US dollar

The US dollar has firmed against major currencies as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran lifted oil prices and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer. Rising energy costs add to inflation concerns, boosting bets on a hawkish Fed stance and supporting the greenback. Markets are watching closely for further developments in the standoff.

The US dollar held near a two-month high as the standoff between Washington and Tehran pushed oil prices higher and investors increased bets that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. Traders are weighing geopolitical risk in the Middle East against expectations of tighter US monetary policy, both of which are supporting the greenback against major currencies.

The US dollar held steady as rising tensions between the United States and Iran pushed oil prices higher and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated. Markets are weighing the inflationary impact of costlier oil against the risk of a wider Middle East conflict, with traders positioning for a hawkish Fed stance.

Analysts expect more US banks to reach trillion-dollar balance sheets as consolidation in the American banking sector accelerates. Industry observers say continued mergers and acquisitions, along with organic growth among the largest institutions, are concentrating assets in fewer hands. The trend is prompting discussion about competition, systemic risk, and regulatory scrutiny of increasingly large financial institutions in the United States.

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from a China-led cross-border currency platform, according to the Financial Times. The move is seen as a setback for Beijing's efforts to build alternatives to the dollar-based global payments system, and observers are weighing what it signals about the Gulf kingdom's financial alignment with Washington versus its deepening economic ties with China.

Gold prices fell more than 2% as investors bet the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. Higher rates boost bond yields and the dollar, making non-yielding bullion less attractive to buyers. The drop marked one of the sharper daily declines for the metal, with traders watching upcoming Fed signals for direction.

The Indian rupee is trading just short of 96 against the US dollar, with the Reserve Bank of India intervening to limit the slide. Pressure on the currency is being driven largely by India's oil import costs, which have weighed on the balance of payments. The central bank's actions are keeping the rupee range-bound near record-low levels, and markets are watching how long the RBI can hold the line.

Classified budget estimates indicate the National Security Agency is paying billions of dollars to test artificial intelligence models, according to a new report. The figures suggest US intelligence agencies are investing heavily in evaluating advanced AI capabilities, prompting debate about the scale of government involvement in the AI sector and its oversight implications.

Traders say the Reserve Bank of India is intervening to shield the rupee as a deadlock between the United States and Iran pushes oil prices higher. Higher crude costs widen India's import bill and pressure the currency, prompting speculation the central bank is selling dollars to limit depreciation.

Federal prosecutors say the owner of a medical clinic defrauded a US military health program of millions of dollars, spending the money on luxury purchases including a gold-plated Cybertruck, according to the Justice Department. The case highlights concerns about fraud in health programs serving service members and their families.

Market chatter is focused on reports that Nvidia's newest AI chips could be permitted to enter the Chinese market. Traders and analysts are weighing what renewed access for the US chipmaker would mean for China's AI buildout, for rivals like Huawei, and for the company's multibillion-dollar data centre business, which has been constrained by US export controls.

Brazilian education companies Afya and Yduqs have agreed to a merger valuing the combined business at around US$1.8 billion. Afya, a medical education specialist backed by Nuggets Capital, and Yduqs, which operates higher education brands including Estácio, would create one of the country's largest private education groups. The deal is drawing attention from investors watching further consolidation in Brazil's education sector.

The euro has dropped below the 1.1400 level against the US dollar, pressured by a hawkish Federal Reserve stance and persistent tensions in the Middle East. Traders are weighing higher-for-longer US rate expectations, which strengthen the dollar, against safe-haven demand also favouring the greenback amid regional instability. Further Fed signals and geopolitical headlines are likely to steer the pair's next move.

China's central bank set the yuan's daily reference rate at 6.7399 to the US dollar, a firmer fixing than the previous day's 6.7489. The daily fix from the People's Bank of China guides onshore trading and is closely watched by currency traders for signals on official policy toward the yuan.

The Australian Dollar has weakened to near the 0.7000 level against the US dollar, pressured by signals that the US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer. Traders are now focused on the Reserve Bank of Australia's upcoming rate decision, which could determine whether the currency stabilises or extends its decline. Market watchers see the RBA meeting as the key near-term driver for the Aussie.

The Swiss Franc has fallen to its weakest level since May 2025, trading near 0.8300 against the US dollar. The decline is attributed to policy divergence between the US Federal Reserve and the Swiss National Bank, with traders positioning for differing interest rate paths. Currency watchers are monitoring whether the franc extends its slide as expectations for monetary policy in the US and Switzerland continue to widen.

Chery has launched the Luxeed RX SUV in China with a starting price of around 38,700 US dollars. The model is the latest addition to the Luxeed brand, which Chery developed in cooperation with Huawei, and is aimed at China's competitive electrified SUV market. Details on specs, range and trim options were not provided in the coverage reviewed.

US money supply has reached a record $23.34 trillion, putting bitcoin under a new liquidity test. Analysts are weighing whether expanding dollar liquidity supports higher bitcoin prices or signals inflation pressure that could prompt tighter policy and drain risk appetite from crypto markets.

The Australian dollar is trading near the 0.7000 level against the US dollar ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's next policy decision. Market commentary suggests bearish momentum is building, with traders watching whether the pair breaks below 0.7000. The RBA meeting is expected to be the key driver of the currency's next move.

A new analysis examines where billion-dollar startup companies remain concentrated across the United States, and argues that other regions copying the geography of these hubs tend to fail. The piece suggests the density of talent, capital and networks behind unicorn clusters is difficult to replicate, prompting debate among startup ecosystem builders elsewhere about what actually drives them.