Forex Today: Markets assess Japanese GDP as ECB decision looms
The US Dollar Index (DXY) trades with a cautious tone near the 100.00 region as investors balance resilient United States (US) economic data against improving global risk sentiment following reports that Iran has ended its military operations against Israel.
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Swiss Franc.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.06% | 0.02% | -0.03% | 0.12% | 0.05% | -0.25% | 0.23% | |
| EUR | 0.06% | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.18% | 0.09% | -0.17% | 0.27% | |
| GBP | -0.02% | -0.07% | -0.06% | 0.11% | -0.02% | -0.25% | 0.18% | |
| JPY | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.14% | 0.05% | -0.19% | 0.23% | |
| CAD | -0.12% | -0.18% | -0.11% | -0.14% | -0.09% | -0.35% | 0.08% | |
| AUD | -0.05% | -0.09% | 0.02% | -0.05% | 0.09% | -0.24% | 0.19% | |
| NZD | 0.25% | 0.17% | 0.25% | 0.19% | 0.35% | 0.24% | 0.42% | |
| CHF | -0.23% | -0.27% | -0.18% | -0.23% | -0.08% | -0.19% | -0.42% |
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).
EUR/USD holds firm near the 1.1530 area as improving Eurozone sentiment supports the common currency. The latest Sentix Investor Confidence index rose to -13.4 in June from -16.4 previously. Attention shifts to Thursday's European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate decision, where markets expect another rate hike.
GBP/USD trades near the 1.3340 region, supported by the softer Greenback tone and improving market sentiment.
USD/JPY remains muted near the 160.20 zone as stronger Japanese growth data offsets reduced safe-haven demand. Japan's economy expanded 0.5% QoQ in Q1, while annualized growth was 1.8%, supporting the Yen.
AUD/USD edges higher toward the 0.7050 level as improving global risk sentiment supports commodity-linked currencies.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil trades near the $91.10 per barrel with a softer tone after recent volatility. Reports from Iran's Fars News Agency that Tehran has ended military operations against Israel helped ease immediate supply concerns, though traders remain alert to developments in the Middle East.
Gold trades little changed near the $4,330 area as easing geopolitical tensions reduce safe-haven demand.
What’s next in the docket:
Tuesday, June 9:
- China CPI
- China PPI
Wednesday, June 10:
- US CPI
Thursday, June 11:
- ECB Interest Rate Decision
- US PPI
- US Initial Jobless Claims
Friday, June 12:
- UK GDP
- Germany CPI Final
- US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index
WTI Oil FAQs
What is WTI Oil?
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
What factors drive the price of WTI Oil?
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
How does inventory data impact the price of WTI Oil
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
How does OPEC influence the price of WTI Oil?
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
