Japan Foreign Investment in Japan Stocks down to ¥1B in May 22 from previous ¥949.6B

Bitcoin (BTC) tipped below $75,000 on Wednesday, with onchain data suggesting a market defined by cautious optimism rather than strong bullish conviction, according to a Wednesday report from Glassnode.

Sterling traders are spending the week parsing the wrong calendar.

The Aussie Dollar finally tripped on Wednesday, dropping nearly 2% against the New Zealand Dollar. AUD/NZD had been grinding to generational highs near 1.2300, fuelled by a story of relative central bank divergence that always looked a little overcooked.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Anna Breman's commentary was exactly what you'd expect from a central banker who just held rates while half her own committee voted to hike: a tidy list of reasons the bank is right to do nothing today, paired with a tidy list of reasons it will absolutely

United States API Weekly Crude Oil Stock climbed from previous -9.1M to -2.8M in May 22

Fed Governor Lisa Cook crossed the wires, saying the right course of action is to keep rates steady due to upside risks to inflation, which is moving in the “wrong direction.”

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) released its Q1 2026 report on Wednesday, revising down 2026 GDP growth from 1.6% to 1.1%. The Mexican institution blamed a “considerably weaker” first-quarter performance, warning that investment could remain weak at least until the second half of 2026.

Iran's state broadcaster said Wednesday that Tehran had received an initial draft of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) framework with the United States, one that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and pull US forces back from Iranian territory.

BNY’s Geoff Yu says APAC’s hawkish rate surprises, including Sri Lanka’s 100 bp hike, have failed to revive front-end fixed income flows. Sub-1y flows remain negative, while higher US rate expectations and import bills keep IDR, INR and North Asia FX under pressure.

Silver price drops nearly 2.80% on Wednesday as it breaks the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $75.77, which opened the door to clear the $75.00 mark. At the time of writing, the XAG/USD trades at $74.74, after reaching a daily high of $77.52.

TD Securities analysts highlight that United States (US) consumer confidence from the Conference Board slipped only marginally in May and continues to outperform other sentiment gauges.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against a basket of six major currencies, reverses earlier losses on Wednesday as traders digest the latest developments surrounding US-Iran negotiations.

The US President Donald Trump crossed the wires and said that the US is not easing sanctions on Iran and that the US would not unfreeze Iranian assets. He added that he is “not comfortable with Russia or China taking Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.”

BNY’s Geoff Yu highlights strong flows into EM food producers as supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz and higher fertilizer and energy costs push food prices up policymakers’ agendas.

Gold (XAU/USD) plungesmore than 1% on Wednesday as the Greenback recovers some ground, pairing some of its earlier losses, while risk appetite shifted to neutral amid speculation that US-Iran negotiations could stall. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $4,443, its lowest level since March 30.

Commerzbank’s commodity team, led by Barbara Lambrecht and colleagues, argues that Brent has fallen back below USD 100 as markets price in a potential Iran deal, but a rapid normalization of Gulf exports is unlikely.

Scotiabank’s strategists Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret highlight the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as a notable G10 outperformer, supported by a hawkish hold from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).

United States 5-Year Note Auction climbed from previous 3.955% to 4.182%

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) economists Nathan Janzen and Annie Zheng highlight that Canada’s current high unemployment rate is masking longer-term labour supply challenges.

AUD/USD attracts sellers on Wednesday as softer-than-expected Australian inflation data weighs on the Australian Dollar (AUD), while persistent uncertainty surrounding a potential US-Iran peace deal keeps the US Dollar (USD) supported.

The Greenback traded in a vacillating fashion on Wednesday, always against the backdrop of the unabated uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, at the time when bets for Fed rate hikes continued to gather pace.

Near Protocol (NEAR) edges lower on Wednesday, holding above the $2.50 support. The drawdown can be partly attributed to broader crypto market volatility as investors continue to assess geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and to profit-taking following its over 100% rally in May.

Russia Industrial Output above expectations (1.6%) in April: Actual (1.9%)

TD Securities’ James Rossiter argues that recent UK GDP data may overstate underlying momentum due to problematic seasonal adjustment by the ONS.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is having its moment, holding a modest gain near 50,700 in the mid-session while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite quietly leak red.

The British Pound edges lower against the US Dollar as cautious market sentiment surrounding US-Iran talks supports the Greenback. At the time of writing, GBP/USD is trading around 1.3429, remaining on the back foot for a second straight day.