Broader US stock indices close higher but near key technical levels heading into the weekend

Economic and event calendar in Asia 03 August 2026 - Australia holiday

We've had the data from NZ already: number of new dwelling consents-3.6% m/m and +32.1% y/y The focus is on the private survey China manufacturing PMI. Official data were not encouraging: This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

ForexliveSingle source

·2d ago

investingLive Americas FX news wrap 31 Jul; It's a wrap for the month of July

The Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 1.00%, as widely expected, although board member Takata dissented in favor of a 25-basis-point rate increase. While the policy decision itself had little lasting impact, traders focused instead on the BOJ's modestly more optimistic economic outlook, ongoing inflation risks, and the possibility that authorities remain willing to act if the yen comes under renewed pressure. Overall, Friday's trading was driven less by broad U.S. dollar flows and more by Japan-specific developments, with intervention speculation keeping the yen at the center of attention while most other major currencies traded in relatively narrow ranges. USD fell 1.07% vs the Japanese yen (USDJPY 157.80). USD fell 0.06% vs the euro (EURUSD 1.1534).For a technical view, USD fell 0.14% vs the British pound (GBPUSD 1.3483). For a technical view, USD fell 0.19% vs the Australian dollar (AUDUSD 0.7038). For a technical view, USD fell 0.24% vs the New Zealand dollar (NZDUSD 0.5892). USD rose 0.32% vs the Swiss franc (USDCHF 0.8076). USD rose 0.06% vs the Canadian dollar (USDCAD 1.4018).For a technical view, In central bank news, the 3 Fed dissenters did give their views which is becoming a tradition on the Friday after the meeting. All three dissenters—Neel Kashkari, Beth Hammack, and Lorie Logan—delivered a consistent message explaining why they favored a 25 basis point rate hike at this week's FOMC meeting. Each argued that inflation remains too high and is not on a credible path back to the Fed's 2% target without additional policy tightening. Kashkari emphasized that repeated supply shocks and growing demand from areas such as data center investment have increased the risk of inflation becoming entrenched, making a series of gradual rate increases the more prudent approach. Hammack stressed that current policy is not restrictive enough, warning that delaying action would only make inflation harder to control while the labor market remains resilient. Logan echoed those concerns, arguing that inflation risks remain skewed to the upside, monetary policy is not sufficiently restraining the economy, and a modest rate hike now would reduce the likelihood of more aggressive tightening later. Collectively, the three dissents reinforced the hawkish view that acting sooner with incremental rate increases is preferable to waiting until inflation forces a more forceful response. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin also spoke and described this week's rate decision as a "close call," signaling that he sees the current policy stance as being near the appropriate level but is not yet convinced that another rate hike is warranted. While acknowledging that inflation pressures continue to filter unevenly through the economy, Barkin remains skeptical that the labor market has strengthened enough to justify additional tightening. He declined to say whether he would have joined the three dissenters who favored a rate increase, leaving his position balanced between the Fed's hold decision and the hawkish push for higher rates. Overall, Barkin appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach, remaining on the fence as he looks for clearer evidence from upcoming inflation and labor market data. The market continued to push yields higher out the curve with the 10 year up 5.1 basis points to 4.714%. The 30 year rose 5.5 basis points today to 5.261%. For the month, yields moved sharply higher with a steepening bias. 2 year rose 9.2 bps 5 year rose 20 bps 10 year +25 bps 30 year 31.6 bps Stock indices closed higher on the day For the month the Nasdaq fell -3.20%, while the Dow and the S&P end the month little changed. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

ForexliveSingle source

·2d ago

investingLive Americas FX news wrap 31 Jul; It's a wrap for the month of July

The Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 1.00%, as widely expected, although board member Takata dissented in favor of a 25-basis-point rate increase. While the policy decision itself had little lasting impact, traders focused instead on the BOJ's modestly more optimistic economic outlook, ongoing inflation risks, and the possibility that authorities remain willing to act if the yen comes under renewed pressure. Overall, Friday's trading was driven less by broad U.S. dollar flows and more by Japan-specific developments, with intervention speculation keeping the yen at the center of attention while most other major currencies traded in relatively narrow ranges. USD fell 1.07% vs the Japanese yen (USDJPY 157.80). USD fell 0.06% vs the euro (EURUSD 1.1534).For a technical view, USD fell 0.14% vs the British pound (GBPUSD 1.3483). For a technical view, USD fell 0.19% vs the Australian dollar (AUDUSD 0.7038). For a technical view, USD fell 0.24% vs the New Zealand dollar (NZDUSD 0.5892). USD rose 0.32% vs the Swiss franc (USDCHF 0.8076). USD rose 0.06% vs the Canadian dollar (USDCAD 1.4018).For a technical view, In central bank news, the 3 Fed dissenters did give their views which is becoming a tradition on the Friday after the meeting. All three dissenters—Neel Kashkari, Beth Hammack, and Lorie Logan—delivered a consistent message explaining why they favored a 25 basis point rate hike at this week's FOMC meeting. Each argued that inflation remains too high and is not on a credible path back to the Fed's 2% target without additional policy tightening. Kashkari emphasized that repeated supply shocks and growing demand from areas such as data center investment have increased the risk of inflation becoming entrenched, making a series of gradual rate increases the more prudent approach. Hammack stressed that current policy is not restrictive enough, warning that delaying action would only make inflation harder to control while the labor market remains resilient. Logan echoed those concerns, arguing that inflation risks remain skewed to the upside, monetary policy is not sufficiently restraining the economy, and a modest rate hike now would reduce the likelihood of more aggressive tightening later. Collectively, the three dissents reinforced the hawkish view that acting sooner with incremental rate increases is preferable to waiting until inflation forces a more forceful response. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin also spoke and described this week's rate decision as a "close call," signaling that he sees the current policy stance as being near the appropriate level but is not yet convinced that another rate hike is warranted. While acknowledging that inflation pressures continue to filter unevenly through the economy, Barkin remains skeptical that the labor market has strengthened enough to justify additional tightening. He declined to say whether he would have joined the three dissenters who favored a rate increase, leaving his position balanced between the Fed's hold decision and the hawkish push for higher rates. Overall, Barkin appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach, remaining on the fence as he looks for clearer evidence from upcoming inflation and labor market data. The market continued to push yields higher out the curve with the 10 year up 5.1 basis points to 4.714%. The 30 year rose 5.5 basis points today to 5.261%. For the month, yields moved sharply higher with a steepening bias. 2 year rose 9.2 bps 5 year rose 20 bps 10 year +25 bps 30 year 31.6 bps Stock indices closed higher on the day For the month the Nasdaq fell -3.20%, while the Dow and the S&P end the month little changed. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

ForexliveSingle source

·2d ago

GBPUSD buyers push the price above a swing area target.

That test proved to be a turning point. Buyers stepped back in aggressively, driving the pair back above yesterday's highs and through the 1.34797 swing level. The break has pushed the GBPUSD to its highest level since July 16, giving buyers more control from a technical perspective. With 1.34797 now broken, the next upside target comes in near 1.3517, followed by the July high at 1.35573. The rebound highlights the importance of the 100-day and 200-day moving averages as a technical barometer. By defending that support, buyers kept the broader bullish bias intact heading into the new trading week. As long as the pair remains above those moving averages, the technical advantage stays with the bulls. A move back below them would be needed to shift control back toward the sellers. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

ForexliveSingle source

Broader US stock indices close higher but near key technical levels heading into the weekend

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Economic and event calendar in Asia 03 August 2026 - Australia holiday

investingLive Americas FX news wrap 31 Jul; It's a wrap for the month of July

investingLive Americas FX news wrap 31 Jul; It's a wrap for the month of July

GBPUSD buyers push the price above a swing area target.

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