Iran Supreme Leader statement due 'shortly' - State TV

According to preliminary estimates, in April 2026 the Italian consumer price index for the whole nation (NIC) was +1.2% compared with the previous month and +2.8% on annual basis ...

It's about a 100+ pips drop in around ten minutes. I wouldn't pin this as actual intervention but it might be another case of a 'rate check' being performed by Tokyo. The pair already dropped to around 159.20 from 160.50 levels earlier in the day, before a sharp drop now to test waters below the 158.00 mark. If it were actual intervention, I reckon we'd see a more sustained 300-400 pips fall rather than this sort of dip. That especially with some bounces back to around 158.40-50 again amid some pushing and pulling. As a reminder, a 'rate check' is also part of the final call in Tokyo's playbook before intervention. It was definitely the case in past incidents even if there wasn't one that followed up the previous 'rate check' earlier this year. BoJ intervening ? #JPY USDJPY testing 158 swiftly. pic.twitter.com/65aO4pwwU4 157.82 low then quick bounce back to 158.40, then back to 158. This doesn't smell like standard "hammer it" intervention Could be some yanks up early and reacting to the news Could be Katayama's whatsapps to Bessent have finally woken him up and he put in an early rate check

Iran's Supreme Leader: A new chapter for the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz is taking shape - Post on X Iran's Supreme Leader: The Gulf will have a 'bright future’ without the presence of the US - State TV IRAN'S KHAMENEI: NEW MANAGEMENT OF HORMUZ TO BENEFIT REGION IRAN WILL DISMANTLE "US EXPLOITATION’ OF HORMUZ: KHAMENEI IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER SAYS THE NEW MANAGEMENT OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ 'WILL BRING CALM AND PROGRESS' AS WELL AS 'ECONOMIC BENEFITS' TO ALL GULF NATIONS - STATEMENT Just in | Iran's Supreme Leader emphasizes commitment to safeguarding missile and nuclear technology with the same vigilance as its national borders.

At its meeting ending on 29 April 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. One member voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%. The conflict in the Middle East means that prospects for global energy prices are highly uncertain. Monetary policy cannot influence energy prices but will be set to ensure that the economic adjustment to them occurs in a way that achieves the 2% inflation target sustainably. The policy stance required to achieve this will depend on the scale and duration of the shock, and how it propagates through the economy. The April Monetary Policy Report sets out three scenarios that help to illustrate a range of possible outcomes for the UK economy. CPI inflation has increased to 3.3%, and is likely to be higher later this year as the effects of higher energy prices pass through. There is a risk of material second-round effects in price and wage-setting, which policy would need to lean against. But the labour market continues to loosen, and a weak Just in | BoE: Slower economy and labor market, along with tighter financial conditions, expected to gradually decrease inflation. Just in | The Bank of England warns of potential significant second-round effects from inflation on wage and price-setting, indicating a need for policy adjustments to mitigate these risks. Just in | Bank of England releases new forecasts based on three scenarios for energy prices and inflation, without updating central economic projections. Bank of England signals interest rate hikes ahead despite April hold The Bank of England has all but confirmed that interest rates will be hiked in the coming months as oil prices have shot up, despite opting to hold them in a meeting on Thursday. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee warned interest rates could climb back to 5.25 per cent from the current level of 3.75 per cent, cancelling all six interest rate cuts seen over the last two years. This sharp change in the direction of interest rates would take place in a scenario where oil prices exceed $130 per barrel and sustain high levels for the next year and a half. Its updated forecasts suggested inflation would exceed six per cent while growth would also suffer a hit.