The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) trades lower against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday, weighed by a moderate risk-averse sentiment as tensions in the Middle East grow.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) underperforms its major currency peers on Tuesday, with USD/JPY trading 0.16% higher at around 159.70 during the European trading session.

United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann note USD/JPY’s slight increase in upward momentum after trading between 158.82 and 159.59 still falls short of signaling a sustained advance, keeping intraday price action likely confined to 159.00–159.80.

EUR/CAD depreciates after three days of gains, trading around 1.1570 during the European hours on Tuesday. The pair loses ground as the Euro (EUR) remains subdued following the release of German ZEW Survey data.

The British Pound (GBP) is down 0.1% to near 1.3530 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Tuesday. The British currency comes under pressure after the release of the United Kingdom (UK) employment data for three months ending June.

USD/CAD extends its losses for the fourth successive day, trading around 1.3870 during the European hours on Tuesday. The currency pair depreciates as the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) gains support from firming crude oil prices.

MUFG’s Halpenny notes that EUR/USD remains capped near its 200-day moving average at 1.1630 and is 2.5%-3.0% overvalued in the bank’s short-term model.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) trades almost flat at around 0.7100 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Tuesday, but is close to its over two-month high of 0.7130 posted on Monday.

Commerzbank FX analyst Michael Pfister highlights that the Canadian Dollar’s recent weakness contrasts with a fragile recovery in Canada’s real economy.

The British Pound (GBP) edges higher against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on Tuesday and extends gains for the third consecutive day, despite the mixed UK employment figures seen earlier on the day.

United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann highlight that AUD/USD strength remains intact after a jump to 0.7129, though overbought conditions should confine intraday moves to a 0.7090–0.7130 band.

ING’s Chris Turner reports a firmer EUR/GBP after UK labour data, with economist James Smith highlighting a cool jobs market and minimal wage pressures, implying little impetus for Bank of England hikes this year.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) accelerates its decline as the US Dollar (USD) draws support from a sourer market mood, with investors wary of a re-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The USD/CAD pair struggles to capitalize on the overnight bounce from its lowest level since June 3, around the 1.3845 zone, also representing the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) support, and oscillates in a narrow band on Tuesday.

Here is what you need to know on Tuesday, August 18:

The EUR/GBP cross posts modest gains near 0.8550 during the early European trading hours on Tuesday. The British Pound (GBP) attracts some sellers against the Euro (EUR) following the UK employment data. Traders brace for the ZEW Survey from Germany and the Eurozone later on Tuesday.

The British Pound (GBP) extends its reversal against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday as June’s UK unemployment data fails to convince investors in an already risk-off market, as tensions in the Middle East rise.

The British Pound (GBP) faces selling pressure against the Japanese Yen (JPY) after the release of the United Kingdom (UK) labor market data for three months ending in June, dropping to near 215.95.

United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann report that EUR/USD briefly broke above major resistance at 1.1610 to 1.1614 before fading, leaving the Euro in a near-term consolidation between 1.1560 and 1.1600.

The Swiss Franc (CHF) trades marginally lower against the US Dollar (USD) in the early European trading session on Tuesday, with the USD/CHF pair edging up to near 0.8116.

The Indian Rupee (INR) edges up against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday. The USD/INR ticks lower to near 95.67 after refreshing the three-week high at 95.85 in the opening session. The Indian currency has gained slight strength due to potential Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) intervention.

The EUR/USD pair loses traction to around 1.1575, snapping the three-day winning streak during the early European session on Tuesday. The Euro (EUR) edges lower against the US Dollar (USD) as traders remain cautious about the US-Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

The AUD/USD pair turns lower following a modest Asian session uptick on Tuesday, awaiting a break below the 0.7100 mark before extending the previous day's retracement from the highest level since June 5.

EUR/JPY extends its winning streak for the fourth successive day, trading around 184.80 during the Asian hours on Tuesday.

The AUD/JPY cross trades in positive territory around 113.40 during the early European trading hours on Tuesday. The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakens against the Australian Dollar (AUD) amid mounting fiscal concerns and persistent inflationary pressures.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) trades close to its two-week low against the US Dollar (USD) in the Asian trading session on Tuesday at around 159.50. The USD/JPY pair is under pressure even as financial markets are confident about a Bank of Japan (BoJ) interest rate hike in the September meeting.

The NZD/USD pair declines to around 0.5895 during the Asian trading hours on Tuesday. Weaker-than-expected Chinese Retail Sales and Industrial Production data weigh on the China-proxy New Zealand Dollar (NZD) against the US Dollar (USD). 

Silver price (XAG/USD) declines after two days of gains, trading around $65.60 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Tuesday.

The USD/CAD pair struggles to build on the overnight bounce from the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) support near the 1.3845 region, or the lowest level since June 3, and is seen consolidating during the Asian session on Tuesday.

The GBP/USD pair gains momentum to around 1.3550 during the early Asian trading hours on Tuesday. The US Dollar (USD) softens against the British Pound (GBP) as cooler US inflation data have prompted traders to reduce bets on a US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike.