Select Language

Forex Today: US Dollar consolidates weekly gains as focus shifts to US confidence data

Breaking news

Forex Today: US Dollar consolidates weekly gains as focus shifts to US confidence data

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS
update 2025.07.18 16:37
Forex Today: US Dollar consolidates weekly gains as focus shifts to US confidence data

update 2025.07.18 16:37

Here is what you need to know on Friday, July 18:

The action in financial markets remain relatively subdued early Friday and the US Dollar (USD) Index consolidates its weekly gains at around 98.50. In the second half of the day, Housing Starts and Building Permits data for June will be featured in the US economic calendar. Later in the American session, the University of Michigan will release the Consumer Sentiment Index for July.

US Dollar PRICE This week

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies this week. US Dollar was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.

USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF
USD 0.37% 0.45% 1.06% 0.27% 0.89% 0.76% 0.64%
EUR -0.37% 0.06% 0.71% -0.11% 0.51% 0.36% 0.26%
GBP -0.45% -0.06% 0.58% -0.17% 0.45% 0.33% 0.33%
JPY -1.06% -0.71% -0.58% -0.67% -0.17% -0.24% -0.38%
CAD -0.27% 0.11% 0.17% 0.67% 0.61% 0.50% 0.37%
AUD -0.89% -0.51% -0.45% 0.17% -0.61% -0.15% -0.25%
NZD -0.76% -0.36% -0.33% 0.24% -0.50% 0.15% -0.13%
CHF -0.64% -0.26% -0.33% 0.38% -0.37% 0.25% 0.13%

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).

The USD gathered strength against its rivals on the back of upbeat macroeconomic data releases on Thursday. Retail Sales in the US rose by 0.6% on a monthly basis in June, surpassing the market expectation for an increase of 0.1% by a wide margin, and weekly Initial Jobless Claims declined to 221,000 from 228,000 in the previous week. The USD Index gained more than 0.3% on the day and the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite indexes both closed at new record highs, rising 0.55% and 0.75%, respectively.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Christopher Waller said late Thursday that he continues to believe that the Fed should cut its interest rate target at the July meeting, citing mounting economic risks and the strong likelihood that tariff-induced inflation will not drive a persistent rise in price pressures.

After touching its lowest level in three weeks below 1.1560 on Thursday, EUR/USD benefits from the modest USD weakness early Friday and trades in positive territory above 1.1600. The European economic calendar will feature Construction Output data for May.

GBP/USD clings to modest daily gains above 1.3400 after closing virtually unchanged on Thursday.

AUD/USD stages a rebound after posting large losses on Thursday and trades at around 0.6500 in the European session on Friday.

Following Wednesday's sharp decline, USD/JPY rose about 0.5% on Thursday. The pair holds its ground early Friday and edges higher toward 149.00.

Gold dropped below $3,310 in the early American session on Thursday but erased a large portion of its daily losses to close near $3,340. XAU/USD struggles to find direction early Friday and fluctuates in a narrow channel near $3,345.

Risk sentiment FAQs

In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms "risk-on" and "risk off'' refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a "risk-on" market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a "risk-off" market investors start to 'play it safe' because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest.

Typically, during periods of "risk-on", stock markets will rise, most commodities - except Gold - will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a "risk-off" market, Bonds go up - especially major government Bonds - Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit.

The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are "risk-on". This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity.

The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of "risk-off" are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world's reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them - even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.


Date

Created

 : 2025.07.18

Update

Last updated

 : 2025.07.18

Related articles


Show more

FXStreet

Financial media

arrow
FXStreet

FXStreet is a forex information website, delivering market analysis and news articles 24/7.
It features a number of articles contributed by well-known analysts, in addition to the ones by its editorial team.
Founded in 2000 by Francesc Riverola, a Spanish economist, it has grown to become a world-renowned information website.

Was this article helpful?

We hope you find this article useful. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  
We are also looking for writers with extensive experience in forex and crypto to join us.

please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.

Most viewed

DXY: CPI report can be a binary risk - OCBC

US Dollar (USD) traded a touch firmer overnight, but the moves were well within recent range. DXY was last at 98.50 levels, OCBC's FX analysts Frances Cheung and Christopher Wong note.
New
update2025.08.12 17:18

Silver price forecast: XAG/USD climbs to near $38.00 due to US-China trade truce

Silver price (XAG/USD) gains ground after registering around 2% losses in the previous session, trading around $37.80 per troy ounce during the European hours on Tuesday.
New
update2025.08.12 17:16

RBA: Cash rate lowered, outlook still cautious - Commerzbank

This morning, the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.6%, Commerzbank's FX analyst Volkmar Baur notes.
New
update2025.08.12 17:15

EUR: Eyes on ZEW and Ukraine headlines - ING

This morning we'll see an important gauge of the impact on eurozone sentiment of the US-EU deal in the German ZEW release for August.
New
update2025.08.12 17:14

Dow Jones futures bounce back ahead of US inflation data for July

Dow Jones futures attract significant bids in the overnight session on Tuesday. United States (US) equity futures rebound as both the United States (US) and China have confirmed that they agreed to postpone the tariff truce for 90 days.
New
update2025.08.12 16:42

NZD/USD holds losses below 0.5950 ahead of US CPI data

NZD/USD extends its losses for the second successive session, trading around 0.5930 during the early European hours on Tuesday. The pair faces challenges as the US Dollar (USD) remains stable amid market caution ahead of the US consumer inflation data, due later in the North American session.
New
update2025.08.12 16:21

Pound Sterling gains on upbeat UK employment data

The Pound Sterling (GBP) attracts significant bids against its major peers on Tuesday after the release of the upbeat United Kingdom (UK) labor market data for the three-months ending June.
New
update2025.08.12 16:17

GBP/JPY holds above 199.00 as UK employment data beats expectations

The Pound remains near year-to-date highs, consolidating gains, after rallying for six consecutive days.
New
update2025.08.12 16:06

Forex Today: RBA cuts policy rate by 25 bps, eyes on US inflation data

Here is what you need to know on Tuesday, August 12:
New
update2025.08.12 15:59

EUR/GBP softens to below 0.8650 after UK employment data

The EUR/GBP cross loses traction to around 0.8640 during the early European session on Tuesday. The Pound Sterling (GBP) strengthens against the Euro (EUR) after the UK employment data. Traders will keep an eye on the Zew Survey from the Eurozone and Germany later on Tuesday.
New
update2025.08.12 15:36

Disclaimer:arw

All information and content provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to solicit any investment. Although all efforts are made in order to ensure that the information is correct, no guarantee is provided for the accuracy of any content on this website. Any decision made shall be the responsibility of the investor and Myforex does not take any responsibility whatsoever regarding the use of any information provided herein.

The content provided on this website belongs to Myforex and, where stated, the relevant licensors. All rights are reserved by Myforex and the relevant licensors, and no content of this website, whether in full or in part, shall be copied or displayed elsewhere without the explicit written permission of the relevant copyright holder. If you wish to use any part of the content provided on this website, please ensure that you contact Myforex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LINE

Myforex uses cookies to improve the convenience and functionality of this website. This website may include cookies not only by us but also by third parties (advertisers, log analysts, etc.) for the purpose of tracking the activities of users. Cookie policy

I agree
share
Share
Cancel