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EUR/CHF Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.9156; (P) 0.9183; (R1) 0.9202; More....

EUR/CHF is still holding inside range of 0.9155/9264. Intraday bias remains neutral and further rise is in favor. Firm break of 0.9264 will resume the rise from 0.8979 to 0.9394 resistance next. However, break of 0.9155 will turn bias back to the downside for deeper pullback.

In the bigger picture, considering bullish convergence condition in W MACD, a medium term bottom should be in place at 0.8979. Sustained trading above 55 W EMA (now at 0.9280) will add more credence to this case. Further break of 0.9394 resistance will pave the way to 0.9660 resistance next. However rejection by the 55 W EMA will set up another fall through 0.8979 low at a later stage.

USD/CAD Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.3616; (P) 1.3664; (R1) 1.3693; More...

USD/CAD's fall from 1.3965 resumed after brief consolidations and intraday bias is back on the downside. Sustained trading below 61.8% retracement of 1.3480 to 1.3965 at 1.3665 will pave the way to retest 1.3480 low. On the upside, above 1.3708 minor resistance will turn intraday bias neutral again first.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 1.4791 are seen as a corrective pattern to the whole up trend from 1.2005 (2021 low). Deeper fall could be seen, as the pattern extends, to 61.8% retracement of 1.2005 to 1.4791 at 1.3069. However, decisive break of 38.2% retracement of 1.4791 to 1.3480 at 1.3981 will argue that the correction has completed with three waves down to 1.3480 already. Further break of 1.4139 will confirm and bring retest of 1.4791 high.

AUD/USD Daily Report

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.7136; (P) 0.7159; (R1) 0.7200; More...

Intraday bias in AUD/USD remains neutral for consolidations below 0.7221. Downside should be contained above 0.7000 support. On the upside, above 0.7221 will extend the larger up trend to 61.8% projection of 0.6420 to 0.7187 from 0.6832 at 0.7306. However, break of 0.7000 will bring deeper fall back to 0.6832 support instead.

In the bigger picture, rise from 0.5913 (2024 low) is still in progress. Decisive break of 61.8% retracement of 0.8006 to 0.5913 at 0.7206 will solidify the case that it's already reversing the down trend from 0.8006 (2021 high). Further rally should then be seen to retest 0.8006. For now, outlook will remain bullish as long as 0.6832 support holds, in case of pullback.

USD/JPY Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 158.51; (P) 158.86; (R1) 159.16; More...

USD/JPY is extending consolidation pattern from 160.45 and intraday bias remains neutral. Further rise is expected with 157.49 cluster support (38.2% retracement of 152.25 to 160.45 at 157.31) intact. On the upside break of 160.45 will target a retest on 161.94 high. However, firm break of 157.31/49 will bring deeper fall back to 61.8% retracement at 155.38 next.

In the bigger picture, outlook is unchanged that corrective pattern from 161.94 (2024 high) should have completed with three waves at 139.87. Larger up trend from 102.58 (2021 low) could be ready to resume through 161.94. This will remain the favored case as long as 55 W EMA (now at 153.80) holds. Firm break of 161.94 will pave the way to 61.8% projection of 102.58 to 161.94 from 139.87 at 176.75.

USD/CHF Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.7759; (P) 0.7800; (R1) 0.7824; More….

USD/CHF is still bounded in range above 0.7774 and intraday bias stays neutral at this point. Upside of recovery should be limited below 0.7933 resistance to bring another fall. Sustained break of 61.8% retracement of 0.7603 to 0.8041 at 0.7770 will resume the decline from 0.8041 to retest 0.7603 low.

In the bigger picture, rebound from 0.7603 medium term bottom is seen as correcting the fall from 0.9200 only. Rejection by 55 W EMA (now at 0.8059) will affirm this bearish case, and setup down trend resumption to 100% projection of 1.0146 (2022 high) to 0.8332 from 0.9200 at 0.7382 at a later stage. Though, sustained break of 55 W EMA will suggest that it's probably correcting the larger scale down trend from 1.0146 (2022 high).

EUR/USD Daily Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.1746; (P) 1.1768; (R1) 1.1809; More….

Intraday bias in EUR/USD remains neutral as consolidations continue below 1.1848. Further rally is in favor as long as 1.1662 support holds. On the upside, sustained trading above 61.8% retracement of 1.2081 to 1.1408 at 1.1824 will pave the way to retest 1.2081 high. However, firm break of 1.1662 support will bring deeper decline back towards 1.1408 low instead.

In the bigger picture, the strong support from 38.2% retracement of 1.0176 to 1.2081 at 1.1353 suggests that the pullback from 1.2081 is more likely a corrective move. Strong support was also found in 55 W EMA (now at 1.1507). Focus is back on 1.2 key cluster resistance level. Decisive break there will carry long term bullish implications. Nevertheless, break of 1.1408 support will revive the case of medium term bearish trend reversal.

AUD/USD and NZD/USD Flash Early Signs of Bullish Recovery

AUD/USD is attempting a fresh increase from 0.7115. NZD/USD is consolidating and could aim for a move above 0.5930 in the short term.

Important Takeaways for AUD/USD and NZD/USD Analysis Today

  • The Aussie Dollar remained supported above 0.7100 and recovered losses against the US Dollar.
  • There is a rising channel forming with resistance at 0.7200 on the hourly chart of AUD/USD at FXOpen.
  • NZD/USD is consolidating gains above 0.5900 and 0.5890.
  • There is a bullish trend line forming with support at 0.5890 on the hourly chart of NZD/USD at FXOpen.

AUD/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of AUD/USD at FXOpen, the pair formed a base above 0.7100. The Aussie Dollar started a decent increase above 0.7150 against the US Dollar to enter a short-term positive zone.

The bulls even pushed the pair above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 0.7221 swing high to the 0.7114 low and the 50-hour simple moving average. The AUD/USD chart indicates that the pair could struggle to clear the 61.8% Fib retracement at 0.7180.

The first major hurdle for the bulls could be 0.7200. There is also a rising channel forming with resistance at 0.7200. An upside break above 0.7200 might send the pair further higher. The next major target might be 0.7220.

Any more gains could clear the path for a move toward 0.7300. If there is no close above 0.7200, the pair might start a fresh decline. Immediate bid zone could be near 0.7165 and the 50-hour simple moving average.

The next area of interest is 0.7155. If there is a downside break below 0.7155, the pair could extend its decline toward 0.7115. Any more losses might signal a move toward 0.7080.

NZD/USD Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of NZD/USD on FXOpen, the pair also followed AUD/USD. The New Zealand Dollar failed to stay above 0.5920 and corrected gains against the US Dollar.

The pair dipped below 0.5900 and the 50-hour simple moving average. A low was formed at 0.5848, and the pair is now attempting to recover losses. There was a move above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 0.5928 swing high to the 0.5848 low.

Besides, there is a bullish trend line forming with support at 0.5890. The NZD/USD chart suggests that the RSI is above 50, signaling a short-term positive bias. On the upside, the pair is facing resistance near 0.5920.

The next major hurdle for buyers could be near 0.5930. A clear move above 0.5930 might even push the pair toward 0.5950. Any more gains might clear the path for a move toward the 0.6000 pivot zone in the coming sessions.

On the downside, there is support forming near 0.5890 and the 50-hour simple moving average. If there is a downside break below 0.5890, the pair might slide toward 0.5850. Any more losses could lead NZD/USD into a bearish zone to 0.5820.

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UK Unemployment Falls to 4.9% as Wage Growth Slows to Lowest Since Late 2020

UK labor market data for March pointed to a gradual cooling, with payrolled employment slipping by -11k and claimant count rising by 26.8k, above expectations. Wage growth is also easing. Median monthly pay growth edged down from 4.4% yoy to 4.3% yoy

In the three months to February, regular pay growth (excluding bonus) slowed from 3.8% yoy to 3.6% yoy—the lowest since November 2020. This moderation in earnings points to a softening in inflationary pressure from the labor market.

Despite this, the unemployment rate fell from 5.2% to 4.9%, highlighting a mixed picture.

According to Liz McKeown of ONS, payroll numbers have remained broadly flat amid weak hiring, while vacancies have dropped to their lowest in nearly five years.

Data Latest Previous
Payrolled Employment -11k (-0.0%)
Median Monthly Pay Growth 4.3% 4.4%
Claimant Count Change +26.8k
Unemployment Rate 4.9% 5.2%
Pay Growth ex-bonus 3.6% 3.8%

Fulll UK labor market overview release here.

Trump Pushes the Deadline a Day Further in Time

Markets

Oil prices jumped and stocks fell yesterday. It was renewed risk off following the reopening and then closure by Iran again of the Strait of Hormuz and the seizure of an Irian-flagged vessel by the US over the weekend. A barrel of Brent shot up to just shy of $98 at the open before prices started easing slowly throughout the session with a closing price of $94. We’ve witnessed some volatility in late European dealings after president Trump warned it’s “highly unlikely” that the ceasefire would be extended. The two-week truce deadline was widely assumed to be tonight (US time) but Trump yesterday talked about it lapsing Wednesday evening (US time again). The extra day is helpful with both sides, in public at least, showing little signs whatsoever of being on the same page. Some are calling the bluff though and put comfort from Iran - reportedly, we should add - sending a negotiating team to Islamabad after all for a second round of talks today. It may help explain the intraday oil price cooldown as well as the limited drop in US equities in particular. Wall Street fell no more than 0.25%. Core bonds fell with Bunds underperforming Treasuries. German yields rose between 0.4 and 5.1 bps in a bear flattening move. It’s keeping some speculation for an April ECB hike alive but with president Lagarde repeating yesterday that more data is needed, it’s becoming ever unlikely. As long as oil prices stabilize below $100, the central bank could wait and see how things play out first. “So far, we have not seen energy prices rise far enough to push us squarely into our adverse scenario.”, she said. US rates finished marginally higher at the frond end of the curve. The US dollar’s initial strong performance faded during the day. EUR/USD recovered from the lows around 1.173 towards but below the 1.18 barrier. DXY lost some territory. The 98 barrier survived though.

President Trump pushed the deadline a day further in time so that means an additional 24 hours of twiddling thumbs and potential lacklustre trading (not taking into account any possible explosive headlines and tweets). Green equity futures suggest there’s some hope for things not to escalate. In these circumstances it’s impossible to predict the outcome, so the best thing markets can do is how things went in the past. And that more often than not involved TACO. While investors gauge the geopolitics, some attention should also to go the economic calendar. US March retail sales are scheduled for release. The expected boost to the headline print is largely energy-driven since the series are unadjusted for inflation. We’ll be monitoring the underlying series for an actual (early) impact of the Iran war on consumer spending. Trump’s nominee for next Fed chair Warsh will testify before Congress, offering him a chance to map out his view of the institution and policy going forward. Warsh’s appointment is not yet rubberstamped though with one key Republican Senator opposing until the DOJ’s probe into current chair Powell ends.

News & Views

New Zealand inflation accelerated from 0.6% Q/Q in Q4 2025 to 0.9%in Q1 2026 (vs 0.8% consensus estimate). Higher petrol prices were the largest contributor, being up 3.5% Q/Q. Rising costs for pharmaceutical products (+17.7% Q/Q) was another strong driver of quarterly inflation. Other details showed tradeable (goods) CPI sticky at 0.7% Q/Q while non-tradeable (services) CPI accelerated from 0.6% Q/Q to 1.1% Q/Q. On an annual basis inflation held stable above the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s 2-3% target band, at 3.1% (vs 2.9%). For a third quarter in the row, electricity was the largest upward contributor to the annual number, rising by 12.5% Y/Y. Due to the impact of the war in Iran, NZ CPI is expected to rise further above target in Q2, posing the RBNZ with a dilemma in light of weakening growth and rising unemployment (Q4 2025 unemployment rate was the highest since Q3 2015). NZ money markets attach a 40% probability to a rate hike in May when the central bank publishes new quarterly forecasts. By the following, July, meeting, a 25 bps rate increase is fully discounted. NZD/USD this morning tests the recent tops around 0.5925.

Bloomberg reports that technical tests of the Druzhba pipeline are set to take place today. The pipeline supplies Hungary and Slovakia before it was damaged by a Russian attack in January. Previous Hungarian PM Orban tied the start of disbursements of a €90bn loan to Ukraine to the resumption of oil flows. The new government showed readiness to lift this block immediately if oil shipments restart. Last week, Slovakian PM Fico also changed tack by saying that he will not disrupt EU unity on the loan for Ukraine.

Between Hope and Reality

The week started on a sour note as tensions in the Middle East flared up again over the weekend, and uncertainty remains over what will happen when the two-week ceasefire agreement comes to an end on Wednesday evening, Washington time. Major US and European indices kicked off the week by giving back last week’s gains. That leaves the tech-heavy S&P 500 just a touch below its record high, and the Stoxx 600 some 2.30% lower compared to its February ATH.

Futures are back in positive territory this morning on hopes that the US and Iran will reach an agreement before the Wednesday deadline. That would match the almost two-month pattern of “tensions rise over the weekend, markets sell off on Monday, hesitate on Tuesday, sentiment improves on optimistic — but not necessarily substantiated — announcements from the US, markets rally into Friday, and the weekend brings fresh bad news.”

Crude oil gave back much of its early-week jump during yesterday’s session. US crude retreated nearly 5%, to close Monday up 2.80%, while Brent crude ended the session up only 1.50% and is consolidating near $95pb this morning. As a result, energy stocks barely benefited from the early gains. The SPDR energy sector ETF was broadly flat, reflecting oil’s inability to consolidate gains despite geopolitical tensions.

Why are oil prices falling when the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and prolonged disruptions are expected to constrain energy supply for months? Kuwait Petroleum Corp, for example, declared force majeure yesterday on crude and refined product shipments, saying it won’t be able to meet full obligations due to circumstances beyond its control. The longer the Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist, the scarcer energy becomes, considering that around 20% of global oil flows used to transit through the strait before the conflict. Houthis are also threatening to attack vessels rerouted via the Red Sea. It would take years — investment and sustainably higher oil prices compared to pre-war levels — for other producers like Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela to help fill the gap. So why the pullback? Is it just hope?

The answer is likely no. Hope plays a role, but other factors are at work. First, releases from strategic reserves may have temporarily supported supply, though these buffers are diminishing. But more importantly, demand destruction is already underway. Reports suggest European refineries, for example, have reduced demand due to higher input costs — putting downward pressure on prices. This aligns with what we discussed at the start of the conflict: oil prices cannot rise indefinitely, as higher prices ultimately curb demand.

Looking at price action, a downside correction trend appears to be forming despite intense geopolitical uncertainty. From a technical perspective, US crude remains in a bearish consolidation zone below $94pb, which aligns with the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of this year’s rally, and could retreat toward the $80–87pb range, with or without a resolution in the Middle East — although a peace scenario would likely accelerate the move.

What does this mean for the energy complex? Energy stocks could come under pressure alongside oil prices. On Friday, the SPDR energy ETF has slipped into a medium-term bearish consolidation zone after falling below its own 38.2% Fibonacci retracement. That said, recent price spikes should support earnings, and upcoming results from energy majors will be key. Strong earnings and potential buybacks could help put a floor under the downside.

Elsewhere, technology stocks — particularly AI-related names — are back in focus as recent earnings helped ease concerns about heavy AI spending and uncertain return timelines. The sector continues to operate in its own lane, with ongoing expansion in AI models and applications driving demand for infrastructure. In this context, Marvell Technology surged nearly 6% yesterday after reports that Google is developing new AI chips to compete with Nvidia, while Amazon is investing another $5bn in Anthropic and may add up to $20bn more to stay in course. The Roundhill Magnificent 7 ETF rebounded from a key Fibonacci support level, avoiding a move into medium-term bearish consolidation. With valuations appearing more attractive, investors seem willing to look past concerns around leverage and returns.

Zooming out, the geopolitical and macro backdrop remains fragile, and investors are turning to data to gauge the economic impact of the Iran conflict. Later today, US retail sales are expected to have risen in March, largely due to higher energy prices, while ex-energy sales may show signs of pressure.

The US 2-year yield has eased since its late-March peak, as markets bet that higher energy prices could weigh on growth and eventually prompt a more accommodative monetary stance despite inflation risks.

Today, all eyes turn to Kevin Warsh’s Senate hearing for signals on where Federal Reserve (Fed) policy may be headed next. Warsh has argued that AI-driven productivity gains could help offset inflation, potentially allowing the Fed to cut rates despite a short-term energy-driven price spike. If he maintains that stance, short-term yields could ease further, supporting equities. However, he has also been critical of the Fed’s large balance sheet, and any push for faster normalization could tighten liquidity.

In any case, Fed funds futures are not pricing a rate cut before December. That outlook remains highly dependent on developments in the Middle East and could shift quickly. For now, uncertainty remains the only certainty — but equity markets appear relatively unfazed.