ForexLive European FX news wrap: Awaiting more key data from the US

Headlines:

• USD/JPY on the edge as yields look to leg down further
• What are the main events for today?
• BOJ’s Takata: No preset idea on any ceiling for rates
• BOJ’s Takata: No specific timing in mind in scrutinising economy, price developments
• ECB seen cutting rates next week and then again in December – poll
• Eurozone July retail sales +0.1% vs +0.1% m/m expected
• Germany July industrial orders +2.9% vs -1.5% m/m expected
• Germany August construction PMI 38.9 vs 40.0 prior
• UK August construction PMI 53.6 vs 54.9 expected
• PBOC to continue to implement supportive policy, says deputy governor

Markets:

• EUR and GBP lead, USD and CAD lag on the day
• European equities mixed; S&P 500 futures up 0.1%
• US 10-year yields flat at 3.768%
• Gold up 0.9% to $2,516.01
• WTI crude up 0.5% to $69.53
• Bitcoin down 2.2% to $56,740

It was a modestly quiet session and understandably so, as market players are waiting on key US data later before making their move.

Coming up, we will have the ADP employment change, weekly initial jobless claims and ISM services PMI all to work through. So, traders are not really committing too much for the time being.

The dollar was lightly changed for the most part but is now marginally lower at the balance across the board. EUR/USD held around 1.1080-90 mostly but is now up by 0.2% to 1.1105. Similarly, GBP/USD held mostly around 1.3150-60 during the session before inching up to 1.3170 currently.

The moves are not too drastic by any stretch of the imagination. But it certainly spells out caution for the dollar, especially after the softer JOLTS job openings yesterday.

USD/JPY remains one of the more volatile pairs with it nudging lower to 143.05 after BOJ Takata’s comments earlier in the day. The pair then bounced back to 143.50 and is keeping thereabouts, down just 0.1% on the day.

In the equities space, European indices opened lower but are now keeping more mixed as US futures pared marginal losses to sit barely higher on the day. Treasury yields are also not doing a whole lot as all eyes are fixated on key US data to come.

Looking over to commodities, oil is trying to stay afloat after yesterday’s setback but is still keeping below $70 on the day. Meanwhile, gold is looking poised in trying to angle for a stronger breakout as it hovers around $2,516 now.

It’s all on the US data later to drive the next move in markets before the non-farm payrolls tomorrow.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.