Learn / Market News
Market News
View the daily news commentary to obtain insight on the financial markets.
Gold under pressure as Fed hawkish outlook weighs
March 19, 2026, 2:01:34 PM UTC
Gold (XAU/USD) extends its decline on Thursday, slipping to over a one-month low as shifting near-term macroeconomic dynamics overshadow its traditional safe-haven appeal, despite heightened geopolitical tensions from the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.
ReadLagarde speech: Prolonged war could increase energy prices for longer
March 19, 2026, 2:01:30 PM UTC
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), explains the ECB's decision to leave key rates unchanged at the March policy meeting and responds to questions from the press.
ReadUSD: Fed holds line on 2026 easing – Rabobank
March 19, 2026, 2:01:23 PM UTC
Rabobank highlights that the FOMC’s March projections show higher PCE and core PCE inflation at 2.7% in 2026, yet unchanged median rate dots, implying only a temporary inflation shock.
ReadUnited States Wholesale Inventories came in at -0.5% below forecasts (0.2%) in January
March 19, 2026, 2:00:44 PM UTC
United States Wholesale Inventories came in at -0.5% below forecasts (0.2%) in January
ReadUnited States New Home Sales (MoM) below forecasts (0.72M) in January: Actual (0.587M)
March 19, 2026, 2:00:24 PM UTC
United States New Home Sales (MoM) below forecasts (0.72M) in January: Actual (0.587M)
ReadUnited States New Home Sales (MoM) registered at 587M above expectations (0.72M) in January
March 19, 2026, 2:00:01 PM UTC
United States New Home Sales (MoM) registered at 587M above expectations (0.72M) in January
ReadQatar LNG shock: Supply hit and force majeure risk
March 19, 2026, 1:59:37 PM UTC
According to Reuters, QatarEnergy’s CEO has confirmed significant damage to key facilities, taking around 17% of the country’s LNG exports offline, roughly 12.8 million tonnes per year, for what could be three to five years.
ReadGBP/JPY declines as BoE hawkish hold fails to offset Yen strength
March 19, 2026, 1:54:08 PM UTC
GBP/JPY trades with a downside bias on Thursday as the Japanese Yen (JPY) strengthens broadly following the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) monetary policy decision, while the British Pound (GBP) struggles to gain ground against the Yen despite showing relative strength against other major currencies after th
ReadUSD/CAD: Range risks tilt higher – Scotiabank
March 19, 2026, 1:46:57 PM UTC
Scotiabank strategists Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret note the Canadian Dollar (CAD) is quiet against the Dollar, lagging most G10 peers as yield spreads move in favor of the USD after the Fed and Bank of Canada (BoC) meetings.
ReadECB Press Conference: Lagarde explains decision to leave key rates unchanged
March 19, 2026, 1:46:09 PM UTC
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), explains the ECB's decision to leave key rates unchanged at the March policy meeting and responds to questions from the press.
ReadGold: Conflict-driven risks challenge crowded trade – TD Securities
March 19, 2026, 1:39:39 PM UTC
TD Securities’ Senior Commodity Strategist Daniel Ghali warns that Gold faces a challenging backdrop as Middle Eastern conflict strains official sector demand and Commodity Trading Advisors (CTA) keep selling.
ReadUSD: Energy shock and hawkish Fed support – BBH
March 19, 2026, 1:21:41 PM UTC
Brown Brothers Harriman’s Elias Haddad highlights that an escalating Iran war-driven energy shock, combined with a restrictive Federal Reserve and tightening bias at other central banks, is pressuring risk assets and supporting the Dollar.
ReadEurozone ECB Main Refinancing Operations Rate meets expectations (2.15%)
March 19, 2026, 1:15:06 PM UTC
Eurozone ECB Main Refinancing Operations Rate meets expectations (2.15%)
ReadEurozone ECB Rate On Deposit Facility in line with expectations (2%)
March 19, 2026, 1:15:05 PM UTC
Eurozone ECB Rate On Deposit Facility in line with expectations (2%)
ReadCHF: SNB signals stronger FX stance – Nomura
March 19, 2026, 1:07:58 PM UTC
Nomura analysts note that the Swiss National Bank (SNB) kept its policy rate at 0.00% and strengthened its guidance on FX intervention as the Swiss Franc (CHF) has appreciated. Very low Swiss inflation and a stronger CHF are seen prompting FX purchases in Q1.
ReadBoE: Inflation fight focus raises hike risks – Deutsche Bank
March 19, 2026, 12:55:47 PM UTC
Deutsche Bank’s Sanjay Raja notes the Bank of England (BoE) kept Bank Rate unchanged but clearly signalled a stronger focus on inflation risks. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) dropped its easing bias and stressed readiness to act if inflation expectations rise.
ReadUS weekly Initial Jobless Claims decline to 205K vs. 215K expected
March 19, 2026, 12:39:50 PM UTC
There were 205K Initial Jobless Claims in the week ending March 14, a decrease of 8K from the previous week's unrevised level, the US Department of Labor (DOL) reported on Thursday. This reading came in better than the market expectation of 215K.
ReadUSD/JPY: BoJ patience keeps June hike in focus – ING
March 19, 2026, 12:38:22 PM UTC
ING’s Senior Economist Min Joo Kang notes that the Bank of Japan kept its policy rate at 0.75% and maintained a broadly unchanged economic outlook, while acknowledging higher uncertainty. Governor Ueda avoided giving timing signals on the next move, and ING still expects a rate hike in June.
ReadGBP/USD rises as BoE surprises with unanimous rate hold amid inflation concerns
March 19, 2026, 12:36:29 PM UTC
GBP/USD trades around 1.3300 on Thursday at the time of writing, up 0.28% on the day, supported by a mildly positive market reaction to the Bank of England (BoE) monetary policy decision.
ReadBreaking: Gold breaches below $4,600
March 19, 2026, 12:34:15 PM UTC
Gold prices remain under heavy pressure on Thursday, breaking below the key $4,600 mark per troy ounce to hit fresh multi-week lows, down for the seventh consecutive day.
ReadUS Treasury Bessent: May unsanction Iranian oil on water in coming days
March 19, 2026, 12:33:34 PM UTC
In an interview with Fox Business Network on Thursday, United States (US) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the US is not attacking Iran's energy infrastructure and added that they have allowed Iranian oil to continue out of the Gulf, per Reuters.
ReadUnited States Continuing Jobless Claims came in at 1.857M, above expectations (1.85M) in March 6
March 19, 2026, 12:30:43 PM UTC
United States Continuing Jobless Claims came in at 1.857M, above expectations (1.85M) in March 6
ReadUnited States Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey registered at 18.1 above expectations (10) in March
March 19, 2026, 12:30:06 PM UTC
United States Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey registered at 18.1 above expectations (10) in March
ReadUnited States Initial Jobless Claims 4-week average: 210.75K (March 13) vs previous 212K
March 19, 2026, 12:30:05 PM UTC
United States Initial Jobless Claims 4-week average: 210.75K (March 13) vs previous 212K
ReadUnited States Initial Jobless Claims registered at 205K, below expectations (215K) in March 13
March 19, 2026, 12:30:04 PM UTC
United States Initial Jobless Claims registered at 205K, below expectations (215K) in March 13
ReadUSD: Energy shock and Fed repricing support greenback – MUFG
March 19, 2026, 12:19:12 PM UTC
MUFG’s Senior Currency Analyst Lee Hardman notes the Dollar has strengthened, with the Dollar Index back above 100.00, as Middle East energy infrastructure attacks lift Brent above USD115 and raise global supply concerns.
ReadBreaking: BoE maintains bank rate at 3.75% as anticipated
March 19, 2026, 12:07:48 PM UTC
The Bank of England (BoE) announced on Thursday that it maintained the bank rate at 3.75% following the March policy meeting, as widely expected. All nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted in favor of the decision. Markets were expecting two policymakers to vote for a rate cut.
ReadUnited Kingdom BoE MPC Vote Rate Unchanged came in at 9, above expectations (7)
March 19, 2026, 12:00:10 PM UTC
United Kingdom BoE MPC Vote Rate Unchanged came in at 9, above expectations (7)
ReadUnited Kingdom BoE Interest Rate Decision meets expectations (3.75%)
March 19, 2026, 12:00:05 PM UTC
United Kingdom BoE Interest Rate Decision meets expectations (3.75%)
ReadUnited Kingdom BoE MPC Vote Rate Hike in line with forecasts (0)
March 19, 2026, 12:00:05 PM UTC
United Kingdom BoE MPC Vote Rate Hike in line with forecasts (0)
Read