The USD/JPY pair is trading near the 159.20 price region, having surged roughly 100 pips from its intraday low and posting modest daily gains as markets continue to digest developments in the Middle East and shifting expectations around central bank policy.

EUR/USD trades lower around 1.1770 on Thursday at the time of writing, down 0.24% on the day and bringing an end to a sequence of eight consecutive days of gains.

USD/CHF edges higher on Thursday as the US Dollar (USD) stages a modest recovery after eight consecutive days of losses, putting pressure on the Swiss Franc (CHF). At the time of writing, the pair is trading around 0.7828, up nearly 0.11% on the day.

BNY’s Bob Savage notes that Japanese equities have reclaimed record highs, but international allocations to Japan and Japanese Yen (JPY) hedges have not fully normalized. JPY remains pressured by persistent foreign hedging and limited Japanese outflows.

Rabobank’s Senior FX Strategist Jane Foley highlights that the Australian Dollar (AUD) is the best performing G10 currency year-to-date, supported by expectations of further Reserve Bank of Australia tightening.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) outperforms its major currency peers, except the Canadian Dollar (CAD), during the European trading session on Thursday.

Lee Hardman at MUFG observes that both Euro (EUR) and Pound (GBP) have fully reversed their initial Middle East conflict losses versus the US Dollar (USD), helped by falling European energy prices and stronger United Kingdom (UK) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data.

BNY reports that European Central Bank (ECB) officials are signaling a preference to hold rates at the April meeting, despite Eurozone inflation rising to 2.6% year-on-year in March. Policymakers stress the need for more data given Iran-related growth and oil risks.

EUR/JPY loses 0.15% on Thursday, trading near 187.30 at the time of writing and extending its consolidation above the 187.00 level seen since the beginning of the week.

The GBP/USD pair trades 0.1% lower to near 1.3545 during the European trading session on Thursday, struggling to extend the rally above the 1.3600 hurdle.

MUFG’s Senior Currency Analyst Lee Hardman notes that the Japanese Yen (JPY) has remained weak even as the Dollar has corrected lower, with USD/JPY still threatening the 160.00 level.

The US Dollar (USD) has retraced previous losses against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on Thursday, returning to levels right above 159.00 at the time of writing, as the US-Iran rift over the Strait of Hormuz dampens optimism about the peace process.

EUR/CHF trades around 0.9230 on Thursday at the time of writing, virtually unchanged on the day. The pair is nevertheless rebounding from its intraday low of 0.9198 reached earlier in the day, following the release of the Eurozone’s March inflation data.

Eurozone Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (MoM) above forecasts (1.2%) in March: Actual (1.3%)

Eurozone Core Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (MoM) remains at 0.8% in March

Eurozone Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (YoY) registered at 2.6% above expectations (2.5%) in March

Eurozone Core Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (YoY) meets forecasts (2.3%) in March

The US Dollar (USD) is trading practically flat against the Swiss Franc (CHF) on Thursday, with the USD/CHF pair holding above the 0.7800 area for now, yet upside attempts are capped below Monday’s highs at 0.7830, as hopes of a resolution of the Middle East Conflict are weighing on the safe-haven G

AUD/JPY continues its winning streak that began on April 6, trading around 114.10 during the European hours on Thursday. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests a bullish bias as the currency cross moves upwards within the ascending channel pattern.

ING’s Chris Turner notes that EUR/USD has fully retraced its March losses, helped by fading expectations for an April ECB hike while a June hike remains priced. The ECB is seen keeping a hike option open as it assesses scenarios.

The US Dollar (USD) extends losses against the Canadian Dollar (CAD) for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, amid broad-based weakness in the USD as investors raise their bets on a resolution of the Middle East conflict.

Commerzbank’s Volkmar Baur writes that the Australian Dollar is supported by resilient labor market data, with unemployment steady at 4.3% and 18,000 jobs added in March. However, sentiment indicators have weakened, inflation expectations have risen, and refinery disruptions raise supply risks.

The NZD/USD pair struggles to capitalize on its intraday move up to over a one-month high, though it retains its positive bias for the fourth straight day on Thursday.

The AUD/USD pair posts a fresh multi-year high around 0.7200 during the European trading session on Thursday. The Aussie pair demonstrates strength as the Australian Dollar (AUD) outperforms its peers amid a continuous risk-on market mood.

The EUR/GBP cross trades in negative territory around 0.8695 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. The Pound Sterling (GBP) strengthens against the Euro (EUR) on the upbeat UK economic data. 

The (EUR) edges up against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday, trading right above 1.1800 at the time of writing, on track for a nine-day rally.

The Pound Sterling (GBP) attracts bids against its major currency peers, trading 0.14% higher to near 1.3580 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Thursday after the release of the stronger-than-projected United Kingdom (UK) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for February

Commerzbank’s FX team, including Charlie Lay, Dr. Henry Hao and Moses Lim, notes that USD/INR was flat near 93.38 after intraday volatility, with the Indian Rupee (INR) still pressured by elevated commodity prices and structural deficits.

The Indian Rupee (INR) opens slightly higher against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday. The USD/INR pair edges down to near 93.28 as the US Dollar (USD) faces intense selling pressure due to improving hopes of a permanent ceasefire between the United States (US) and Iran.

The USD/JPY cross attracts fresh sellers following the previous day's modest rise and drops to over a one-week low, around the 158.25 region during the Asian session on Thursday.