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Malaysia: Solid GDP and contained inflation – DBS
DBS Group Research expects Malaysia’s 1Q26 advance Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow 5.5% year-on-year, slightly below 6.3% in 4Q25 but still robust. Growth is seen supported by export-oriented electrical and electronics manufacturing, global AI tailwinds, construction and domestic demand.
CNY: Trade normalization and growth risks – TD Securities
TD Securities expects China’s March exports to normalize after a strong Jan–Feb report, while imports could surprise on the upside as authorities stockpile key goods and commodities during the US–Iran conflict. Rising input costs may slow production and weigh on exports.
KRW: War risk keeps 1,450–1,550 range in focus – ING
ING’s Min Joo Kang notes that KRW is trading below 1,500, with near-term moves heavily dependent on Middle East developments. The team keeps its 1,450–1,550 trading range, expecting KRW to strengthen rapidly if the war ends.
Singapore: Exports boosted by electronics cycle – DBS
DBS Group Research expects Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports to rise for a seventh consecutive month in March 2026, accelerating to 10.3% year-on-year from 4.0% in February.
AUD/USD Price Forecast: Aussie rejected at 0.7100, upside risks persist
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is poised to end Friday’s session flat against the US Dollar (USD), even though an improvement in market mood drove the Greenback toward four-week lows near 98.52, according to the US Dollar Index (DXY).
Fed’s Daly: If inflation stays elevated, we would hold steady
Mary Daly, President of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of San Francisco, told Reuters in an interview on Friday that if Iran conflict is resolved quickly and Oil prices come back down, a rate cut may not be out of the question.
China: Growth risks skewed to upside in Q1 – Commerzbank
Commerzbank’s Dr. Henry Hao sees upside risks to China’s Q1 2026 GDP versus the bank’s 4.6% forecast, supported by resilient exports and front‑loaded public investment. Industrial production is projected to grow 5.5% year‑on‑year, while retail sales slow to 2.5%.
United Kingdom CFTC GBP NC Net Positions: £-56.4K vs previous £-52.7K
United Kingdom CFTC GBP NC Net Positions: £-56.4K vs previous £-52.7K
United States CFTC Oil NC Net Positions down to 202.2K from previous 213.5K
United States CFTC Oil NC Net Positions down to 202.2K from previous 213.5K
United States CFTC Gold NC Net Positions: $156.3K vs previous $163.2K
United States CFTC Gold NC Net Positions: $156.3K vs previous $163.2K
Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions dipped from previous $81.5K to $70.8K
Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions dipped from previous $81.5K to $70.8K
Eurozone CFTC EUR NC Net Positions: €-7.5K vs previous €0.5K
Eurozone CFTC EUR NC Net Positions: €-7.5K vs previous €0.5K
United States CFTC S&P 500 NC Net Positions declined to $-45.7K from previous $-42.5K
United States CFTC S&P 500 NC Net Positions declined to $-45.7K from previous $-42.5K
Japan CFTC JPY NC Net Positions dipped from previous ¥-72.9K to ¥-93.7K
Japan CFTC JPY NC Net Positions dipped from previous ¥-72.9K to ¥-93.7K
Taiwan: Trade boom drives bold growth upgrade – ING
ING’s Chief Economist for Greater China, Lynn Song, highlights that Taiwan’s March trade data far exceeded expectations, with exports and imports surging and the trade surplus more than doubling year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.
S&P 500 fights for eighth straight gain on Friday afternoon
The S&P 500 is struggling to hold onto what would mark its eighth consecutive day of gains on Friday.
Gold steady near $4,760 as Iran talks weigh on US Dollar
Gold (XAU/USD) price remains steady on Friday, poised to finish the week with gains of almost 2% as the US Dollar tumbles amid optimism about Iran-US talks in Pakistan throughout the weekend. Also, a mildly high US inflation report trimmed the Federal Reserve's (Fed) dovish bets for 2026.
Forecasting the upcoming week: US Dollar weakens as risk flows lift major pairs
The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell toward the 98.60 price region as markets digest the latest US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which confirmed that inflation remains stubbornly elevated, largely driven by energy prices amid war in the Middle East.
MAS: Policy slope hike and inflation focus – DBS
DBS Group Research expects the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to slightly increase the slope of the Singapore Dollar (SGD) Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) policy band at its 14 April meeting, reversing last year’s easing.
USD/JPY hovers below 160 amid intervention fears and Middle-East tensions
The Japanese Yen (JPY) trades under pressure against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, with USD/JPY trimming most of its losses from earlier in the week as ongoing Oil supply disruptions linked to Middle East tensions keep a lid on the Yen’s recovery despite a softer Greenback.
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