Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Oil Prices Ease as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Peace Deal and Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Signals Policy Overhaul as Hawkish Rate Outlook Rattles Markets 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
The U.S. dollar strengthened Thursday, drawing support from its safe-haven status after President Donald Trump signaled a significant escalation in military operations against Iran. The U.S. Dollar Index climbed 0.4% to 100.03 as investors reacted to the president's aggressive remarks delivered late Wednesday.
Earlier in the week, markets had shifted toward riskier assets amid hopes of a de-escalation between Washington and Tehran. That optimism reversed sharply when Trump announced plans to intensify operations over the coming weeks, stating that Iran's naval and missile capabilities had been substantially weakened and that the U.S. was close to achieving its strategic goals. He also offered no concrete timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global energy corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply passes.
Currency strategists at ING noted that while the first phase of a de-escalation trade had played out in foreign exchange markets, a further dollar decline would require clearer guidance on the Strait of Hormuz situation, which now appears increasingly uncertain. Sentiment received a modest lift after Iran's state media reported the country was working with Oman to develop a vessel monitoring protocol for the strait, though Iran's plan to impose tolls on passing ships drew immediate pushback from the U.S.
Attention now shifts to Friday's nonfarm payrolls report for March, which investors will closely watch for signals on Federal Reserve monetary policy. Weekly jobless claims came in below forecasts, though job cut announcements and a softening JOLTS report pointed to uneven labor market conditions.
Among other major currencies, the euro dipped briefly before recovering, while sterling fell as much as 0.6%, partly reflecting the U.K.'s vulnerability to energy supply disruptions and rising inflation expectations. The Japanese yen held steady, and the Australian dollar recovered after trade surplus data beat expectations.
