The Pound Sterling (GBP) gains 0.20% against the Greenback on Friday as the latter recoils after hitting year-to-date (YTD) highs, with money markets pricing in a less hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed), despite policymakers stating they will focus on inflation.
EUR/USD trades on the front foot on Friday but remains on track for a second straight weekly loss as the fragile situation in the Middle East and hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) outlook keep the US Dollar's (USD) downside limited.
US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday that Iran violated the ceasefire after launching drones at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, with one of them hitting the upper deck of a large cargo-carrying ship.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Oil falls 3.25% on Friday and trades around $69.05 at the time of writing, after hitting its lowest level since late February at $68.48 earlier in the day.
Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said during a panel discussion at the Aspen Ideas Festival 2026 in Aspen, Colorado, that he remains concerned about inflation in the service sector, while also noting some signs of improvement in the labor market.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is closing the week as the last major US index standing, having rallied more than 1% to settle just below 52,000, with the record high near 52,300 still in view. That reads as strength until you ask where the buying is coming from.
Lloyd Chan at MUFG notes the Malaysian Ringgit outperformed, rising 0.4% versus the US Dollar (USD) after Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) reintroduced a 2024-style FX support measure to encourage repatriation and conversion of offshore earnings.
United States Baker Hughes US Oil Rig Count rose from previous 433 to 440
Commerzbank’s Thailand section notes May exports rose 10.6% year-on-year, below consensus and sharply slower than April’s 23.1%, with agriculture shipments weak but electronics still resilient. The government forecasts exports to grow 8% in 2026 as front-loading fades.
HSBC strategists warn that the Philippines is flirting with stagflation, as slowing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth coincides with the highest inflation in ASEAN. Weak public spending and cautious households are dragging demand, while the labour market softens.
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) trims part of its intraday gains on Friday as uncertainty surrounding a final US-Iran peace agreement and expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) help the US Dollar (USD) recover some of its losses after coming under pressure from Thursday's broadly in-line US Perso
DBS Group Research forecasts Vietnam’s real GDP to grow 7.8% year-on-year in Q2 2026, matching Q1’s pace, supported by strong electronics manufacturing, AI-driven tech demand, FDI and resilient retail spending.
