Asia Week Ahead: Focus on Japan’s GDP Data and Key Inflation Release From China
Japan is set to revise its 2025 Q4 GDP upward to 0.3% quarter‑on‑quarter, driven by strong winter bonuses and a rebound in capital spending. In China, February CPI is expected to rise to 1.0% year‑on‑year, buoyed by Lunar New Year demand, while export and import volumes are forecast to jump 9.3% and 8.5% respectively, yielding a $188.1 bn trade surplus. Both data points will shape regional monetary policy and investor sentiment ahead of key central‑bank meetings.
Axi Hires IG and Moneyfarm Alum Andrea Rebusco to Head UK/EU and LATAM
Axi, the Australian‑based retail FX and CFD broker, has appointed Andrea Rebusco as Regional Head for the UK, EU and LATAM, reinforcing its dual B2C and B2B growth strategy. Rebusco brings nine years at IG Group plus senior roles at...
South Korean Inflation Holds Steady, but Upside Risks Are Increasing Sharply
South Korea's headline CPI held at 2.0% year‑on‑year in February, while core inflation rose to 2.3%. Fresh food and petroleum prices fell, but service costs increased, showing lingering price pressure. Higher global oil prices and a weakening won have sharpened...
Sanctions and Financial Repression
The interview with Oleg Itskhoki examines how Russia employed financial repression in 2022 to weather the largest post‑war sanctions package. By banning cash withdrawals and obligating exporters to surrender foreign‑currency earnings, Moscow halted a ruble freefall and stabilized its fiscal...
The Renminbi Is Winning over Africa—But Can It Rival the Dollar?
The US dollar still dominates Africa’s trade, finance and debt, but China’s renminbi is gaining traction. African policymakers have launched the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable local‑currency cross‑border payments, yet adoption remains modest. Since 2024, renminbi usage...
Middle East War Could Trigger Currency Shock Across Africa - Fitch
Fitch Solutions warns that a broader US‑Iran conflict could trigger a sharp currency shock across sub‑Saharan Africa. In a prolonged escalation, Brent crude is projected to trade between $110 and $130 per barrel, raising energy costs and disrupting shipping routes....
Prop Firm JoinX Capital Selects Leverate Trading Infrastructure
Leverate announced a partnership with Swiss‑backed prop‑trading firm JoinX Capital, designating Leverate’s end‑to‑end infrastructure as the technology backbone of JoinX’s global platform. The collaboration supports a community of over 47,500 traders in 184 countries, offering multi‑asset access to Forex, crypto...
Meeting of 4-5 February 2026
The ECB Governing Council met on 4‑5 February 2026 and kept its three key rates unchanged, signalling a data‑dependent stance through 2027. Market reactions to recent geopolitical and tariff shocks were muted, with the euro gaining about 1 % against the dollar...
DoubleLine Highlights Emerging Market Opportunities Despite Middle East Tensions
DoubleLine Capital sees a "virtuous feedback loop" in emerging markets as a weakening U.S. dollar and ongoing central‑bank rate cuts create attractive local‑currency fixed‑income opportunities. While recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran sparked a sharp sell‑off in EM currencies and equities,...
EUR/USD: Oil-Driven Terms of Trade Support Dollar – Commerzbank
Commerzbank analyst Michael Pfister argues that higher oil prices and the United States' shift to a net oil exporter improve its terms of trade, bolstering the dollar against the euro. Because central banks focus on stabilising inflation, price adjustments occur...
After Raising $5.5 Million for Hyperbridge, Polytope Labs Wants to Build for Nigerian Fintechs Too
Polytope Labs, fresh from a $5.5 million raise, is building an on‑chain stablecoin infrastructure to streamline foreign‑exchange settlement for Nigerian fintechs. The product sits atop its Intent Gateway, part of the Hyperbridge protocol, which has already processed roughly $500 million in cross‑chain...
India Bonds Firm on RBI Buying Hopes, Stronger Rupee
Indian government bonds rallied on Thursday after a record ₹202 billion (≈$2.19 billion) of bonds were net‑bought by the RBI and institutional investors on Wednesday. The 10‑year benchmark yield steadied around 6.66%, reversing a brief rise, while the rupee strengthened to ₹91.61...
US Activity Was Surging Ahead of Military Action
U.S. ISM surveys show the economy accelerating in early 2026, with the February services index climbing to 56.1 and overall business activity reaching 59.9, the strongest pace since May 2024. New orders and order backlogs also surged, supporting a projection...
Press Release: Global Corporates Bolster FX Risk Management Amidst Trade Uncertainty
Global corporates are intensifying foreign‑exchange risk management as trade volatility spikes. A new Treasury Today survey shows 88% now hedge FX, with 61% of previously unhedged firms contemplating hedging. Despite a 67% surge in hedging costs, activity has risen and...
USDCHF Comes Off the Boil, but Prior Swing Area Support Is Stalling the Fall.
The USD/CHF rally cooled after two days of war‑driven safe‑haven buying, snapping a breakout above the 50 % retracement (0.78206) and peaking near the 61.8 % level (0.78726). Momentum stalled at 0.7878, and the pair closed below the midpoint, prompting a pullback...
Nicolas Shamtanis and Stathis Xenos Launch Broker/Prop Firm Advisory Service Conexus IQ
Nicolas Shamtanis and Stathis Xenos have launched Conexus IQ, a boutique advisory firm aimed at CFD brokers, prop firms, and broader fintech platforms. The duo leverages nearly two decades of experience in FX, CFDs, and social‑trading to help clients navigate a...
ARQ Raises $70M To Expand Stablecoin Banking In Latin America
ARQ, formerly DolarApp, raised $70 million in a Series B led by Sequoia Capital and Founders Fund. The funding will fuel a rebrand, team expansion, and rollout of new financial products beyond its core stablecoin remittance service. With more than two million...
Indian Rupee Tumbles to a New Record Low Amid the US-Iran War. What's Next?
The Indian rupee fell to a new record low as the US‑Iran conflict sparked safe‑haven buying of the dollar and pushed oil prices higher. Higher oil costs and the realization that U.S. rate cuts may be delayed have lifted inflation...
Research: UK Official Holdings of International Reserves: February 2026
The UK’s official international reserves rose in February 2026, reaching approximately £115 billion, driven primarily by gains in foreign‑currency assets. Gold holdings remained steady at around £10 billion, while IMF‑related assets showed a marginal increase. The reserve portfolio’s composition shifted slightly toward US‑dollar‑denominated...
China’s Sovereign Debt Is Becoming a Strategic Alternative to US Treasuries: Economist
Chinese sovereign bonds are positioning themselves as a strategic alternative to US Treasuries, driven by investor demand for geopolitical hedges. Recent dollar‑denominated issuances in Hong Kong saw a 30‑times oversubscription, with coupon rates closely matching Treasury yields. Economist Xu Qiyuan...
US Dollar Index Rises Above 99.00 as Middle East Tensions Drive Inflation Fears
The US Dollar Index surged past the 99‑point mark, trading around 99.20 for a third consecutive day, as investors reassessed Federal Reserve rate‑cut expectations. The 10‑year Treasury yield steadied near 4.06%, reflecting higher real yields amid rising inflation concerns. Escalating...
Divergent Chinese PMIs Suggest Resilient External Demand, but Soft Domestic Environment
China's official manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.0 in February, matching a 33‑month low, while the private RatingDog index rose to 52.1, highlighting a split between domestic weakness and export‑driven resilience. Sub‑indices show production, new orders and employment contracting, even as...
Canadian Dollar Bulls Seem Hesitant as Firmer USD Counters Elevated Oil Prices
The USD/CAD pair rebounded toward the 1.3700 level after a brief pullback, but remains trapped in a two‑week range. A firmer U.S. dollar, buoyed by safe‑haven flows and waning expectations of three Fed rate cuts, is offsetting the rally in...
China’s RatingDog Manufacturing PMI Climbs to 62.1 in February, Services PMI Rises to 56.7
China’s RatingDog Manufacturing PMI surged to 62.1 in February, up from 50.3 in January, while the Services PMI rose to 56.7, both beating market expectations. The strong readings signal a robust rebound in Chinese factory output and service activity. The...
Taiwan Dollar Drops to Weakest Since May as Stock Outflows Surge
The Taiwan dollar fell to 31.782 per U.S. dollar, its weakest level since May, after foreign investors sold NT$230.2 billion of Taiwanese stocks this week – the largest weekly outflow since at least 2000. The sell‑off was triggered by heightened geopolitical...
Oil Price Rise Might Push Peso Back to 59:$1
Rising crude prices, driven by the Iran‑Israel conflict, could push the Philippine peso past the 59 per‑dollar threshold. MUFG forecasts the PHP trading between 58.5 and 59.5 if oil steadies around $90 a barrel, while JP Morgan sees a modest global...
ISDA and EMTA Publish Revised Definitions for FX Derivatives Market
ISDA and EMTA have issued the 2026 FX Definitions, a comprehensive overhaul of foreign‑exchange derivative documentation. The new standards, slated for implementation on November 22, 2027, replace the 1998 FX and Currency Option Definitions and merge ISDA and EMTA templates...
Bank of Japan Expands Blockchain Settlement Sandbox and Says CBDC Efforts Are Ongoing
The Bank of Japan announced an expansion of its blockchain sandbox to experiment with settlement of central bank reserves using tokenized deposits, targeting interbank and securities use cases. Governor Kazuo Ueda said the pilot will test connections to existing systems...
The Integration of AI in Modern Forex Automation
Artificial intelligence is reshaping foreign‑exchange trading, with the global AI market projected to reach $2.48 trillion by 2034 and AI‑driven forex platforms expected to grow to $631.9 million by 2035. Modern AI forex automation software can ingest massive data streams and execute...
Eurozone Inflation at Risk of Trending Higher over War in Middle East
Eurozone February inflation rose modestly, with headline rates climbing from 1.7 % to 1.9 % and core inflation edging up to 2.4 %. The increase occurred despite a smaller energy contribution, signalling persistent price pressures in services and goods. The ongoing Middle East...
P Nandalal Weerasinghe: Central Bank of Sri Lanka's Policy Agenda for 2026 and Beyond
Governor P. Nandalal Weerasinghe outlined the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s policy roadmap for 2026, building on the macro‑economic stability achieved in 2025. He highlighted that despite global trade uncertainties, market volatility and geopolitical tensions, inflation fell below 5 % and...
Pål Longva: Report From Norges Bank Watch
In 2025 Norges Bank cut its policy rate twice, first to 4.25% in June and then to 4% in September, surprising markets despite the bank’s stated commitment to transparent communication. Governor Pål Longva highlighted ongoing efforts to convey forecast uncertainty,...
Italy February Preliminary CPI +1.6% vs +1.1% Y/Y Expected
Italy's February preliminary HICP rose 1.6% year‑on‑year, beating the 1.1% consensus. Core inflation accelerated to 2.4% from 1.7% in January, with services inflation jumping to 3.6%. The hotter reading aligns with broader Eurozone CPI data, intensifying price‑pressure concerns. Analysts suggest...
February Brings Another Sharp Inflation Rise in Turkey
Turkey's annual inflation rose to 31.5% in February, driven primarily by a 2.96% month‑on‑month CPI increase. Food prices surged, with annual food inflation at 36.5%, while core inflation eased to 29.5%, its lowest since late 2021. Producer‑price inflation remained around...
Piero Cipollone: The Digital Euro - Enhancing Payments in the Euro Area
In a February 2026 speech to Italy’s Parliamentary Committee, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone outlined the digital euro initiative, stressing its role in modernising payments and reinforcing trust through democratic legitimacy. He framed the project as a strategic response...
ECB's Villeroy: It Would Be a Mistake to Predict Rate Move in a Hurry
ECB Governing Council member Francois Villeroy warned that forecasting a rate move too quickly would be a mistake, emphasizing that policy decisions will not hinge solely on volatile energy prices. He noted that France’s exposure to Middle‑East tensions remains limited,...
DXtrade Integrates theScreener Investment Intelligence and Research
Devexperts announced that its DXtrade multi‑asset trading platform will integrate theScreener’s investment intelligence, giving brokers instant, actionable research within the trading interface. The partnership adds multi‑language equity, sector and market insights to DXtrade’s existing support for stocks, options, futures, crypto...
BOJ Might Have to Put Off March Rate Hike Amid US-Iran Conflict - Report
The Bank of Japan is likely to postpone its March interest‑rate hike as market volatility from the US‑Iran conflict intensifies. Yen depreciation remains the only clear trigger for a hike, but geopolitical risk and rising oil prices are prompting caution....
CEE FX: Forint and Lira Seen Under Pressure – ING
ING analyst Frantisek Taborsky warns that Central and Eastern European (CEE) currencies, especially the Hungarian forint and Turkish lira, will feel downward pressure as an Iran‑related energy shock pushes oil and gas prices higher and strengthens the US dollar. The...
OANDA Announces Transition of Its Prop Trading Business to FTMO Group
OANDA announced that its proprietary trading arm, OANDA Prop Trader, will be transferred to the FTMO Group following FTMO’s acquisition of OANDA last year. The migration begins on March 2, 2026 and runs through March 31, 2026, offering clients incentives to move to FTMO’s...
National Bank of Poland Preview: Geopolitical Tension Makes a March Cut a Close Call
Poland’s central bank is poised to cut rates by 25 basis points in March, aligning with its recent dovish communication and a cooling inflation outlook. However, recent US‑Israeli strikes on Iran have raised oil prices, introducing upside risks to headline...
TradingView Makes Volume Footprints Available in Pine Scripts
TradingView announced native volume‑footprint support in its Pine scripting language, granting users detailed order‑flow data inside each price bar. The new request.footprint() function returns exact bid and ask volume, delta, and auction metrics such as Point of Control, Value Area...
Institutional FX Trading Volumes Cool 5% in February 2026
Institutional foreign‑exchange trading volumes slipped about 5% month‑over‑month in February 2026 after a record‑breaking January. All major platforms—FXSpotStream, Cboe FX, Euronext FX and Deutsche Börse’s 360T—reported declines ranging from 1.7% to 10.9%. Cboe FX’s average daily volume fell to $59.67 billion, while Euronext FX posted the...
Asia’s Outlook Under Higher Oil Prices
Asia can currently absorb the recent oil‑price surge, but the region’s heavy reliance on imported energy makes it vulnerable if prices stay high. Japan and the Philippines source almost 90% of their oil from the Middle East, while China and...
RBA Reveals the Number of Australians Who’d Be Out of Work if It Just Focused on Lowering Inflation
The Reserve Bank of Australia disclosed that a more aggressive rate‑hiking path would have added roughly 200,000 unemployed workers and pushed mortgage repayments up by about $500 a month on a $600,000 loan. Chief economist Sarah Hunter’s internal modelling shows...
FXEM (Empire Markets) Adds UAE CMA Category 5 License
Empire Markets' retail brand FXEM has obtained a UAE Capital Market Authority Category 5 licence, moving from its offshore Mauritius domicile to a regulated presence in the United Arab Emirates. The licence, coveted by many MENA‑focused brokers, enables FXEM to offer...
Market Outlook for the Week of 2nd-6th March
The week of March 2‑6 is packed with macro releases, including Eurozone, UK and US manufacturing PMIs, Eurozone CPI flash estimates, Australian Q4 GDP, and a full slate of US labor market data. Analysts expect the ISM manufacturing PMI to dip...
Safra Group Closes Saxo Bank Takeover, Daniel Belfer Named CEO
J. Safra Sarasin Group has completed the purchase of a 71% stake in Copenhagen‑based Saxo Bank for €1.609 billion, after securing approvals from FINMA and the Danish regulator. The deal, initially announced in March 2025, was adjusted downward following a $50 million AML fine....
Pound Drops, FTSE 100 to Fall as Investors Look to Havens
The British pound slipped to its lowest level this year as heightened geopolitical tension pushed oil prices above $80 a barrel. The decline triggered a sell‑off in the FTSE 100, with analysts forecasting a roughly 1% drop for the day....
IG Japan Warns Traders of Market Fluctuations Due to Middle East Situation Deterioration
IG Japan has issued a market‑volatility warning as Middle East tensions intensify, causing rapid price swings across multiple asset classes. The broker expects continued fluctuations and may adjust margin requirements at short notice. Traders are advised to keep sufficient capital...