|

US: ISM Manufacturing PMI falls to 55.4 in April versus 57.6 expected

  • The April US ISM Manufacturing PMI was weaker than expected at 55.4, with drops across the major sub-indices. 
  • FX markets did not react to the latest data.  

The headline ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) fell to 55.4 in April from 57.1 in March, below expectations for a small rise to 57.6, according to the latest release by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). That marked the lowest reading since September 2020. 

Subindices:

  • The Prices Paid Index fell a little to 84.6 from 87.1 in March. 
  • The New Orders Index fell a little to 53.5 from 53.8, the lowest reading since May 2020. 
  • The Employment Index dropped to 50.9 from 56.3, larger than the expected drop tp 56.0. 

Market Reaction

Currency markets didn't react much to the latest slightly softer than expected US ISM Manufacturing PMI survey data. The DXY continues to trade in the mid-103.00s, a little higher on the day and eyeing last week's multi-month highs near 104.00.   

Author

Joel Frank

Joel Frank

Independent Analyst

Joel Frank is an economics graduate from the University of Birmingham and has worked as a full-time financial market analyst since 2018, specialising in the coverage of how developments in the global economy impact financial asset

More from Joel Frank
Share:

Editor's Picks

Japanese Yen gains ground as traders await Fed rate decision

The USD/JPY pair loses ground to near 160.25 during the early European trading hours. Traders prefer to wait on the sidelines ahead of the US Federal Reserve interest rate decision under new Chair Kevin Warsh later on Wednesday.

AUD/USD stays pressured; holds above 0.7050 as traders await Fed decision

The AUD/USD pair struggles to capitalize on the previous day's hawkish Reserve Bank of Australia-inspired bounce and trades with a negative bias for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Spot prices, however, hold above the 0.7050 level as traders opt to wait for the outcome of a two-day FOMC policy meeting before placing fresh directional bets.

Gold stabilizes above $4,300 as traders seem hesitant ahead of Fed

Gold corrects lower following the bullish action seen earlier in the week but manages to hold above $4,300 on Wednesday. Traders now seem hesitant ahead of the highly anticipated FOMC policy decision and the revised Summary of Economic Projections, keeping the commodity below the weekly high.

DOGE near breakout, SHIB at its ceiling and PEPE leads meme coin recovery

Meme coins are approaching a key technical level, which could determine the next directional bias. Dogecoin struggles to overcome a major resistance level, and Shiba Inu recovery lost momentum near a crucial barrier. Meanwhile, Pepe extends its rally for a sixth straight day, raising the prospects of further upside if momentum persists.

Federal Reserve set to hold interest rates in Warsh's debut as chair

The United States Federal Reserve announces its interest rate decision on Wednesday, another pivotal meeting for markets to gauge the stance of policymakers and new Chair Kevin Warsh as energy prices retreat after the United States and Iran reached a framework deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Why a hawkish RBA is no longer enough to lift the Australian Dollar

The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered more than what markets expected: a hawkish hold that should have supported the Aussie. But markets widely ignored it, focusing instead on slowing economic growth and proving that central bank messaging alone isn’t always enough to drive currencies.