Ethereum (ETH) surged above $2,400 on Friday, driven by positive developments in the US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. Iran announced that it has opened the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump confirmed that the US would prohibit Israel from attacking Lebanon.

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).

Silver price surges over 4% on Friday, reclaims $81.00 a troy ounce as the Greenback gets battered on positive news around the Middle East conflict.

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

The general crypto market surged 4% on Friday, adding over $100 billion in value following Iran's announcement that it has reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships for the duration of the ongoing ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Gold (XAU/USD) price rallies on Friday ahead of the weekend, breaking past the $4,850 level and rising more than 1.50%, as the US-Iran conflict seems to be de-escalating after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, easing inflationary pressures worldwide.

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.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) is losing momentum near 98.00 as safe-haven demand fades on the reopening news, but downside remains limited amid lingering geopolitical risks.

USD/JPY edges lower on Friday as the Japanese Yen (JPY) strengthens against a softer US Dollar (USD), with easing Oil prices providing additional support, given Japan’s heavy reliance on imported energy. At the time of writing, the pair is trading around 158.18, down 0.61% on the day.

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.

The Swiss Franc (CHF) strengthens against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, with USD/CHF on track for a second consecutive weekly decline as the Greenback remains under pressure amid improving market sentiment on hopes of a potential US-Iran deal.

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

US equities ripped higher on Friday as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, paired with Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen to commercial traffic, triggered a broad risk-on rally.

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.

United States Baker Hughes US Oil Rig Count dipped from previous 411 to 410

Cardano (ADA) grinds higher, trading above $0.265 at the time of writing on Friday, as crypto prices broadly rise, buoyed by improving sentiment after Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz has been opened and will remain open during the ceasefire.