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Forex Market Snapshot
- The dollar is trading softer as central bank monetary policy decisions are giving markets something else to focus on besides war headlines.
- This has seen the JPY firm following the BoJ decision and comments from BoJ chief Ueda. Only a conspiracy theory but it would not be a surprise to find out that the BoJ was in covertly defending the 160 level.
- Next up are the BoE and ECB policy announcements where the focus will be on inflation and whether this means rates stay on hold or potential hikes are put back on the table. With the USD firming after a less dovish Fed decision and the JPY doing the same after the BoJ, it will see see if the GBP and/or the EUR try to do the same if the BOE and/or the ECB sound an iflation alarm.
ETHUSD (1HR)
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75% on Tuesday, in line with market expectations. However. the decision did little to reassure traders. As a result of this Ethereum fell by 6.48% though it continues to demonstrate relative strength compared to the broader market.
Following a recent breakout attempt, Ethereum moved toward the $2,340–$2,350 range before retreating. What once was its barrier is now acting as support in the $2,150–$2,200 zone.
March 18 Pre-Market Earnings Release Stocks
(GIS) General Mills is going all in on protein and fiber as the food giant works to turn around its struggling business. Net sales including the impact of divestitures and acquisitions fell 8% to $4.44 billion, edging past consensus calls for $4.41 billion. Sales were down 3% on an organic basis, trailing Nielsen-measured global retail sales by roughly 1.5 points.
(WSM) Williams-Sonoma posted a profit of $368 million, down from $410.7 million a year earlier. Sales falling 4.3% year on year to $2.36 billion. Its GAAP profit of $3.04 per share was 4.5% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
(WB) Weibo’s Q4 2025 saw 4% revenue growth year-over-year, with advertising strength offsetting VAS softness. FY2025 revenues were flat, but net income rose to $449M, and a $150M annual dividend was declared.
Full slate of Central Bank rate decisions today
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Newsquawk Daily Asia-Pac Opening News – 19th March 2026
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BTCUSD – Weekly Chart
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve held the policy rates, while the US wholesale inflation surged.
After reachning above the important level of 74.430 Bitcoin lost its mojo and dived below 72 K
Now it is not all lost – yet, but we’ll have to see if Support at 69.135 can holds…
If not 60 K will be a magnet, with 50 K starting to be resonable…
Now it is too early to call it , as todays move is clearly a reaction to FOMC….
Bitcoin needs to take over that 74.430 and stay above it, to be able to charge towards 80 K first and 90K being a target of such a move.
USDJPY hits a new high for the year
The USDJPY is ticking up to new highs as yields move higher after the FOMC rate decision and comments
Overall, Powell leaned mildly hawkish:
The hawkish core was his refusal to commit to cuts without inflation progress, the dot plot shift toward fewer cuts, and his explicit unwillingness to prioritize employment over inflation. The fact that he openly questioned whether tariff inflation would truly be “one-time” was a notable step back from the view the Fed held earlier.
The dovish offset came from ruling out hikes, signaling some confidence tariff inflation fades mid-year, and emphasizing that long-term expectations remain anchored
The wildcard is the Middle East. Powell effectively told markets he doesn’t know how to model it yet — which keeps the next meeting wide open depending on how the oil/energy situation develops.
160.250 & 162.000 will be real tests…
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