Category Archive: 4.) Marc to Market

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The EU and Turkey: Unvarnished Truth and Stuffing

2016-06-23

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2016-06-23

Turkey and the EU will begin negotiations over financial and budget reform. It is one of 35 areas (chapters) of negotiations. Turkey is no where close to joining the EU, for which it initially applied in 1987.

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Cool Video: Chandler at CNBC on Brexit

2016-06-23

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2016-06-23

Chandler on CNBC's Trading Block show to discuss how the market is positioned for the UK referendum. The markets are strongly anticipating the UK to vote to stay in the EU, even though polls remain very tight. Given that leveraged participants and speculators have rallied sterling more than nine cents from last week's lows.

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FX Daily, June 22: Markets Consolidate as Table is Set for Referendum

2016-06-23

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2016-06-23

There is a nervous calm in the capital markets today. The focus is squarely on tomorrow’s UK referendum. Brexit According to a BBC focus group, the leeave camp won the debate 39%-34%. The last polls show a contest that it too close to calls in that the results are within the margin of error.  The … Continue...

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More Thoughts on the Democratic Deficit

2016-06-23

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2016-06-23

It is not just that the polls indicate that the outcome of the UK referendum is too close to call, but the mere fact that the referendum is being held in the first place is significant.  It was not Labour, but the Conservative Party that brought the UK into the EU in the first place … Continue reading »

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Great Graphic: UK Referendum–Turnout it Key

2016-06-22

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2016-06-22

Younger age cohorts in the UK are more inclined to vote to stay in the EU than their elders. However, some suggested that this consideration is blunted by the fact that the younger people are less likely to vote.

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European Politics Beyond the UK Referendum

2016-06-21

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2016-06-21

Sterling is hovering around seven cents above last week’s lows as many short-term participants better position themselves for the UK to vote to say in the EU, even though many opinion polls show a statistical dead heat.   The German Constitutional Court dismissed claims that the ECB’s Outright Market Transactions does not violate the German Constitution. …

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Great Graphic: Age and Brexit

2016-06-21

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2016-06-21

The betting and events markets have shifted more decisively than the polls in favor of the UK to remain in the EU.  Sterling extended its rally from $1.4010 last Thursday to nearly $1.4785 today, as the market participants adjust positions. What is particular striking is that the asymmetrical perceptions of the personal impact of a … Continue...

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If Sterling has Not Peaked, It has Come Pretty Close

2016-06-20

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2016-06-20

Today's sterling rally is the largest since 2008. The rally began with the murder of UK MP Cox. Risk-reward favors a near-term pullback.

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Bullard’s New Paradigm and the Federal Reserve

2016-06-20

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2016-06-20

There is much to like in Bullard's new paradigm. The problem is that it does not reflect the Federal Reserve's view or approach. Policy emanates from the Fed's leadership, but be confused by the noise.

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FX Weekly Preview: It is All about Europe

2016-06-19

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2016-06-19

Major data this week: German Constitutional Court ruling on OMT. UK referendum. EMU flash PMI. ECB TLTRO II launch. Yellen testifies before Congress, RBI Rajan to step down in early Sept.

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Weekly Speculative Postion: After Jo Cox Speculators Bought Sterling Futures with Both Hands

2016-06-18

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2016-06-18

In the days ahead of the murder of Jo Cox, a UK member of parliament, apparently for her support for remaining in the EU, speculators in the futures market scooped up sterling. While last week, speculators took long dollar positions against CHF, this barometer shifted this week towards long CHF.

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FX Daily, June 17: Martyrdom of Cox Acts as Catharsis

2016-06-17

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2016-06-17

The assassination of Jo Cox, a member of the UK parliament is a personal and political tragedy.  Her needless death provided an inflection point.  The suspension of the referendum campaigns and a steady stream of reports and speech...

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How Germany Could Upset Europe before UK Referendum

2016-06-17

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2016-06-17

The assassination of the Jo Cox has broken the powerful momentum in the markets.  Investors recognize that the tragedy potentially injects a new element into consideration for the outcome of next week’s referendum.   The campaigns will be resume over the weekend, and new polls will be available.  Investors will place more weight on polls conducted …

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FX Daily, June 16: Markets are Anxious, Yen Soars

2016-06-16

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2016-06-16

The US dollar is higher against the major currencies but the Japanese yen and the New Zealand dollar.  The dollar fell to new two-year lows against the yen to JPY103.55 before bouncing in the European morning back to JPY104.40.  The...

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Macro Thinking: FOMC, USD, and EU

2016-06-16

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2016-06-16

The Federal Reserve modified its stance yesterday without changing rates.  It is not just about how fast the Fed sees itself normalizing monetary policy but also where the level of the equilibrium rate. The FOMC statement, but especially the officials’ forecasts (dot plots) effective unwound the impact of the earlier Fed talk of the likely …

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FX Daily, June 15: Key Data and FOMC

2016-06-15

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2016-06-15

The Swiss Franc was today on the back-foot against the euro, while the FOMC helped him to rise against the dollar. Yesterday Swiss producer prices were published. Negative changes in producer prices in 2015 reduce the Swiss franc overvaluation in terms of the Real Effective Exchange strongly. Now, however, changes producer prices are approaching zero again.

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Fed Softens Stance Slightly

2016-06-15

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2016-06-15

The immediate reaction was driven by the Fed's dot plots.  Although the median continues to expect two hikes this year, six officials now see only one hike.  Only one official anticipated one hike this year in the last forecasts made in March.  The m...

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Kuroda and the BOJ

2016-06-15

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2016-06-15

Following today's FOMC meeting, the central banks of Japan, Switzerland, and the UK meet tomorrow.  The SNB will keep its powder dry to be able to respond to the results of the UK referendum if needed.  The Bank of England is als...

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FX Daily, June 14: Capital Markets Remain at UK Referendum’s Mercy

2016-06-14

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2016-06-14

"The Swiss Franc was the strongest performer, EUR/CHF has fallen to 1.08 by 0.8%". A spate of opinion polls showing a tilt toward Brexit, and the leading UK newspaper urging the Leave vote on the front page, keep the global capital markets on edge. Equities are lower, though of note ahead of the MSCI decision first thing Wednesday in Asia, Chinese shares eked out a small gain.

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Great Graphic: Oil Flirts with Four-Month Uptrend

2016-06-14

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2016-06-14

The broader technical tone has weakened.  The RSI has turned lower.  The MACDs are also turning lower with a bearish divergence.  The five-day moving average may move below the 20-day moving average for the first time since mid-April later this week....

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