No change on platinum price negative track until this moment, due to its negative stability below $2210.00 level, forming some bearish waves and targeting $2090.00 level, approaching the suggested initial target in the previous report.
Providing negative momentum by the main indicators will assist to confirm the dominance of the negative scenario, to keep waiting for targeting extra stations by reaching $2015.00, while its rally above the barrier and providing a positive close will provide new chances to attempt to build a new bullish track directly to $2250.00 reaching 2310.00 level.
The expected trading range for today is between $2015.00 and $2140.00
The Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate moved little on Wednesday, with traders opting for caution ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate decision.
At the time of writing, GBP/USD hovered around $1.3358, showing minimal movement from the start of the session.
The US Dollar remained confined to a tight range during European trading hours, as investors held back from making significant moves ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy announcement.
Although no changes to interest rates are expected, attention is firmly on the Fed’s guidance and remarks from Chair Jerome Powell for clues on the direction of future monetary policy.
Markets are particularly focused on how policymakers interpret the inflationary impact of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed global energy prices sharply higher in recent weeks.
Fears that inflation could remain elevated for longer have already led some analysts to delay their expectations for when the Federal Reserve might begin easing policy.
Should the Fed signal a later timeline for rate cuts, or even hint at further tightening, the US Dollar could jump.
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The Pound was largely stable, as a modest decline in energy prices offered some respite to UK bond markets.
Government borrowing costs edged lower, with two-year yields slipping as falling oil prices helped ease some of the immediate inflationary pressure on the UK economy.
At the same time, investors remained cautious toward Sterling, refraining from placing strong directional bets ahead of the Bank of England’s own policy decision.
Short-Term GBP/USD Forecast: BoE Guidance in Focus
Attention will shift to the Bank of England’s interest rate announcement, which is expected to be the next major driver for the Pound to US Dollar exchange rate.
As with the Federal Reserve, policymakers are not expected to alter rates at this meeting, leaving forward guidance as the key area of interest. Any indication that rates may need to rise again to counter inflation could provide support for the Pound.
For the US Dollar, geopolitical developments will remain important, with any escalation in the Middle East likely to revive demand for safe-haven assets.
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2026.03.18 2026.03.18 Yen Gains Ground As BoJ Expected to Adopt Hawkish Tone. Forecast as of 18.03.2026
Dmitri Demidenkohttps://www.litefinance.org/blog/authors/dmitri-demidenko/
The Bank of Japan’s main advantage is timing. By the time it acts, the outcome of the Fed meeting and the markets’ reaction will already be clear, allowing it to adjust its own accompanying statement accordingly. Will the USD/JPY pair benefit from this? Let’s discuss this topic and make a trading plan.
The article covers the following subjects:
Major Takeaways
Rising oil prices and a weaker yen are spurring inflation in Japan.
The Bank of Japan’s cautious stance could continue to weigh on the yen.
Timing is on the BoJ’s side, allowing it to react after the Fed’s policy decisions.
Pullbacks toward 158.3 and 157.7 may offer opportunities to open long positions on the USD/JPY.
Weekly Fundamental Forecast for Yen
Ignoring the problem will not make it disappear. Markets are closely watching how central banks will respond to the potential combination of rising inflation and slowing economic growth amid the Middle East conflict. The challenge is particularly acute for the Bank of Japan, as Japan relies on imports for roughly 90% of its energy needs. Rising oil prices, coupled with a weak yen, could push consumer prices sharply higher. At the same time, Sanae Takaichi’s government has shown little enthusiasm for raising the overnight rate.
USD/JPY and Crude Price
Source: Bloomberg.
None of the 51 Bloomberg analysts expect the Bank of Japan to tighten monetary policy in March, but the futures market puts a 60% probability on this happening in April. The question remains: will the BoJ dash these expectations by citing caution due to the Middle East conflict, or will it provide a clear signal that it will resume monetary tightening?
The BoJ’s hesitancy could weigh heavily on the yen. The Reserve Bank of Australia has already raised rates, and the derivatives market suggests a 69% probability that the European Central Bank will follow suit by June. Hawkish signals from the Fed are likely to push USD/JPY quotes higher. Geopolitical tensions have driven the pair above 20-month highs, but ahead of a series of central bank meetings, speculators have begun taking profits on their long positions.
USD/JPY Price and Speculative Positions on Japanese Yen
Source: Bloomberg.
The Bank of Japan’s main advantage is timing. Its upcoming meeting is scheduled just a few hours after the Federal Reserve releases its results, including revised forecasts for the federal funds rate. This allows the BoJ to observe how USD/JPY quotes react to Jerome Powell’s comments and adjust its accompanying statement accordingly.
Japanese officials appear to view the current USD/JPY rally as unfavorable. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama continues to caution investors through verbal interventions, noting that financial markets are experiencing heightened volatility. At the same time, the pair has become detached from fundamental factors, with the current deviation particularly pronounced. Under these conditions, Japanese officials remain ready to take action at any moment, maintaining close coordination with Washington.
While there is no doubt about the Japanese government’s willingness to intervene in the Forex market, success is likely to be limited when the rally is driven primarily by oil prices and the US dollar, factors largely outside the BoJ’s control. If the Fed fails to temper bulls, the BoJ is unlikely to succeed either. In such a scenario, the Ministry of Finance may have no choice but to wait for a more favorable moment to act.
Weekly USDJPY Trading Plan
Against this backdrop, a pullback in USD/JPY quotes toward support levels at 158.3 and 157.7, or a rebound above the resistance at 159.1, could present a buying opportunity. At the same time, upcoming central bank meetings may trigger increased volatility.
This forecast is based on the analysis of fundamental factors, including official statements from financial institutions and regulators, various geopolitical and economic developments, and statistical data. Historical market data are also considered.
Price chart of USDJPY in real time mode
The content of this article reflects the author’s opinion and does not necessarily reflect the official position of LiteFinance broker. The material published on this page is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as the provision of investment advice for the purposes of Directive 2014/65/EU.
According to copyright law, this article is considered intellectual property, which includes a prohibition on copying and distributing it without consent.
The US stock market is likely to open higher in Wednesday’s trading session, March 18, as futures of the three key averages—the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite—are trading lower by 0.4%, 0.4%, and 0.3%, respectively, as crude oil prices stabilised following a sharp run-up, while investors’ awaiting the US Federal Reserve policy decision.
The S&P 500 has closed higher over the last two trading sessions, marking the first such instance since the start of the Iranian war.
Brent crude oil prices dropped to $100 per barrel earlier in the day after rising to $105 in the previous session. Higher oil prices are boosting energy stocks, supporting the key indices to stay afloat.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which tracks its performance against a basket of major currencies, has largely remained unchanged at 99.56 in today’s session.
The dollar had climbed above 100.3 on Friday, its highest level since mid-May 2025, and ended last week up 1.66%, marking its second consecutive weekly gain. So far this month, the dollar has strengthened by 2%, the biggest monthly gain since July 2025, when it rose 3.37%.
Fed expected to leave rates unchanged for a second time
The US Federal Reserve’s policy decision is due later in the day, where policymakers are widely expected to hold rates steady, with traders anticipating only one 25-basis-point cut, possibly in September.
Investors are assessing that higher crude oil, gas, and fertiliser prices, triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East, could prompt the central bank to hold interest rates until late 2026.
Before pausing rate cuts in January, policymakers had reduced short-term interest rates three consecutive times, indicating that the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the economy was limited.
However, the ongoing US-Iran war has led to a sharp rise in energy prices, making policymakers’ jobs more difficult, given an already soft labour market.
Economists are forecasting that if the seizure of the Strait of Hormuz remains in place for more weeks, it could impact consumer spending, as more household income is spent on fuel, leaving less money for other goods and services, resulting in higher unemployment in the world’s largest economy.
Higher oil prices could also lead to increases in consumer goods prices, which may add further strain to consumer spending, the main growth engine for the US economy.
With crude oil prices running high, many economists expect the Fed will have to raise its inflation forecast to as high as 3% even by late 2026. An increase of that magnitude could be hard to reconcile with further interest rate cuts.
In the January meeting, most policymakers cautioned that progress toward the 2% inflation objective could be slower and more uneven than previously expected. They emphasised that inflation running persistently above target remains a key concern.
The US central bank has been battling to bring inflation down to its long-term 2% target since the pandemic, with prices remaining persistently high.
Meanwhile, the US job market is sputtering. Last month, employers cut 92,000 jobs. In 2025, they added fewer than 10,000 jobs a month, marking the weakest hiring outside recession years since 2002.
A combination of rising prices and higher unemployment is generally the worst-case scenario for central bankers.
On the economy front, the world’s largest economy has been resilient in the face of President Donald Trump’s import taxes and deportations. However, the US Commerce Department reported on March 13 that economic growth slowed sharply in the last three months of 2025 to 0.7%, half its initial estimate of fourth-quarter growth and down from a strong 4.4% expansion in the third quarter.
EUR/USD stays in a consolidation phase above 1.1500 after posting gains on Monday and Tuesday. The pair’s near-term technical outlook points to a loss of bearish momentum as focus shifts to the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy announcements.
Euro Price This week
The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies this week. Euro was the strongest against the US Dollar.
USD
EUR
GBP
JPY
CAD
AUD
NZD
CHF
USD
-0.93%
-0.78%
-0.33%
-0.20%
-1.58%
-1.14%
-0.48%
EUR
0.93%
0.18%
0.53%
0.72%
-0.65%
-0.23%
0.45%
GBP
0.78%
-0.18%
0.49%
0.56%
-0.80%
-0.39%
0.35%
JPY
0.33%
-0.53%
-0.49%
0.14%
-1.24%
-0.80%
-0.16%
CAD
0.20%
-0.72%
-0.56%
-0.14%
-1.42%
-0.94%
-0.27%
AUD
1.58%
0.65%
0.80%
1.24%
1.42%
0.42%
1.12%
NZD
1.14%
0.23%
0.39%
0.80%
0.94%
-0.42%
0.65%
CHF
0.48%
-0.45%
-0.35%
0.16%
0.27%
-1.12%
-0.65%
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).
The improvement seen in risk mood, as reflected by the modest recovery in Wall Street’s main indexes after the opening bell, helped EUR/USD edge higher in the American session on Tuesday.
Early Wednesday, US stock index futures stay in positive territory, limiting the USD’s gains and allowing EUR/USD to hold its ground.
In the second half of the day, market participants will take a break from the Middle East conflict and shift their attention to the Fed event.
The US central bank is widely expected to leave the policy rate unchanged after the March meeting. Alongside the policy statement, the Fed will publish the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), which will highlight policymakers’ inflation, growth and interest rate expectations.
In December, the SEP showed that officials’ projections implied one 25 basis-points (bps) rate cut in 2026. In case the publication shows that a majority of policymakers see the interest rate remaining unchanged for the rest of the year, the immediate reaction could trigger a USD rally and weigh on EUR/USD. Conversely, the USD could have a hard time finding demand if the SEP points to at least one rate cut in 2026. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are currently pricing in about a 30% probability that the policy rate will hold steady at 3.5%-3.75% by end-2026.
Investors will also pay close attention to comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. If Powell hints that they will have to be more attentive to inflation risks, because of rising Oil prices due to the US-Iran war, the USD could preserve its strength. On the other hand, EUR/USD could gain traction in case Powell voices growing concerns over the labor market outlook after the February employment report showed a significant 92,000 decline in Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP).
EUR/USD Technical Analysis:
In the 4-hour chart, EUR/USD trades at 1.1523. The near-term bias is mildly bullish after the pair rebounded from the 1.1500 support area and broke above the descending resistance trend line that originated near 1.1817 and was intersecting around 1.1509. Price now holds just above the 20-period Moving Average (MA) at 1.1487 and closes in on the 50-period MA at 1.1544, while remaining capped well below the flattening 100- and 200-period MAs clustered above 1.1630, which tempers upside conviction. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers around 51, reflecting balanced but recovering momentum that favors a gradual upside extension as long as the recent breakout is preserved.
Immediate support is located at 1.1500, reinforced by the nearby 20-period MA, with the next cushion at 1.1460 ahead of a stronger structural floor at 1.1410. Holding above 1.1500 would keep buyers in control and maintain the post-breakout structure. On the upside, initial resistance is seen near the 1.1600 area (static level), followed by the 100-period SMA at 1.1630 and 1.1670 (static level).
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
Euro FAQs
The Euro is the currency for the 20 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day.
EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).
The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy.
The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa.
The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control.
Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency.
A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall.
Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.
Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period.
If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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The EURJPY repeated attempts to form bullish waves due to providing positive momentum by the main indicators in the last period, to move away from the support at 182.00 and recording some gains by reaching 183.55.
We couldn’t confirm regaining the bullish bias unless breaching the barrier at 184.40 level and holding above it, therefore, we expect forming unstable mixed trading, to keep waiting for surpassing the main levels to confirm the main trend in the upcoming period.
The expected trading range for today is between 182.55 and 184.00
Trend forecast: Fluctuating within the bearish track
The EURJPY repeated attempts to form bullish waves due to providing positive momentum by the main indicators in the last period, to move away from the support at 182.00 and recording some gains by reaching 183.55.
We couldn’t confirm regaining the bullish bias unless breaching the barrier at 184.40 level and holding above it, therefore, we expect forming unstable mixed trading, to keep waiting for surpassing the main levels to confirm the main trend in the upcoming period.
The expected trading range for today is between 182.55 and 184.00
Trend forecast: Fluctuating within the bearish track
The EURJPY repeated attempts to form bullish waves due to providing positive momentum by the main indicators in the last period, to move away from the support at 182.00 and recording some gains by reaching 183.55.
We couldn’t confirm regaining the bullish bias unless breaching the barrier at 184.40 level and holding above it, therefore, we expect forming unstable mixed trading, to keep waiting for surpassing the main levels to confirm the main trend in the upcoming period.
The expected trading range for today is between 182.55 and 184.00
Trend forecast: Fluctuating within the bearish track
