The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies on Thursday, reaching a six-week high versus the yen. This followed strong U.S. jobs data, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve will not rush into further significant interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, Japan’s yen faced selling pressure after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba indicated the country was not ready for additional rate hikes. The euro also remained weak, with bets on a European Central Bank rate cut growing after dovish comments on inflation from ECB officials.
In the broader market, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East added safe-haven demand for the U.S. dollar. Iran’s missile attack on Israel raised concerns of a larger conflict, further boosting the dollar. Investors are also closely watching upcoming U.S. non-farm payroll data, which could influence the pace of Fed rate cuts. Risk-sensitive currencies like the Australian dollar and euro weakened amid the uncertainty, as markets focused on economic fundamentals and geopolitical risks.
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Chinese Stocks Plunge After Rally, While Japanese Markets Gain on Weaker Yen Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Chinese shares in Hong Kong tumbled after a 13-day rally, with the Hang Seng Index dropping 4.5%, its steepest decline in nearly two years. Profit-taking and cautious sentiment paused the surge, which was driven by optimism over China’s economic stimulus. Meanwhile, Japanese stocks rose over 1%, bolstered by a weaker yen after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba signaled that the economy wasn’t ready for another rate hike.
Global markets remain on edge amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, while traders look ahead to Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payroll data to gauge the next Fed move. Oil prices continued to rise as investors watched for Israel’s response to recent missile attacks.