Global
Market Snapshot
Key foreign exchange variables, updates daily
This table provides a concise snapshot of key market variables that influence major foreign-exchange pairs. It combines recent performance indicators (% change over the last 5 days and year-to-date), technical trading levels (50-, 100-, and 200-day moving averages; pivot points), and macro-financial drivers (policy interest rates, money-market deposit rates, and government bond yields at the 2- and 10-year maturities). By showing yield differentials—spreads between US rates and those in each currency’s home market—the table highlights one of the primary forces behind currency movements: interest-rate expectations and relative return opportunities. Finally, the inclusion of implied volatility gives a quick sense of how much uncertainty or risk is priced into each currency over the near term.
Global
Spot Performance
Gain (+) or loss (-) against USD, year to date, %, updates daily
Represents the percentage change, along with the minimum and maximum change in the nominal exchange rate relative to the US dollar year to date.
Global
DXY-Weighted Yield Differential
Foreign-US 10-year government bond yield differentials, %
Represents the difference between the 10-year US Treasury yield and a weighted basket of 10-year yields for the Euro Area, Japan, the UK, Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland. Positive values indicate higher yields in US dollars relative to other currencies, while negative values imply the opposite.
Global
Currency Volatility
Realized 3-month historical G7 currency volatility v. implied volatility, 3-month ATM options, updates weekly
Represents realized volatility - the scale and frequency of moves over the prior three months - and implied volatility - the market’s expectations of moves over the next three months. Realized volatility is measured using the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over a three-month rolling time horizon, and implied volatility is derived from at-the-money three-month currency options.
Global
Equity Volatility
VIX Volatility Index, NSA, adjusted for breaks, updates daily
The VIX Volatility Index is a measure of the stock market's expectation of volatility based on S&P 500 index options. It does not directly measure volatility in currency markets, but large movements in global foreign exchange rates are often associated with spikes in the VIX.
Global
Speculative Positioning
Net long (+) or short (-) futures position held by large speculators, billions US dollars, updates weekly
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's weekly Commitments of Traders report provides a breakdown of the net positions for "non-commercial" (speculative) traders in US futures markets. Market participants follow the data to identify extreme long or short positions in a currency - something that can signal a trend reversal.
Global
Turnover by Currency
"Net-Net" basis, April 2025 daily averages, share of total
Illustrates the distribution of global foreign-exchange spot market turnover by currency, highlighting the relative dominance of the most-traded units. The US dollar accounts for the largest share by a wide margin, reflecting its role as the primary vehicle and reserve currency in international transactions. The euro forms the second pillar of global trading, while the Japanese yen and pound sterling make up a meaningful but smaller portion. Commodity and regional currencies—such as the Australian, Canadian, and Swiss francs, along with select emerging-market currencies—collectively represent a modest share, underscoring the high concentration of liquidity in a handful of major currencies. Figures on a "net-net" basis are corrected for local and cross-border inter-dealer double-counting.
Global
Turnover by Instrument
"Net-Net" basis, April 2025 daily averages, billions USD
Illustrates global foreign-exchange turnover by instrument type, showing how activity is distributed across the main hedging and liquidity vehicles in the currency market. Foreign-exchange swaps account for the largest share, reflecting their central role in short-term funding, balance-sheet management, and liquidity transformation among banks and institutional participants. Spot transactions represent a smaller share, capturing immediate exchange needs tied to trade, investment, and tactical positioning. Outright forwards and non-deliverable forwards illustrate the importance of hedging and synthetic exposure management, particularly for corporates and investors managing future cash flows or accessing restricted currencies. Options volumes, while more modest, signal demand for convex payoff structures and volatility management. Taken together, the chart highlights how the FX market is driven less by simple currency conversion and more by financing, hedging, and risk-transfer activities.
Latest Analysis
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• Oil jump. Another move higher in oil prices because of Middle East concerns dampened risk sentiment. Equities fell. USD firmer. AUD underperforms.• Macro worries. Higher energy prices pose an upside...
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Good morning. Currency markets are still struggling to navigate conflicting signals from the Middle East. Iran’s deputy foreign minister reportedly told Sky News Arabia that Tehran might be willing...
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An uneasy sense of calm is settling on currency markets this morning as signs emerge that the conflict in the Middle East may be approaching a negotiated end. According to the New York Times, Iranian intelligence...
Middle East concerns rattle markets
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• Market swings. Middle East conflict generated a burst of volatility overnight. Equities declined, oil prices rose. AUD traded in a ~2.5% range yesterday.• Macro news. AU Q4 GDP today. RBA Gov. Bullock...
Dollar powers higher as Mideast conflict widens
03 March, 2026
Good morning. The dollar is steamrolling its major rivals for a second consecutive session as geopolitical risks and inflation fears reinforce one another. With the conflict in the Middle East showing...
Volatility rises as conflict spreads, but currency movements remain restrained
02 March, 2026
Good morning. Financial markets are experiencing violent price action after the weekend’s US-Israeli strike on Iran triggered a classic—if short-lived—flight to safety and a sharp repricing in global energy...
Duck & Cover
01 March, 2026
• Geopolitical nerves. US/Israel conflict with Iran has dampened risk sentiment in early Asian trade. USD firmer. NZD slips back. AUD underperforms.• Lingering risks. Market nervousness may persist for...
Currency markets brace for modest moves as Iran strikes fail to shift strategic calculus
01 March, 2026
Currency markets are set for a jolt when trading resumes this afternoon, though the reaction may prove less dramatic than the weekend’s headlines might suggest.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran have sent...
US and Israel launch regime change attempt in Iran, potentially roiling markets
28 February, 2026
The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran earlier this morning, with the apparent aim of overthrowing the regime that has ruled since 1979. In an early-morning address, US president Donald Trump said...