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- USD/CHF stays firm as the US Dollar holds steady amid caution following US strikes on Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island.
- Middle East tensions eased after Israel and Iran separately signaled a temporary pause in hostilities.
- US Nonfarm Payrolls is expected to rise by 62K in April, following a 178K increase in March.
USD/CHF holds gains for the second successive day, trading around 0.7810 during the Asian hours on Friday. The pair remains stronger as the US Dollar (USD) holds firm following modest gains recorded in the previous session.
Traders remain cautious after the US military carried out strikes on the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command confirmed that Iranian forces launched missiles, drones, and small-boat attacks against USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason while the guided-missile destroyers were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to the official statement, CENTCOM described the Iranian action as unprovoked and said US forces responded under their right to self-defense.
However, renewed tensions in the Middle East eased after separate comments from Israel and Iran indicated that hostilities had temporarily subsided. US President Donald Trump also said that the ceasefire between the US and Iran remains in place. A senior US official told Fox News that the recent strikes do not represent a restart of the war and should not be viewed as the end of the current ceasefire arrangement.
The Trump administration is awaiting Iran’s reply to a proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the nearly 10-week conflict. However, tensions remain elevated across the Persian Gulf and Lebanon. Reports suggest that Tehran is expected to send its response through Pakistan within the next two days.
Later in the day, market participants will monitor Switzerland’s SECO Consumer Climate (3m) data for Q2. Investors will also turn their attention to the US April employment report, which is expected to show that Nonfarm Payrolls rose by 62K jobs in April, down from 178K in March, while the Unemployment Rate is projected to remain unchanged at 4.3%.
