EUR/USD
The Euro (EUR) trades 0.1% higher to near 185.20 against the Japanese Yen (JPY) during the European trading session on Wednesday. The cross gains as the Japanese Yen (JPY) underperforms its peers despite clarification from Japan’s Growth Strategy Minister Minoru Kiuichi that the government is not prompting a low-interest rate environment.
GBP/USD
The GBP/USD pair loses traction to near 1.3355 during the Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The US Dollar (USD) edges higher against the British Pound (GBP) amid renewed geopolitical tensions after the US renewed strikes on Iran. The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) June meeting minutes will be published later on Wednesday.
USD/JPY
The USD/JPY pair trades with mild losses near 162.35 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. The Japanese Yen (JPY) strengthens against the US Dollar (USD) as traders continue to watch for signs of possible intervention by Japanese authorities to support the currency. The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) June meeting minutes will be released later on Wednesday.
AUD/USD
The Australian Dollar retreats to two-day lows during the week, down 0.39%, as the US Dollar surges amid rising tensions in the Middle East. At the time of writing, the AUD/USD trades at 0.6928, having reached a daily high of 0.6961.
NZD/USD
Commerzbank’s Volkmar Baur reports the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) lifted the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 2.5%, with the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) gaining slightly versus US Dollar (USD). RBNZ’s tone was more hawkish than expected, addressing structural inflation risks, and Commerzbank still looks for one more hike. However, they see market pricing of three additional hikes as excessive, expecting kiwi weakness once expectations are pared back.
USD/CAD
USD/CAD inches higher after registering minor losses in the previous day, trading around 1.4200 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. Traders are closely watching Wednesday’s release of the Federal Reserve Meeting Minutes, the first under newly appointed Chairman Kevin Warsh, for crucial clues regarding the future path of US interest rates.
USD/CHF
USD/CHF extends its gains for the third successive day, trading around 0.8090 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair appreciates as the Greenback receives support from safe-haven demand amid renewing geopolitical tensions. US airstrikes against Iran came in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi oil tanker.
CRUDE OIL
Oil prices rose sharply in early trade on Wednesday after the U.S. military said it launched fresh strikes against Iran and reimposed sanctions on the country’s oil over attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Gold (XAU/USD) maintains its bid tone heading into the European session on Wednesday and, for now, seems to have snapped a two-day losing streak to sub-$4,100 levels, or the weekly trough touched the previous day. The US Dollar (USD) turns lower as bulls opt to lighten their bets ahead of the release of the June FOMC meeting Minutes, which, in turn, is seen acting as a tailwind for the bullion. The fundamental backdrop, however, warrants caution before confirming that the pullback from levels just above the $4,200 mark, or a two-week high set on Monday, has run its course.
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