New Delhi, September 11, 2026: Global currency markets remained mixed on Friday, September 11, as the US dollar held firm amid rising crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions and growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike. The latest market snapshot at 8:36 AM showed limited movement across major currency pairs, with the Japanese yen and Australian dollar showing notable medium-term changes.
The EUR/USD pair traded at 1.16058, down 0.05% on the day and 0.06% over the week. Despite the weakness, the euro remained 0.71% higher over one month, while its year-to-date performance stood at -1.14%.
The GBP/USD pair was at 1.35015, down 0.07% on the day and 0.15% over the week. Sterling remained broadly stable over longer periods, gaining 0.32% year-to-date but declining 0.33% year-on-year.
Yen Remains a Key Currency to Watch
The USD/JPY pair stood at 154.405, down 0.01% in early trading. The dollar-yen pair was down 1.19% over the week and 3.16% over the month, although it remained 4.59% higher year-on-year.
The yen's recent strength comes as markets assess the possibility of further monetary tightening by the Bank of Japan. Reuters reported that the dollar was around 154.615 yen on Friday, while Japanese wholesale inflation rose 7.6% year-on-year in August, potentially strengthening the case for a Bank of Japan rate increase.
Oil Prices Boost Dollar Safe-Haven Demand
The major driver across global foreign exchange markets is the sharp rise in crude oil prices. Brent crude approached $109 a barrel, with both Brent and WTI on track to finish the week above $100 for the first time since May. Escalating tensions around shipping routes in the Middle East have increased concerns over global energy supplies.
