Forex Today: US Dollar gives up as Wall Street advances

Valeria Bednarik FXStreet

What you need to take care of on Friday, December 30:

The US Dollar fell on Thursday, with the decline exacerbated by thin market conditions. Sentiment led the way throughout the day, with Chinese headlines triggering different market reactions. On Wednesday, financial markets were on alert after Italy reported that roughly 50% of the passengers of two flights arriving in Milan on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19, and several western nations rushed to impose control on Chinese travelers, fearing the spread of a new strain. However, mid-European morning Italy reported they found no new covid variants in the aforementioned tests.

The mood improved ahead of the US opening, with Wall Street posting substantial gains. Nevertheless, growth and inflation concerns remain in the background. US Treasury yields were up at the shorter end of the curve, while the 10-year note yield shed 4 bps.

The EUR/USD pair peaked at 1.0689, holding on to gains ahead of the Asian opening. GBP/USD hovers around 1.2060, with Pound gains limited amid strikes going on in the United Kingdom. The 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) are striking for four days until New Year’s Eve.

Commodity-linked currencies advanced vs their American rival. AUD/USD trades in teh 0.6780 price zone, while USD/CAD is down to 1.3540.

The Japanese yen appreciated amid the broad US Dollar weakness and news that the Bank of Japan conducted two unplanned bond purchase operations.

Spot gold edged marginally higher and finished the day at around %1,816 a troy ounce. Crude oil price weakened at the beginning of the day but trimmed most of its losses ahead of the close. WTI trades at around $78.30 a barrel

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Author

Valeria Bednarik

FXStreet

Valeria Bednarik was born and lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her passion for math and numbers pushed her into studying economics in her younger years.

EUR/USD deflates to fresh lows, targets 1.1600

The selling pressure on EUR/USD now gathers extra pace, prompting the pair to hit fresh multi-week lows in the 1.1625-1.1620 band on Friday. The continuation of the downward bias comes in response to further gains in the US Dollar as market participants continue to assess the mixed release of US Nonfarm Payrolls in December.

GBP/USD breaks below 1.3400, challenges the 200-day SMA

GBP/USD remains under heavy fire and retreats for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. Indeed, Cable suffers the strong performance of the Greenback, intensified post-mixed NFP, and trades at shouting distance from its critical 200-day SMA near 1.3380.

Gold flirts with yearly tops around $4,500

Gold keeps its positive bias on Friday, adding to Thursday’s advance and challenging yearly highs in the $4,500 region per troy ounce. The risk-off sentiment favours the yellow metal despite the firmer tone in the Greenback and rising US Treasury yields.

Week ahead: US CPI might challenge the geopolitics-boosted Dollar

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.

Week ahead – US CPI might challenge the geopolitics-boosted Dollar

Geopolitics may try to steal the limelight from US data. A possible US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs could dictate market movements. A crammed data calendar next week, US CPI comes on Tuesday; Fedspeak to intensify.

XRP trades under pressure amid weak retail demand

XRP presses down on the 50-day EMA support as risk-averse sentiment spreads despite a positive start to 2026. XRP faces declining retail demand, as reflected in futures Open Interest, which has fallen to $4.15 billion.