US President Donald Trump said he can trust Iranians, according to an interview with ABC News. Trump added that talks will take place only in Islamabad and resume over the weekend.

DBS Group Research expects Singapore’s March 2026 core and headline inflation to rise to 1.6% and 1.8% year-on-year, from 1.4% and 1.2% in February. The report links this to imported energy price pressures after the Middle East conflict.

UBS Chief Economist Paul Donovan assesses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) may affect productivity and whether the European Union (EU) could gain an advantage over the United States (US).

DBS Group Research economists highlight that China’s Q1 2026 GDP growth accelerated to 5.0% year-on-year, driven by strong external demand and resilient industrial production, while domestic demand in consumption, investment and credit stayed weak.

United States CFTC S&P 500 NC Net Positions declined to $-115.8K from previous $-45.7K

United States CFTC Oil NC Net Positions climbed from previous 202.2K to 206.5K

Japan CFTC JPY NC Net Positions increased to ¥-83.2K from previous ¥-93.7K

Japan CFTC JPY NC Net Positions down to ¥-832K from previous ¥-93.7K

Eurozone CFTC EUR NC Net Positions: €26K vs €-7.5K

United Kingdom CFTC GBP NC Net Positions climbed from previous £-56.4K to £-54.7K

United States CFTC Gold NC Net Positions up to $162.5K from previous $156.3K

Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions fell from previous $70.8K to $65.1K

MUFG’s Senior Currency Analyst Lloyd Chan notes that improved diplomatic signals in the Middle East have boosted risk sentiment, softening the US Dollar (USD) and supporting Asian FX. However, high US front-end yields still underpin the Dollar, and bond markets remain cautious.

DBS Group Research expects the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) to keep the 1-year Loan Prime Rate at 3.00% as Chinese growth has firmed and price dynamics improved. The report notes external demand is supporting industrial activity while domestic momentum is uneven.

Christopher Waller, a member of the Federal Reserve (Fed), speaks about the economic outlook and monetary policy at Auburn University in Alabama on Friday. He stated that the break-even rate for the job market is currently likely around zero.

Societe Generale analysts flag that CNY is on course to test 6.80 for the first time in three years, even as the People's Bank of China (PBoC) moderates the pace of appreciation via weaker fixings.

UBS's Chief Economist Paul Donovan highlights that central banks are focused on second-round effects from Gulf developments rather than immediate policy shifts.

Mary Daly, President of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of San Francisco, spoke at the University of California-Berkeley's Fisher Center on Friday. She indicated that, at this point, she is observing whether higher oil prices are affecting the prices of other goods and services.

Citing an Iranian official, Fars News Agency reported on Friday that if the US naval blockade persists, Tehran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire and close the Strait of Hormuz, per Reuters.

Deutsche Bank’s Robin Winkler argues that German manufacturing faces an ongoing "China shock" as Germany’s trade deficit with China has reached a record size and now exceeds its surplus with the US.

Volkmar Baur at Commerzbank flags surging trade and current account surpluses in China, Taiwan and South Korea alongside weak currencies versus Euro (EUR) and, for the Won (KRW), even versus US Dollar (USD).

Danske Research Team reviews Sweden’s March inflation, highlighting a downside surprise in core inflation and energy, driven by a sharper-than-expected fall in electricity prices and broad food price declines.

In a post published on Truth Social on Friday, United States (US) President Donald Trump said that they will get the "nucelar dust" from Iran, created by their B2 bombers.

BNP Paribas economist Hélène Baudchon compares the current Oil and gas price surge linked to the war in Iran with the 2022 energy shock.

In a video statement released on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that they have the opportunity to make a historic deal with Lebanon, per Reuters.

Deutsche Bank analysts flag a sharp rise in 10‑year gilt yields after a report that former United States (US) ambassador Peter Mandelson failed security vetting, with the decision allegedly overruled.

Nordea’s Ole Håkon Eek-Nielsen and Jan von Gerich now expect the ECB to deliver four consecutive 25 bp rate hikes starting in June, despite recent ceasefire news in the Middle East.

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), gave a statement at the fifty-third meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMF) on Friday.

Commerzbank analysts highlight that the International Copper Study Group has already shifted its 2026 view to a deficit and is likely to project further tightening into 2027.

The United States (US) and Iran are currently negotiating a draft agreement aimed at ending the conflict, according to a report by Axios. The talks focus on a three-page memorandum of understanding that includes several measures related to Iran’s nuclear program.