Iran-Israel Missile Strikes Continue Amid Mixed Signals on U.S.-Iran Diplomacy 
UK Consumer Confidence Weakens Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Living Costs 
Gold Prices Surge on U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Reports 
Australia's Inflation Eases in February but Core Pressures Persist 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks, Middle East Tensions Persist 
Bank of Japan Eyes April Rate Hike Despite Inflation Dip, ING Says 
Gold Prices Climb as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Stir Market Optimism 
Japan's Private Sector Growth Slows in March Amid Rising Costs and Middle East Uncertainty 
Federal Reserve Balance Sheet Reduction: Brookings Research Outlines Possible Path Forward 
U.S. Dollar Weakens as Trump Signals Iran Deal Possibility 
U.S. Futures Slide as Iran Denies Nuclear Talks with Washington 
Suspicious Oil Market Trades Precede Trump's Iran Peace Post by 15 Minutes 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Dollar Rebounds Amid Middle East Uncertainty and Japan Inflation Data 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Iran Reviews U.S. Ceasefire Proposal 
Trump Tariffs Show Minimal Economic Impact but Boost Federal Revenue, Study Finds 
Asian Currencies Stay Muted as Dollar Holds Firm Amid Iran Uncertainty 
The Japanese yen slipped on Thursday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates unchanged, while the U.S. dollar maintained its strength as traders scaled back expectations of another Federal Reserve rate cut this year. The yen fell 0.1% to 152.90 per dollar, reversing earlier gains. The euro rose 0.2% to 177.50 yen, and the British pound climbed 0.15% to 201.70 yen.
As widely anticipated, the BOJ maintained its current monetary policy stance but reaffirmed its commitment to gradually raising borrowing costs if economic growth aligns with forecasts. Analysts suggest the central bank is likely to remain cautious under the newly elected Takaichi administration, which is preparing another stimulus package. According to Carol Kong, currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the BOJ will likely avoid major policy shifts in the near term due to political sensitivities.
Market participants believe Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s preference for fiscal expansion and loose monetary policy could complicate the BOJ’s tightening path.
Meanwhile, global market sentiment was upbeat following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Both leaders hinted that a U.S.-China trade deal could be finalized soon, lifting investor confidence. The dollar index steadied near a two-week high at 99.09, supported by hawkish remarks from the Fed.
The euro gained slightly to $1.1613, while sterling remained near a five-and-a-half-month low at $1.3202. The Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut was offset by Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious comments, suggesting limited scope for further easing this year.
Elsewhere, the Australian and New Zealand dollars rose 0.2% each, buoyed by a stronger Chinese yuan, which hit a near one-year high at 7.0955 per dollar on optimism over Sino-U.S. trade progress.
