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CHF flatlines near multi-week low on Fed hike repricing

  • USD/CHF trades flat around 0.7870 in Monday’s early European session. 
  • Markets now see the next Fed interest rate move. 
  • Trump threatened Iran to “get moving” or there “won’t be anything left of them.”

The USD/CHF pair holds steady near 0.7870 during the early European session on Monday. The pair currently trades near the highest since April 30, bolstered by a stronger US Dollar (USD). Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding the US-Iran conflicts. 

Hotter-than-expected US inflation reports released last week have led the market to price in potential US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hikes later this year, supporting the Greenback. According to the CME FedWatch tool, financial markets are now pricing in nearly a 48.4% chance the Fed could hike rates by at least 25 basis points (bps) at its December meeting, compared with 14.3% a week ago. 

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran that the “clock is ticking” as talks to bring the war to an end have stalled. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported the US had failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Tehran’s latest proposals to end the conflict.

A lack of compromise from Washington and signs of a prolonged conflict could lift the USD against the Swiss Franc (CHF) in the near term. RBC Capital Markets analysts noted that the USD is better shielded from global energy shocks than the CHF because the US operates as a net oil exporter. 

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GBP seems vulnerable near 1.3300 vs USD on Iran tensions, UK political turmoil

  • GBP/USD attracts sellers for the fifth consecutive day amid a combination of negative factors.
  • Rising Fed rate hike bets and renewed US-Iran tensions benefit the USD’s safe-haven status.
  • The UK political turmoil undermines the GBP and exerts additional pressure on spot prices.

The GBP/USD pair adds to last week’s heavy losses and remains under some selling pressure for the fifth consecutive day on Monday. Spot prices drop to the 1.3300 mark, or the lowest level since April 8, during the Asian session and seem vulnerable amid a broadly firmer US Dollar (USD).

Against the backdrop of rising bets for an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed) in 2026, the risk of a further escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continues to underpin the safe-haven Greenback. In fact, US President Donald Trump warned Iran that the “clock is ticking” and that there “won’t be anything left” if action is not taken soon, adding that “time is of the essence.” Adding to this, the Times of Israel reported on Saturday that Israel and the US are actively advancing military preparations to potentially resume coordinated attacks against Iran.

Furthermore, major disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz dampen hopes for a peace deal, lifting Crude Oil prices to a two-week top. This revives inflationary concerns and bolsters market expectations for a more hawkish Fed. According to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, traders are now pricing over a 50% chance that the US central bank will raise borrowing costs by the end of this year. The outlook, in turn, remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields and further benefits the USD, which is seen weighing on the GBP/USD pair.

The British Pound (GBP), on the other hand, is pressured by domestic political uncertainty amid calls for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to step down, following the ruling Labour Party’s hefty losses in the recent local elections. Moreover, UK Health Minister Wes Streeting’s resignation last Thursday points to a deepening crisis within the party, which, in turn, backs the case for a further near-term depreciating move for the Sterling and the GBP/USD pair.

Moving ahead, traders this week will confront the release of important UK macro releases, starting with monthly employment details on Tuesday. This will be followed by the latest consumer inflation figures on Wednesday, which will play a key role in influencing expectations about the Bank of England’s (BoE) interest rate path and provide some meaningful impetus to the GBP. The fundamental backdrop, however, seems tilted in favor of the GBP/USD bears.

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NZD holds losses below 0.5850 on weak Chinese data

  • NZD/USD softens to near 0.5830 in Monday’s Asian session. 
  • China’s Retail Sales rose 0.2% YoY in April; Industrial Production climbed 4.1% YoY in the same period. 
  • A surge in US inflation has triggered a shift in Fed expectations toward a rate hike. 

The NZD/USD pair trades in negative territory around 0.5830 during the Asian trading hours on Monday. The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) faces some selling pressure following the downbeat Chinese economic data. 

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday showed that China’s Retail Sales rose 0.2% YoY in April, compared to 1.7% in March. This figure came in weaker than the market expectations of 2.0%. 

Additionally, Industrial Production climbed 4.1% YoY in the same period, versus 5.7% prior, below the market consensus of 5.9%. The China-proxy Kiwi weakens after the release of the weaker Chinese economic data. 

On the USD’s front, traders raise their bets that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will hike interest rates this year. Several Fed officials this week stated that keeping inflation pressures in check was a top priority, while others did not rule out the possibility that rate hikes may be needed if price pressures kept rising.

Markets are now pricing in nearly a 48.4% odds the Fed could hike rates by at least 25 basis points (bps) at its December meeting, compared with 14.3% a week ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

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AUD/USD remains subdued below 0.7150 following China’s data

  • Australian Dollar holds losses as China’s Retail Sales rose 0.2% YoY in April, against 2.0% expected and 1.7% prior.
  • Fed officials prioritized controlling inflation, suggesting further interest rate hikes remain necessary if price pressures persist.
  • The US Dollar finds safe-haven support as the US and Iran remain far from an agreement.

AUD/USD loses ground for the third consecutive day, trading around 0.7130 during the Asian hours on Monday. The pair depreciates following key economic data from Australia’s close trading partner, China.

China’s Retail Sales rose 0.2% year-over-year (YoY) in April vs. 2.0% expected and 1.7% in March. Chinese Industrial Production climbed 4.1% YoY in the same period, compared to the 5.9% forecast and 5.7% seen previously. Meanwhile, the Fixed Asset Investment came in at -1.6% year-to-date (YTD) YoY in April, weaker than the expected increase of 1.6%. The March reading was a rise of 1.7%.

The AUD/USD pair also loses ground as the US Dollar (USD) rises on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) shifting toward a more aggressive policy stance on inflation. Several Fed officials recently emphasized that controlling inflation is their top priority, even suggesting that further interest rate hikes could be necessary if price pressures persist. Financial markets have sharply increased the likelihood of a December rate hike to nearly 48%, up significantly from just 14% a week prior, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Meanwhile, the Greenback is receiving support from increased safe-haven demand amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts. The United States (US) and Iran remain far from an agreement to end weeks of fighting and reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

US President Donald Trump escalated tensions by publicly warning Iran to make progress or face new consequences. Because the Strait remains effectively closed, global oil prices are continuing to climb, which places a heavy economic burden on countries that rely heavily on energy imports. Global investor anxiety is heightened further by warnings from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to President Trump that Taiwan could trigger direct clashes between their two economies.

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CAD hangs near one-month low vs bullish USD; rising Oil prices limit losses

  • USD/CAD stands firm near one-month top amid sustained USD buying interest.
  • Fed rate hike bets and geopolitical tensions benefit the USD’s safe-haven status.
  • Rising Oil prices underpin the Loonie and cap any further upside for spot prices.

The USD/CAD pair trades with a positive bias above mid-1.3700s during the Asian session on Monday, though it remains below a one-month top touched last Friday. A sustained US Dollar (USD) buying interest acts as a tailwind for spot prices while rising Crude Oil prices underpin the commodity-linked Loonie and cap further gains.

In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Sunday that the “clock is ticking” and that there “won’t be anything left” if action is not taken soon, adding that “time is of the essence.” Adding to this, the Times of Israel reported that Israel and the US are actively advancing military preparations to potentially resume coordinated attacks against Iran. This raises the risk of a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which, along with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, lifts Crude Oil prices to a two-week high.

Meanwhile, elevated energy prices continue to fuel inflationary concerns and bolster market expectations for a more hawkish US Federal Reserve (Fed). In fact, the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicates that traders are currently pricing in over a 50% chance of a Fed rate hike by the end of this year. Apart from this, persistent geopolitical uncertainties lift the safe-haven USD to its highest level since April 7, offsetting the negative factors and supporting the USD/CAD pair. This, in turn, favors bulls and backs the case for further appreciation.

Moving ahead, there isn’t any relevant market-moving economic data due for release on Monday, either from the US or Canada. That said, fresh developments surrounding the Middle East crisis might continue to infuse volatility in the financial markets and drive Crude Oil prices. Furthermore, the USD price dynamics should contribute to producing short-term trading opportunities around the USD/CAD pair. The aforementioned fundamental backdrop, however, suggests that the path of least resistance for spot prices remains to the upside.

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AUD/JPY – Tests ascending triangle bottom near 113.00

  • AUD/JPY may rebound toward the nine-day EMA of 113.72.
  • The 14-day Relative Strength Index near 50 hints at a current lack of directional conviction.
  • A break below the triangle would expose the 50-day EMA support at 112.44.

AUD/JPY extends its losses for the third successive day, trading around 113.20 during the Asian hours on Monday. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests a potential busted pattern or bearish failure as the currency cross is positioned on the lower trendline of an ascending triangle. A sustained break below the lower trendline would indicate that buyers have lost momentum and sellers have taken control.

The AUD/JPY cross holds a mildly bullish near-term bias as it remains above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). The pair is consolidating after its recent pullback, with price now caught between short-term resistance at the nine-day EMA and underlying trend support from the longer EMA, while the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at roughly 50 signals neutral momentum and hints at a lack of directional conviction for now.

On the upside, the AUD/JPY cross may rebound toward the nine-day EMA of 113.72. A break above the short-term average would support the currency cross to test the all-time high of 114.74, aligned with the upper boundary of the ascending triangle around 115.00.

A successful break below the triangle would expose the 50-day EMA at 112.44. Further declines would put downward pressure on the AUD/JPY cross to navigate the region around the three-month low at 108.79, recorded on March 31.

AUD/JPY: Daily Chart

Australian Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the weakest against the US Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD0.02%0.08%0.10%0.00%0.22%-0.00%-0.02%
EUR-0.02%0.04%0.09%-0.02%0.20%-0.02%-0.05%
GBP-0.08%-0.04%0.02%-0.07%0.14%-0.07%-0.09%
JPY-0.10%-0.09%-0.02%-0.14%0.10%-0.15%-0.15%
CAD-0.01%0.02%0.07%0.14%0.22%0.00%-0.01%
AUD-0.22%-0.20%-0.14%-0.10%-0.22%-0.20%-0.20%
NZD0.00%0.02%0.07%0.15%-0.00%0.20%-0.01%
CHF0.02%0.05%0.09%0.15%0.01%0.20%0.01%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Australian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent AUD (base)/USD (quote).

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Offshore Yuan Extends Fall on Weak Data

The offshore yuan weakened to around 6.81 per dollar on Monday, extending losses from the previous week as a series of weak economic data weighed on sentiment. New home prices across 70 major cities fell 3.5% year-on-year in April 2026, marking the sharpest pace of decline since May 2025, as existing stimulus efforts have yet to restore meaningful momentum in housing demand. Moreover, industrial output moderated to 4.1% year-on-year in April, marking the weakest expansion since July 2023, as disruptions linked to the Iran conflict weighed on manufacturing activity and export-oriented output. Retail sales growth also lost momentum, increasing just 0.2% year-on-year, the weakest performance since December 2022, highlighting subdued domestic consumption. On the labor front, China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% in April from a more than one-year high of 5.4% in March, slightly better than market expectations and the lowest level since January.

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Trade of the day: GBPUSD

Facts:

  • The pair bounced off the lower limit of 1:1 structure at 1.3500
  • Main trend on the pair remains upward from the beginning of April

Recommendation: Trade: Long GBPUSD at market price Target: 1.3635, 1.3700 Stop: 1.3439

Opinion: Looking at GBPUSD chart, one can observe that the price bounced off the key technical support marked with the lower limit of 1:1 structure (red rectangles), as well as the 200-period moving average from H4 interval. In addition, the price formed a pin bar pattern on the chart. Should buyers manage to hold the price above the support area near 1.3500, another upward impulse may be about to start. We recommend taking a long position on GBPUSD at market price with two targets: 1.3635, and 1.3700. We recommend placing a stop loss order at 1.3439.