President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi at the White House for a state visit and said they have a deep personal friendship grounded in mutual respect and shared core interests; he said the two countries will continue to work together to build a b

US Dollar: 1. US mortgage rates rose above 7%, reaching a more than two-year high. 2. Hassett criticized recent comments from Federal Reserve officials supporting interest rate hikes, demanding a restoration of "independence." 3. Federal Reserve Governor Barr: Further interest rate hikes may be needed to ensure a timely return to the 2% inflation target. 4. US Treasury: Will repurchase at least $4 billion and up to $6 billion in long-term Treasury bonds on Thursday. 5. OECD: Projects US economic growth of 2.2% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027 (previously projected at 2.0% and 1.8%, respectively). Euro: 1. French private sector growth resumed in September, with the composite PMI hitting a 25-month high. 2. German business activity expanded in September, with the PMI showing strengthening economic recovery momentum. 3. Eurozone composite PMI hit a 41-month high in September, while the services PMI hit a 10-month high. 4. OECD: Projects Eurozone economic growth of 1% in 2026 and 1% in 2027 (previously projected at 0.8% and 1.2% respectively). 5. ECB Governing Council member Machrouf: The ECB will have to take action if rising energy costs further pass through to other prices. Pound Sterling: 1. OECD: The Bank of England does not need to raise interest rates; policy is already tight enough. 2. Bank of America expects the Bank of England to raise interest rates by 25 basis points each in November and February, down from its previous forecast of no change until November 2027. Japanese Yen: 1. OECD: Expects the Bank of Japan to raise its key interest rate to 2% by the end of 2027. 2. Sources: Japan's Ministry of Finance will discuss reducing the size of medium-term Japanese government bonds issued through "liquidity enhancement auctions." 3. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama: The foreign exchange principles established since the coordinated intervention by Japan and the US remain valid. 4. Japan's PMI showed continued expansion in the private sector, but the pace of growth slowed to its slowest level since May. 5. The yield on Japan's 10-year government bonds rose to its highest level since 1996, with the yield curve widening across all maturities. Other: 1. It is reported that the Reserve Bank of India has conducted at least $10 billion in foreign exchange swaps in recent weeks to withdraw cash. 2. Australia's unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in August, with job growth failing to mask a loosening labor market. 3. The Canadian Prime Minister stated that he had considered the "extreme tail risk" of a US invasion; this is not the baseline scenario, but it would be irresponsible not to prepare. 4. The People's Bank of China will conduct overnight reverse repurchase operations from September 28 to October 8, with daily operations not exceeding 1 trillion yuan.

As Japanese markets reopen after a holiday, the yen has fallen for a second straight week, pushing USD/JPY back toward the closely watched 160 level and reviving intervention risk. Market participants say 160 is again a test of Japan’s tolerance for depreciation after the Bank of Japan’s Sept. 18 policy meeting; the BOJ has accelerated tightening amid internal dissent while US policy appears to be moving more hawkishly. Commonwealth Bank of Australia strategist Carol Kong warns that if US yields continue to rise and markets probe Japan’s resolve, USD/JPY could soon breach 160; a rapid break would materially increase the likelihood of official action, noting recent reports Japan has run exchange‑rate checks and there is precedent for coordinated intervention.