Forex Today: US Dollar holds firm below 100 as Iran tensions keep markets on edge
Here is what you need to know for Thursday, March 26:
Markets were driven by a shift in geopolitical sentiment as reports of potential ceasefire talks initially eased tensions. However, uncertainty quickly resurfaced after Iran signaled reluctance to engage with the United States, highlighting fragile diplomatic progress and keeping markets on edge.
The US Dollar Index (DXY) climbed just below the 100 mark, trading near 99.50, as the Greenback remained supported by rate differentials and safe-haven demand earlier in the week. Amid a deteriorating market mood, the USD held firm.
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Australian Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.25% | 0.21% | 0.35% | 0.33% | 0.47% | 0.28% | 0.36% | |
| EUR | -0.25% | -0.04% | 0.11% | 0.07% | 0.22% | 0.02% | 0.11% | |
| GBP | -0.21% | 0.04% | 0.17% | 0.12% | 0.26% | 0.08% | 0.15% | |
| JPY | -0.35% | -0.11% | -0.17% | -0.03% | 0.11% | -0.06% | -0.00% | |
| CAD | -0.33% | -0.07% | -0.12% | 0.03% | 0.15% | -0.02% | 0.03% | |
| AUD | -0.47% | -0.22% | -0.26% | -0.11% | -0.15% | -0.19% | -0.11% | |
| NZD | -0.28% | -0.02% | -0.08% | 0.06% | 0.02% | 0.19% | 0.07% | |
| CHF | -0.36% | -0.11% | -0.15% | 0.00% | -0.03% | 0.11% | -0.07% |
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 US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
EUR/USD fell to near the 1.1570 region, slightly softer on the day as the stronger US Dollar (USD) capped the Euro’s (EUR) upside. The pair remained under pressure following weak Eurozone PMI data on Tuesday, with growth concerns continuing to weigh on the Euro.
GBP/USD slipped toward the 1.3370 zone, with the Pound struggling to regain terrain amid ongoing concerns about the United Kingdom (UK) growth and inflation dynamics.
USD/JPY surged to the 159.30 area, supported by elevated US yields and continued policy divergence between the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ).
AUD/USD fell to the 0.6960 range, the stronger USD amid risk and global growth, which in turn capped gains in the Aussie.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil had a slight surge near the $90.30 per barrel, easing from recent highs amid hopes of a ceasefire, which reduced immediate supply fears. However, prices remained elevated, reflecting ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
Gold surged toward the $4,550 region, benefiting from falling yields and easing oil-driven inflation fears, while still drawing support from lingering geopolitical uncertainty.
What’s next in the docket:
Thursday, March 26:
- Germany GfK Consumer Confidence (Apr).
- Eurozone Gross Domestic Product (Q4).
- Germany Bundesbank Monthly Report.
- United States Initial Jobless Claims.
- New Zealand ANZ – Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence (Mar).
Friday, March 27:
- UK March Consumer Confidence.
- UK February Retail Sales.
- Eurozone March Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices Prel.
- US March Michigan Consumer Sentiment & Inflation Expectations.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
Author
Agustin Wazne
FXStreet
Agustin Wazne joined FXStreet as a Junior News Editor, focusing on Commodities and covering Majors.
