Posted at 18 September 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
•New Zealand Trade Balance (MoM) (Aug) -1,349M, -1,775M forecast, -2,118M previous
•New Zealand Trade Balance (YoY) (Aug) -5,440M, -5,410M previous
•New Zealand Imports (Aug) 8.00B, 9.33B previous
•New Zealand Exports (Aug) 6.66B, 7.22B previous
•New Zealand FPI (MoM) (Aug) 0.3%, 0.1% previous
•Japan National Core CPI (YoY) (Aug) 1.7%, 1.8% forecast, 1.8% previous
•Japan National CPI (MoM) (Aug) 0.1%, 0.5% previous
•Japan CPI, n.s.a. (MoM) (Aug) 0.1%, 0.5% previous
• Japan BoJ Interest Rate Decision (Sep) 1.25%, 1.25% forecast, 1.00% previous
•UK Core Retail Sales (MoM) (Aug) 0.6%, -0.2% forecast, -0.9% previous
•UK Core Retail Sales (YoY) (Aug) 2.7%, 1.9% forecast, 1.8% previous
•UK Retail Sales (YoY) (Aug) 2.4%, 1.9% forecast, 1.2% previous
•UK Retail Sales (MoM) (Aug) 0.5%, -0.2% forecast, -0.5% previous
•German PPI (MoM) (Aug) 1.1%, 0.6% forecast, 1.1% previous
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
•09:00 Eurozone Current Account (Jul) 30.7B, 35.1B previous
•09:00 Eurozone Current Account n.s.a. (Jul) 46.9B previous
•09:00 Eurozone Construction Output (MoM) (Jul) -1.34% previous
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•10:00 Eurogroup Meetings (Sep)
•10:00 ECOFIN Meetings (Sep)
•10:00 ECB President Lagarde Speaks
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro edged higher on Friday market participants kept their focus on developments in the Middle East and the outlook for global monetary policy. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday and flagged more hikes in the coming months.The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high and signalled its readiness to keep pushing up borrowing costs. The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold on Thursday but warned they might have to go up. The euro was up at $1.148, but on course for a 1% drop for the week, its biggest drop since June.Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1566(50%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1609(SMA20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1463(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1339(23.6%fib).
GBP/USD: The British pound edged higher against the dollar on Friday after data showed British retail sales unexpectedly rise in August . British consumers unexpectedly increased their shopping in August, although they cut fuel purchases after prices jumped following the resumption of the Iran war, official figures showed on Friday.Retail sales volumes rose 0.5% from July, defying economists' forecasts in a Reuters poll for a 0.2% decline and adding to signs of resilience in ?Britain's economy despite uncertainty linked to the Gulf conflict.The increase reversed a 0.5% fall in July. ?Sales volumes had also risen in the previous two months, helped by sunny ?weather and the start of the men's soccer World Cup in June. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3469(50%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3526(SMA20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3323(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards1.3296(Lower BB).
AUD/USD: The Australian dollar strengthened on Friday as investors assessed fresh comments from Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock .Australia's top central banker said on Friday that some upside inflation risks are materialising, with the Middle East conflict and AI boom adding to price pressures.RBA Governor Michele Bullock told lawmakers that policymakers will assess whether three rate hikes this year, taking the cash rate to a post-pandemic high of 4.35%, will be enough to return inflation to the 2%-3% target.Futures pricing now implies a 95% probability of a 25-bps RBA rate hike on September 29.Investors are also watching Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping in Washington next week, with any shifts in U.S.-China trade ties likely to affect Australia given its strong trade exposure to China. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.7151(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.7170(SMA 20).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.7095 (Lower BB), a break below could take the pair towards 07054(50%fib)
USD /JPY : The U.S. dollar rose higher on Friday as yen weakened after Bank of Japan lifts rates to 31-year high.The Bank of Japan raised borrowing costs to their highest level in three decades on Friday and indicated further rate increases could follow as policymakers respond to persistent inflation linked to elevated oil prices. The yen declined even after the widely expected rate hike, with investors highlighting the absence of firm hawkish guidance and two dovish dissenters who favoured a more cautious approach to raising borrowing costs. The BOJ lifted its policy rate to 1.25% from 1% at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on Friday, with the decision passing by a 7-2 vote. Board members Toichiro Asada and Ayano Sato voted against the move. Immediate resistance can be seen at 157.54 (Daily high), an upside break can trigger rise towards 158.45(38.2%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 156.89(50%fib) a break below could take the pair towards 153.45 (61.8%fib).
Equities Recap
Asian equities advanced on Friday as easing oil prices provided support, while investors weighed central banks’ ongoing efforts to curb inflation and the Bank of Japan’s latest rate hike, which pushed the yen lower.
China A50 was up by 0.83% , South Korea’s KOSPI was up at 2.66%, Nikkei was up at 1.52%
Commodities Recap
Gold prices rose on Friday, supported by softer oil prices and a subdued U.S. dollar, as markets remained focused on Middle East developments and the global monetary policy outlook.
Spot gold was up 1.1% at $4,386.39 per ounce by 0608 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.6%to $4,425.80.
Oil prices fell 2% on Friday, extending losses for a third consecutive session, as easing concerns over Saudi supply disruptions outweighed fears of a broader Middle East conflict.
Brent crude futures fell $2.3, or 2.2%, to $102.53 a barrel by 0636 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures fell $1.85, or 1.8%, to $100.04 a barrel.