Category Archive: 4) FX Trends
FX Daily, December 08: Dollar Heavy into ECB
The ECB prolonged its bond purchases, which came unexpected for markets. Consequently the EUR/CHF lost nearly half of its big gains that it registered in the beginning of the week. The ECB expects lower inflation for longer, which makes the life for the SNB harder for longer.
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ECB: Dovish Taper or Hawkish Ease?
Purchases increased for longer but at a lower level; overall, more purchases than anticipated. Euro spiked higher on the announcement, but has subsequently dropped 2 cents. Lower inflation forecast for 2019 shows scope for a further extension.
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Cool Video: Discussing the ECB on Bloomberg TV
Tired of reading what analysts are saying? Here is a 4.3 minute video clip of my discussion earlier today on Bloomberg TV about the outlook for tomorrow's ECB meeting. The discussion covers various aspects of the ECB's decision.
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ECB and the Future of QE
ECB will likely extend asset purchases in full. It may modify the rules by which it buys securities. It may adjust the rules of engagement for its securities lending program.
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FX Daily, December 07: Greenback is Broadly Steady While Sterling Slides
The US dollar is little changed against most of the major currencies. Sterling is the notable exception, losing about 0.75% to trade at three-day lows. It was on the defensive in early European turnover but got the run pulled from beneath by the unexpectedly poor data. UK industrial output fell by 1.3% in October. The median forecast was for a small increase.
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Greek Bonds may Soon be Included in ECB Purchases
The ECB accepts Greek bonds as collateral but does not include them in its asset purchases. A new staff-level agreement by the end of the year could change that. Finance ministers imply that Greece's debt is sustainable, but the IMF disagrees.
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FX Daily, December 06: You Can Almost Hear a Pin Drop
The foreign exchange market is quiet. Ranges are narrow, with the US dollar mostly consolidating against the major currencies. Given the push lower yesterday, the shallowness of its recovery warns of the greenback's downside correction after strong gains last month may not be complete.
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Yen and US Yields
Dollar-yen has been driven by the sharp rise in US bond yields. There are some (dollar) bearish divergences in the JPY/USD technicals. US 10-year yields may also be putting in a near-term top.
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Great Graphic: Dollar Index Update
The Dollar Index's technical tone has deteriorated. It is corresponding to the easing of US rates and a narrowing differential. The risk is that the correction can continue in the coming days.
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FX Daily, December 05: Dollar Comes Back Bid, but Still Vulnerable to Corrective Pressures
After softening ahead of the weekend, the US dollar has begun the new week on a firm note. It is gaining against most major and emerging market currencies. Outside of what appears to be a staged call between US President Elect Trump and the Taiwanese President, the developments in Europe grabbed the markets' attention. Austria turned back the populist right Freedom Party's bid for the presidency. The Freedom Party does not appear to have carried...
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FX Weekly Preview: Focus Shifts toward Europe
US developments have driven the dollar rally and bond market decline over the past three weeks. Attention shifts to European politics and the ECB meeting. Bank of Canada and the Reserve Bank of Australia meet but are unlikely to change policy.
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What’s next for gold after the Italian referendum
Adam Button from ForexLive speaks to Kitco about the outlook for gold and why the Italian referendum probably won’t matter.
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FX Weekly Review, November 28 – December 02: CHF Index still at its 4% loss since U.S. Elections
The Swiss Franc index continued around its 4% loss since the U.S. elections, while the US Dollar index had a 4% increase. The focus shifts to the ECB meeting, where participants are wary of a "hawkish ease".
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Weekly Speculative Positions: Short CHF Are Increasing
The net short CHF speculative position is close to reaching new records. Shortly before the end of the peg, speculators were net short CHF by 26K contracts. Now we are at 24.3K.
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What Would Make This Dollar Bull Nervous
USD had a large rally in November. We had been looking for a short and shallow pullback. Here are thoughts about what would signal an outright correction.
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FX Daily, December 02: Is it About US Jobs Today?
The capital markets are finishing the week amid speculation that the driving forces of the past three weeks are ebbing. Global equities and the dollar may be snapping three-week advances. The issue is whether it is a consolidation or trend change. The former is a more prudent assumption until proven otherwise. As a rough and ready signal, the 100.60 level in the Dollar Index, which corresponds to the lows November 22 and November 28 is reasonable.
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Mixed Jobs Report, but Unlikely to Deter Expectations for Fed Hike
The US dollar has slipped lower in response to the jobs data, but quickly recovered. The details are mixed, but is unlikely to change views on the outlook for Fed policy. The headline job creation was in line with expectations at 178k. Job growth of the back two months were shaved by 2k, concentrated in October. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.6%, the lowest since 2007.
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Chandler: Austria Vote a Bigger Risk Than Italy
Dec.01 — Marc Chandler, Brown Brothers Harriman head of currency strategy, discusses the Italian referendum and explains why he thinks the Austrian election may be more of a threat to markets. He speaks with Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal on “What’d You Miss?”
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Cool Video: Bloomberg TV-Italy and Austria this Weekend
I was on Bloomberg Television with Joe Wisenthal this afternoon. I explain what I have been suggesting for the past couple of weeks, namely that the Austrian presidential election this weekend is the third point in the populist-nationalist wave, not Italy.
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FX Daily, December 01: Dollar is on the Defensive, though Yields Rise
The US dollar is trading heavily against most of the major currencies, but the general tone appears consolidative in nature. Despite a disappointing UK manufacturing PMI (53.4, a four-month low), sterling is near a three-week high above $1.2600.
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