OPEC+ Expected to Hold October Oil Output Steady 
U.S. Payrolls Seen Rebounding in August as Labor Market Stays Soft 
Gold Prices Hold Near $4,500 as Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease 
Iran Vows Tougher Response as U.S. Sanctions Squeeze Economy 
Japan, US Target AI and Chips in $550 Billion Investment Push 
Iran Plans New Gulf Restricted Zone as Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Higher 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
US Oil Blockade Deepens Iran’s Economic Crisis 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
UK House Prices Fall for First Time Since 2023 
Asian Currencies Rise as Yen Surges on Fed Rate Outlook 
Uranium Prices Could Top $100 as Nuclear Demand Grows 
China Expands Influence in Global Gold Market 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Rallies on BOJ Bets 
Turkey Targets 5% Economic Growth by 2029 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Strong Jobs Data Boosts Fed Rate Hike Bets 
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Most Asian currencies gained ground on Thursday as the U.S. dollar extended its losing streak for a ninth consecutive session, driven by renewed optimism surrounding potential U.S.-Iran peace talks ahead of next week's ceasefire deadline. The dollar index slipped approximately 0.1%, hovering near its weakest point in six weeks, as improving global risk appetite reduced demand for safe-haven assets.
Across the region, the Japanese yen strengthened 0.2% against the dollar, while the South Korean won advanced 0.3%. The Singapore dollar, Indian rupee, and Taiwan dollar each posted modest gains of around 0.1% to 0.2%, reflecting a broadly positive sentiment across emerging Asian markets.
The Chinese yuan stood out as the exception, trading flat near 6.8 per dollar — its strongest level in three years — despite China reporting better-than-expected first-quarter GDP growth of 5%, surpassing the forecasted 4.8% and accelerating from the previous quarter's 4.5% expansion. While exports fueled much of this growth alongside improving domestic spending, China's heavy reliance on trade could face challenges tied to ongoing war-related shipping disruptions and rising energy costs.
Adding to dollar weakness, U.S. producer inflation came in softer than anticipated, reinforcing market speculation that the Federal Reserve could still implement interest rate cuts before year-end.
Meanwhile, the Australian dollar climbed nearly 0.4%, reaching its highest level since June 2022. Although Australian employment growth in March came in slightly below forecasts and slowed considerably from February, the labor market remained tight enough to keep further Reserve Bank of Australia rate hikes on the table. The RBA, which raised rates by 25 basis points in March, continues to monitor inflationary risks linked to the ongoing Iran conflict.
Overall, easing geopolitical tensions and softer U.S. economic data combined to lift regional currencies while weighing on the greenback.
