The Australian dollar was the standout among the majors in early European trade on Wednesday. Quote pages showed AUD/USD near 0.7034, up about 0.4%, the largest gain in a screen of six major pairs. We did not find a reliable single explanation for the move, so we will not guess; a broadly softer US dollar was cited in coverage of sterling, which may be relevant.
Elsewhere the picture was quiet. EUR/USD was around 1.1232, down about 0.04%; GBP/USD near 1.3394, up about 0.09%; USD/JPY around 158.05, down about 0.08%; and USD/CHF near 0.8250, flat. USD/CAD was close to 1.4040, down about 0.14%. These are delayed, approximate quotes from a public page and may differ from your platform.
The week's calendar still has work to do. UK inflation printed at 3.5% earlier (see our UK CPI brief), flash PMIs arrive on Friday, and next week brings the Bank of Canada and the Federal Reserve, whose meeting runs 27 to 28 October. Central bank wording often moves currencies more than the rate decision itself; read our guide to reading central bank statements.
A day of small moves is still useful to log: noting which pairs were active and which were not helps you build a feel for conditions. See how to keep a trading journal.
Market commentary for information only; not trading advice. Figures are approximate, from published quote pages on 21 October 2026.