USD/RUB Exchange rate

AUD/USD struggles to gain any meaningful traction at the start of a new week and languishes near a multi-day low, touched on Friday amid mixed fundamental cues. A further escalation of geopolitical tensions weighs on investors' sentiment, benefiting the safe-haven US Dollar and acting as a headwind for the risk-sensitive Aussie. However, the RBA's hawkish outlook marks a significant divergence compared to the bets for more rate cuts by the Fed, lending support to the currency pair.

The USD/JPY pair gains ground near 158.05 during the early Asian session on Monday. The Japanese Yen weakens against the US Dollar following a report that Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering calling a snap election for parliament's lower house in the first half of February.

Gold scales higher for the third straight day and climbs to a fresh all-time peak, beyond the $4,550 level, during the Asian session on Monday. Reports that US President Donald Trump is weighing a series of potential military options in Iran following deadly protests in the country fuel the risk of a further escalation of geopolitical tensions amid the protracted Russia-Ukraine war. This, along with rising bets for more rate cuts by the Fed, offsets the recent US Dollar rally and is seen benefiting the safe-haven bullion.

Geopolitics may try to steal the limelight from US data. A possible US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs could dictate market movements. Dollar strength might be tested if investors refocus on Fed expectations. A crammed data calendar next week, US CPI comes on Tuesday; Fedspeak to intensify. Euro weakness persists, lingering risk of deterioration in US-EU relations.

Last week was supposed to be a week of verdicts. Jobs. Tariffs. Rates. Instead, markets got ambiguity and treated it like oxygen. December payrolls undershot expectations but remained well within the market-perceived bullish-for-equities tolerance. 50,000 jobs added and unemployment down to 4.4% kept the data squarely in the Fed no-action zone.