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Forex news: page 2
Central bank decisions, economic data, gold and oil, and plain-English guides to how currency trading works. Every article links to its primary sources.
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Tokyo's October CPI was due 30 October; result not checked
Update: the Statistics Bureau scheduled Tokyo's October consumer prices for 30 October. The published figures could not be found when this update was written, so the result is not stated here.
US GDP grew 3.4% in Q3; PCE prices rose 3.6% in September
Update: the BEA's advance estimate put third-quarter GDP up 3.4% at an annual rate. The September PCE price index rose 0.5% on the month and 3.6% on the year.
Bank of Japan holds at 1.25% and lifts its ETF sales pace
Update: the Bank of Japan kept its guideline at around 1.25% on 30 October, by an 8–1 vote, and set the ETF sales pace at about 860 billion yen a year from January 2027.
Australia CPI rose to 4.3% in September; trimmed mean 3.6%
Update: the ABS put Australian CPI at 4.3% on the year in September, up from 4.0% in August. Trimmed mean inflation was 3.6% over the year.
BoC lifts its policy rate 25 basis points to 2.50%
Update: the Bank of Canada raised its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points on 28 October, from 2.25% to 2.50%.
ECB left rates unchanged on 29 October; deposit rate 2.50%
Update: the Governing Council kept its three key rates unchanged on 29 October. The deposit facility rate stays at 2.50%, and the statement says energy prices have kept rising.
RBNZ decided on 28 October from an OCR of 2.75%
Update: the RBNZ made its decision on 28 October. Its statement could not be read for this update, so the result is not stated here. The OCR was 2.75% going into the meeting.
Fed holds at 3.75%–4.00%; Cook and Hammack vote to hike
Update: the FOMC kept the federal funds target range at 3.75% to 4.00% on 28 October. Lisa D. Cook and Beth M. Hammack voted for a quarter-point increase.
Week to 30 Oct: Fed, ECB and BoJ hold; BoC raises to 2.50%
Update: the Fed and ECB held, and the Bank of Japan kept its guideline at about 1.25%. The Bank of Canada raised its rate to 2.50%, and US third-quarter GDP grew 3.4%. The RBNZ and Tokyo CPI results are not checked here.
Fed kept rates at 3.75% to 4.00% on 28 October
The FOMC kept its target range at 3.75% to 4.00% on 28 October 2026, by a 10–2 vote. Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack preferred a quarter-point increase.
ECB kept its key rates unchanged on 29 October
The Governing Council kept its three key rates unchanged on 29 October 2026: deposit facility 2.50%, main refinancing operations 2.65%, marginal lending facility 2.90%.
UK flash PMI rises to 53.1 in October as services hit an eight-month high
S&P Global's flash survey puts the UK composite output index at 53.1 for October, up from 52.0 in September. Services business activity reached 53.1, and manufacturing PMI was 52.8.
UK retail sales volumes fall 0.4% in September, and August is revised up to a 0.7% rise
The ONS first estimate shows retail sales volumes in Great Britain down 0.4% in September. August's rise was revised up to 0.7%, and July's fall was revised to 0.4%.
Euro area flash composite PMI falls to 51.9 in October, a four-month low
S&P Global's flash estimate puts the euro area composite output index at 51.9, down from 53.1 in September. Services fell to 51.7, and manufacturing output to 52.4.
Euro falls to 0.8377 pounds, the lowest ECB reference rate since 29 May 2025
The ECB's euro reference rate for sterling was 0.8377 pounds per euro on 22 October, matching the level of 29 May 2025. Over October the euro has lost about 1.9% against the pound.
US 10-year Treasury yield closes below 5% for the first time since 22 September
Treasury's daily par yield curve shows the 10-year yield at 4.96% on 22 October, down from 5.13% a day earlier. The 2-year yield fell 16 basis points to 4.65%.
Euro area consumer confidence falls to −17.9 in October, Commission's flash estimate shows
The European Commission's flash estimate puts euro area consumer confidence at −17.9 in October and the EU figure at −17.3. Both readings show households less optimistic than in September.
US jobless claims fall to 194,000 in the week to 17 October
The Labor Department's advance estimate shows initial claims at 194,000 for the week ending 17 October, down 6,000 from the previous week. The four-week average is 197,750.
ECB euro reference rate eases to 1.1205 against the dollar on 22 October
The ECB's euro-dollar reference rate was 1.1205 on 22 October, down from 1.1253 on 16 October. Between 7 and 15 October no reference rate was above 1.1253, so 16 October was the highest since 6 October.
New Zealand annual inflation eases to 3.7% in the September quarter from 4.1%
Stats NZ reports consumer prices 3.7% higher in the year to the September 2026 quarter, down from 4.1% in June. Petrol prices fell over the quarter but stayed above a year earlier.
UK inflation rises to 3.5% in September from 3.1%, led by motor fuels
The ONS reports UK CPI inflation at 3.5% in the year to September, up from 3.1% in August. Core inflation rose to 2.8%, and services inflation to 3.7%.
UK public sector borrows £24.5bn in September, £1.8bn more than a year earlier
The ONS reports public sector net borrowing of £24.5 billion in September 2026, up £1.8 billion on the same month last year. The figures are provisional.
UK unemployment falls to 4.7% in the three months to August
The ONS estimates the UK unemployment rate at 4.7% for June to August 2026, down 0.1 points on the quarter and on the year. The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 rose to 75.3%.
UK job vacancies fall to 691,000, lowest outside the pandemic since 2014
The ONS early estimate puts UK vacancies at 691,000 in July to September 2026, 21,000 lower than in April to June. It is the first time since early 2021 that vacancies have been below 700,000.
ZEW economic expectations fall 6.6 points to 28.1 in October
The ZEW Centre for European Economic Research reports that its expectations indicator for Germany fell 6.6 points to 28.1 in October. The reading is still positive, so more respondents expect improvement than deterioration.
German producer prices rise 6.7% in September as energy costs climb 14.9%
Destatis reports producer prices of industrial products sold in Germany up 6.7% on the year in September and 1.9% on August. Energy prices rose 14.9%, while prices excluding energy rose 3.2%.
US housing starts fall 5.2% to 1.221 million in September
The Census Bureau reports housing starts at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,221,000 in September, down 5.2% on August and 7.4% below September 2025. Permits were roughly flat at 1.4 million.
US builder confidence falls to 29 in October, the lowest since June 2012
The NAHB and Wells Fargo housing market index fell three points to 29 in October, its lowest reading since June 2012. Some 43% of builders cut prices, the highest share in the 2020 to 2026 period.
Canada's consumer prices rise 3.1% on the year in September as gasoline climbs 27.8%
Statistics Canada reports CPI inflation at 3.1% in September, up from 3.0% in August. Gasoline prices rose 27.8% on the year, while CPI excluding gasoline eased to 2.2%.
UK economy grows 0.1% in August, with annual growth at 2.1%
The ONS estimates UK GDP rose 0.1% in August 2026, after growth of 0.4% in July. Annual growth of 2.1% is the highest since August 2022, and production rose 0.8% on the month.
Australia loses 39,300 jobs in September, with unemployment at 4.7%
The ABS reports employment fell by 39,300 in September 2026 to 14,782,700. The unemployment rate was 4.7%, and the participation rate slipped to 66.8%.
German wholesale prices rise 8.7% in September, led by mineral oil
Destatis reports wholesale selling prices in Germany up 8.7% on the year in September and 1.9% on August. Mineral oil products were 48.8% dearer than a year earlier.
US existing-home sales rise 1.5% in September to 3.99 million
The National Association of Realtors reports existing-home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.99 million in September, up 1.5% on August but 2.2% lower than a year earlier. The median price was $417,500.
German exports fall 0.8% in August to €137.6bn, trade surplus €19.5bn
Destatis reports German exports of €137.6 billion in August, down 0.8% on July and up 6.2% on a year earlier. Imports were €118.1 billion, leaving a surplus of €19.5 billion.
Euro area retail sales up 0.1% in August; July fell 0.6%
Eurostat's first estimate shows euro area retail trade volumes up 0.1% on July in August, and the EU also rose 0.1%. July's euro area fall was 0.6%.
US trade deficit widens to $105.6 billion in August, up $12.7 billion
The Census Bureau and BEA report the US goods and services deficit at $105.6 billion in August, up $12.7 billion from July. The goods deficit rose $12.8 billion.
Canada's September manufacturing sales edged up 0.1% in advance estimate
Update: Statistics Canada's advance estimate puts total manufacturing sales up 0.1% in September. The official September figure is due on 13 November.
ONS: UK retail sales fell 0.4% in September after August's rise
Update: the ONS first estimate shows UK retail sales volumes in Great Britain down 0.4% in September, with August revised up to a 0.7% rise.
Flash PMIs for October: UK composite 53.1, euro area 51.9
Update: S&P Global's flash UK composite PMI rose to 53.1 in October, while the euro area composite fell to 51.9. The US flash is not covered in this update.
Japan's national CPI rose 2.1% in September; core-core at 2.4%
Update: Japan's national CPI rose 2.1% on the year in September. Core inflation, excluding fresh food, was 2.1%, and core-core, excluding fresh food and energy, was 2.4%.
