Here’s what you need to know on Friday, February 20th.
The latest figures from the U.S. Department of Labor indicate that new unemployment claims have dropped to 206,000. This is significantly below the initial projection of 225,000 and a decrease from last week’s adjusted number of 229,000.
Attention is now shifting to U.S. data expected to be released today, which includes the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, advance estimates for fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP), and preliminary Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) numbers for February.
The U.S. dollar index (DXY) is currently around 97.90, marking a four-week high, bolstered by better-than-expected labor market data. Investors are still processing the FOMC minutes that came out on Wednesday, which reveal a divided perspective among committee members.
USD price today
The following table illuminates the percentage changes of the U.S. dollar (USD) against other major currencies today, with the USD showing strength particularly against the Swiss franc.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.17% | 0.36% | 0.16% | 0.05% | -0.06% | 0.00% | 0.37% | |
| EUR | -0.17% | 0.19% | -0.04% | -0.14% | -0.23% | -0.16% | 0.21% | |
| GBP | -0.36% | -0.19% | -0.21% | -0.31% | -0.42% | -0.35% | 0.01% | |
| JPY | -0.16% | 0.04% | 0.21% | -0.12% | -0.22% | -0.18% | 0.20% | |
| CAD | -0.05% | 0.14% | 0.31% | 0.12% | -0.10% | -0.05% | 0.32% | |
| AUD | 0.06% | 0.23% | 0.42% | 0.22% | 0.10% | 0.07% | 0.44% | |
| NZD | -0.00% | 0.16% | 0.35% | 0.18% | 0.05% | -0.07% | 0.37% | |
| CHF | -0.37% | -0.21% | -0.01% | -0.20% | -0.32% | -0.44% | -0.37% |
Currently, the EUR/USD rate is hovering around 1.1770 as the market reacts to the news that European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde might resign before her anticipated departure in October 2027.
For GBP/USD, the rate is about 1.3460, facing pressure from declining UK inflation and employment conditions that are impacting the British pound.
The USD/JPY pair is trading near 154.90, recovering nearly half of Wednesday’s losses after strong economic data from the U.S. and a hawkish tone in the FOMC minutes.
AUD/USD is around 0.7050, losing momentum after reaching a three-year peak last week.
In the USD/CAD exchange, the pair is near 1.3700, continuing a rally that has lasted a week as the Bank of Canada (BoC) maintains a dovish approach amid inflation pressures close to the 2% target.
Gold has been trading around $4,982, showing little movement throughout the day as geopolitical tensions diffuse.
Here’s what’s next on the docket:
Friday, February 20th:
- UK January retail sales.
- Germany’s February HCOB comprehensive PMI preliminary numbers.
- Eurozone PMI.
- UK February S&P Global PMI update.
- U.S. December Core Personal Consumption Expenditures.
- February U.S. S&P Global PMI.
