Market Roundup
•New Zealand CPI (YoY) (Q4): 3.1%, 3.0% forecast, 3.0% previous.
•New Zealand CPI (QoQ) (Q4): 0.6%, 0.5% forecast, 1.0% previous.
•Australia Judo Bank Services PMI (Jan): 56.0, 51.1 previous.
•Australia Judo Bank Manufacturing PMI (Jan): 52.4, 51.6 previous.
•Australia Manufacturing & Services PMI (Jan): 55.50, 51.00 previous.
•Japan National Core CPI (YoY) (Dec): 2.4%, 2.4% forecast, 3.0% previous.
•Japan National CPI (MoM) (Dec): -0.1%, 0.3% previous.
•Japan CPI, n.s.a (MoM) (Dec): -0.2%, 0.3% previous.
•Japan National CPI (YoY) (Dec): 2.1%, 2.9% previous.
•J Japan au Jibun Bank Services PMI (Jan): 53.4, 51.6 previous.
•J Japan Manufacturing & Services PMI (Jan): 52.80, 51.10 previous.
•Japan au Jibun Bank Manufacturing PMI (Jan): 51.5, 50.1 forecast, 50.0 previous.
•Japan BoJ Interest Rate Decision: 0.75%, 0.75% forecast, 0.75% previous.
Looking Ahead Economic Data (GMT)
•07:00 UK Retail Sales (YoY) (Dec): 1.0 forecast, 0.6% previous.
•07:00 UK Core Retail Sales (YoY) (Dec): 1.4% forecast, 1.2% previous.
•07:00 UK Core Retail Sales (MoM) (Dec): -0.2% forecast, -0.2% previous.
•07:00 UK Retail Sales (MoM) (Dec): 0.0% forecast, -0.1% previous.
•08:15 France HCOB Manufacturing PMI (Jan): 50.3 forecast, 50.7 previous.
•08:15 France HCOB Services PMI (Jan): 50.3 forecast, 50.1 previous.
•08:15 France HCOB Composite PMI (Jan): 50.1 forecast, 50.0 previous.
•08:30 Germany HCOB Manufacturing PMI (Jan): 47.8 forecast, 47.0 previous.
•08:30 Germany HCOB Services PMI (Jan): 52.7 forecast, 52.7 previous.
•08:30 Germany HCOB Composite PMI (Jan): 51.8 forecast, 51.3 previous.
•09:00 Eurozone HCOB Composite PMI (Jan): 51.6 forecast, 51.5 previous.
•09:00 Eurozone HCOB Manufacturing PMI (Jan): 49.1 forecast, 48.8 previous.
•09:00 Eurozone HCOB Services PMI (Jan): 52.6 forecast, 52.4 previous.
•09:30 UK S&P Global Composite PMI (Jan): 51.7 forecast, 51.4 previous.
•09:30 UK S&P Global Services PMI (Jan): 51.7 forecast, 51.4 previous.
•09:30 UK S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (Jan): 50.6 forecast, 50.6 previous.
Looking Ahead Events And Other Releases (GMT)
•No Events Ahead
Currency Forecast
EUR/USD : The euro edged lower against dollar on Friday as solid US economic data lift the greenback.Data from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis showed the U.S. economy grew a bit faster than initially thought in the third quarter, and corporate profits were also revised higher.The upwardly revised 4.4% annualized growth rate in U.S. GDP was the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2023, while U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in November and October.The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased marginally last week, suggesting the labor market likely maintained a steady pace of job growth in January. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.1804(23.6%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.1836(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.1742 (38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.1686(50%fib).
GBP/USD: Sterling edged lower on Friday as as solid US economic data supported greenback. The U.S. economy grew a bit faster than initially thought in the third quarter, the government said on Thursday, while corporate profits were also revised higher.Gross domestic product increased at an upwardly revised 4.4% annualized rate, the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2023, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its updated estimate of third-quarter GDP on Thursday.U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in November and October, likely keeping the economy on track for a third straight quarter of strong growth, the personal consumption expenditures index showed.Separate data showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week, while the U.S. economy grew by a slightly more-than-expected 4.4% in the third quarter of 2025.. Sterling strengthened 0.57% to $1.3501. Immediate resistance can be seen at 1.3562(23.6%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 1.3583(Higher BB).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 1.3464(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 1.3386(50%fib).
AUD/USD: The Australian edged higher near 16-month high on Friday as robust Australian PMI figures signaled a strong acceleration in private-sector activity.. Australia’s private-sector activity accelerated sharply at the start of 2026, with the latest flash PMI data pointing to broad-based momentum across both manufacturing and services. The headline S&P Global Flash Australia Composite PMI rose to 55.5 in January from 51.0 in December, marking a sixteenth consecutive month of expansion and the strongest reading since April 2022, matched only by August 2025.The improvement reflected faster growth in both major sectors. Manufacturing PMI edged higher to 52.4 from 51.6, while the Services PMI jumped to 56.0 from 51.1, highlighting a strong rebound in activity following a softer end to last year. Immediate resistance can be seen at 0.6840(23.6%fib), an upside break can trigger rise towards 0.6900(Psychological level).On the downside, immediate support is seen at 0.6760(38.2%fib), a break below could take the pair towards 0.6718(SMA 20)
USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar edged higher on Friday as yen weakened after BOJ kept interest rates steady as widely expected. The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady on Friday and raised its economic and inflation forecasts, signalling its confidence a moderate recovery would justify raising still-low borrowing costs further.Markets are focusing on Governor Kazuo Ueda's post-meeting press conference for hints on when the BOJ might next raise rates, a decision complicated by a fresh bout of market volatility caused by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's decision to call a snap election next month.The central bank is caught between a need to keep yen bears at bay with hawkish communication, without triggering further rises in bond yields on expectations of hefty spending by Takaichi's government.At a two-day meeting that ended on Friday, the BOJ maintained its key policy rate at 0.75% in a widely expected decision after having just hiked the rate from 0.5% in December. Immediate resistance can be seen at 159.49(23.6%fib) an upside break can trigger rise towards 160.00(Psychological level) .On the downside, immediate support is seen at 157.43(SMA 20) a break below could take the pair towards 156.97 (38.2%fib).
Equities Recap
Stocks edged slightly higher in early Asian trading on Friday, as investors awaited the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting, where rates are widely expected to remain unchanged.
Hang Sang was up 0.30 %, Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up by 0..35% ,South Korea’s KOSPI was up at 0.96%
Commodities Recap
Oil prices rebounded on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed threats against major Middle Eastern producer Iran, raising concerns that potential military action could disrupt supplies and lift crude prices.
Brent futures fell $1.18, or 1.8%, to settle at $64.06 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.26, or 2.1%, to settle at a one-week low of $59.36 a barrel.
Gold hit another record high on Friday, while silver and platinum also climbed to fresh all-time peaks, supported by geopolitical and economic uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Spot gold was up 0.5% at $4,961.57 per ounce, as of 0057 GMT, after scaling a record $4,966.59 earlier in the day.
U.S. gold futures for February delivery added 1.1% to $4,964.60 per ounce.
Oil prices rebounded on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed threats against major Middle Eastern producer Iran, sparking concerns that potential military action could disrupt oil supplies.
Brent crude futures for March rose 35 cents, or 0.55%, to $64.41 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 33 cents, or 0.56%, to $59.69 a barrel as of 0243 GMT.
