 35 cents, or 0.38%, to $91.97 a barrel by 0632 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate ?crude futures for September added 17 cents to $86.00 a barrel. The more-active October WTI ?contract was up 38 cents, or 0.45%, to $84.77.