Category Archive: 4) FX Trends

Main Author Marc Chandler
Marc Chandler
He has been covering the global capital markets in one fashion or another for more than 30 years, working at economic consulting firms and global investment banks. After 14 years as the global head of currency strategy for Brown Brothers Harriman, Chandler joined Bannockburn Global Forex, as a managing partner and chief markets strategist as of October 1, 2018.

Taking Some Time Off

Taking some time off for the next few days.  Will return with the August monthly outlook on July 29 and daily commentary on July 31.  Good luck to everyone.

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Bond Rally Continues, Greenback Consolidates with Softer Bias

Overview: The main development in the capital markets is the decline in yields. In Europe, benchmark 10-year yields are off 7-11 bp today, extending the move that began last week. The 10-year Germany Bund yield peaked last Thursday near 2.68% and is near 2.40% now. Similarly, the 10-year Italian yield has fallen from 4.42% to below 4.05% today. The 10-year US Treasury yield fell in five of the last six sessions and is off almost five basis points...

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Euro Edges Higher

Overview:  The US dollar has mostly steadied at the start of the week after last week's sharp losses. The yen, euro, and Swiss franc are enjoying a firmer tone, but only the euro has thus far extended last week's gains, and then, only marginally. Uninspiring data from China pressed the yuan lower, while the firm euro is helping the central European currencies. A typhoon shut Hong Kong markets and Japan's markets were closed for a national holiday....

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Week Ahead: For the Millionth Time, Markets Exaggerate

After experiencing one of its worst weeks of the year, the US dollar is stretched from a technical point of view while the short-term interest rate adjustment has gone as far as it can without resurrecting ideas of a Fed rate cut this year. Given the lighter economic calendar in the coming days, we suspect that the greenback may consolidate ahead of the FOMC meeting that concludes on July 26. The derivatives market shows that a quarter-point hike...

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After Dramatic Week, Capital Markets are Stabilizing

Overview: After tumbling headlong this week, the dollar appears to be broadly consolidating ahead of the weekend Among the G10 currencies, the Canadian dollar's 1.2% gain is the least and it made new 10-month highs earlier today The beleaguered Scandis soared The Norwegian krone's 6.6% advance followed by the Swedish krona's 5.8% surge led the major currencies The Dollar Index is off about 2.4% this week ahead of the North American session It is...

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Dollar Sell-Off is Getting Stretched

Overview: Softer-than-expected US CPI, following weaker than expected job growth has sent the greenback tumbling. The dollar is stabilizing against the yen today, but the downside momentum is intact against the other major currencies. The euro approached $1.1175, sterling $1.3080, and the greenback slumped to almost CHF0.8615. The Australian dollar reached $0.6850, and the New Zealand dollar tested $0.6360. The Canadian dollar, often a laggard in a...

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US CPI and Bank of Canada Highlight North American Session

Overview: The US dollar's losses have been extended ahead of the June CPI. At the same time, speculation that the Bank of Japan will adjust policy later this month saw the yen extend its gains for the fifth consecutive session. Sterling made new highs since last April, while the Swiss franc has risen to its best levels in about 2 1/2 years. The Dollar Index gapped lower and through the trendline drawn off the April and May lows. The greenback has...

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Powerful Short Squeeze Continues to Lift the Yen

Overview: The greenback remains under pressure. The yen's short squeeze continues, and strong wage growth has helped lift sterling to new highs since last April. Among the G10 currencies, only the Australian and New Zealand dollars are unable to sustain gains through the European morning. Emerging market currencies are also advancing, with a couple of exceptions, including the Turkish lira despite reports on foreign equity inflows. The weaker...

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The Greenback Stabilizes After Pre-Weekend Drop

Overview: The US dollar is mostly firmer after selling off hard before the weekend in response to the jobs data. Ranges are mostly narrow, but the Australian and New Zealand dollars are the heaviest following news of China's deflation. Emerging market currencies are mixed, but of note the liquid, freely accessible currencies, South African rand, Hungarian forint, and Mexican peso are atop the leader board. Despite repeatedly lower US dollar fixes...

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Week Ahead: Is the Dollar’s Downtrend Resuming?

The dollar appears at an inflection point. Its failure to draw much traction even as US rates rose may be an important tell. The US 2-year yield rose to a new multiyear high near 5.12%, while the 10-year yield set a new high for the year around 4.09% after the employment report. The dollar's broad gains in the second half of last month looks corrective. The underlying downtrend, which we argue began last September and October, looks set to resume....

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Yen Extends Recovery on Wage Data, Yuan Ticks Up Too

Overview: A powerful short squeeze has lifted the yen by the most in two months this week. The dollar's push today below JPY143 was encouraged by the stronger than expected wage growth. The US jobs report will test its strength. The PBOC fixed the yuan sharply higher today and it is the only emerging market currency that is higher on the day, ahead of the Latam open. The dollar has not drawn much support for the surge in US yields. The 10-year...

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Yen and Yuan Lead Move Against the Dollar

Overview: Stocks and bonds ae selling off today. The greenback is also trading heavily. Ironically, the yen is the strongest among the G10 currencies and the Chinese yuan is the strongest among emerging market currencies. The dollar is firmer against the Scandis and Canadian dollar. Most emerging market currencies, including the Mexican peso, which traded at its best level yesterday since 2015. While nearly all the bourses but India fell in the...

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Sobering PMI Readings Sap Risk Appetites

Overview: As US markets prepare to re-open from yesterday's holiday, the dollar is trading mostly higher, though the euro and yen are steady to slightly firmer. Narrow ranges are prevailing. The Canadian and Australian dollars are exceptions and are off about 0.3%. Emerging market currencies are mostly lower, including Russia, China, South Africa, and Turkey. Final service and composite PMIs were mostly revised lower in Japan, Australia, and the...

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What Happened Today

The US dollar was mostly softer. The New Zealand dollar was the strongest (~0.85%) helped by cross rate gains against the Australian dollar, following the RBA’s decision to stand pat. The Australian dollar fell to one-month lows below NZD1.08. There is scope for another 0.5%, or so to the next target near NZD1.0750. The RBA’s decision to leave its cash target at 4.10% was not surprising, and despite the hawkish rhetoric, the market downgraded the...

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The Greenback Starts H2 on a Firm Note

Overview: The dollar is recovering from the month-end losses seen at the end of last week. Only the New Zealand dollar among the G10 currencies is holding its own. Japanese reports indicate that Tokyo is in contact with the US Treasury about intervention, which is injecting a note of caution as the greenback holds below JPY145.00. Chinese officials also appear to be stepping up their efforts to stabilize the yuan. Among emerging market currencies,...

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July 2023 Monthly

Price pressures remain elevated but economic momentum slowed as Q2 wound down. Many market participants think this poses a dilemma for policymakers and are skeptical that the hikes signaled will be delivered because of economic weakness or financial strains. These developments are thought to limit the tightening cycle before the inflation genie can be stuffed back into the bottle.Yet, this may underestimate the resolve of most of the major central...

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Market Continues to Converge With Fed’s Forward Guidance

Overview:  A key development in recent days has been the market's convergence with the Federal Reserve's forward guidance regarding scope for two quarter-point hikes in the second half. The US two-yield is up about six basis points today, extending yesterday's 15 bp increase. It is approaching 5%. The Fed funds futures strip implies one hike has been fully priced in and about a third of the next one. The dollar has risen against all the G10...

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PBOC Fixes Dollar Lower, but It Recovers Against the Yuan, Riksbank Hikes and Market Yawns

Overview: The US dollar is narrowly mixed against the G10 currencies. Stronger than expected Australian retail sales helped steady the currency after the soft inflation data took it down. Sterling has also steadied after it suffered its largest loss yesterday (~0.9%) in over a month. Sweden's 25 bp rate hike has not given the krona much of a lift. Central European currencies lead the emerging market currencies higher, while the PBOC set the...

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The Dollar Regains Composure

Overview: The dollar is better bid today. It is rising against nearly all the G10 currencies, with the Antipodeans bearing the brunt, after a softer than expected Australian inflation report. The yen has steadied after extending its losses to new lows for the year. Emerging market currencies are also mostly lower, though the Mexican peso is edging higher for the fourth consecutive session. The large Asia Pacific bourses rallied with the exception...

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PBOC Sends Signal in Lower Dollar Fix, while the Canadian Dollar makes a 9-Month High

Overview: Hawkish comments by ECB President Lagarde at the central bank symposium in Sintra and the PBOC's weaker dollar fix have weighed on the greenback today. It is lower against most of the G10 currencies, but the Japanese yen and Norwegian krone. It also slipped to a new nine-month low against the Canadian dollar. Emerging market currencies are also mostly firmer, with the notable exceptions of the Russian rouble and beleaguered Turkish lira....

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