Central-bank week: Fed, ECB and BoJ in focus as oil holds above $100
Markets head into the week with the US dollar index firm near its 52-week high of 102.94 and gold under heavy pressure after a 3.4% weekly decline [1]. UK inflation surprised to the upside in September, headline CPI at 3.5% and core at 2.8%, cementing bets on a Bank of England rate hike on 5 November [2][3][4]. Japan's core CPI returned above the Bank of Japan's 2% target for the first time since December, at 2.1%, with the core-core gauge jumping to 2.4% [5][6]. Eurozone business activity slowed more than expected in October, with the composite PMI falling to 51.9 [7]. Oil has risen sharply on Middle East supply fears, with WTI near $103 and Brent above $114 [8].
The coming week tests whether major central banks keep tightening even as growth signals soften. The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold its policy rate at 4.00% on Wednesday after a run of resilient data, including a US flash services PMI of 57.9 and a hot September eurozone PPI backdrop [9][10][11]. The Bank of Japan is widely expected to hold rates at its October meeting while possibly raising its inflation forecast, even as a Reuters poll points to a hike to 1.50% in December [12][13][14]. The European Central Bank meets with its refinancing rate seen unchanged at 2.65% [11], while the Reserve Bank of Australia's deputy governor has flagged an inflation outlook "materially worse" than forecast ahead of Wednesday's CPI data [15][16][17]. UK Chancellor John Healey's Autumn Budget on 28 October adds a fiscal dimension just ahead of the BoE's November decision [4][11].
EUR/USD closed at 1.1204, below both its 50-day (1.1363) and 200-day (1.1524) moving averages, with nearest support at 1.1161 and resistance at 1.1269 [1]. USD/JPY closed at 156.82, also below its moving averages, with support at 156.35 and resistance at 158.94 [1]. Gold (XAU/USD) closed at 3,994, down 3.4% over the week, with RSI at 30 and support at 3,961 [1]. WTI crude closed at 103.27, up 11.8% over four weeks and trading above its 50- and 200-day moving averages, with resistance at 106.75 [1]. The S&P 500 closed at 7,624, inside a range between support at 7,508 and resistance at 7,772, with the US 10-year Treasury yield at 5.00%, down 8 basis points over the week [1].
A Federal Reserve statement or press conference that signals a firmer path for December tightening, rather than the steady hold markets expect, could add further support to the dollar and pressure gold and EUR/USD [18][9]. A Bank of Japan decision that goes beyond a simple inflation-forecast upgrade, or renewed board dissent as seen in September, would matter for USD/JPY and JGB yields [12][13][19]. A stronger-than-expected Australian CPI print on 28 October would raise the odds of an RBA hike on 3 November, a factor already supporting AUD/USD [16][15]. Daily closes beyond the reference levels in [1], such as EUR/USD through 1.1269 or 1.1161, or gold through 3,961, would mark a shift from the current ranges.
Tue 27 Oct, 14:00 GMT: US CB Consumer Confidence (consensus 80.5, prior 81.9).
Wed 28 Oct, 00:30 GMT: Australia CPI y/y (consensus 4.2%, prior 4.0%) and Trimmed Mean CPI m/m (consensus 0.3%, prior 0.2%).
Wed 28 Oct, 12:30 GMT: UK Autumn Budget and Forecast Statement.
Wed 28 Oct, 13:45 GMT: Bank of Canada Overnight Rate decision (consensus 2.50%, prior 2.25%).
Wed 28 Oct, 18:00 GMT: FOMC Statement and Federal Funds Rate (consensus 4.00%, prior 4.00%), followed by press conference.
Thu 29 Oct, 12:30 GMT: US Advance GDP q/q (consensus 3.2%, prior 1.5%) and Core PCE Price Index m/m (consensus 0.3%, prior 0.2%).
Thu 29 Oct, 13:15 GMT: ECB Monetary Policy Statement, Main Refinancing Rate (consensus 2.65%, prior 2.65%), and press conference.
Fri 30 Oct, 02:30 GMT: BoJ Monetary Policy Statement and Policy Rate decision, followed by Outlook Report and press conference.
Fri 30 Oct, 06:29 GMT: German Prelim CPI m/m (consensus 0.1%, prior 0.6%).
- Daily prices: EODHD and Yahoo Finance; trend, levels and RSI computed by Praevis
- FXStreet: British Pound holds gains above 1.3400 as hot CPI data fuels BoE rate hike bets
- FXStreet: British Pound: BoE hike prospects underpin resilience – MUFG
- CNBC (economy): UK inflation jumps to 3.5% — cementing rate hike expectations
- investingLive: Japan core inflation tops BoJ’s 2% target for first time since December, yen firms
- Economic Times Markets: Global Market: Japan’s core inflation accelerates, putting BOJ rate hikes in focus
- investingLive: Eurozone October PMI misses estimates as growth slows, keeping ECB rate hike dilemma alive
- Economic Times Markets: Oil Price Today (October 23): Crude oil ticks over $114, jumps nearly 8% this week as energy attacks intensify. What are experts saying?
- investingLive: US S&P Global flash October services PMI 57.9 vs 58.0 expected
- investingLive: German producer prices hit highest since March 2023 as energy costs soar, fueling inflation worries
- Praevis economic calendar
- FXStreet: BoJ to leave rates steady, raise inflation forecast in October meeting – Reuters
- Investing.com (economy): BOJ to raise rates to 1.50% in December, sticking to quarterly pace: Reuters poll
- investingLive: BOJ reportedly may upgrade inflation forecast, hold rates steady at next week's meeting
- Investing.com (economy): Australia inflation outlook ‘materially worse’, RBA deputy Hauser says
- FXStreet: Australian Dollar: RBA expectations support Aussie against US Dollar – Commerzbank
- investingLive: RBA’s Hauser says inflation outlook worse than forecast ahead of 3 November decision
- FXStreet: US S&P Global PMI expected to signal slower business activity in October
- Economic Times Markets: Global Market: Japanese bond yields fall to multiweek lows ahead of BOJ meeting