Forex Morning Briefing — 23 October 2026

A quick read on the currency board before the trading day builds momentum. USD/ZAR surged to 16.50 (+0.81%), while Gold (XAU/USD) fell at 4,031 (-0.72%).

Market snapshot

• EUR/USD 1.1217 (-0.16%)
• GBP/USD 1.3392 (-0.03%)
• USD/JPY 157.00 (-0.72%)
• AUD/USD 0.7023 (-0.09%)
• USD/ZAR 16.50 (+0.81%)
• Gold (XAU/USD) 4,031 (-0.72%)

What's moving markets

• Heads up: UK retail sales to test the case for further BOE rate hikes *(InvestingLive)*
• Asia FX steadies as oil surge weighs on risk appetite, yen holds gains *(Investing.com)*
• investingLive Asia-Pacific market news: Asian stocks slide as chip rout spreads *(InvestingLive)*
• Japan flash PMI holds at 52.3 as services gain offsets factory slowdown before BoJ *(InvestingLive)*
• Japan September 2026 Headline CPI 2.1% y/y (expected 2.1%) *(InvestingLive)*

On today's calendar

• Fri 06:00 UTC — GBP Retail Sales m/m — forecast -0.1%, previous 0.5%
• Fri 07:15 UTC — EUR French Flash Manufacturing PMI — forecast 50.5, previous 50.3
• Fri 07:15 UTC — EUR French Flash Services PMI — forecast 50.7, previous 51.4
• Fri 07:30 UTC — EUR German Flash Manufacturing PMI — forecast 53.5, previous 53.8
• Fri 07:30 UTC — EUR German Flash Services PMI — forecast 52.5, previous 52.9
• Fri 08:30 UTC — GBP Flash Manufacturing PMI — forecast 51.8, previous 52.0
• Fri 08:30 UTC — GBP Flash Services PMI — forecast 51.8, previous 51.7
• Fri 13:45 UTC — USD Flash Manufacturing PMI — forecast 55.4, previous 57.0

Tip of the day: Journal the exit, not just the entry

Most traders can explain why they entered. The account is decided by how they exited. Log both — the pattern in your exits is usually the leak.

Planning trades around today's events? The prop firm calculator shows how much risk per trade your daily limit actually allows.

*This briefing is generated from live market data and public news feeds for information only. It is not investment advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of loss — read our risk disclosure.*