Currency news / July 31, 2025

Dollar holds the high ground as Powell leans hawkish

3 min readThanim IslamThanim IslamJuly 31, 2025

Market snapshot:

  • Greenback in control as GBPUSD and EURUSD hit new lows

Yesterday's currency recap

The USD powered higher after the Fed held rates steady but delivered a hawkish message, with Powell stressing the need to stay vigilant on inflation despite softer growth signals. Q2 GDP surprised to the upside at 3%, while ADP jobs data reinforced a resilient labour market. Treasury yields pushed higher dragging EUR and GBP lower, with both unable to mount any kind of bounce as the market leaned into renewed USD strength. Risk sentiment turned cautious, with equities slipping and flows rotating into the dollar as the safe-haven of choice.

Today's GBP rates

Currency pairDaily move*Indicative rate**
GBPAUD0.30%2.0574
GBPCAD-0.25%1.8337
GBPCHF0.07%1.077
GBPDKK0.07%8.6366
GBPEUR0.07%1.1575
GBPJPY-0.18%197.864
GBPNOK0.05%13.6329
GBPNZD0.15%2.2454
GBPSEK0.35%12.9324
GBPUSD-0.56%1.3276

*Daily move - against G10 rates at 7:00 am, 31.07.25
** Indicative rates - interbank rates at 7:00 am, 31.07.25

Key data points

CurrencyEventPeriodConsensusPrevious
EURGerman CPI MoMJul0.20%0.60%
EURGerman CPI YoYJul2.00%2.00%
USDCore PCE MoMJun0.30%0.20%
USDCore PCE YoYJun2.70%2.70%
USDInitial Jobless ClaimsJul 26224,000217,000

What we think

USD bias remains firmly bullish ahead of jobless claims and core PCE numbers today. Soft numbers may spark a USD pullback. However, losses may be minimal, especially ahead of nonfarm payrolls tomorrow. Furthermore, continued strong numbers stateside will likely lead to further USD gains.

German CPI numbers are also on the agenda today ahead of tomorrow's EU CPI numbers as well. French CPI held at 1% in July, but had little impact.

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