Australia unemployment rate set to tick up in January as RBA keeps door open to further hikes

The Australian monthly employment report is scheduled for release on Thursday at 00:30 GMT, and market participants anticipate a modest increase in jobs in January.

ZAR: Structural job strain caps rand gains – Commerzbank

Commerzbank’s Volkmar Baur highlights that South Africa’s unemployment has fallen to 31.4%, the lowest since the pandemic, but remains structurally very high. Employment growth lags population gains, and the labour force has shrunk as more people stop job hunting.

Forex Today: USD firms after FOMC minutes, ECB succession in focus

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde may step down from her job earlier than her planned retirement in October 2027, according to a report by the Financial Times.

EUR/HUF: Pre-cut strength and limited downside – ING

ING’s Frantisek Taborsky notes the Hungarian Forint is testing new highs as EUR/HUF trades near two-year lows ahead of expected NBH rate cuts.

Breaking: Fed Minutes signal hold for now, but path is still conditional

The Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) January 27–28 meeting showed that almost all participants favoured holding rates steady, with only a couple preferring a cut. The pause, however, did not close the door on easing.