Foreign Exchange Market Update

February 26, 2026

United States Jobless Claims Rise to 212,000

A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed a modest increase in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ending on February 21. The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims rose to 212,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's 208,000. The report said the less volatile four-week moving average also crept up to 220,250, an increase of 750 from the previous week's average of 219,500.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department said continuing claims, a reading on the number of people receiving ongoing unemployment assistance, fell by 31,000 to 1.833 million in the week ending on February 14. The four-week moving average of continuing claims still rose to 1,847,500, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's average of 1,844,000. 2/26/2026 - 09:42:00 (RTTNews)

Eurozone

Euro traded at 1.1788 against USD at 9:00 AM PST

Eurozone economic confidence weakened in February due to the significant drop in sentiment among services providers. The economic sentiment index (ESI) fell to 98.3 in February from 99.3 in the prior month. Services’ confidence weakened to a four-month low in February. The corresponding index slid to 5.0 from 6.8 in January. The industrial confidence indicator declined moderately to -7.1 from -6.8 in the prior month.

Meanwhile, consumer sentiment improved to the highest since November 2024. The index stood at -12.2 and went up from -12.4 in January. Confidence among retailers also strengthened in February. The corresponding index climbed to -4.5 from -5.7. This was the highest since December 2024.

On the other hand, sentiment among contractors fell to a four-month low. The index dropped to -2.1 from -1.3. Among the largest economies in the eurozone, the ESI declined most significantly in France, followed by Italy. Meanwhile, confidence remained broadly stable in Spain and Germany. 02/26/2026 - 05:51:00 (RTTNews)

Italy's consumer confidence strengthened in February to the highest level in four months, while composite business confidence decreased slightly. Consumer sentiment rose to 97.4 in February from 96.8 in the previous month. Among components, the economic climate index improved to 99.1 in February from 97.4 in January, and the future climate rose to 93.1 from 92.3.

Similarly, the index measuring the current climate increased to 100.7 from 100.1, and the personal climate index climbed somewhat from 96.6 to 96.8. The composite business confidence index dropped to 97.4 in February from 97.7 in January. The confidence indicator in the construction sector strengthened to 103.1 from 99.9, and the retail trade sentiment rose to 105.1 from 102.5.

Meanwhile, the index for the market services eased to 102.2 from 103.5. The manufacturing index weakened slightly to 88.5 from 89.2 as all components were recording an unfavorable trend. 02/26/2026 - 06:23:00 (RTTNews)

Singapore Industrial Production Growth Accelerates to 16.6%

Singapore's industrial production growth improved markedly at the start of the year. Industrial production advanced 16.6 % year-on-year in January, much slower than the 10.9% expansion in December. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, industrial production grew 24.1 % annually in December versus a 13.1 % increase in the prior month. Monthly, industrial production rose 5.3 % in January.

Among the major clusters, electronics output grew 44.0 % annually in January, led by growth in other electronic modules, components, and semiconductors, with the latter supported by strong AI-related demand. Transport engineering output was 25.2 % higher, and the precision engineering segment expanded 13.2 %. Meanwhile, general manufacturing output declined by 2.6 % from last year, and biomedical manufacturing output plummeted by 33.1 %.02/26/2026 - 02:34:00 (RTTNews)