Mideast Tensions Ease; Eyes on U.S. ADP & PMI

(By ATFX Analyst Team)

Summary

  • Geopolitical Relief: Trump signaled a potential end to military actions against Iran within 2–3 weeks. Coupled with unconfirmed reports of Iran’s readiness for peace, given certain guarantees, market optimism is rising ahead of Trump’s national address tomorrow.
  • U.S. Economic Data: Focus shifts to March ADP Employment (exp. 40k), Retail Sales (exp. 0.5%), and ISM Manufacturing PMI (exp. 52.5) to assess if the U.S. economy has successfully weathered the impact of the conflict.

 

Global Market Review 01/04/2026

U.S. equities surged on Tuesday, recording their best single-day gains since May 2023. The Dow rose 2.48%, the S&P 500 gained 2.9%, and the Nasdaq jumped 3.8%. Despite the rally, major indices ended Q1 in the red. The U.S. Dollar weakened amid hopes of de-escalation but secured its best quarterly performance since late 2024.

Spot Gold climbed 3.5% to $4,669.56/oz, a multi-week high, despite suffering its worst monthly drop since 2008. Oil prices fell over 3% on news of potential peace, though U.S. crude finished March with a massive 52% gain, the largest monthly surge since 2020.

 

Key Events Today:

  • 15:55 EU GERMANY Manufacturing PMI Final MAR **
  • 16:00 EU Manufacturing PMI Final MAR **
  • 16:30 GB Manufacturing PMI Final MAR **
  • 17:00 EU Unemployment Rate FEB **
  • 20:15 US ADP Employment Change MAR ***
  • 21:45 US Manufacturing PMI Final MAR ***
  • 22:00 US ISM Manufacturing PMI MAR ***
  • 22:30 EIA Weekly Crude Oil Stock **

Tomorrow

  • 01:30 BOC Meeting Minutes ***
  • 09:00 US President Trump delivers a nationwide address on the Iran issue ***
  • 20:30 US Balance of Trade FEB **
  • 20:30 US Initial Jobless Claims ***

 

Markets Analysis 01/04/2026

20260401 EURUSD Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 1.1611/1.1640
  • Support: 1.1518/1.1490

EURUSD rose 0.68% to 1.1543 as fading war anxieties provided relief. Despite the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s indicated willingness to end military operations against Iran triggered a risk-on wave, lifting the Euro from recent lows.

Analyst View: EURUSD is currently attempting to validate an ascending channel breakout, finding demand near the 1.1542 (0.5 Fib) pivot. While geopolitical relief provides a tailwind, bulls must decisively clear the 1.1611 resistance to shift the medium-term structure from neutral to bullish.

Bias: Bullish if sustained above 1.1550.

20260401 GBPUSD Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 1.3318/1.3349
  • Support: 1.3188/1.3157

Sterling edged up 0.33% to 1.3228, snapping a five-day losing streak. The recovery was driven by a softening Greenback as markets weighed potential de-escalation in the Middle East against lingering hawkish UK inflation concerns.

Analyst View: GBPUSD has initiated a technical recovery after tagging the 1.3157 (1.236 Fib) extension. The pair is navigating a descending channel, with bulls currently eyeing a retest of the 1.3257 pivot. A decisive push above the 1.3318 resistance zone is essential to neutralize the prevailing bearish trend.

Bias: Hovering in a low-level range.

20260401 USDJPY Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 159.35/159.78
  • Support: 158.29/157.95

USDJPY fell 0.55% to 158.84 following aggressive rhetoric from Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama. Attributing recent Yen weakness to speculation, officials reinforced their readiness for “all-round” measures, cooling the pair’s push toward recent highs.

Analyst View: USDJPY has retreated from its uptrend channel ceiling as official “intervention anxiety” triggers technical flush. Price is currently testing the 158.65 (0.618 Fib) pivot; a sustained break below this floor could accelerate a “de-leveraging” move toward the 157.95 support zone.

Bias: Under pressure below 159.00.

20260401 US Crude Oil Futures (MAY) Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 108.33/113.28
  • Support: 98.26/93.22

WTI retreated to $102.51 after spiking to a three-week high of $106.86. Conflicting signals emerged as Trump predicted a swift end to the war, while Iranian leaders expressed readiness for peace, potentially removing the massive risk premium built into prices.

Analyst View: WTI is undergoing a “volatile reset” after failing to sustain gains above the 103.29 (0.618 Fib) pivot. The technical rejection suggests a potential “sell the news” reaction to de-escalation talk. Bulls need a daily close above 103.29 to prevent a deep correction toward the 98.26 support.

Bias: Weak consolidation at high levels.

20260401 Spot Gold (XAU/USD) Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 4815/4893
  • Support: 4571/4495

20260401 Spot Silver Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 78.91/82.33
  • Support: 72.07/67.83

Gold surged 3.46% to $4,687.06 as the Pentagon warned of a “decisive moment” in the Iran conflict. While Middle East de-escalation hopes to grow, safe-haven demand remains fierce following Iranian drone strikes on tech firms in Israel.

Analyst View: Gold has executed a powerful “V-reversal” within an ascending channel, effectively neutralizing its worst monthly slump since 2008. By reclaiming the 4,646 (0.852 Fib) level, bulls have regained structural control. Expect a momentum-driven test of the 4,815 resistance if geopolitical tensions remain the primary market driver.

Bias: Trading between $4,600 and $4,800.

20260401 Dow Jones Futures Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 46797/47392
  • Support: 45464/44879

The Dow rose 2.49% to 46,341.51, its best performance since May 2025. Financial stocks surged 1.1% on new 401(k) guidance, while growing optimism for an end to the Iran conflict sparked a broader “relief rally” across blue-chip components.

Analyst View: The Dow has staged a definitive “oversold” reversal, testing the 46,211 (0.852 Fib) pivot. While still confined within a descending channel, the current momentum suggests a tactical hunt for the 46,797 resistance. Bulls must decisively exit this channel to confirm that the bottom is truly in.

Bias: Mildly bullish above 46,000.

20260401 NASDAQ 100 Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 24196/24465
  • Support: 23308/22961

The NAS100 skyrocketed 3.83%, its best day since May 2025. Tech giants led the surge as Nvidia invested $2B into Marvell, while broader optimism about an end to the Iran conflict sparked a massive Short Squeeze.

Analyst View: The index has staged a “V-reversal” after testing the lower rail of its descending channel. Price has aggressively reclaimed the 23,586 level, signaling a tactical shift in momentum. Bulls must now convert the 23,854 psychological barrier into a structural floor to challenge the 24,196 pivot.

Bias: Mildly bullish if 24,000 is breached.

20260401 Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Keys Instruments

  • Resistance: 70488/71792
  • Support: 66244/64963

Bitcoin rose 2.1% to $68,197.3, on track to snap a five-month losing streak with a marginal March gain. While “Q-Day” quantum security concerns and the YTD decline of 22% linger, renewed Middle East de-escalation hopes and $70M in spot ETF inflows have stabilized institutional sentiment.

Analyst View: BTC has established a “double bottom”, successfully defending the $64,963 floor. The price is currently testing the $67,570 pivot; a sustained breakout here would open a high-conviction “liquidity gap” toward the $70,488 resistance zone.

Bias: Bullish above 68,000.

Enjoy trading! The content is for reference only. Please ensure that you understand the risk.

 

 

About the author

 

Martin Lam is ATFX Chief Analyst for Asia Pacific, with over 20 years of experience in global forex and investment markets. He holds a degree in Finance and Economics from Deakin University and has held senior roles at leading FX brokerage firms.

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