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.

Did Carney Really Open the Door to a Rate Hike?

Sterling's recovery began before today and went through technical levels that accelerated the advance. The interest rate market did not change sufficiently to indicate a change in policy expectations. The High Court decision will be appealed.

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US Jobs Data Maintains Fed Hike Expectations

US jobs data was largely in line or better than expected. The stronger earnings growth may be more important than the headline. Canada's data was mostly disappointing.

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The finer points of trading forex on US election night

A minute-by-minute preview of how to trade the US election. Adam Button from ForexLive breaks down when results will be released and how to interpret them. Adam looks at the different outcomes and what to watch for and how to trade the US dollar and other markets in the aftermath.

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FX Daily, November 03: Political Angst Drives Markets

GBP/CHF rates are trading below 1.20 on the exchange, providing those clients holding CHF with some of the best rates they’ve seen in the past six years. The Pounds woes have been well documented but with a key day of economic data releases ahead, is it all about to change?

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US Political Anxiety Stems Bond Sell-Off

Bond yields have been rising in the US and Europe since the summer. There are some country-specific considerations and some generalized factors. Anxiety over US politics has helped bonds recover some lost ground.

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FX Daily, November 02: Standpat FOMC Trumped by US Political Jitters

The single biggest driver in the capital markets is the continued narrowing of the US election polls. The prospect of a Trump presidency and the dramatic changes that could entail is rattling investors and spurring position squaring.The dollar is broadly lower as are stocks. The surge in global yields has been arrested.

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EC Pushes Back on (8) Draft Budgets

Long before the UK referendum, many argued that monetary union was undermining the European Union. Many had expected Greece to be forced out not once but twice. There is a cottage industry of books forecasting the demise of EMU.

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Great Graphic: Sentix Shows a Shift

The risk that the eurozone implodes over the next year has risen, but is still modest. Italy has surpassed Greece as the most likely candidate. The December referendum is the second part of Renzi's political reforms.

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FX Daily, November 01: Dollar and Yen Slip in Quiet even if Eventful Turnover

The US dollar is posting minor losses against most of the major currencies today.The Japanese yen is the exception, as the greenback continues to straddle JPY105. There have been several developments today, and the US also has a full economic calendar today. The most important of the developments was the upbeat message from the Reserve Bank of Australia.

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FX Daily, October 31: Respite for Market Nerves Lifts Peso, Rand, and US Dollar

he latest US political news before roiled thin pre-weekend markets, but cooler heads and more of them are prevailing today. Trump's fortune in the polls had bottomed prior to the re-opening of the investigation into Clinton's emails and the national polls have narrowed.

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Are Foreign Investors Done Selling Japanese Equities?

Foreign investors have sold more than JPY8 trillion of Japanese equities through September. Nikkei technicals have improved and the yen has softened. Foreign investors have been net buyers for the past four weeks.

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FX Weekly Preview: Six Thumbnail Sketches of This Week’s Dollar Drivers

Four central banks meet, but expectations for fresh action are low. The US latest election news does not appear to be altering the projected electoral college outcome. UK press are speculating about Carney possibly resigning. We are skeptical.

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FX Weekly Review, October 24-28: October Surprise Pushes Open Door

The Swiss Franc Index could recover some of the losses as compared to the US dollar index. Still the USD/CHF remains above 0.99. The US dollar rose against most of the major currencies last week, but the upside momentum appeared to be dissipating, even before the FBI's announcement about new Clinton emails. There are a few exceptions like the greenback's performance against the Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, and Swedish krona. The dollar made new...

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Weekly Speculative Positions: Bottom-Picking Sterling, Swiss Franc Even More Net Short

Speculators increased their Short Swiss Francs to Net 18K contracts. While they started to bottom-pick Sterling. Not everyone is convinced that sterling will bounce.  The bears extended their gross short sterling position by 3.4k contracts to 147.6k.  On the eve of the UK referendum, the gross short position was around 94k contracts.   Again speculators, both bulls and bears have rapidly expanded their exposure in recent weeks.  In the most...

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Riksbank and Norges Bank Policy Meetings

Six major central banks meeting over the next six sessions. Sweden's Riksbank is the most likely ease policy of these central banks, but it is not particularly likely. Norway is decisively on hold, as fiscal policy does some of the heavy lifting.

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Canada Renews Inflation Target, but Tweaks Core Measures

Canada maintains inflation target of the middle of a 1-3% band. Adopts a trimmed and median core measure like Australia. Market seems to be under-estimating the risk of a BoC rate cut next year.

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FX Daily, October 28: Dollar Sidelined, Krona Stabilizes, Rates Firm

The main development here in the last full week of October is the sharp rise in bond yields. US 10-year yields rose nine bp this week coming into today's session, which features the first look at Q3 GDP. The two-year yield is up four bp. European 10-year benchmark yields mostly rose 11-17 bp. UK Gilts were are the upper end of that range. Two-year yields are 3-5 bp higher.

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Yellen and Fischer Still Singing from the Same Song Book

Many see Yellen and Fischer at odds over benefits of high pressure economy. However, this fails to put the comments in the proper context--same message different styles. They are arguing against the doves who don't want to hike this year.

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FX Daily, October 27: Rising Yields Continue to be the Main Driver

The euro remains pinned near the seven-month low it recorded two days ago near $1.0850. It approached $1.0950 yesterday and has been confined to about a 15-tick range on either side of $1.0905 today. Against the yen, the dollar remains near the three-month high (~JPY104.85) also seen two days ago. New dollar buying emerged yesterday near JPY104.

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Great Graphic: CRB Index Revisited

Interest rates and 10-year break-evens are rising. Some think the CRB Index is tracing out a head and shoulders bottom. We look for inflation in non-tradable goods' prices (think services).

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