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The US Dollar Index (DXY) declined sharply to around 98.10 on Thursday after data showed the United States (US) economy grew at a lower-than-expected pace in the first quarter and amid Japanese authorities' first intervention in the foreign exchange market in almost two years.
US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an annualized rate of 2% in the first quarter, accelerating from the meager growth seen at the end of 2025 but still somewhat lower than the 2.3% expected. In labor news, the US Department of Labor reported that new unemployment insurance applications dropped to 189K for the week ending April 25, the lowest in nearly 60 years, compared to an expected steady reading of 215K.
Still, the broadly upbeat data, particularly Jobless Claims, fail to support the US Dollar in a trading day that was marked by Japan's efforts to prop up the Yen.
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Euro.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.46% | -0.95% | -2.41% | -0.76% | -1.17% | -1.35% | -1.26% | |
| EUR | 0.46% | -0.45% | -1.97% | -0.30% | -0.72% | -0.86% | -0.78% | |
| GBP | 0.95% | 0.45% | -1.47% | 0.16% | -0.23% | -0.40% | -0.34% | |
| JPY | 2.41% | 1.97% | 1.47% | 1.67% | 1.27% | 1.04% | 1.12% | |
| CAD | 0.76% | 0.30% | -0.16% | -1.67% | -0.42% | -0.61% | -0.52% | |
| AUD | 1.17% | 0.72% | 0.23% | -1.27% | 0.42% | -0.17% | -0.09% | |
| NZD | 1.35% | 0.86% | 0.40% | -1.04% | 0.61% | 0.17% | 0.08% | |
| CHF | 1.26% | 0.78% | 0.34% | -1.12% | 0.52% | 0.09% | -0.08% |
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).
USD/JPY plummeted towards the 156.50 price zone after Japan’s Nikkei newspaper confirmed that the Japanese government intervened to buy yen and sell dollars following the pair's break through the 160 mark. Before the confirmation, top Japanese officials had already warned about a possible intervention in markets.
EUR/USD rose slightly to the 1.1730 price region after the European Central Bank (ECB) left its deposit rate unchanged at 2%.Various Eurozone countries released the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) on Thursday. Generally, the data was pretty upbeat, helping the Euro (EUR) push higher.
GBP/USD surged to a near three-month high near the 1.3610 level, after the Bank of England (BoE) left interest rates unchanged at 3.75% with an 8-1 vote, as expected.
AUD/USD is near a two-week high near the 0.7200, benefiting from data showing a resilient Chinese economy and a weaker US Dollar (USD) overall.
Gold advanced modestly towards the $4,620 price zone as investors looked away from the US Dollar (USD), though gains were capped as market players preferred riskier positions.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell slightly to $102 per barrel after having posted a three-week high of $107 per barrel earlier in the session.
Friday, May 1
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.
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.
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.
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.
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The US Dollar Index (DXY) declined sharply to around 98.10 on Thursday after data showed the United States (US) economy grew at a lower-than-expected pace in the first quarter and amid Japanese authorities' first intervention in the foreign exchange market in almost two years.
星展集团研究经济学家蔡汉腾预计，泰国央行（BoT）将在2026年底前维持政策利率在1.00%，因伊朗相关供应冲击带来的滞胀压力影响增长和通胀。星展银行将2026年通胀预测上调至2.5%，并预计国内生产总值（GDP）增长约为1.6%，大致符合泰国央行的预测。
DBS Group Research economist Chua Han Teng expects the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to keep its policy rate at 1.00% through end-2026 as stagflationary pressures from Iran-related supply shocks hit growth and inflation.
大华银行经济学家何伟辰评估了中国最新的采购经理人指数（PMI），指出制造业前景积极，得益于强劲的人工智能相关出口需求和稳健的工业利润，而国内需求和服务业表现疲软。报告强调整体价格压力得到控制，但投入成本较高，并认为尽管2026年晚些时候有适度政策宽松的空间，近期降息的可能性有限。
渣打银行分析师Pietro Righi和Christopher Graham警告称，罗马尼亚再次爆发的政治动荡可能破坏财政整合并推迟关键改革。社会民主党（PSD）退出执政联盟，以及由PSD和罗马尼亚联盟党（AUR）支持的不信任投票，威胁到欧盟（EU）资金的拨付。
UOB economist Ho Woei Chen assesses China’s latest PMIs, noting a positive outlook for manufacturing supported by strong AI-related export demand and robust industrial profits, while domestic demand and services weaken.
华侨银行（OCBC）策略师沈慕祥和黄志伟指出，随着布伦特油价上涨至接近120美元/桶，通胀风险和美联储（Fed）鹰派重新定价打击市场情绪，大多数亚洲货币兑美元走软。影响表现不均，韩国韩元（KRW）以及对油价敏感的菲律宾比索（PHP）和泰铢（THB）承压较大，而人民币（RMB）相对较为坚挺。美伊紧张局势持续和油价走高可能进一步削弱亚洲货币的动能。
OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong highlight that most Asian FX traded softer as Brent’s rise toward USD120/bbl, inflation risks and hawkish Fed repricing weighed on sentiment.
Standard Chartered Bank analysts Pietro Righi and Christopher Graham warn that renewed political turmoil in Romania could undermine fiscal consolidation and delay key reforms.