TOKYO, Oct. 24, 2025 — The U.S. dollar held steady on Friday, poised for a modest weekly gain against a basket of major currencies, as investors await the release of delayed U.S. inflation data that is unlikely to alter expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut next week.
The Japanese yen traded at ¥152.58 per dollar, stabilizing after a brief decline in the previous session. Data earlier showed that Japan’s core inflation remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, reinforcing speculation that Tokyo may consider a near-term rate hike.
Market focus now shifts to next week’s central bank meetings in the United States and Japan, with traders watching closely for signals on the direction of monetary policy in both economies.
Beyond monetary developments, investors are also eyeing the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week, with hopes that the talks could ease tensions in the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
Later today, markets will turn their attention to the September U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. Economists forecast a 0.4% rise in headline inflation and a 0.3% gain in core inflation year-on-year.
Analysts say the data could prove decisive for the dollar’s short-term direction, as traders weigh whether the Fed’s expected rate cut will mark the start of a new easing cycle aimed at supporting economic growth amid global uncertainty.
