Live Forex News
Real-time financial news from around the world.
Published Monday – Friday, 24 hours a day.
New Zealand
New Zealand Equities Track Wall Street Lower
The NZX 50 dropped 52 points, or 0.4%, to 13,711 in Thursday morning deals, halting the gains of the previous session and pulling back from its highest level since July 9, reached a day earlier, tracking a decline in US futures following a downbeat session on Wall Street overnight ahead of the start of earnings season for mega-cap tech companies. Persistently high oil prices also pressured sentiment as inflation concerns fueled expectations of further interest rate hikes, after the RBNZ raised its cash rate by 25 bps earlier this month. Tuesday's data showed that New Zealand's inflation rate accelerated to the highest level since Q4 2023 in Q2. Healthcare, consumer staples, and industrial stocks mainly weighed on the index, with early losers including Gentrack Group (-4.4%), Hallenstein Glasson (-1.0%), Ventia Services (-0.7%), Auckland International Airport (-0.6%), and Fisher & Paykel (-0.5%). Meanwhile, SkyCity Entertainment rose 0.8% after surging 12.8% in the previous session.
Agricultural Commodities Updates: Cocoa Falls by 4.53%
Top commodity losers are Cocoa (-4.53%), Coffee (-1.38%) and Sugar (-0.87%). Gains are led by Wheat (4.09%) and Canola (2.40%).
Metals Commodities Updates: Silver Gains by 1.30%
Top commodity gainers are Silver (1.30%) and Gold (1.18%). Biggest losers are Iron Ore CNY (-1.27%), Copper (-1.07%) and Lithium Carbonate (-0.69%).
Energy Commodities Updates: Natural Gas EU Spikes by 5.18%
Top commodity gainers are Natural Gas EU (5.18%), Brent Crude Oil (5.14%), Germany Natural Gas THE (4.69%) and Crude Oil WTI (4.58%). Biggest losers are Coking Coal (-1.78%), Methanol (-1.23%) and Propane (-0.87%).
FX Updates: Brazilian Real Increases by 0.59%
Top currency gainers are Brazilian Real (0.59%), Norwegian Krone (0.48%), South Korean Won (0.34%) and Euro (0.08%). Biggest losers are Indian Rupee (-0.35%), New Zealand Dollar (-0.26%) and Swiss Franc (-0.25%). Meanwhile, British Pound, Japanese Yen and Dollar Index were little changed.
Argentina
Argentina Economic Activity Growth Slows
Argentina's economic activity rose 0.2% year-on-year in May 2026, following an upwardly revised 1.7% increase in April. Eight of the fifteen sectors surveyed posted annual growth. The strongest performances came from mining and quarrying, which expanded 15.7%, followed by utilities (8.0%). Agriculture, livestock, hunting, and forestry also increased 4.6% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, seven sectors contracted. The sharpest decline was recorded in fishing, down 29.3%, followed by manufacturing (-5.6%) and wholesale and retail trade and repair services (-4.3%). On a monthly basis, the Monthly Economic Activity Estimate fell 0.5% from April.
Brazil
Ibovespa Rallies on Vale and WEG Results
The Ibovespa rose 2.4% to close at 177,548 on Wednesday, supported by strong corporate earnings. Vale advanced 4% after reporting that iron ore production rose 0.8% year-on-year in the April-June period, marking its strongest second-quarter output since 2018. Bradesco BBI reiterated its Buy rating after the company's sales volumes exceeded expectations. WEG jumped 10% after reporting healthy operating margins and return on invested capital in the second quarter, despite lower year-on-year EBITDA and revenue. Revenue from international markets increased 14.7% in US dollar terms, although the company said the appreciation of the Brazilian real weighed on reported revenue in local currency. Petrobras rose 2.2% as oil prices climbed amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. On the trade front, a 25% US tariff on a range of Brazilian products took effect on Wednesday. However, key exports including beef, coffee, rare earths, energy products, aircraft, and aircraft parts remain exempt.
Canada
TSX Closes Higher on Commodity Stocks Rally
The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 0.3% to close at 35,485 after reaching a record high earlier in the session, as rising commodity prices supported mining and energy stocks. Miners advanced as gold edged higher on a softer US dollar and safe-haven demand amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran. Agnico Eagle gained 3.5%, Barrick added 2.8%, WPM rose 1.1%, and Franco-Nevada advanced 3.1%. Energy stocks also gained, tracking a jump in oil prices on mounting concerns over disruptions to Middle Eastern supply routes linked to escalating US-Iran hostilities. Canadian Natural added 1.8%, Imperial Oil gained 0.8%, while Suncor rose 1.5% and Cenovus advanced 0.6% ahead of its earnings report on Thursday. On the downside, technology stocks weakened ahead of earnings from US technology giants Alphabet and Tesla. Shopify shed 3.9%, Constellation Software fell 2.1%, and Celestica retreated 1.4%.
United States
US Stocks Close Lower Ahead of Big Tech Earnings
US stocks closed lower on Wednesday ahead of the start of earnings season for mega-cap technology companies. The S&P 500 shed 0.1%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.5%, and the Dow Jones inched down. Software stocks came under pressure before Alphabet's (-1.5%) results, with Microsoft down 1.9% and Meta retreating 2.6%. The technology sector remained volatile as investors reassessed whether AI hyperscalers will continue expanding hardware spending. Tesla dropped % ahead of its earnings release. Most chipmakers rebounded from earlier losses, with Nvidia up 2.3%, Broadcom rising 2.7%, and AMD adding 1.4%. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Iran escalated after Iranian drone attacks targeted CIA facilities in the Gulf. Oil prices extended gains, fueling inflation concerns and pushing yields higher. Financials traded mixed, with Visa down 0.7% while JPMorgan gained 0.9%. AT&T rose 3.5% after beating earnings estimates, lifting telecom stocks.
Agricultural Commodities Updates: Cocoa Falls by 4.53%
Top commodity losers are Cocoa (-4.53%), Coffee (-1.26%) and Sugar (-0.87%). Gains are led by Wheat (4.18%) and Canola (2.34%).
Metals Commodities Updates: Silver Gains by 1.93%
Top commodity gainers are Silver (1.93%), Gold (1.49%) and Platinum (0.54%). Biggest losers are Copper (-1.27%), Iron Ore CNY (-1.27%) and Lithium Carbonate (-0.69%).
Energy Commodities Updates: Natural Gas EU Spikes by 5.01%
Top commodity gainers are Natural Gas EU (5.01%), Germany Natural Gas THE (4.69%), Natural Gas UK (4.61%), Brent Crude Oil (3.23%) and Crude Oil WTI (2.92%). Biggest losers are Coking Coal (-1.78%) and Propane (-1.64%).
Brazil
Brazil 10-Year Bond Yield Moves Higher
Brazil's 10-year government bond yield rose above 14.75% in late July from 14.54% earlier in the month, amid the outlook of higher interest rates and the outlook of greater bond supply. Oil, natural gas, soybeans, and power prices rose on the wholesale market as new strikes between Iran and the US tempered hopes that energy supply from the Middle East would restart. The developments supported an outlook that inflation could regain traction and prevent the Brazilian central bank from easing rates in the upcoming quarters, lifting yields domestically. Meanwhile, signals of higher deficit spending from the federal government added to a deteriorating fiscal situation. The latest data showed that the nominal budget deficit widened more than expected to BRL 164 billion. Consistently, government revenues were hampered by fresh tariffs from the United States.
Brazil
Brazilian Real Strengthens on Carry Trade
The Brazilian real strengthened to 5.06 per USD in July, the highest in seven weeks, on renewed carry-trade interest. Strikes between the US and Iran escalated and US officials downplayed the chances of diplomacy, increasing geopolitical concern and driving emerging-market investors to momentarily pivot away from the dollar. The high real interest rates by the Central Bank of Brazil made Brazilian real assets attractive among investors, as risks of high inflation and wide deficit spending by Brasilia drove the Selic rate to remain elevated. Still, foreign trade remains a key concern. Investors are awaiting measures from the government to mitigate the impact of new US tariffs. However, key exports including beef, coffee, rare earths, energy products, aircraft, and aircraft parts are exempt from the new 25% tariff.
Crude Oil Holds Near 6-Week High
Crude oil futures rose up to a six-week high of $88.6 on Wednesday before easing to $86.5 as markets assessed the threat that a blockade of Middle Eastern oil will have on global supply. Strikes between the US and Iran continued to halt oil and fuel exports from the GCC. US Secretary of State Rubio accused Iran of failing to honor previous commitments and emphasized that any future agreement must guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons or supporting militant groups. Also, threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels against shipping routes in the Red Sea increased fears of further disruptions to international oil trade. On top of that, attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in the Black Sea added pressure on global energy markets. Still, data from the EIA showed that crude oil stocks unexpectedly rose by 1.4 million barrels last week, contrasting with expectations of a draw.
Gasoline Holds Near 2-Month Highs
US gasoline futures eased to $3.40 per gallon on Wednesday from the two-month high of $3.49 earlier in the session as positive signs for supply momentarily offset the impact of geopolitical tensions. Russia's gasoline market showed signs of stabilizing, with fuel availability improving after Ukraine shifted attacks from major oil refineries to maritime targets. Meanwhile, EIA data showed US gasoline inventories rose by 0.765 million barrels in the week ended July 17, improving from the previous week but remaining 7% below the five-year average for the period. Still, prices remained supported as the US and Iran head deep into a second week of hostilities, with President Donald Trump warning of strikes on Iranian infrastructure if Tehran continued attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's Black Sea terminal further fueled concerns over global oil supply disruptions.
Russia
Russia Industrial Production Rebounds in June
Industrial production in Russia rose 0.6% year-on-year in June 2026, rebounding from a revised 0.7% decline in May and exceeding market expectations of a 0.1% increase. Manufacturing was the main driver, with output growth accelerating to 2.6% from 0.5%. Elsewhere, contractions eased in mining, to a 2.4% drop following a 2.7% decline, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-1.4% vs. -2.2%), and water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (-1.2% vs. -3.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production edged up 0.1%, following a 0.8% decline in May. In the first half of 2026, industrial output increased 0.4% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Euro Area
European Stocks Close Higher
European stocks closed firmly higher on Wednesday as strong earnings reports offset a deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop. The Euro STOXX 50 rose 0.5% to 6,319 and the STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.6% to 647. Santander jumped by 1.7% after it reported a 17% annual increase in underlying profit, supported by a higher client base after the takeover of UK lender TSB. Other banks were supported by result, with BBVA adding 2%, while Intesa Sanpaolo gained 1.3% and UniCredit rose 0.7% ahead of its earnings tomorrow. Meanwhile, Airbus surged 7% after upgrading its delivery targets and announcing a €5 billion share buyback programme. Meanwhile, sovereign yields remained near recent peaks as natural gas prices extended their surge. The ECB is due to maintain its rates unchanged tomorrow, although inflationary risks may drive the Governing Council to signal a hawkish outlook.
Germany
DAX 40 Rises to 2-Week High
Frankfurt's DAX 40 gained 0.7% to nearly 25,200 on Wednesday, its highest level in two weeks, as strong corporate earnings and upbeat guidance outweighed concerns over higher oil prices and the inflationary risks linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Airbus surged 6.9% after the aircraft manufacturer unveiled ambitious profit targets through 2029, citing sustained demand for commercial jets, while also announcing an earlier-than-expected share buyback program. The optimistic outlook also supported MTU Aero Engines, which rose more than 1%. Elsewhere, Gea jumped over 5% after the industrial equipment maker upgraded its full-year guidance on the back of stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Investors also looked ahead to Thursday's European Central Bank policy meeting, where officials are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged following June's increase.
United Kingdom
FTSE 100 Rises to Over 3-Month High
The FTSE 100 climbed more than 1% to above 10,700 on Wednesday, reaching its highest level since March 2, as broad-based gains across banks, healthcare, energy and mining stocks lifted the index. HSBC advanced more than 2%, while Lloyds Banking and Barclays gained over 1.5% and 1%, respectively. Healthcare stocks also strengthened, with AstraZeneca rising 1.7% and GSK adding 0.8%. Oil majors Shell and BP gained 1.4% and 2.1% as crude prices extended their rally amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. Mining shares outperformed, with Endeavour Mining surging 5%, Fresnillo climbing 3.5% and Antofagasta adding 2.6%. Investors also assessed softer-than-expected UK inflation data, which showed consumer prices rose 2.6% in June as lower petrol, food and clothing prices eased inflationary pressures. In the FTSE 250, EasyJet tumbled more than 11% after reports that the European Union could review airline ownership rules, potentially complicating the company's takeover.
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