iFOREX Daily Analysis : May 23,2018

 | May 23, 2018 04:44AM ET

The US Dollar traded initially lower against other major currencies but managed to recover later in the day with the US Dollar Index (USDX) closing 0.06% higher. The British Pound (GBP) reached a new low against the Greenback for 2018 ahead of reports on inflation on Wednesday.

With the Dollar movement in a limited range and only moderately falling Treasury Note yields, gold traded only insignificantly higher on Tuesday. Oil prices were under pressure as API oil stockpile figures indicated a smaller decline than expected. Reports that the OPEC might overthink its production quota agreement as soon as June also could have contributed to the move.

US equity traded lower with companies such as Boeing (NYSE:BA) (-2.26%) and Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) (-1.74%), which were up on Monday on progress in US-China trade talks, erasing most of the gains from Monday.

Cryptocurrencies faced again pressure as Bitcoin fell below the $8,000 territory to the lowest point seen in over more than a month. Tuesday was called by cryptocurrency enthusiast ‘Bitcoin pizza day’, as it is said that in 2010 two pizzas were bought using 10,000 Bitcoins.

On Wednesday in France, Germany and the EU recent PMI data is set to be released. Later South Africa and the United Kingdom are set to publish inflation data. In the US Manufacturing and Sales PMI data, followed by New Home Sales numbers will be released.

EUR/USD

In a volatile trading day, the EUR/USD closed almost unchanged but extended losses in the early trading on Wednesday. Analysts are looking at the new formed government in Italy with reservations, as it pledges significant changes to the fiscal policy, which would require the heavily indebted nation to collect further public debts.

On Wednesday Germany, France and the European Union are set to release the latest Manufacturing and Composite PMI numbers.

Today the FOMC is set to publish the minutes of its last policy meeting. After the publication the FOMC member Kashkari is set to deliver a speech. On Thursday the European Central Bank will follow suit and also publish the account of the last monetary policy meeting.