The latest Market Talks covering FX and Fixed Income. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0310 GMT - Thailand's inflation looks set to accelerate due to rising energy and utilities costs, DBS Group Research analysts say in a report. Diesel prices have been surging, driving an economy-wide cost inflation, they note. Retail diesel costs in Thailand have risen by around 66% year over year so far, due to rising global oil prices and the removal of government subsidies. "This is feeding through to transport and logistics costs, with spillovers to consumer prices and corporate margins," DBS says. Electricity tariffs have also been raised to 3.95 baht a unit from 3.88 baht a unit from May to August, reflecting higher liquefied natural gas and crude costs. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0224 GMT - The Singapore dollar strengthens against its U.S. counterpart in the Asian session as risk appetite is fueled by the announcement of a two-week cease-fire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Regional currencies were firmer heading into the announcement, analysts of CIMB's Treasury and Markets Research say in commentary. These currencies have "rallied sharply post-ceasefire [announcement] on improved sentiment," the analysts add. The U.S. dollar falls 0.55% to 1.2750 Singapore dollars after earlier touching S$1.2741, its lowest intraday level since March 24, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0217 GMT - Elevated energy prices are likely to continue weighing on businesses and markets even though President Trump agreed to a two-week cease-fire with Iran, Phillip Nova's Priyanka Sachdeva says in a note. Trump said he agreed to suspend attacks on Iran, subject to the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The cease-fire may lead to the reopening of the waterway, but that can't undo the damage on energy infrastructure, she says. "The true cost of this conflict will be paid at the fuel pump and across global inflation for months to come," she adds.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0201 GMT - Bitcoin gains in Asia's morning session as risk assets rebound following the announcement of a two-week U.S.-Iran cease-fire that has markets hoping for an end to the hostilities. Crypto markets have had a volatile ride during the turmoil that has swept markets since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began, with bitcoin largely mirroring twists and turns in geopolitical developments. Tentative optimism has been lifting the cryptocurrency over the past sessions, and though it pared some of the gains made overnight, it stays above the closely watched $70,000 level. Bitcoin last up 3.1% at $71,465. (fabiana.negrinochoa@wsj.com)
0158 GMT - The Australian dollar's scope to extend a rebound against its U.S. counterpart looks "real," given the "extent of risk shedding already behind us," Westpac's Richard Franulovich says in commentary. The Australian dollar is "probing new highs for the week's rebound" against the greenback, the head of FX strategy says. "We were always a single headline away from a significant squeeze if some form of U.S. disengagement materialized," Franulovich adds. Earlier, President Trump and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Australian dollar climbs 1.3% to $0.7066, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0141 GMT - Credible signs of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict could spur a resumption of a "shallow" U.S. dollar depreciation trend, two FX strategists at OCBC Group Research say in a report. "Lower energy risks support non-U.S. economies and global risk assets," the strategists say. "In a de-escalation, lower oil prices and a risk-on environment should favor" the Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar, and Swedish krona over oil-linked Canadian dollar and Norwegian krone, as well as safe-havens Swiss franc and Japanese yen, the strategists say. "Our preferred expression is long AUD, supported by domestic economic tailwinds," they add. Australian dollar climbs 1.2% to $0.7061 and New Zealand dollar rises 1.1% to $0.5793, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0124 GMT - The Bank of Thailand is likely to look through near-term supply-driven inflation pressures and maintain a wait-and-see stance, Commerzbank Research analysts say in a note. Energy prices fell 2.8% on year in March, compared with February's 8.3% decline, as government fuel subsidies limited inflationary pressure from high global oil prices. However, energy inflation should pick up in the coming months as the government has announced plans to reduce fuel subsidies and lift energy price caps. Ongoing uncertainty around the scale and persistence of spillovers from the Middle East conflict should keep the BOT's policy flexible, Commerzbank says. The central bank could tolerate higher inflation, which has been undershooting the BOT's 1%-3% target range since February 2025. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0110 GMT - Asian currencies strengthen against the dollar in the morning session following the U.S.-Iran two-week cease-fire agreement. President "Trump's agreement to hold off on the attack on Iran has certainly provided optimism to the global market sentiment," Moomoo ANZ's Tina Teng says in an email. This could be seen as a turning point of the six-week war in the Middle East. "However, the focus will be on whether the Strait of Hormuz can be completely open if a permanent cease-fire agreement can be made in two weeks, which will decide if the market rebound can continue," the market strategist adds. The dollar is down 0.6% at 158.61 yen, 1.1% lower at 1,479.90 won, and down 1.0% to 32.14 baht, LSEG data show.(ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0031 GMT - The Philippine central bank is likely to raise its policy rate by 25 bps later this month, as inflation broadened in March, Citi Research economists say in a note. Rising transport and household fuel inflation were largely expected, while food inflation picked up due to a possible second-round effect from higher logistics costs. Core inflation also rose to 3.2% on year, compared with February's 2.9%. "We also find inflation pervasiveness increased, reminiscent of mid-2022 when BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] initiated its last hiking cycle," Citi says. The central bank rate decision is due April 23. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0017 GMT - Japanese stocks are broadly higher in early trade after President Trump agreed to a two-week cease-fire with Iran, easing concerns about a further escalation in the Middle East conflict. Chip and metals stocks are leading the gains. Advantest is up 8.8% and Mitsui Kinzoku is 8.3% higher. The dollar is at 158.68 yen, down from Y159.76 as of Tuesday's Tokyo stock market close. Investors are closely watching developments in the Middle East and crude oil prices. The Nikkei Stock Average is up 4.7% at 55936.91. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com; @kosakunarioka)
0015 GMT - JGBs rise in price terms in the morning Tokyo session on easing inflation concerns spurred by President Trump's agreement to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a key waterway through which around one-fifth of the world's oil is transported. The agreement has already led to a marked decline in crude oil prices that could diminish worries over central banks' rate increases to tame hotter inflation. The yield on 10-year JGBs is down 5bps to 2.355%, the yield on the 20-year JGBs falls 7bps to 3.260%, and the yield on the 30-year JGBs is 8bps lower at 3.580%. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
2355 GMT - Genesis Energy's signals about its dividend are taken positively by Jarden. Genesis has indicated that its dividend policy will revert to a more market-aligned framework from FY28, from its current incremental approach. Analyst Grant Swanepoel says this implies higher payout ratios. "We increase our FY28 dividend forecast from 15.7 New Zealand cents/share (incremental pathway) to 17.0 New Zealand cents/share (assuming a 70% payout of normalized cash flow)," Jarden says. Genesis's FY32 projections imply a potential dividend of 20.1 New Zealand cents/share. That would represent compound annual growth of 6.2% from the FY25 dividend of 14.3 New Zealand cents/share. Jarden has a buy call on Genesis. (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 07, 2026 23:10 ET (03:10 GMT)
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