Forex Today: US Dollar surges as Iran tensions keep markets cautious
Here is what you need to know for Friday, March 27:
The US Dollar Index (DXY) surged to near 99.90, holding steady as safe-haven demand amid Middle East tensions and rate differentials underpinned the Greenback amid a cautious market mood. During a recent public appearance with Cabinet members, United States (US) President Donald Trump noted that the recent increase in Oil prices and the drop in the stock market amid tensions with Iran were not as severe as he had expected. He expressed confidence in the war effort and asserted that any economic damage would eventually be reversed.
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Australian Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.23% | 0.30% | 0.18% | 0.27% | 0.83% | 0.80% | 0.40% | |
| EUR | -0.23% | 0.08% | -0.09% | 0.04% | 0.60% | 0.57% | 0.17% | |
| GBP | -0.30% | -0.08% | -0.15% | -0.03% | 0.54% | 0.50% | 0.10% | |
| JPY | -0.18% | 0.09% | 0.15% | 0.09% | 0.66% | 0.61% | 0.23% | |
| CAD | -0.27% | -0.04% | 0.03% | -0.09% | 0.57% | 0.53% | 0.14% | |
| AUD | -0.83% | -0.60% | -0.54% | -0.66% | -0.57% | -0.04% | -0.41% | |
| NZD | -0.80% | -0.57% | -0.50% | -0.61% | -0.53% | 0.04% | -0.39% | |
| CHF | -0.40% | -0.17% | -0.10% | -0.23% | -0.14% | 0.41% | 0.39% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
EUR/USD slipped toward the 1.1530 area, pressured by a stronger US Dollar (USD) and lingering concerns over Eurozone growth following weak PMI data, keeping the pair on the defensive.
GBP/USD fell to the 1.3320 zone, struggling to recover amid USD strength and concerns about United Kingdom (UK) economic growth, which limited upside momentum.
USD/JPY rose to the 159.80 region, supported by elevated US Treasury yields and policy divergence. However, geopolitical tensions provided intermittent support to the Yen, preventing a sharper rally.
AUD/USD moved lower toward a two-month low near 0.6890, weighed down by risk aversion and a firm USD, with global growth concerns capping recovery attempts.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil trades near $94.30 per barrel, holding firm despite earlier easing, as Iran-related uncertainty kept a geopolitical risk premium in prices.
Gold declined toward the $4,380 region, failing to benefit from safe-haven demand amid a stronger USD.
What’s next in the docket:
Friday, March 27:
- UK March Consumer Confidence.
- UK February Retail Sales.
- Eurozone March Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices Prel.
- US March Michigan Consumer Sentiment & Inflation Expectations.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
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