Posted at 23 October 2026 / Categories Market Roundups
Market Roundup
•Japan Services PMI (Oct) 52.0, 51.3 previous
•Japan Manufacturing PMI (Oct) 53.3, 54.5 forecast, 54.1 previous
•Japan Manufacturing & Services PMI (Oct) 52.30, 52.30 previous
•Singapore CPI (MoM) (Sep) 0.20%, 0.60% previous
•UK Retail Sales (YoY) (Sep) 0.8%, 1.0% forecast, 2.7% previous
•UK Core Retail Sales (YoY) (Sep) 0.8%, 1.5% forecast, 2.9% previous
•UK Core Retail Sales (MoM) (Sep) -0.7%, -0.1% forecast, 0.9% previous
•UK Retail Sales (MoM) (Sep) -0.4%, -0.1% forecast, 0.7% previous
•Denmark Retail Sales (YoY) (Sep) 4.4%, 3.9% previous
•France Services PMI (Oct) 48.4, 50.7 forecast, 51.2 previous
•France Manufacturing PMI (Oct) 49.3, 50.5 forecast, 50.6 previous
•France Composite PMI (Oct) 48.4, 50.5 forecast, 51.1 previous
•Germany Manufacturing PMI (Oct) 54.2, 53.5 forecast, 53.9 previous
•Germany Services PMI (Oct) 51.7, 52.5 forecast, 52.9 previous
•Germany Composite PMI (Oct) 52.8, 53.3 forecast, 53.8 previous
•Eurozone Composite PMI (Oct) 51.9, 52.7 forecast, 53.1 previous
•Eurozone Services PMI (Oct) 51.7, 52.6 forecast, 53.0 previous
•Eurozone Manufacturing PMI (Oct) 52.4, 52.7 forecast, 52.9 previous
•UK Composite PMI (Oct) 53.1, 51.8 forecast, 52.0 previous
•UK Services PMI (Oct) 53.1, 51.8 forecast, 52.1 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 headed for a moderate weekly loss as France's sovereign risk premium resumed its climb.The single currency was about to end the week with a modest drop although a sharp sell-off in French government bonds brought the country's risk premium to levels last seen during the euro zone sovereign crisis in 2011.The European Central Bank is expected to stay on hold on Thursday but investors will scrutinize any hint about the rate outlook after President Christine Lagarde said in late September a moderate policy response to inflation was appropriate.Data showed on Friday that French business activity unexpectedly contracted in October weighed on the single currency.The euro was last down 0.15% at $1.1200 EUR=EBS and set to end the week 0.42% lower., urging governments to strengthen fiscal and monetary safeguards. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1245(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1340(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1188(Daily high), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1125(23.6%fib).
GBP/USD: The pound slipped lower on Friday after data showed UK retail sales fell in September.British consumers ?reined in their shopping in September as a warm start to the autumn hurt clothing sales and higher fuel prices ate into household budgets, while separate data showed confidence levels plunged in October. Retail sales volumes dropped by 0.4% in September from August, a bigger decline than a fall of 0.1% expected by most economists in a Reuters poll.British shoppers had surprised analysts with ?the strength of their spending in recent months, even as the conflict in the Gulf pushes up fuel ?and domestic energy prices.Over the three months to September, total sales volumes rose by 0.7%, ?helped by the soccer World Cup and a summer heatwave, according to the Office for National Statistics which revised up its ?monthly figures for August and July. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3403(38.2%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.34209(Oct 22nd high).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3289(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards1.3272 (Lower BB).
AUD/USD: The Australian dollar remained on track for a weekly gain of around 1.0%, supported by rising expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).Broader risk sentiment remained under significant pressure as growing concerns over the artificial intelligence (AI) trade weighed on investor confidence and limited demand for risk-sensitive currencies such as the Australian dollar.Market pricing currently indicates a 59.8% probability of a rate hike, up sharply from 29% on Tuesday, reflecting growing concerns over persistent inflationary pressures and the potential impact of higher energy prices on the domestic economic outlook.Meanwhile, Brent crude oil slipped 0.2% to $112.96 a barrel, while gold eased 0.1% to $4,019 an ounce, as investors assessed the inflation outlook and broader market uncertainty.Markets imply a 95% chance that rates will rise a quarter point to 3.0%, and see a peak of 3.75% next yeart.Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.7045(Higher BB), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.7058(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.6986 (38.2% fib), a break below could take the pair towards 0.6977(Lower BB)
USD /JPY : The U.S. dollar edged higher against the yen on Friday as escalating geopolitical risks and expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve boosted demand for the US dollar.The Japanese currency jumped on Thursday as investors sought safety amid fragile equity markets and concerns about France's fiscal trajectory. Data on Friday showed Japan's annual core consumer inflation exceeded the central bank's 2% target in September for the first time in nine months, a sign of broadening price pressure that bolsters the case for a near-term rate hike.The majority of economists polled by Reuters expect a hold from the BoJ on Friday of next week, followed by a quarter-point hike at the following meeting in December. Beyond the BOJ meeting, investors are also bracing for the Federal Reserve to announce policy decisions next week. Immediate resistance can be seen at 158.00(Psychological level), an upside break can trigger rise towards 158.48(50%fib).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 156.46(SMA 20) a break below could take the pair towards 156.13(61.8%fib).
Equities Recap
Asian shares fell on Friday as concerns over massive AI funding requirements weighed on technology stocks, triggering the biggest daily rally in US Treasuries in more than three years as investors sought safety in government bonds and safe-haven currencies.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down by 0.25% , Hang Seng was up at 0.69%, South Korea’s KOSPI was up at 0.30%
Commodities Recap
Gold ?eased on Friday, headed for its steepest weekly decline in over four months as elevated oil prices bolstered higher-for-longer interest rate expectations, while investors awaited next week's Federal Reserve policy meeting.
Spot gold eased 0.3% to $4,013.34 per ounce by 0815 GMT, paring losses slightly after touching ?its lowest level since July 20 earlier in the session. The metal has ?fallen 3.6% so far this week, putting it on track for ?its worst week since June.
Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.
Brent crude futures gained 79 cents, or 0.7%, to $113.96 a barrel by 0810 GMT, having ?earlier reached $114.72 for the highest level since May 4. US West Texas Intermediate crude ?gained $1.10, or 1.1%, to $100.57.