|

Forex Today: Coronavirus dampens mood, top US Non-Farm Payrolls hints eyed, Ripple roars

Here is what you need to know on Wednesday, February 5:

Coronavirus: Markets returned to paying attention to the respiratory disease which has already infected around 25,000 and taken the lives of nearly 500. Additional companies such as Nike have warned about the economic impact. Markets have turned down again after shrugging off concerns earlier in the week. Gold and yen are recovering. 

Oil: The "black gold" remains under pressure as Russia refuses to support further output cuts, contrary to Saudi Arabia's request. Chinese demand is set to decline substantially due to coronavirus. The US inventory data may move WTI from its grip on $50. 

See Coronavirus: Top five safe-haven assets to buy in times of trouble in 2020

GBP/USD has stabilized around 1.30 after hitting a new six-week low on Tuesday. Fears of a no-trade-deal Brexit still loom over sterling, while recent data has been showing improvement. Markit's final Purchasing Managers' Index for the services sector is eyed. 

EUR/USD remains pressured closer to 1.10 amid dollar strength. Final services PMI is awaited. 

New Zealand: The kiwi dollar has risen after the South Pacific nation reported a drop in the unemployment rate to 4%, better than expected. 

The US ADP private-sector jobs report for January is set to show a more moderate increase in positions after a robust December. The indicator serves as a hint towards Friday's Non-Farm Payrolls.

See ADP Employment Change Preview: Trade pact revival?

The ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI will also provide insights toward America's jobs report and will shed light on the all-important services sector. It is expected to hold around 55, reflecting solid growth.

ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI Preview: Manufacturing to the fore

US politics: Partial results from the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses have shown a tight race between moderate Pete Buttigieg and left-leaning Bernie Sanders. The odds that billionaire Michael Bloomberg would win the nomination have risen while former Vice President Joe Biden has fallen. President Donald Trump praised the strength of the US economy in his State of the Union address, which was seen as a campaign speech.

Cryptocurrencies: Ripple's XRP has been standing out with substantial gains, reaching $0.27. Ethereum is also on the rise, trading around $190, while Bitcoin is stable at around $9,200.

Author

Yohay Elam

Yohay Elam

FXStreet

Yohay is in Forex since 2008 when he founded Forex Crunch, a blog crafted in his free time that turned into a fully-fledged currency website later sold to Finixio.

More from Yohay Elam
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

Gold retreats from record highs, trades below $4,500

Gold retreats after setting a new record-high above $4,520 earlier in the day and trades in a tight range below $4,500 as trading volumes thin out ahead of the Christmas break. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated on the back of dovish Fed expectations, which continues to act as a tailwind for the bullion amid persistent geopolitical risks.

Bitcoin slips below $87,000 as ETF outflows intensify, whale participation declines

Bitcoin price continues to trade around $86,770 on Wednesday, after failing to break above the $90,000 resistance. US-listed spot ETFs record an outflow of $188.64 million on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of withdrawals.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Avalanche struggles near $12 as Grayscale files updated form for ETF

Avalanche trades close to $12 by press time on Wednesday, extending the nearly 2% drop from the previous day. Grayscale filed an updated form to convert its Avalanche-focused Trust into an ETF with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.