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Market Insight 20-10-2025

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  • Market Insight 20-10-2025

Daily Market Update: 20 October 2025

Key Currency Pair Movements

GBP/EUR

  • Summary: The GBP/EUR cross is trading in a tight range as both Pound Sterling and the Euro are being affected by quiet market conditions.
  • Outlook: With no high-impact economic data from either the UK or the Eurozone, the pair’s movement is confined to a narrow range. Both Pound Sterling (GBP) and the Euro (EUR) are primarily influenced by the quiet market outlook and the sideways movement of the US Dollar (USD). The Euro’s potential upside, however, is capped by the news over the weekend that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded France’s sovereign credit rating.

GBP/USD

  • Summary: Pound Sterling trades sideways against a muted US Dollar (USD) on Monday.
  • Outlook: The pair remains steady, lacking a clear directional move as the economic calendar offers no high-impact data. The US Dollar Index is moving sideways around 98.50, which contributes to the pair’s calm start to the week.

EUR/USD

  • Summary: The pair remains subdued, holding steady in the European session, as the Euro is pressured by France’s credit rating downgrade over the weekend.
  • Outlook: The Euro (EUR) lacks directional momentum as it weighs the impact of the French credit rating downgrade by S&P from AA- to A+ on Friday. The downgrade, which cited high budget uncertainty and the country’s rising debt burden, adds a layer of fiscal concern over the Eurozone’s second-largest economy. The major focus also remains on US political and trade headlines.

AUD/USD

  • Summary: The Australian Dollar (AUD) is finding modest support amid an improving risk mood.
  • Outlook: The pair is being underpinned by news that US President Donald Trump wants China to increase its soybean purchases, easing some trade tensions. However, the gains for the risk-sensitive AUD are limited by the US Dollar’s tendency to stabilise after last week’s sharp slide.

USD/CAD

  • Summary: The USD/CAD pair trades in a tight range as markets remain calm.
  • Outlook: The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is being pulled by the sideways action of the US Dollar (USD) and the overall quiet market outlook. Investors are waiting for the next domestic or global catalyst to break the current consolidation phase.

USD/CHF

  • Summary: The USD/CHF pair is finding modest support as the Swiss Franc (CHF) weakens over domestic economic concerns.
  • Outlook: The Swiss Franc’s (CHF) upside is capped as the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) maintained its below-average 1.3% GDP growth forecast for 2025, lowering the 2026 projection to 0.9%. Conversely, the US Dollar (USD) remains pressured by the extended 19-day government shutdown and the nearly 100% market likelihood of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in October. However, easing trade tensions (Trump’s soybean comments) offer some restraint to the USD’s downside.

Final Summary

Major currency pairs remain relatively calm on Monday following the previous week’s volatile action, although the Euro is under moderate pressure following the downgrade of France’s sovereign credit rating. The US Dollar (USD) Index is struggling to gather bullish momentum and is moving sideways at around 98.50. US stock index futures are rising, reflecting an improving risk mood.

The primary market focus remains on US-China trade relations. US President Donald Trump stated over the weekend that he wants China to increase its soybean purchases to pre-tension levels and believes a deal will be made. Adding to the uncertainty in the Eurozone, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded France’s credit rating from “AA-” to “A+” on Friday, citing ongoing social unrest, political gridlock, and mounting uncertainty over the country’s public finances. The downside risk for the USD continues to stem from the US government shutdown, which has now extended into its 19th day with no resolution in sight. The market is also heavily factoring in monetary policy easing, with bets for a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in October nearing 100%.

Meanwhile, data from China showed that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 4.8% in the third quarter, in line with expectations. Retail Sales increased by 3%, and Industrial Production expanded by 6.5% in the same period. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) also left its key lending rates unchanged.