The EUR/USD rose towards 1.19 as weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation data put pressure on the US dollar. On Friday, U.S. headline inflation came in at 2.4%, down from 2.7% previously. In Europe, Eurozone data showed the economy grew 1.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The GBP/USD gained and it recovered above 1.36, supported by weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation for January. The British pound appreciated against the US dollar despite the UK posting weaker-than-expected GDP data for the last quarter of 2025.
The USD/JPY fell to nearly two-and-a-half-month lows after Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, won a supermajority in the Lower House in the February 8 elections.
Gold prices rose back above $5,000 after initially testing levels below $4,900. Weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation and ongoing tensions in the Middle East provided support for the safe-haven gold.
The U.S. S&P 500 fell more than 1% as anxiety rose over when the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next. Concerns reemerged after strong January jobs numbers suggested the Fed might wait longer, while fears of AI disruption spread across software, transport, logistics, and some financial services.
Oil prices extended declines toward the $60 level last week, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, a region rich in oil. Rising U.S. oil inventories put pressure on prices, as official government data indicated inventories rose last week the most since February 2025.