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Indian Rupee declines due to rising hawkish Fed bets, renewed Middle East war

  • The Indian Rupee opens on a negative note against the US Dollar.
  • The US Dollar gains as surprisingly strong US NFP numbers boost hawkish Fed bets.
  • Renewed Israel-Iran war has prompted oil prices.

The Indian Rupee (INR) starts the week on a negative note against the US Dollar (USD), with the USD/INR pair rising to near 95.30. The pair gains at open as surprisingly upbeat United States (US) Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for May has strengthened the US Dollar, and rising oil prices due to re-escalating conflicts between Iran and Israel have weakened the Indian Rupee.

During the press time, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, holds onto Friday’s gains around 100.00, the highest zone seen in two months.

Upbeat US NFP data prompts hawkish Fed bets

On Friday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported surprisingly upbeat official employment data for May. The US NFP arrived significantly higher at 172K against 85K estimates. Meanwhile, the April reading was also revised higher to 179K from 115K. The Unemployment Rate remained steady at 4.3%, as expected. Strong job growth data, compounded with already high inflationary pressures, have resulted in a significant increase in hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) bets.

The CME FedWatch tool shows that the possibility of the Fed delivering at least one interest rate hike this year has increased to 73.8% from 45.2% seen a week ago.

Oil prices jump on renewed Middle East conflicts

The attacks from Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in western and central Iran over the weekend, despite US President Donald Trump urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran’s attacks, have renewed fears of an all-out war in the Middle East.

Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israeli military targets over the weekend in retaliation for Israeli aggression in Lebanon.

Rising hostilities in the Middle East have raised concerns over the US-Iran peace deal, prompting fears of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has resulted in a sharp increase in oil prices. As of writing, the MCX Crude Oil contract expiring on June 18 is up 4.6% to near 9,020.

Currencies from economies, such as India, which rely heavily on oil imports to meet their energy needs, tend to underperform in a high oil price environment.

FIIs continue to remain net sellers in Indian stock market

So far in June, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have remained net sellers on all trading days, and offloaded their stake worth Rs. 30,814.47 crore. Overseas investors also remained net sellers in May and pared their stake worth Rs. 55,963.33 crore. Foreign investors are dumping their investments in the Indian stock market due to growing concerns over India Inc.’s earnings projections amid higher oil prices.

Technical Analysis: USD/INR attarct bids near 95.00

USD/INR trades higher at around 95.30 with a mildly bearish near-term bias, holding just under its 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) at 95.4320. The pair has retreated from recent highs and the loss of traction against this short-term EMA hints that upside momentum is fading, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 49 suggests neutral momentum rather than a clear directional push.

On the downside, immediate focus is on whether sellers can keep the pair capped beneath the 20-day EMA at 95.4320, which now acts as the first area of supply limiting rebounds. A sustained daily close back above this moving average would ease the current pressure and open the door to a further slippage towards the May 7 low around 94.00. Looking up, the pair needs to return above the 20-day EMA to ease downside pressure, and a further rally above the June 4 high at 96.30 would allow it to reclaim the all-time high around 97.10.

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AUD/JPY Strengthens above 113.00, hawkish RBA supports uptrend above 100-day SMA

  • AUD/JPY gains ground to near 113.05 in Monday’s early Asian session. 
  • Positive outlook for the cross prevails above the 100-day SMA, further consolidation cannot be ruled out with fading RSI momentum. 
  • The first upside barrier emerges at 113.90; the initial support level to watch is 112.90. 

The AUD/JPY cross trades in positive territory around 113.05 during the early European trading hours on Monday. A hawkish stance from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) underpins the Australian Dollar (AUD) against the Japanese Yen (JPY). 

RBA Governor Michele Bullock last week emphasized that the Australian central bank remains strictly focused on curbing inflation, following three interest rate hikes earlier this year that pushed the cash rate to 4.35%. Bullock further stated that inflation is too high, and the board will do what it considers necessary to achieve our mandate to deliver price stability and full employment.

However, the potential upside for the cross might be limited amid intervention fears from Japanese authorities. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday that officials are monitoring the situation and reserve the right to take “decisive action” and “respond appropriately at any time” against excessive volatility. 

Chart Analysis AUD/JPY

Technical Analysis:

In the daily chart, AUD/JPY holds in a constructive stance above the 100-day simple moving average, while the Bollinger lower band adds nearby downside protection, keeping the broader uptrend intact despite the recent pullback from highs. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 43.94 has slipped below the neutral 50 line, hinting at fading bullish momentum but not yet signaling a decisive trend reversal as price still sits comfortably over the major average.

On the topside, initial resistance emerges at the Bollinger middle band around 113.90, with the Bollinger upper band at 114.90 acting as the next bullish target if buyers regain control. On the downside, a daily close back under the 112.90 lower band would expose the 100-day SMA at 111.60, where stronger demand would be expected to appear while the medium-term bullish structure remains in place above that level.

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Indian Rupee starts flat, higher oil prices keep outlook uncertain

  • The Indian Rupee opens flat at around 95.72 against the US Dollar with investors await the RBI’s monetary policy.
  • US President Trump said that Iran has agreed to give up its nuclear ambitions.
  • Indian government approves scrapping capital gains tax on foreign investment in government bonds.

The Indian Rupee (INR) opens flat against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday after a strong Wednesday. The USD/INR pair holds onto previous day’s gains around 95.72 as oil prices remain higher, with United States (US)-Iran negotiations remaining in deadlock.

In the opening trade, MCX Crude Oil price opens 1.2% lower to near 9,120, but is close to its 10-day high of 9,290 posted on Wednesday.

Currencies from economies, such as India, which rely heavily on oil imports to meet their energy needs, tend to underperform in a high oil price environment.

US President Trump remains confident of early deal with Iran

US President Donald Trump said in The New York Post’s “Pod Force One” program on Wednesday that Iran has agreed over not having nuclear weapons, adding, “Iran’s Ayatollah [referring Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei] is involved in negotiations with Washington” and he will meet him at some time. However, Trump warned that Iran could change its mind and can pursue its nuclear ambitions.

When asked about the timeframe in which the US and Iran could reach a deal, Trump said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the nations could reopen the Strait of Hormuz as early as this week; however, there is a possibility that the US blockade on Iranian sea ports could last till Labor Day, September 7.

India approves scrapping capital gains tax on foreign investment in government bonds

Earlier in the day, the Cabinet meeting has approved the scrapping of capital gains tax on foreign portfolio investment in government bonds, aiming to improve the condition of foreign flows in the Indian economy.

The move was highly anticipated by the Indian government as significant Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) selling in the Indian stock market has been one of key reasons behind Indian Rupee’s sharp depreciation.

On Monday, FIIs also remained net sellers in the Indian equity markets, offloading their stake worth Rs. 5,616.56 crore. So far in June, overseas investors have remains net sellers in all three trading days.

RBI’s policy comes into limelight

Going forward, the major trigger for the Indian Rupee will be the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy, which will be announced on Friday. The RBI is expected to hold the Repo Rate steady at 5.25% and guide a hawkish monetary policy outlook, as higher energy prices have de-anchored inflation expectations.

In the US, investors will pay close attention to the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for May, which will be released on Friday. The impact of the US NFP data will be significant on the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy outlook.

Technical Analysis: USD/INR holds above 20-day EMA

USD/INR trades aLmost flat at around 95.72 in the opening trade. The pair maintain a modest bullish bias as it stays above the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 95.47. The price action consolidates near recent highs while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at about 54.8 sits slightly above the neutral territory, suggesting steady but not overextended upward momentum.

On the downside, immediate support is aligned with the 20-day EMA around 95.47, which reinforces the underlying demand zone and would need to give way to signal a deeper corrective phase towards the June 2 low at 95.00, followed by the May 7 low at around 94.00. Looking up, the pair could reclaim the all-time high of 97.09 if it manages to rise above the May 28 high at 96.65.

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USD/JPY Price Trades below 160.00 intervention threshold; bullish bias intact

  • USD/JPY retreats from over a one-month high set on Thursday, though it lacks follow-through.
  • The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire weighs on the USD and the currency pair amid intervention fears.
  • The bullish technical setup warrants some caution before positioning for any corrective decline.

The USD/JPY pair attracts some sellers during the Asian session on Thursday amid fears that authorities will step in again to prop up the Japanese Yen (JPY). Furthermore, the Israel-Lebanon truce prompts some profit-taking around the US Dollar (USD) and exerts downward pressure on the currency pair.

Spot prices, however, lack follow-through and remain close to the 160.00 psychological mark or over a one-month high set earlier today. Economic concerns stemming from the Middle East conflict hold back the JPY bulls from placing aggressive bets. Adding to this, the uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks, along with hawkish US Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations, acts as a tailwind for the USD and contributes to limiting the downside for the USD/JPY pair.

Spot prices retain a constructive near-term tone within an upward-sloping channel. The lower boundary of the said channel coincides  with the 200-period simple moving average (SMA), which acted as a tailwind for the USD/JPY pair on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers above the midline, suggesting modest bullish momentum even as the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) flattens slightly below zero.

Momentum indicators hint at a slower advance rather than a sharp reversal. Hence, any corrective pullback might continue to attract fresh buyers near the 159.45 confluence support. A convincing break, however, might prompt some technical selling and pave the way for deeper losses. As long as buyers defend this support band above 159.44, the broader bias stays tilted higher, and a renewed push toward the channel top at 160.14 remains the primary topside scenario.

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

USD/JPY 4-hour chart

Chart Analysis USD/JPY

Japanese Yen Price Last 30 days

The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies last 30 days. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD0.71%0.76%1.66%2.05%0.54%-0.02%0.83%
EUR-0.71%0.06%0.97%1.36%-0.20%-0.70%0.17%
GBP-0.76%-0.06%0.92%1.29%-0.23%-0.76%0.12%
JPY-1.66%-0.97%-0.92%0.35%-1.16%-1.66%-0.82%
CAD-2.05%-1.36%-1.29%-0.35%-1.50%-2.00%-1.16%
AUD-0.54%0.20%0.23%1.16%1.50%-0.54%0.39%
NZD0.02%0.70%0.76%1.66%2.00%0.54%0.89%
CHF-0.83%-0.17%-0.12%0.82%1.16%-0.39%-0.89%

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

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EUR/JPY Price Holds modest gains above 185.50, bullish bias remains intact

  • EUR/JPY trades with mild gains near 185.65 in Thursday’s early European session. 
  • The cross keep a modest bullish bias above the key 100-day SMA. 
  • The first upside barrier emerges at 186.00; the initial support level is seen at 185.15. 

The EUR/JPY cross posts modest gains around 185.65 during the early European session on Thursday. The potential upside might be limited for the cross amid fears of foreign exchange intervention from Japanese authorities. 

Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Wednesday that officials are standing ready to respond appropriately on foreign exchange if required. Katayama added that she aligns with the Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor on several matters. 

On the other hand, the hawkish stance of the European Central Bank might help limit the EUR’s losses. The ECB is likely to raise its deposit rate to 2.25% at its upcoming June policy meeting, with another increase likely in September, a Reuters poll of economists showed.

Chart Analysis EUR/JPY

Technical Analysis:

In the daily chart, EUR/JPY trades at 185.64, holding a modest bullish bias as it consolidates above the Bollinger middle band around 185.15 and the 100-day simple moving average (SMA) near 184.48. The pair is trading closer to the upper half of its recent Bollinger envelope, with the upper band near 186.02 acting as immediate overhead resistance, while the Relative Strength Index (14) around 55 suggests steady but not overstretched upside momentum.

On the topside, a daily close above the Bollinger upper band at 186.02 would open the way for a continuation of the advance toward higher highs in the coming sessions. On the downside, initial support is seen at the Bollinger middle band near 185.15, followed by the 100-day SMA at 184.48 and the lower Bollinger band around 184.28, where buyers would be expected to re-emerge if the current pullback deepens.

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USD/JPY Price Forecast: Bulls turn cautious near 160.00 amid rising intervention risk

  • USD/JPY pauses for a breather as a fresh intervention warning helps limit JPY losses
  • Economic risks stemming from the Middle East conflict cap the JPY and support the pair.
  • The bullish USD sentiment backs the case for further gains amid a constructive setup.

The USD/JPY pair enters a bullish consolidation phase on Wednesday, oscillating in a narrow range just below the 160.00 psychological mark, or a one-month high touched during the Asian session. Verbal intervention by Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama offers some support to the Japanese Yen (JPY), which, along with a subdued US Dollar (USD) price action, caps spot prices.

However, economic concerns stemming from the conflict in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz hold back the JPY bulls from placing aggressive bets. In contrast, the lack of breakthrough in US-Iran peace negotiations, along with hawkish US Federal Reserve (Fed), acts as a tailwind for the safe-haven US Dollar (USD) and helps limit downside for the USD/JPY pair.

From a technical perspective, this week’s move beyond the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level of the late April-early May downswing comes on top of the recent solid bounce from the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and favors bulls. Adding to this, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 61 suggests firm but not overextended upside momentum. Moreover, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains in positive territory, hinting that buyers still retain control despite the proximity of recent cycle highs.

On the topside, immediate resistance is aligned with the late April swing high near 160.78, where a clear break would reopen the path toward fresh highs. On the downside, initial support is seen at the 78.6% retracement at 159.55, followed by the 61.8% level at 158.58 and the 50% retracement at 157.90. Deeper pullbacks would look to the 38.2% level at 157.22 and the 23.6% retracement at 156.38, ahead of a stronger demand area created by the 200-day EMA at 155.77 and the structural floor near 155.03.

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

USD/JPY daily chart

Chart Analysis USD/JPY
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EUR/JPY Price Forecast: Declines below 186.00 amid intervention fears, but bullish vibe prevails

  • EUR/JPY edges lower to near 185.90 in Wednesday’s early European session. 
  • Japan’s Katayama said the authorities are standing ready to respond appropriately to foreign exchange.
  • The positive view for the cross remains intact above the key 100-day EMA, with bullish RSI momentum. 
  • The first upside barrier emerges at 186.10; the initial support level to watch is 185.08. 

The EUR/JPY cross trades in negative territory around 185.90 during the early European trading hours on Wednesday. The Japanese Yen (JPY) gathers strength against the Euro (EUR) as traders are on alert for intervention from Japanese officials. 

Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Wednesday that the authorities are ready to act on the foreign exchange if required, adding that she aligns with the Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor on several matters. 

Chart Analysis EUR/JPY

Technical Analysis:

In the daily chart, EUR/JPY holds a constructive bullish bias as price trades above the Bollinger middle band around and comfortably over the 100-day simple moving average (SMA), suggesting the broader uptrend remains intact. The latest Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading at 58.43 sits in positive territory without being overbought, hinting that bullish momentum persists but has not yet reached exhaustion.

On the upside, the immediate resistance level is now aligned with the Bollinger upper band near 186.10, en route to the April 29 high of 187.42. On the other hand, the mid-line around 185.08 reinforcing a nearby demand zone. The next crucial contention level is located near the 100-day SMA at 184.47 and the lower Bollinger band close to 184.07. 

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Australia Q1 GDP misses expectations: What 0.3% growth means for AUD/USD

Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 0.3% QoQ in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 compared with the 0.8% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed on Wednesday. This reading came in weaker than the expectations of 0.5% expansion. The annual first-quarter GDP grew by 2.5%, compared with the 2.6% growth in Q4, while below the market onsensus of a 2.7% increase.

The Australia GDP report came in worse than anticipated and drags the Australian Dollar lower in an immediate reaction. The AUD/USD pair is trading at 0.7175, losing 0.04% on the day. The pair is edges lower from Monday’s closing price at 0.7180.

(This story was corrected on June 3 at 02:00 GMT to say that the annual first-quarter GDP grew by 2.5%, compared with the 2.6% growth in Q4, not the annual fourth-quarter)

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 New Zealand Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD0.00%-0.02%-0.05%-0.01%0.03%-0.13%0.03%
EUR-0.01%-0.04%-0.04%-0.01%0.02%-0.15%0.03%
GBP0.02%0.04%0.02%0.02%0.06%-0.12%0.06%
JPY0.05%0.04%-0.02%0.00%0.05%-0.15%0.05%
CAD0.00%0.00%-0.02%-0.01%0.04%-0.13%0.04%
AUD-0.03%-0.02%-0.06%-0.05%-0.04%-0.18%0.02%
NZD0.13%0.15%0.12%0.15%0.13%0.18%0.18%
CHF-0.03%-0.03%-0.06%-0.05%-0.04%-0.02%-0.18%

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).

What do Australia’s GDP data mean for the Australian Dollar?

Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the most important indicators for the Australian Dollar (AUD) because it measures the overall health and growth of the economy. The weaker-than-expected GDP data might lead markets to expect a more dovish stance from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). However, if risk sentiment improves, this might help limit the Aussie losses as capital flows toward the riskier assets.

Technical Analysis: AUD/USD maintains positive outlook

Chart Analysis AUD/USD

In the daily chart, AUD/USD holds a constructive near-term bias as price trades well above the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA), suggesting the broader upswing remains supported despite recent consolidation. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 52 keeps a neutral-to-positive tone, hinting that bullish momentum is modest but still intact rather than overstretched.

On the downside, initial support is seen at the 100-day EMA near 0.7038, where a deeper pullback could look to re-engage dip-buying interest while that level holds. With no nearby resistance markers from the current dataset, traders may instead focus on price behavior and momentum shifts around the 0.7178 area to gauge whether the pair extends the advance or slips back toward its underlying moving-average floor.