Market Update 12/05/2025

Forex Market

USD: Broadly Softer into the Close, Antipodeans Outperform

The U.S. dollar softened into the NY close despite firm yields, allowing AUD and NZD to retest intraday highs. Earlier strength had been supported by resilient jobless claims and stable FOMC tone. The EUR and GBP both extended gains while USD/JPY slipped off highs.

• AUD/USD traded between 0.6371 and 0.64325, ending at 0.64115
• NZD/USD hovered around 0.5895, just below session peak
• EUR/USD and GBP/USD printed highs of 1.1293 and 1.3316
• USD/JPY traded down to 144.95 before rebounding to 146.175
• USD/CAD slipped modestly to close at 1.3915/16

Key Economic Data Ahead (Sydney Time)

General Market

Wall Street:
U.S. equities posted modest gains before turning flat into the close, shrugging off earlier strength in tech and healthcare. Market focus shifted to Fed commentary and global trade rhetoric.

• Dow Jones -0.3%
• S&P 500 -0.1%
• Nasdaq flat

Fixed Income & Commodities:

• U.S. 10-year yields closed steady at 4.38%, after dipping to 4.36% intraday
• Crude oil rose +1.9% to $63.90/bbl
• Gold surged to highs at $3347/oz after bouncing from $3274

Asia-Pacific Equities:

• Nikkei +1.6%
• Hang Seng +0.4%
• Shenzhen -0.2%
• ASX 200 +0.5%, with IT and banks leading gains despite weakness in miners

European Markets:

• DAX +0.6%
• CAC +0.6%
• FTSE +0.3%
• EUR/USD eased slightly into the close, trading at 1.1250/51

Headlines to Watch

• FOMC Speakers on Deck: Powell and other Fed members to speak this week — watch for clues on rate path and labor cost concerns.
• China Trade Tensions: Market still digesting Trump’s comment on “80% China tariff”; potential response could jolt sentiment.
• Commodity Volatility: Oil supply concerns and gold’s surge suggest positioning risks; any geopolitical headlines may amplify moves.