Category Archive: 4) FX Trends
Concerns Over US Banks Rival Today’s Jobs Report
Overview: The unexpectedly large rise in US weekly
jobless claims, the largest since the end of last September and concerns about
the impact of the sharp rise in interest rates on the liquidity and value of
assets (bonds) owned by small and medium-sized banks saw the market unwind the
effect of Fed Chair Powell's comments. The yield on the US two-year note
slumped almost 20 bp to 4.87% yesterday and fell to 4.75% today before
stabilizing (~4.82%)....
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Yen Jumps Despite Poor GDP Ahead of Tomorrow’s BOJ Outcome
Overview: Seeing the drama he inspired on Tuesday,
the Fed chair tried soft-pedaling the idea that he was signaling a 50 bp hike
in March. The market did not buy it. And the odds, discounted by the Fed funds
futures rose a little above 70% from about 62% at Tuesday's close. The two-year
note yield solidified its foothold above the 5% mark. With the Bank of Canada
confirming its pause, the Reserve Bank of Australia does not seem that far
behind, and...
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Powell Sends the Two-Year Yield above 5% and Ignites Powerful Dollar Rally
Overview: Federal Reserve Chair Powell's comments to
the Senate Banking Committee were seen as hawkish by the market, even though it
has been clear to most observers that the 5.10% median terminal rate that the
Fed projected in December would be increased. Also, it seemed well appreciated
a few Fed officials support a 50 bp hike at the February 1 FOMC meeting, two
days before a "hot" jobs report that showed over 500k jobs were
filled. It...
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While the focus was on Powell Tuesday there were also remarks from the ECB and SNB
Swiss National Bank Chair Jordan threatened FX intervention!
A couple of posts from Tuesday ICYMI while Powell was hogging the spotlight:
ECB Knot: ECB can be expected to keep raising rates for quite some time after March
ECB can be expected to keep raising rates for quite some time after March
And, SNB Chairman: We cannot rule out that we will have to tighten monetary policy again
We can use interest rates but also sell foreign...
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US Dollar is Better Bid Ahead of Powell, while Aussie Sells Off on Dovish Hike by the RBA
Overview: The US dollar is trading with a firmer bias against
nearly all the G10 currencies ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Powell's
semi-annual testimony before Congress. Speaking for the Federal Reserve, the
Chair is likely to stay on message which is higher rates are necessary to cool
the overheating economy. This comes on the heels of the Reserve Bank of
Australia's 25 bp hike and indication that it is not pre-committing to an April
hike. The...
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Yields Pull Back to Start the New Week
Overview: The modest economic goals announced as
China's National People's Congress starts was seen as a cautionary sign after
growth disappointed last year. It seemed to weigh on Chinese stocks, though
others large bourses in the region advanced, led by Japan's Nikkei and South
Korea with gains of more than 1%. Europe's Stoxx 600 is little changed after
rising for the past two sessions. US index futures are slightly softer. Strong
gains were seen...
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US Jobs, Kuroda’s Last BOJ Meeting, and Powell’s Congressional Testimony Highlight the Week Ahead
The
dollar peaked last September/October and trended lower until the January jobs
report and strong service ISM on February 3. These reports and firm inflation
readings, owing, at least in part, to benchmark and methodological changes,
helped spur the greenback's recovery. However, we learned last week that auto sales
and the service ISM prices paid decelerated in February, and this week, we will
learn that job growth has slowed considerably. If...
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Tumbling Tokyo Prices Gives Ueda Breathing Space
Overview: Talk from two Fed officials yesterday,
which seemed to validate market expectations eased the upward pressure on the
dollar and helped equities launch a dramatic recovery. The market is pricing in a terminal rate near 5.50%, a little higher than the median dot in December. The S&P 500 posted a
dramatic recover and posted a potential bullish key reversal. Its 0.75% closing
gain was the largest advance in nearly three weeks. A large...
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Higher for Longer Helps the Dollar while Weighs on Equities
Overview: The jump in prices paid in yesterday's US
ISM manufacturing coupled with the stronger eurozone inflation, with a new
cyclical high reported in the core rate, underscores the market theme of
higher-for-longer. This is seen as dollar supportive but also negative for
risk-assets, including and especially equities. European benchmark 10-year
yields are up another couple of basis points today and the 10-year US Treasury
yield is pushing above...
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March 2023
Price pressures remain elevated, and labor
markets are strong, giving most policymakers in the G10 the incentive to continue
raising interest interests. There are two exceptions: Japan, the only
country still with a negative policy rate (-0.10%), and Canada, where the
central bank has indicated it would pause. While half-point hikes or larger
were common in the second half of last year, the major central banks have
slowed or will slow the pace to...
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Doubt Chinese Data, but Its Stronger-than-Expected PMI Lifts Risk Assets
Overview: Many investors may be skeptical of the
accuracy of Chinese data, but its stronger than expected February PMI animated
the animal spirits and bolstered risk-taking appetites. Asia Pacific equities
jumped, led by the 4.2% rally in Hong Kong and a 5% surge in the index that
tracks mainland shares. Among the long bourses Australia and Singapore slipped,
and South Korean markets were closed for a national holiday. Europe's Stoxx 600
is posting...
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Potential Brexit Breakthrough Helps Sterling, while France and Spain Report Stronger Price Pressures
Overview: There are two important developments. First,
the stronger than expected February inflation reports from France and Spain
have sparked a jump in European interest rates and the swaps market is
beginning to price in a 4% terminal rate by the European Central Bank. The
deposit rate is now at 2.50% and is widely expected to rise to 3.0% in the
middle of next month. Second, a tentative agreement to resolve the dispute over
the Northern Ireland...
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Markets Catch Collective Breath
Overview: After last week's flurry of activity that saw the US
dollar extend its recovery, it has begun off the new week largely consolidating
in relatively narrow ranges. The Australian and New Zealand dollar's remains
softer, and the Swiss franc is virtually flat, but the other G10 currencies,
led by sterling are posting small gains. A break-through on the Northern
Ireland protocol, which has been rumored for a more than a week may be
announced...
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Which brokerage account is best for beginners in Singapore?
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Week Ahead: February ISM Services and Auto Sales to Show January US Data were Exaggerated
A key issue facing
businesses and investors is whether the US January data reflects a
reacceleration of the world's largest economy or whether it was mostly a
payback for extremely poor November and December 2022 data and seasonal
adjustments and methodological distortions. Given the centrality of the US
economy and rates, it is not simply a question for America, the Federal
Reserve, and investors, but the implications are much broader. The issue...
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Ueda Day
Overview: Rising rates and falling stocks provided the
backdrop for the foreign exchange market this week. The dollar appreciated
against all the G10 currencies but the Swedish krona, which is still correcting
higher after the hawkish pivot by the central bank. The market looks for a
later and higher peak in the Fed funds rate. This coupled with the risk-off
sentiment helped the dollar extend its recovery after falling since last...
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Fed Tightening Seen Extending into Q3
Overview: The prospect that the Federal Reserve tightening
cycle continues into early Q3 is underpinning the greenback today against
most of the G10 currencies. The dollar bloc is the notable exception, and they
are posting minor gains, perhaps encouraged by the firmer equity markets. The
minutes of this month’s FOMC meeting appear to show wide support for quarter
point hikes going forward and there did not seem to be much discussion of the...
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Investors Shaken by Rising Rates
Overview: The surge in US interest rates and sharp
losses in US stocks sent the dollar broadly higher in North America yesterday. The
$42 bln of two-year notes auctioned by the US Treasury saw the highest yield in
more than a quarter-of-a-century (4.67%) and it still produced a small tail.
Sterling, helped by its own surprisingly strong data, was the only G10 currency
to have gained against the surging dollar. Still, no important technical levels...
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Upside Surprise in UK’s Flash PMI and Better-than-Expected January Public Finances Lift Sterling
Overview: Rising interest rates are weighing on risk
appetites and the dollar is broadly stronger. Sterling is a notable exception
after a stronger than expected flash PMI and better than expected public
finances. The correlation between higher US rates and a weaker yen is
increasing and the greenback looks poised to rechallenge the JPY135 area. A
slightly better than expected preliminary PMI and hawkish minutes from the
recent RBA meeting has done...
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Monday: A Short Note while US is on Holiday
The dollar is mostly softer, but
turnover is mostly quiet. The Swedish krona leads the move after
higher-than-expected underlying inflation. It is a mild risk-on day with
equities moving higher too. In the Asia Pacific region, China stood with
the CSI 300 up almost 2.5%. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is up fractionally to
recoup most of the pre-weekend decline. US equity futures are narrowly
mixed. European bond yields are little changed, with a couple...
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