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USD/JPY Trades flat near 159.00 as investors seek fresh developments on Iran war

  • USD/JPY flattens around 159.00 in countdown to US-Iran deal announcement.
  • US President Trump said that Washington is in final stages over deal with Iran.
  • 10-year JGB yields remain firm due to growing Japan fiscal worries.

The USD/JPY pair trades calmly around 159.00 during the Asian trading session on Thursday. The pair turns sideways as investors await fresh developments regarding negotiations between the United States (US) and Iran, after President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that talks are in โ€œfinal stagesโ€.

As of writing, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades marginally higher to near 99.20. The DXYโ€™s rally hit pause on Wednesday after posting a fresh six-week high at 99.47, following US President Trump expressing confidence that a deal with Iran would be finalized soon.

Weโ€™re in the final stages of Iran. Weโ€™ll see what happens. Either have a deal or weโ€™re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that wonโ€™t happen,โ€ Trump said, Bloomberg reported.

The optimism over the US-Iran, which resulted in a sharp decline in oil prices, has also slightly diminished expectations supporting theย Federal Reserveย (Fed) to hike interestย ratesย this year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the odds of the Fed delivering at least one interest rate hike this year have cooled down to 51% from 61.3% seen on Tuesday. Still, there is a sharp turnaround from two interest rate cuts anticipated before the Middle East war started.

In Japan, the announcement of an extra budget by Prime Minister (PM) Sanae Takaichi, which aims to offset the impact of the Middle East situation has raised fiscal concerns. 10-year Japan Government Bond (JGB) yields are up 0.11% to near 2.77%, close to its multi-decade high of 2.81% posted on Tuesday.

USD/JPY technical analysis

USD/JPY trades almost flat at around 159.00 at the press time. The pair holds a modest bullish bias as it remains above the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) at 158.37.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is around 55 points to neutral-to-positive momentum, hinting that buyers still have the upper hand while avoiding overbought conditions.

On the downside, immediate support is located at the 20-day EMA near 158.37, where a daily close below would weaken the constructive tone and open the door to a deeper corrective slide towards the May 14 low of 157.31. Looking up, the pair aims to revisit the April 30 high of 160.73.

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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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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.

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EUR/USD Price Forecast: Remains above 1.1700 near 50-day EMA

  • EUR/USD may test the primary resistance at the nine-day EMA of 1.1730
  • The 14-day Relative Strength Index is near 50, indicating a lack of strong direction.
  • The lower ascending channel boundary is acting as immediate support, near the 50-day EMA at 1.1697.

EUR/USD inches higher after three days of losses, trading around 1.1710 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The daily chart technical analysis indicates a potential for a bearish reversal as the pair is positioned on the lower boundary of the ascending channel pattern.

The EUR/USD pair is holding just above the 50-day Exponential Moving average (EMA) but still capped by the nine-day EMA, which keeps the near-term tone broadly neutral with a slight bullish tilt. The price hovering between these averages suggests consolidation after recent gains, while the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 50 hints at balanced momentum rather than a strongly directional move.

On the upside, the primary barrier lies at the nine-day EMA of 1.1730, followed by the 12-week high of 1.1849, reached on April 17. A break above this level would support the pair to test the upper boundary of the ascending channel around 1.2040. Further advances above the channel would lead the pair to explore the region around 1.2082, the highest since June 2021, reached on January 27.

The EUR/USD pair is positioned on the lower ascending channel boundary, aligned with the 50-day EMA at 1.1697. Further declines will put downward pressure on the pair to navigate the region around the nine-month low of 1.1411, recorded on March 13.

EUR/USD: Daily Chart

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

Euro Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD-0.04%-0.05%-0.03%-0.01%0.02%0.06%-0.06%
EUR0.04%-0.03%0.00%0.03%0.00%0.06%-0.02%
GBP0.05%0.03%0.02%0.06%0.06%0.09%0.03%
JPY0.03%0.00%-0.02%-0.01%0.03%0.06%-0.05%
CAD0.01%-0.03%-0.06%0.00%0.04%0.06%0.00%
AUD-0.02%0.00%-0.06%-0.03%-0.04%0.05%-0.00%
NZD-0.06%-0.06%-0.09%-0.06%-0.06%-0.05%-0.07%
CHF0.06%0.02%-0.03%0.05%-0.00%0.00%0.07%

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 Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).

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GBP/USD Forecast – Holds modest upside while staying anchored above 100-day EMA support

  • GBP/USD trades with mild gains near 1.3550 in Wednesdayโ€™s early European session. 
  • The positive outlook of the pair remains intact above the key 100-day EMA. 
  • The immediate resistance level is seen at 1.3630; the initial support level is located at 1.3540. 

The GBP/USD pair trades on a positive note around 1.3550 during the early European trading hours on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the potential upside for the major pair might be limited, as UK political turmoil and ongoing tensions in the Middle East could weigh on the British Pound (GBP) against the Greenback. 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing rising pressure to set a date for his departure after elections across much of the country resulted in massive losses for his ruling Labour Party. While Starmer stated he will not resign, the resulting political “noise” and rising UK gilt yields have created localized pressure on the GBP. 

Traders will closely watch the US Producer Price Index (PPI) report, which is due later on Wednesday. Markets expect the US PPI inflation to rise to 4.9% YoY in April from 4.0% in March. The core PPI, excluding volatile food and energy prices, is expected to show a rise of 4.3% YoY in April versus 3.8% prior. If the report shows a hotter-than-expected outcome, this could boost the US Dollar (USD) and create a headwind for the major pair. 

Chart Analysis GBP/USD

Technical Analysis:

In the daily chart, GBP/USD holds a mild bullish bias as spot remains above the 20-day Bollinger simple moving average (SMA) and comfortably over the 100-day SMA, suggesting underlying dip-buying interest. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers close to the mid-50s, hinting at steady rather than overstretched upside momentum while price grinds higher within the Bollinger envelope.

On the topside, immediate resistance emerges at the upper Bollinger band near 1.3630, where recent rallies could stall if buyers fail to extend the breakout. On the downside, initial support is seen at the 20-day Bollinger SMA around 1.3540, followed by the 100-day SMA at roughly 1.3483; a deeper pullback would then look to the lower Bollinger band near 1.3458 as a stronger floor.

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EUR/USD Forecast – Consolidates below mid-1.1700s as Iran risks, Fed bets support USD

  • EUR/USD struggles to gain any meaningful traction as a combination of factors supports the USD.
  • Fed rate hike bets and rising US-Iran tensions underpin the buck, capping the upside for the pair.
  • The technical setup warrants some caution for bearish traders and positioning for deeper losses.

The EUR/USD pair is seen consolidating the previous day’s heavy losses and oscillating in a narrow band, below mid-1.1700s, during the Asian session on Wednesday. Traders now seem hesitant and opt to move to the sidelines ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

In the meantime, hotter-than-expected US consumer inflation figures released on Tuesday lifted market bets for an interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) in 2026. Apart from this, the diminishing odds for a US-Iran peace deal, amid disagreements over Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz, continue to underpin the US Dollar (USD) and act as a headwind for the EUR/USD pair.

From a technical perspective, the recent move up witnessed over the past two weeks or so has been along an upward-sloping channel. Moreover, spot prices hold above the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart, maintaining a modestly constructive near-term tone despite softening momentum.

Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has eased towards the mid-40s, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has slipped slightly below zero with the histogram turning negative. This hints that upside traction is losing strength even as the EUR/USD pair stays supported by its underlying trend structure.

That said, it will still be prudent to wait for a sustained break below the ascending channel support near the 1.1715 region and the 200-period SMA at 1.1692 before positioning for further losses. Acceptance below the latter would weaken the EUR/USD pair’s current constructive bias and expose deeper retracements within the broader range.

On the topside, initial resistance is aligned with the upper boundary of the parallel channel around 1.1830. A convincing breakout through the said barrier would open the way for a more decisive bullish extension.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

EUR/USD 4-hour chart

Chart Analysis EUR/USD

US Dollar Price This week

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies this week. US Dollar was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD0.12%0.16%0.69%0.11%-0.15%-0.03%0.35%
EUR-0.12%0.03%0.65%-0.03%-0.29%-0.20%0.21%
GBP-0.16%-0.03%0.11%-0.05%-0.34%-0.21%0.17%
JPY-0.69%-0.65%-0.11%-0.64%-0.86%-0.73%-0.30%
CAD-0.11%0.03%0.05%0.64%-0.17%-0.09%0.22%
AUD0.15%0.29%0.34%0.86%0.17%0.12%0.51%
NZD0.03%0.20%0.21%0.73%0.09%-0.12%0.36%
CHF-0.35%-0.21%-0.17%0.30%-0.22%-0.51%-0.36%

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 US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).

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AUD/USD – Holds steady below mid-0.7200s as bulls await Trump-Xi summit

  • AUD/USD remains on the back foot for the second straight day amid a bullish US Dollar.
  • The lack of follow-through selling warrants caution before positioning for further losses.
  • The bullish technical setup backs the case for the emergence of dip-buying at lower levels.

The AUD/USD pair struggles to capitalize on the overnight bounce from the 0.7200 neighborhood and trades with a negative bias for the second straight day on Wednesday. Spot prices, however, lack bearish conviction and currently trade around the 0.7235 region as investors opt to move to the sidelines ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.

In the meantime, the US Dollar (USD) stands firm near its highest level in over one week amid reviving bets for an interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed), bolstered by Tuesday’s hot US consumer inflation figures. Furthermore, fading hopes for a US-Iran peace deal underpin the USD’s safe-haven status and contribute to capping the risk-sensitive Aussie. However, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) hawkish outlook continues to act as a tailwind for the AUD/USD pair.

Spot prices hold well above the 100-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), keeping a mild bullish bias. Moreover, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers just above the neutral 50 line, hinting at modest upside pressure. However, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) flattens slightly below zero and suggests only tentative momentum, making it prudent to wait for acceptance above mid-0.7200s before placing fresh bullish bets on the AUD/USD pair.

On the downside, initial support is seen at the 100-period EMA around 0.7190, where a break would expose a deeper corrective pullback and weaken the current constructive tone. As long as the AUD/USD pair remains above this moving average, dips are likely to be contained, keeping the broader focus on whether buyers can sustain the recovery and build a more convincing advance in the sessions ahead.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

AUD/USD 4-hour chart

Chart Analysis AUD/USD
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U.S. CPI data set to show another jump in inflation to highest level in nearly three years

  • The US Consumer Price Index is expected to rise 3.7% YoY in April as energy prices remain persistently high.
  • Annual core CPI inflation is expected to edge slightly higher to 2.7%.
  • EUR/USDโ€™s technical outlook highlights a bullish stance that lacks momentum. 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will publish the April Consumer Price Index (CPI) data on Tuesday. The report is expected to show another significant leap in consumer inflation after Marchโ€™s sharp increase, driven by the elevated Oil prices due to the ongoing conflict between the United States (US) and Iran. 

The monthly CPI is forecast to rise 0.6%, following the 0.9% increase recorded in March, while the annual reading is seen climbing to its highest level since September 2023 at 3.7%, from 3.3% in March. Core CPI figures, which exclude volatile food and energy prices, are expected to come in at 0.4% and 2.7%, on a monthly and yearly basis, respectively. 

From the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East on February 28 to the end of April, the barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose more than 50%. Although crude Oil prices corrected lower in the first week of May, they are still about 40% above where they were before the US-Iran war.   

Previewing the inflation data, “our economists expect headline inflation to rise by +0.58% month-on-month, moderating from Marchโ€™s +0.9%, but still relatively firm,โ€ said Deutsche Bankโ€™s Jim Reid.

“In contrast, the core measure is projected to accelerate to +0.39% MoM from +0.2%, suggesting underlying price pressures remain sticky even as energy-related effects fade. The YoY rates would move from 3.3% to 3.8% for the former and from 2.6% to 2.8% for the latter,โ€ Reid added.

What to expect in the next CPI data report?

CPI figures for April will reflect the impact of persistently high Oil prices on inflation. Since this is largely anticipated, core inflation figures will help markets gauge whether rising energy costs are spilling over into the broader economy and driving up the prices of other goods and services.

A reading above the market expectation of 0.4% in the monthly core CPI could feed into concerns over high inflation getting entrenched in the economy. Conversely, a print below analystsโ€™ forecast could ease fears over prices getting out of control. Still, even in this latter scenario, investors are unlikely to breathe a sigh of relief because the US-Iran crisis remains unresolved and the lack of naval activity in the Strait of Hormuz continues to pose a significant risk to global energy supply chains.

Minneapolis Federal Reserve (Fed) President Neel Kashkari said the price shock from a prolonged closure of the strait could put inflation expectations at risk and requires a strong policy response. Similarly, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem noted that inflation is meaningfully above the Fedโ€™s target and added that policymakers need to worry about the underlying inflation, along with tariff and Oil shocks.

How could the US Consumer Price Index report affect EUR/USD?

Markets currently see about a 73% chance of the Fed leaving the policy rate unchanged at 3.5%-3.75% by the end of the year, and price in about a 20% probability of a 25 basis points (bps) hike, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. 

Source: CME Group
Source: CME Group

A stronger-than-forecast monthly core CPI print for April could cause investors to lean toward a rate hike later in the year. In this scenario, the US Dollar (USD) could gather strength with the immediate reaction. 

On the other hand, a soft core CPI print could have the opposite effect on the USDโ€™s valuation. However, unless there are any significant developments hinting at the US-Iran conflict coming to an end soon, any negative impact on the USD could remain short-lived.

“Investors will be on heightened alert for the possibility of further delays to the first rate cut โ€“ or even an inability to ease in 2H26 altogether โ€“ should energy prices rise sharply and persistently due to an escalation or prolongation of the Middle East conflict,โ€ UOB Groupโ€™s Alvin Liew explains. 

โ€œA broader oil-related price spillover across the CPI basket would materially complicate the inflation outlook, raising the risk that the anticipated year-end cut is pushed into 2027,โ€ Liew elaborates.

Eren Sengezer, FXStreet European Session Lead Analyst, shares a brief technical outlook for EUR/USD. 

โ€œEUR/USDโ€™s near-term technical outlook points to a bullish stance that lacks strength. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the daily chart holds above 50 but retreats after testing 60, and the pair struggles to pull away from the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) despite closing well above it to end the previous week.โ€

โ€œOn the upside, the first resistance area aligns at 1.1800-1.1820, where the upper limit of the Bollinger Band and the Fibonacci 61.8% retracement of the February-April downtrend align. In case EUR/USD manages to stabilize above this region, 1.1900-1.1910 (round level, Fibonacci 78.6% retracement) could be seen as the next hurdle ahead of 1.2000 (psychological level).โ€

Looking south, a strong support area seems to have formed at 1.1730-1.1680 (Fibonacci 50% retracement, 100-day SMA, 200-day SMA). If EUR/USD drops below the lower limit of this range and starts using it as resistance, technical sellers could take action. In this case, 1.1660 (ascending trend line) could be seen as an interim support level before 1.1560 (Fibonacci 23.6% retracement).โ€

EUR/USD daily chart
EUR/USD daily chart