The dollar index trimmed early gains to trade flat around 102 on Friday, hovering near six-month lows after a sharp 1.7% drop the previous day, as traders weighed escalating trade tensions. China's finance minister announced a 34% tariff on all US imports, matching the levy imposed by President Trump on Wednesday. Rising concerns over the economic fallout, including higher prices, slower growth, and a potential recession, have fueled speculation of more aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts. Traders now see a 50% chance of four 25bps cuts this year, up from three earlier in the week, with...
EUR/USD corrects to near 1.1030 during European trading hours on Friday after posting a fresh six-month high at 1.1145 the previous day. The major currency pair retraces as the US Dollar (USD) rebounds after United States (US) President Donald Trump's tariffs-driven sell-off and ahead of the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for March and Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell's speech due to in the North American session. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback's value against six major currencies, recovers above 102.00 from its six-month low of around 101.25. Economists expect...
Oil prices plunged by 8% on Friday, heading for their lowest close since the middle of the pandemic in 2021, as China hit back in an escalating global trade war with the U.S. after President Donald Trump's barrage of levies this week. China announced it will impose additional tariffs of 34% on all U.S. goods from April 10. Nations around the world have readied retaliation after Trump raised tariff barriers to their highest in more than a century, leading to a plunge in world financial markets. Brent futures dived $4.70, or 6.7%, to $65.44 a barrel by 1314 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate...