China affirms 5% growth target for 2026 – Reuters

Sagar Dua FXStreet

A report from Reuters has stated that Chinese officials have provided suggestions on how a 5% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate can be achieved in 2026 too.

“We should set ‌a target of around 5% for 2026, the first year of the 15th five-year plan," adding that there will be certainly challenges in achieving this, but there is room to maneuver with both fiscal and monetary policy," one of the Chinese government advisers said.

Market reaction

The impact of the news seems limited on the AUD/USD pair, despite being a liquidity proxy for the Chinese Yuan. At the press time, the AUD/USD pair trades 0.2% higher to near 0.6580.

Australian Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the strongest against the US Dollar.

	USD	EUR	GBP	JPY	CAD	AUD	NZD	CHF
USD		-0.10%	-0.25%	-0.06%	-0.10%	-0.18%	-0.09%	-0.13%
EUR	0.10%		-0.16%	0.04%	-0.00%	-0.09%	0.01%	-0.03%
GBP	0.25%	0.16%		0.19%	0.16%	0.07%	0.17%	0.13%
JPY	0.06%	-0.04%	-0.19%		-0.04%	-0.13%	-0.04%	-0.07%
CAD	0.10%	0.00%	-0.16%	0.04%		-0.08%	0.00%	-0.03%
AUD	0.18%	0.09%	-0.07%	0.13%	0.08%		0.10%	0.05%
NZD	0.09%	-0.01%	-0.17%	0.04%	-0.01%	-0.10%		-0.04%
CHF	0.13%	0.03%	-0.13%	0.07%	0.03%	-0.05%	0.04%

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 Australian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent AUD (base)/USD (quote).

Author

Sagar Dua

FXStreet

Sagar Dua is associated with the financial markets from his college days. Along with pursuing post-graduation in Commerce in 2014, he started his markets training with chart analysis.

AUD/USD consolidates above 0.7000; remains close to monthly top

AUD/USD holds steady above 0.7000 during the Asian session on Friday, trading just below the previous day's monthly low amid diverging forces. A hawkish RBA continues to support the Aussie, while the recent decline in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar depressed near a three-week low. However, oil-driven inflation fears reinforce Fed hike bets, which, along with geopolitical risks, could benefit the safe-haven buck and cap the currency pair.

USD/JPY bounces off one-month low; climbs to 157.00 amid reviving USD demand

USD/JPY rebounds from the 156.00 neighborhood, or a one-month low touched during Friday’s Asian session, with bulls looking to extend momentum beyond 157.00 amid the emergence of some US Dollar buying. Meanwhile, Japan's National CPI rose to a nine-month peak and reaffirmed BoJ rate-hike bets, which could support the Japanese Yen and cap gains for the currency pair.

Gold treads water around $4,000

Gold prices maintain its offered stance in place at the end of the week, hovering around the key $4,000 threshold per troy ounce. The persistent selling bias in the precious metal comes amid decent gains in the US Dollar and an acceptable rebound in US Treasury yields across the curve, all alongside further upside traction in crude oil prices.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin holds the 50-day EMA as Ethereum and XRP face structural resistance

Bitcoin gradually ticks up on Friday, trading above $81,000. The Crypto King has recently defended structural support near $80,000, reinforcing the prevailing bullish outlook. Ethereum similarly edges higher above $2,400, while Ripple trades above $1.32 after testing support around $1.30.

The French bond panic is overdone. Here's what the market is misreading

France's 10-year government bond yield has climbed above 5%, reigniting fears of a sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone. With public debt exceeding €3.5 trillion, persistent budget deficits and a fragmented political landscape, investors are increasingly questioning the French government's ability to stabilize its finances.

What November 3 means for the Fed's rate path and the US Dollar

The USD faces a decisive period ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. While markets anticipate another interest rate increase from the Fed in December, the battle for control of Congress could reshape fiscal policy expectations and, indirectly, the path of US monetary policy in 2027.