Bank of Canada Holds Key Rate Steady but Warns Future Movements Unclear
The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark policy rate at 2.25% for a fourth straight meeting, in line with market expectations. Governor Tiff Macklem warned that elevated uncertainty—stemming from the war in Iran and a pending Canada‑U.S‑Mexico trade review—could push rates higher or lower in the months ahead. He indicated that if the economy follows the central bank’s baseline projections, future adjustments will be modest, but policy may need to stay nimble. The bank nudged its 2024 growth forecast to 1.2% while expecting inflation to peak near 3% in April before easing toward the 2% target.
Fed Split Widens as Rates Stay on Hold Amid Inflation Fears
The Federal Reserve kept its policy rate in the 3.50‑3.75% range but issued its most divided statement since 1992, with an 8‑4 vote and three officials dissenting over an easing bias. The Fed highlighted rising inflation, now described as "elevated"...
US Federal Reserve Announces Key Interest Rate
The Federal Reserve left its target range for the overnight interest rate unchanged at 3.5 %‑3.75 %, citing a February PCE inflation reading of 2.8 % that remains above its 2 % goal. The decision reflects lingering pressure from higher global energy prices tied...
Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement
The Federal Open Market Committee left the federal funds target range unchanged at 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent, citing solid economic expansion but modest job gains and persistent inflation. The statement highlighted elevated price pressures, especially from global energy costs, and noted...
Bank of Canada Neutral Hold (2.25%) – USD/CAD Rallies to 1.37 – Press Con...
The Bank of Canada left its policy rate unchanged at 2.25% for the fourth meeting since October 2025, reiterating a neutral stance amid a modest economic outlook. It continued to base its forecasts on a C$75‑per‑barrel oil price, roughly US$55,...
US Fed Meeting 2026 LIVE: US Fed Meet Outcome at 11.30 Pm Today — All Eyes on Powell's Last Speech...
The Federal Reserve concluded its two‑day April meeting on 29 April, with Chair Jerome Powell expected to announce that the federal‑funds rate will remain in the 3.5‑3.75% target range for a third consecutive session. Powell’s remarks are likely to be his...
Enhanced Monetary Policy Committee Transparency Changes Announced
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is amending its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Charter to attribute individual members' votes and publicly record material differences of view, effective with the May 2026 policy statement. The changes encourage members to express their economic...
Eurozone Economic Sentiment Tumbles in April
The European Commission’s economic‑sentiment indicator slipped to 93 in April, marking a third consecutive decline after a brief early‑year rebound. Confidence fell across services and retail as households cut back on major purchases and expect higher savings. At the same...
Inflation Risks Rebuild in Australia, Supporting RBA Tightening
Australia’s consumer price index jumped to 4.6% year‑on‑year in March, up from 3.7% in February, as transport costs surged 9% and housing inflation accelerated to 6.8%. The underlying trim‑mean CPI rose to 3.5% YoY, indicating persistent price pressure. The data...
Bank of Thailand Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged
The Bank of Thailand left its one‑day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.00%, the lowest level in more than three years, after six consecutive cuts that shaved 150 basis points off the policy rate. The decision reflects concerns that higher oil...
FX Daily: Powell’s Last Act Might Carry a Hawkish Tint
The FX Daily note highlights that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s final press conference could tilt hawkish, bolstering the dollar amid lingering equity jitters and Middle‑East volatility. A potential hawkish Fed signal, combined with Iran‑related geopolitical risk and the UAE’s...
Waiting Game: Markets Stall Ahead of Fed Powell’s Finale
Traders are sitting on the sidelines as the Federal Reserve’s June meeting approaches, with most expecting a rate hold at the 3.50%‑3.75% range and a neutral “steady as she goes” tone from Jerome Powell. Oil prices have jumped on the...
Rates Spark: It’s Jay’s Day
The Federal Reserve expanded its balance sheet by adding $425 bn of Treasury bills, raising total securities holdings by $185 bn, then trimmed monthly bill purchases from $40 bn to $25 bn, signalling comfort with liquidity. Incoming Fed chair Kevin Warsh aims to speed...
The Poison(ing) of Purchasing Power Parity
The article argues that purchasing power parity (PPP) is frequently misapplied beyond its original scope of consumer‑goods pricing, leading to distorted economic comparisons. It highlights how exchange‑rate volatility, closed markets, and poor price measurement undermine PPP’s reliability, especially for large...
Rupee Closes at a One-Month Low on Rising Crude Oil Prices
The Indian rupee slipped to a one‑month low of 94.54 per U.S. dollar, pressured by rising crude oil prices that breached the $110‑per‑barrel threshold and a $223 million outflow of foreign portfolio investment from equity markets. Intraday trading saw the currency...
Magyar Promises Austerity to Get Into Eurozone by 2030
Hungary’s new Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, has pledged euro‑zone membership by 2030, launching the accession process within weeks. Finance‑minister nominee András Kármán says the government will meet Maastricht criteria, despite current deficits of 4.7% of GDP and public...
Dollar Gains on Weak Stocks and Soaring Crude Prices
The U.S. dollar index rose 0.23% as equity markets weakened and crude oil jumped 3%, fueling inflation expectations and safe‑haven demand amid heightened U.S.–Iran tensions. Consumer confidence unexpectedly climbed to a four‑month high of 92.8, while the Richmond Fed’s manufacturing...
InvestingLive Americas FX News Wrap: Dovish BoJ's Ueda, ECB Inflation Expectations Surge
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda delivered a more measured, dovish tone, saying the central bank will take extra time to assess how Middle‑East tensions affect the Japanese economy and noting that underlying inflation remains slightly below its 2% target....
Why “More LPs” Does Not Always Mean Better Liquidity
FX brokers often assume that connecting to more liquidity providers (LPs) automatically improves execution, but the reality is more nuanced. Without sophisticated liquidity aggregation, additional LPs can introduce fragmented pricing, higher reject rates, and latency. Effective aggregation, routing, and monitoring...
The Court of Directors of the Bank of England
The Bank of England’s Court of Directors, its governing board, celebrates 332 years in 2026, having transformed from a private‑shareholder body to a modern, publicly‑owned central‑bank board. Today the Court comprises the five Governors and up to nine non‑executive directors, overseeing...
Mugur Isărescu: South-East Europe's Next Leap Forward
Governor Mugur Isărescu outlined Romania’s post‑Covid recovery, noting that inflation, which spiked after energy and food price shocks, has begun to ease but remains exposed to supply‑side volatility. He emphasized the need for gradual fiscal consolidation, deeper structural reforms, and...
BoC Preview: Rates to Remain Unchanged Amid US-Iran Uncertainty and Soft Data
The Bank of Canada is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at 2.25% as it navigates heightened US‑Iran tensions and soft domestic data. March inflation rose to 2.4% driven by energy price spikes, while the core trimmed‑mean CPI eased...
Martin Schlegel: Comments on Swiss Monetary Policy
At the Swiss National Bank’s 2025 shareholders meeting, Martin Schlegel underscored the institution’s three pillars—legal independence, a proven monetary‑policy strategy, and expert staff—as essential to delivering its price‑stability mandate of 0‑2% inflation. He recapped a rapid tightening after the pandemic,...
Joachim Nagel: The Digital Euro - Anchoring Europe's Strategic Autonomy in a Digital Future
German Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel outlined the Eurosystem’s push for a digital euro, positioning it as a public‑sector complement to cash and private payment apps. He highlighted that cash now represents just 24% of daily payments in the euro area...
Bank of England Rate Decision Puts UK Borrowers in a Cost-of-Money Trap
The Bank of England is set to announce its April 30 decision with the Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% as UK CPI climbs to 3.3% year‑over‑year, driven by higher fuel costs. While the headline rate may hold, the MPC’s wording...
Strong Dollar Selling Expected for This Month-End - Credit Agricole
Credit Agricole’s month‑end fixing model signals strong dollar selling as portfolio‑rebalancing flows intensify, especially versus the euro. The bank notes that the USD was broadly weaker in April, but month‑end pressures could reverse that trend. EUR/USD is projected to climb...
Transition to a New Fed Chair Is Unlikely to Mean Immediate Rate Cuts
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its benchmark rate steady at 3.5%‑3.75% as Jerome Powell chairs what is likely his final meeting as Fed chair. Powell’s term as a governor runs until early 2028, but his successor, Kevin Warsh,...
Bank of Japan’s Hawkish Hold Reflects High Geopolitical Uncertainty
The Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 0.75% on April 28, citing ongoing Middle‑East geopolitical uncertainty, while three board members pushed for a 25‑basis‑point hike. Its quarterly outlook sharply lifted the FY2026 inflation forecast to 2.8% YoY...
ECB’s Latest Surveys Point to Rising Stagflationary Pressures
The European Central Bank’s latest Bank Lending Survey and consumer expectations poll reveal mounting stagflationary pressures in the eurozone. Credit standards tightened for both consumer and corporate loans in Q1 2026, while demand for new loans weakened. Inflation expectations rose sharply,...
Latest ECB Consumer Expectations Survey Shows Surging Inflation Expectations, Lower Growth
The European Central Bank’s March consumer expectations survey shows one‑year inflation expectations jumping to 4.0% from 2.5% in February, while three‑year forecasts rise to 3.0%. Households anticipate tighter credit, higher mortgage rates and a modest rise in home‑price expectations. Economic...
The EBA Updates List of Correlated Currencies
The European Banking Authority (EBA) today released its 2026 update of the list of closely correlated currencies. The list is a core component for calculating capital requirements for foreign‑exchange risk under the EU’s standardised approach. The revision follows the methodology...
Philip R Lane: Expanding the Supply of Euro Safe Assets
In a recent speech, Philip R. Lane highlighted the chronic undersupply of euro‑denominated safe assets, noting that Germany's Bunds serve as the de‑facto benchmark but are too limited in scale. He pointed to declining inter‑country spread volatility as evidence of...
Joachim Nagel: Central Bank Independence - Why It Matters
Otmar Issing’s legacy of embedding central‑bank independence into the Eurosystem was highlighted at a Frankfurt colloquium honoring his 90th birthday. The speech warned that expanding central‑bank mandates risks eroding autonomy, a concern echoed worldwide from Jakarta to Washington. It asked...
STARTRADER Posts Record $3.145 Trillion in Q1 2026 Trading Volumes, up 340% YoY
Dubai‑based retail FX and CFD broker STARTRADER announced a record $3.145 trillion in client trading volume for Q1 2026, a 340% increase year‑on‑year and 56.7% above Q4 2025. The surge was accompanied by a 280% rise in new trading accounts, pushing average monthly...
BoJ Hawkish Shift Supports Yen, but Low Terminal Rate Keeps Downtrend Intact
The Bank of Japan’s 6‑3 vote for a hawkish hold marks a clear pivot toward tightening, with dissenting member Junko Nakagawa even urging an immediate 1.00% hike. Yen strength surged on the news, yet analysts warn the rally is capped...
Rates Spark: Snail’s Pace, but Getting There
The US 10‑year breakeven inflation rate has risen to 2.45%, edging toward the critical 2.5% level as oil prices climb amid the ongoing virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Short‑term breakevens are outpacing longer tenors, reflecting heightened near‑term inflation...
FOMC Preview: What Comes After Powell and What Should Investors Do?
The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to leave the fed‑funds target unchanged at 3.50%‑3.75% during its Tuesday‑Wednesday meeting, which will likely be the last chaired by Jerome Powell. Analysts focus on the upcoming transition to nominee Kevin Warsh, whose...
Published in OJ – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/905 of 24 April 2026 Supplementing BMR by Establishing a List of...
On 27 April 2026 the EU published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/905 in the Official Journal. The regulation amends the Benchmark Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 by creating a list of spot foreign‑exchange benchmarks that are exempt from BMR requirements. The exemption aims to streamline oversight...
April Fed Meeting: Live Updates and Commentary
The Federal Reserve’s April 28‑29 meeting is expected to keep the federal funds rate unchanged as higher energy prices push inflation higher. It will be Chair Jerome Powell’s final meeting before his term ends, and the DOJ has just closed...
Dollar Slides as Traders Position for Dovish Fed Ahead of Powell’s Final Meeting
The U.S. dollar weakened as traders trimmed long positions ahead of this week’s FOMC meeting, anticipating a dovish tone from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Inflation data showed headline CPI rising to 3.3% driven by a 10.9% jump in energy...
Euro Area Businesses Face Challenging Borrowing Conditions : ECB
The European Central Bank’s Access to Finance survey shows euro‑area borrowing conditions tightened in the first quarter of 2026, with a net rise in loan interest rates and fees. While firms’ demand for credit remained flat, loan availability slipped 3%,...
G7 Central Banks Poised to Hold Borrowing Costs Amid Concerns over Prolonged Iran War
G7 central banks are expected to keep borrowing costs steady this week as the Iran war intensifies inflationary pressures worldwide. The Federal Reserve, likely in Jerome Powell’s final meeting, is projected to hold rates unchanged, while the Bank of England,...
KPMG Shares Insights on Digital Euro Functioning as Legal Tender Across Eurozone Under EU Rules
KPMG reports the European Central Bank is accelerating the rollout of a digital euro that will be legal tender across the eurozone under forthcoming EU rules. The CBDC is positioned as a risk‑free, fully backed public‑money alternative to private stablecoins,...
This WEEK: MEPs Decide on Next EU Budget, as ECB Responds to Iran War
The European Parliament will vote on Tuesday, 28 April, on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028‑2034. MEPs have agreed to set the long‑term budget at 1.27% of the bloc’s gross national income (GNI), with Covid‑19 recovery fund interest...
RBI Issues Final Directions on Reporting of INR Foreign Exchange Derivatives
The Reserve Bank of India has issued final directions requiring Authorised Dealer Category‑I banks to report all foreign‑exchange derivative transactions involving the Indian rupee that are undertaken by their related parties worldwide. The data must be submitted to the Clearing...
Daniel Gros on What China Can Learn From the Euro as It Works Towards a Global Yuan
Daniel Gros, director at Bocconi’s Institute for European Policymaking, argues that the euro’s modest international role highlights the United States dollar’s unrivaled advantage: a deep, open financial market and a powerful lock‑in effect. He notes that the yuan’s push for...
Monday Open FX (Unlike the Closed Strait of Hormuz). Indicative Rates 27 April 2026
Monday’s FX market opened with unusually thin liquidity, making rates prone to sharp swings as Asian centers come online. A forthcoming interview with former President Trump, where he advocates a 15‑20% minimum tariff on EU imports, pushed the EUR/USD pair...
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Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY): Overview and History
The Chinese yuan renminbi (CNY) is mainland China’s official currency, with the yuan as the unit and renminbi as the name. The People’s Bank of China issues the currency and manages a floating exchange rate anchored to a basket of...
Will Kevin Warsh Trumpify the Federal Reserve?
Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor and close Trump ally, is poised to join the Fed board as the new chair seeks a more aggressive stance on interest rates. Warsh has publicly echoed President Trump’s criticism of high rates...
FX Week in Review: Trillion Dollar Volumes, New FCA License, Figo and Ochoa CFDs Ambassadors, Robinhood in Singapore
The CFD sector posted a record‑breaking quarter, with Capital.com, Hantec Markets, TMGM and EC Markets each surpassing $1 trillion in client trading volume for Q1 2026. Retail options‑trading app Investa secured an FCA licence, while TenTrade and IC announced football star Luis Figo...