Category Archive: 4.) Marc to Market
The Dollar Remains Soft Ahead of the Employment Report
Overview: The dollar is little changed against the major currencies ahead of the US jobs report. It has been trading heavier than we expected given that two more G10 central banks cut interest rates ahead of the Federal Reserve.
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The Euro Remains Firm Ahead of the First Time the ECB will Cut Rates Before the Federal Reserve
Overview: The dollar is mostly softer today, ahead
of tomorrow's employment report. The ECB meeting and President Lagarde's press
conference are main events today. There is little doubt that it will cut rates
today and do so ahead of the Federal Reserve for the first time. The ECB's
forward guidance may be the key to the market's reaction. That said, the euro
is in the upper end of its recent range, near $1.09. The Mexican peso, which
was crushed...
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Yen Unwinds Yesterday’s Gains, while the Mexican Peso and Indian Rupee Stabilize
Overview: The foreign exchange market is calmer
today than Monday and Tuesday, and the dollar is mixed. The yen, which rallied,
yesterday, has given back most of its gains and the wage data gave the market
second thoughts about next week's BOJ meeting. The Mexican peso, which has been
sold aggressively in the face of the strong election showing of the Morena
party and allies, is the strongest currency today, though the greenback is
holding above...
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Dollar Recovers from Yesterday’s Slide, but Slumps Against the Yen
Overview: The dollar's losses scored after yesterday's disappointing ISM manufacturing report were extended initially in Asia Pacific turnover earlier today before it recovered. The recovery has stretched the intraday momentum indicators, warning against expected strong follow-through dollar buying in North America, without fresh impetus.
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Election Results Lift India But Weigh on Mexico
The dollar has returned from the weekend with a better bid tone. It is firmer against all the G10 currencies but the yen, Swiss franc, and Swedish krona, which are marginally firmer. The market seems reluctant to extend the euro or Canadian dollar upticks ahead of the central bank meetings this week, though, ironically, sterling's 0.25% decline leads the major currencies. Election news is a key driver today.
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June 2024 Monthly
There
are two forces that shape the investment climate: politics and economics, and
they are both at the fore in the coming weeks.Among the highlights will be the European
Central Bank meeting that will mostly likely begin its easing cycle. The Bank of
Canada is a close call. If it does not cut rates in June, it will probably do
so in July. The Swiss National Bank may deliver its second hike in the cycle,
while the Bank of England will likely...
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Japan Confirms Intervention, China’s PMI Disappoints, EMU CPI Firms, Ahead of US PCE Deflator
Overview: The dollar is mostly consolidating
yesterday's losses ahead of month-end and the US income and consumption data. The
PCE core deflator may have risen by 0.2%, the least this, year, but the
year-over-year rate is expected to be steady at 2.8%. The dollar is recovering
from a five-day low against the yen recorded yesterday near JPY156.40 and is
near JPY157.30 in the late European morning turnover. The yen's retreat and a
disappointing...
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Dollar Pulled Back in Europe. New Buying Opportunity?
Overview: The dollar initially extended yesterday's
North American recovery but unwound most of the gains in the European morning. As
North American dealers return, the greenback is lower against most of the G10
currencies. After approaching levels believed to have been where the BOJ last
intervened, profit-taking pushed the dollar back to a marginal new low for the
week (~JPY156.55). The yen's recovery arguably helped the Chinese yuan rise for
the...
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Stocks and Bonds Retreat; Greenback Extends Recovery but Little Changed Ahead of North American Session
Overview: Stocks and bonds are lower today, and the
dollar is slightly firmer having extended yesterday's recovery. Most of the G10
currencies are lower, though the Japanese yen has recovered from after falling
to its lowest level since May 1. Slightly softer than expected German states'
CPI did the euro no favors. It was sold to a three-day low near $1.0830 before
stabilizing. Sterling steadied after dipping briefly below $1.2750. Most
emerging...
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The Greenback is Mostly Softer
Overview: The dollar initially extended its
pre-weekend and yesterday's heavier tone before finding a better bid in the
European morning. Still, as North American dealers return to their posts the
dollar is still mostly softer against the G10 currencies, but it is little
changed to slightly firmer against the Japanese yen. Most emerging market
currencies are firmer, but the South African rand is softer ahead of their
election, the Mexican peso is...
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Holiday Overview: The State of Play
FX: The dollar
traded mostly higher last week. I suspect more near-term gains, but
I am less convinced than I was a week ago. Given the FOMC minutes
and more recent commentary from Fed officials, I suspect the market is
exaggerating the chances of two cuts this year. That had been my
leaning too, but I think the recent resilience of the labor market and
sticky inflation has shifted the views at the Fed. The...
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Week Ahead: Near-Term Dollar Outlook Less Clear than a Week Ago
Stronger than expected data and hawkish FOMC minutes helped lift US
rates and the greenback last week. That market continues to also reduce the
extend of ECB easing this year is notable but did not prevent the euro from
snapping a five-week advance. The 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose
above 1% last week for the first time since 2012, but the US dollar traded above JPY157 for the first time since the BOJ is believed to have intervened...
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Calmer Markets Ahead of the Weekend
Overview: The dollar is paring yesterday's advance that was
spurred by the rise in US rates following the preliminary PMI, which reached its
best level in two years. The survey also picked up higher prices. The dollar is
in narrow trading ranges but softer against nearly all the G10 currencies today. The
Swiss franc and Japanese yen are laggards. Despite a large disappointing miss
on UK retail sales, sterling has steadied after falling yesterday...
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After Hawkish FOMC Minutes, the Dollar Comes Back Softer
Overview: The dollar was aided yesterday
by the hawkish FOMC minutes and the backing up of US rates. The greenback has
stabilized today and is softer against all the G10 currencies. The stronger eurozone PMI masks
divergence between Germany and France but keeps the recovery narrative intact. The
dollar's broad gains pressured the yuan, and the PBOC's dollar reference rate
was set at its highest since January. Favorable guidance by Nvidia is...
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UK CPI Disappoints
Overview: A hawkish hold by the Reserve Bank
of New Zealand and a firmer than expected UK CPI reading have allowed the New
Zealand dollar and sterling to show resilience in the face of the US dollar's
broadly firmer tone. And even there, the Kiwi and pound have seen their early
gains pared. The Swiss franc is the weakest of the G10 currencies today and has
fallen to a new 12-month low against the euro. Emerging market currencies are
mixed. Central...
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Consolidative Tuesday
Overview: The dollar is consolidating but with a somewhat
heavier bias today. The G10 currencies are firmer but for the New Zealand and
Canadian dollars, which are slightly softer. Most emerging market currencies
are also firmer, except for a handful of Asian currencies. The news steam is
light. Equities are trading off. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index
snapped a seven-day rally, and Hong Kong shares and the mainland shares that
trade there led the...
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Jump in Japanese Bond Yields Fails to Lift the Yen
Overview: The foreign exchange market is quiet. Most
of the G10 currencies are +/- 0.1% against the dollar. The crash that took the
of Iran's president and foreign minister may have helped lift gold to new
record highs ($2450), the impact seems more muted, as poor weather rather than
foul play, seems to be main narrative. July WTI reached nearly $80, its best
level since May 1 but is hovering around unchanged levels (~$79.50). Canadian
markets are...
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Week Ahead: After Rallying Since mid-April, are the G10 Currencies Tired?
The
monthly cycle of central bank meetings and high-frequency data slow in the
week ahead, though the UK and Canada report on prices and demand (retail sales).
The highlight of the week may be the preliminary May PMI estimates. We play
down its significance in the US because its strength seems to be an outlier and
it is in expansion territory while the ISM not. The dollar has generally been
trending lower, with the yen being the only exception...
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The Dollar Continues To Recover
Overview: The dollar's recovery begun yesterday has
extended into today's activity. The greenback is higher against all the G10
currencies and most emerging market currencies, but the Indian rupee and
Mexican peso. The BOJ did not reduce its bond buying at today's operation and
the market sold the yen on the news. After reaching JPY153.60 yesterday, the
greenback is near JPY156 now. New initiatives to support the beleaguered
property market was not...
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After Limited Follow-Through Selling, the Dollar has Come Back Bid
Overview: Three of the G10 currencies rose by
more than 1% against the US dollar yesterday after the softer inflation and
weak retail sales readings. The Dollar Index lost almost 0.65% yesterday, the
most this year. Among emerging market currencies, only the Mexican and Chilean
pesos rose by at least 1%. After extending its losses against most of the major
pairs, the dollar has come back bid. Only the yen and Swiss franc are firmer on
the day. The...
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