The US dollar maintained its strength during the Asian trading session, influenced by uncertainties surrounding tariffs and a retreat from risk trades. Other currencies, including the EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD, CAD, yen, and CHF, weakened against the dollar.
Nvidia’s financial results were anticipated as a potential market booster, yet the share price showed minimal reaction despite reporting strong performance. Bitcoin traded around $85,000, recovering slightly from lower levels near $82,000.
Oil prices also faced decline, with gold dropping from its recent rally to around $2,905. Australian capital expenditure data for Q4 showed disappointing results, with several misses and limited positive aspects. The dollar’s gains were modest but still better than alternative currencies.
The dollar held firm as markets adjusted to uncertainty surrounding tariffs and a shift away from riskier trades. The impact was widespread, with other major currencies losing ground. This development was not unexpected, given the currents shaping global markets.
Jensen and his team at Nvidia had investors watching closely. Their results came in strong, yet the stock failed to move in any meaningful way. Markets sometimes anticipate too much, pricing in optimism before figures are even released. In this case, expectations seemed to have done exactly that—meaning the earnings, though impressive, were not enough to provide further lift. It was a reminder that no single catalyst guarantees momentum, even when the numbers check out.
Bitcoin steadied. After dipping to $82,000, it climbed back towards $85,000. A move like this suggests underlying demand, even as volatility persists. The broader trend remains intact, though shorter-term fluctuations require careful handling.
Energy markets also saw downward pressure. Gold, having rallied not long ago, gave back some of those gains and sat near $2,905. Oil followed a similar pattern, struggling to hold its ground as sentiment dampened. The reaction in commodities fed back into currency movement, reinforcing what was already in play.
Australian capital expenditure numbers did not impress. Multiple areas missed projections, leaving little in the way of optimism. This data does not act in isolation—it ties directly into how markets view the country’s growth path. For the Aussie dollar, it added weight to selling pressure.
The broad takeaway from the session was clear. The dollar held an advantage, not due to overwhelming strength, but because alternatives failed to offer compelling reasons to bet against it. None saw any meaningful support, leaving the greenback as the safer option by default. The relative nature of currency moves always matters, and in this case, that balance favoured the US side.
