All eyes on the UK employment figures

All eyes on the UK employment figures

18.05.2021

Yesterday, stock prices fell in both European and U.S. markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at $34,327, down 0.16% from the previous day. The New York Fed’s Manufacturing Survey (May), released yesterday, came in at 24.3, exceeding expectations, but its impact on the market was limited.

In the foreign exchange market, Oceania currencies—which had been weakening—are now rebounding and trending higher; combined with the yen’s weakening trend, the AUD/JPY pair has risen from 84.45 to 85.05.The AUD/USD pair has also risen, climbing from 0.773 to 0.779, making the Oceania currencies the strongest performers in Asian trading today. However, the GBP/AUD pair is trending lower and has not managed to outperform the strength of the British pound.

Today, at 3:00 PM, the UK will release its unemployment rate and jobless claims; at 6:00 PM, the Eurozone will release its first-quarter GDP (final reading) and trade balance; and once U.S. trading hours begin, at 9:30 PM, the U.S. will release housing starts and building permits, followed by the UK at 11:00 PMremarks by BOE Governor Bailey and BOE Deputy Governor Broadbent, at 12:00 AM remarks by SNB Governor Jordan, and at 12:05 AM remarks by Dallas Fed President Kaplan. We will be closely monitoring how today’s economic data releases affect currency strength.

Past Market Reports

1. 17.04.2026New

   Will the market wait and see how much further the U.S. dollar can rise against the yen?

2. 16.04.2026New

   Will the weakening Swiss franc recover? Attention is turning to price movements during European trading hours.

3. 15.04.2026New

   Market participants are likely keeping a close eye on the upside potential of the euro, which has risen against the U.S. dollar

4. 14.04.2026New

   Should we keep an eye on remarks by key figures in the U.S. and try to gauge the direction of currency strength?

5. 13.04.2026New

   Market participants are likely watching for signs of a rebound in the Canadian dollar, which fell against the U.S. dollar following the release of employment figures

6. 10.04.2026

   Will the weakening Swiss franc continue to strengthen against the yen, or should we wait and see?

7. 09.04.2026

   Will the U.S. dollar, which has fallen against the yen, continue its downward slide, or should we wait and see how the market moves?

8. 08.04.2026

   Should we keep an eye on the upside for European currencies that have risen against the U.S. dollar?

9. 07.04.2026

   Market participants may be wary of further downside potential for the U.S. dollar, which has weakened amid concerns over the situation in Iran

10. 06.04.2026

    Investors should be wary of sudden spikes in volatility while major markets are closed