NOK: Norges Bank seen hiking and guiding higher – Danske Bank.NOK: Norges Bank seen hiking and guiding higher – Danske Bank

Japan to keep intervening to defend 160-per-dollar level, ex-BOJ official says.Japan likely intervened during the Golden ​Week holidays and will step back into the market if the yen renews its slide below the psychologically ‌key 160-per-dollar level, Atsushi Takeuchi, a former central bank official who took part in Tokyo's market forays a decade ago, told Reuters.

French trade deficit widened in March as energy imports start to push up.Given the fallout from the Middle East conflict, this isn't surprising. We've seen a similar episode before during the Russia-Ukraine war, so this will very much follow the same path.

Brent: Market reacts to Iran peace prospects – Rabobank.Brent: Market reacts to Iran peace prospects – Rabobank

Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch.Optimism over no further escalation turned into euphoria yesterday on news that a peace proposal is on the table that could end the war in Iran. The headlines have not flipped yet this morning — at the time of writing, the major headline is still that the US and Iran ‘weigh potential deal'.

Norges Bank Set to Hike, Riksbank Expected to Hold Steady.In Norway, we expect Norges Bank to raise the policy rate by 25bp to 4.25%. The March meeting indicated a rate hike was likely at one of the forthcoming monetary policy meetings, with the rate path suggesting a higher probability for June.

German Factory Orders climb by 5.0% MoM in March vs. 1.0% expected.German Factory Orders climb by 5.0% MoM in March vs. 1.0% expected

NZD: Soft labour data caps RBNZ tightening – Commerzbank.NZD: Soft labour data caps RBNZ tightening – Commerzbank

Germany Factory Orders n.s.a. (YoY) increased to 6.3% in March from previous 3.5%.Germany Factory Orders n.s.a. (YoY) increased to 6.3% in March from previous 3.5%

Crude Oil Traders Face Whipsaw Risk as Iran Talks Shift Sentiment.Razan Hilal, Market Analyst at FOREX.com, analyzes crude oil price volatility as U.S.-Iran negotiations drive rapid sentiment shifts and technical reversals. Prices dropped sharply on optimism around a potential deal, only to rebound as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing disruptions resurfaced.

Markets Party on Peace Hopes, but Oil and Beirut Strike Warn Risks Aren't Gone.Global markets are throwing a full-scale “peace party.” Equities are surging relentlessly, risk appetite is exploding higher, and investors are increasingly behaving as though the Middle East crisis is already moving toward resolution.

US Dollar Index hovers around 98.00 as safe-have demand eases on US-Iran optimism.US Dollar Index hovers around 98.00 as safe-have demand eases on US-Iran optimism

Oil Prices Recover as Tight Supply Offsets Middle East Peace Optimism.Oil prices recovered after Wednesday's sharp drop as traders remained cautious about the Middle East peace outlook, while tight supply and falling U.S. inventories kept Brent and WTI supported.

WTI consolidates below $93.00 as traders assess likelihood of US-Iran peace deal.WTI consolidates below $93.00 as traders assess likelihood of US-Iran peace deal

AUD/JPY Price Forecast: Grinds higher above 113.00, bullish trend holds above key average.AUD/JPY Price Forecast: Grinds higher above 113.00, bullish trend holds above key average

investingLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: Trump has seen the NFP number and he is happy.Japan's Nikkei 225 returned from its extended Golden Week break to catch up with the global equity rally that had built in its absence, bursting through 62,000 to fresh all-time highs and approaching the 63,000 level. The move, which extended more than 4%, was fuelled by a combination of Iran war de-escalation optimism, a rally in Japanese government bonds and solid corporate earnings, with tech names providing additional lift in a session that felt broadly risk-on across the region.

EUR/JPY trades flat around 183.75 while investors remain on toes amid intervention hopes.EUR/JPY trades flat around 183.75 while investors remain on toes amid intervention hopes

Rupee likely to be buoyed by cheaper oil; US-Iran uncertainty may check momentum.The Indian rupee is set to inch higher at Thursday's open, extending the previous session's rally, helped by a pullback in ​oil prices.

China loan curbs, yuan surge and holiday spending in focus as Beijing juggles pressures.China's financial regulator has quietly told major banks to suspend new loans to five U.S.-sanctioned Iranian oil refiners, while the yuan surged to its strongest PBOC fixing since March 2023 amid easing Middle East tensions.

Macklem Warns Energy Shock Could Force Consecutive BoC Hikes.BoC Governor Tiff Macklem delivered a clear warning that the Bank of Canada is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the inflation risks created by the Middle East conflict. While policymakers are still willing to “look through” the first-round jump in gasoline prices, Macklem stressed that the BoC “will not let” higher energy costs evolve into broader, persistent inflation across the economy.

Fed's Goolsbee: Iran War Is Inflationary, Not Yet Stagflationary.Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said the Iran conflict is increasingly behaving as an inflationary shock rather than a stagflationary one, a distinction that carries important implications for monetary policy.

Dollar on defensive as markets hope for best on Middle East.The dollar remained on the defensive on ​Thursday as hopes for a de-escalation in the Iran-U.S. war supported oil-exposed currencies, while Tokyo ‌resumed its verbal intervention in support of the yen keeping speculators cautious.

Canadian Dollar remains flat as crude oil prices decline.Canadian Dollar remains flat as crude oil prices decline

DXY: Dollar Probes Through Key supports Again as Fresh Optimism Fades Safe Haven Demand.The dollar came under increased pressure on Wednesday after fresh wave of optimism about a possible end of US-Iran war deflated safe-haven demand.

ICYMI - Saudi base ban forced Trump to pause Strait of Hormuz shipping operation.ICYMI, NBC with the rep[ort that Saudi Arabia blocked U.S. military use of a key airbase and airspace, forcing Trump to pause Project Freedom, his plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, within 36 hours of launch.

Australia Trade Balance (MoM) came in at -1841M below forecasts (4250M) in March.Australia Trade Balance (MoM) came in at -1841M below forecasts (4250M) in March

Australia Exports (MoM) fell from previous 4.9% to -2.7% in March.Australia Exports (MoM) fell from previous 4.9% to -2.7% in March

Japan's Mimura says will closely monitoring currency markets.Japan's Mimura says will closely monitoring currency markets

Australian Dollar edges lower ahead of Trade Balance data.Australian Dollar edges lower ahead of Trade Balance data

Japanese Yen consolidates as intervention fears, hawkish BoJ keep USD/JPY below mid-156.00s.Japanese Yen consolidates as intervention fears, hawkish BoJ keep USD/JPY below mid-156.00s