US retail sales up 0.3% m-o-m in April; March figures revised higher

Haresh Menghani FXStreet

The US Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of US retail and food services sales for April 2018:

• Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April 2018 were $497.6 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent from the previous month, and 4.7 percent above April 2017.
• Total sales for the February 2018 through April 2018 period were up 4.6 percent from the same period a year ago.
• The February 2018 to March 2018 percent change was revised from up 0.6 percent to up 0.8 percent.
• Retail trade sales were up 0.4 percent from March 2018, and 4.8 percent above last year.
• Gasoline Stations were up 11.7 percent from April 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were up 9.6 percent from last year.

Author

Haresh Menghani

FXStreet

Haresh Menghani is a detail-oriented professional with 10+ years of extensive experience in analysing the global financial markets.

GBP/USD flirts with monthly lows around 1.3300

GBP/USD sets aside Friday’s uptick and retreats markedly toward the 1.3300 yardstcik on Monday. Falling crude oil prices following a pause in the Middle East conflict in combination with the recent soft reading in UK inflation appear to play against any BoE tightening ahead of the bank’s event later in the week.

EUR/USD fades the initial move above 1.1400

EUR/USD loses bullish momentum and slips back below the 1.1400 region at the beginning of the week. Hopes of a de-escalation in the Middle East appears to lend support to the pair, although uncertainty persists over whether the US and Iran can reach a lasting solution.

Gold trims early gains as Oil prices and US Dollar rebound, Fed decision looms

Gold (XAU/USD) opens the week with a bullish gap on Monday but struggles to build on its early advance as optimism over a temporary pause in attacks between the United States (US) and Iran fades and Oil prices recover from intraday lows. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades around $4,083 after briefly climbing above $4,100, up 0.77% on the day.

Bitcoin holds above key support amid ETF inflows, US-Iran bombing pause

Bitcoin (BTC) holds above the key 200-week Simple Moving Average (SMA) around $63,500, having posted four consecutive weeks of gains. Institutional demand shows mild signs of improvement with spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) posting inflows for a third consecutive week.

Bitcoin options traders are dropping their hedges going into the Fed meeting

Bitcoin's options market has turned notably less defensive over the past month, unwinding the downside protection traders built up in June just as the Federal Reserve prepares to meet.

US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?

The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.