Category Archive: 4) FX Trends
FX Daily, July 14: Will BOE Ease on May Day?
After a nearly three weeks of turmoil following the UK referendum, there is now a sense of order returning to UK politics. Two elements of the new government are particularly relevant. First, May demonstrates strategic prowess by putting those like Johnson and Davis, who campaigned for Brexit, to lead the negotiations with the EU, while putting Tories who favored remaining in the EU in the internal ministries.
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: If You Think Sterling has Bottomed, Where may it Go?
Many think sterling has bottomed. A number of technical factors point to potential toward $1.42. Fundamental considerations do not appear as supportive as technicals.
Read More »
Read More »
BOE Surprises by Doing Nothing, but Tips August Action
BOE neither cut rates not announced a new asset purchase plan. Sterling rallied hard. However, the BOE indicated an August ease and I look for sterling to pare knee-jerk gains.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Daily, July 13: Sterling and Yen Momentum Slows
The two main developments in the foreign exchange market this week in recent days has been the opposite of what has transpired over the past several weeks. Sterling moved higher quickly. The yen moved down just as fast. Over the past five sessions through late-morning levels, sterling has gained 2.5% while the yen has shed 2.8%.
Read More »
Read More »
Three Developments in Spain
Favorable initial ruling for Spanish banks that overcharged on mortgages. The EC may be lenient on Spain (and Portugal) for the excessive deficits in 2015. There is a window of opportunity for Rajoy to form a minority government.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Daily, July 12: Easing Political Uncertainty Encourages Animal Spirits
Further risk appetite means rising euro and weaker CHF. The SNB typically sustains such risk appetite phases with smaller FX interventions of around 300 million per day. Sterling is leading the new appetite for risk as one element of political uncertainty has been lifted. It is moving higher for the third consecutive session today; advancing by more than 1.5 cents to reach $1.3180.
Read More »
Read More »
Why You Should Understand What is Happening with Italian Banks
Italian banks shares have staged an impressive bounce over the past four sessions from beaten down levels. How Italy's banking crisis is resolved will shape the way the EC responds to banking resolution going forward. As you might expect, there is a German and French interpretation.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Daily, July 11: Dollar Extends Gains
The combination of the rebounding US job growth and gains in the S&P 500 to near record levels before the weekend is helping boost the US dollar against the major currencies, while the emerging market currencies are mixed. In addition, indications that Japan will put together another fiscal stimulus package and the Bank of England may cut rates late this week are helping global equities.
Read More »
Read More »
Caixin Monthly Column: Brexit
(Here is the latest monthly column I write for Caixin. It is on Brexit and I wrote it as an email to my mother. Here is the link. The text follows) To: Mother, Date: July 4, 2016, Glad to see you figured out how to access your email account. I smiled when I saw your note in my inbox. Thank you, though I am not sure that Thomas Watson felt the same way when Alexander Graham Bell called him.
Read More »
Read More »
New Wrinkle in European Bail-In Efforts
European Court of Justice could rule on July 19 that private investors do not have to be bailed in before public money can be used to recapitalize banks. Italy stands to gain the most, at least immediately, from such a judgment. Italian bank shares recovered after initial weakness.
Read More »
Read More »
Cool Video: Whirlwind Discussion; UK, Politics and the Dollar
Shortly before I was on Bloomberg TV today, Leadsom withdrew from the Tory leadership context, leaving May, who favored remaining the EU, as the likely successor of Cameron. Leadsom had been trailing May even before her controversial weekend comments.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Weekly Preview: Sources of Movement
Electoral politics remains significant. BOE is likely to cut rates, while BoC may tilt more dovishly. US Q2 earnings season formally begins.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Weekly Review, July 04 – July 08: Further SNB Interventions, Good Dollar Week
In the Brexit month, the Swiss franc index clearly underperformed the dollar index. The major reason is that the dollar is seen as a better safe-haven than the Swiss Franc, possibly because Swiss sales are affected more when British demand falls.
Read More »
Read More »
Weekly Speculative Positions: Speculators Still Don’t Believe in the Greenback
Speculators reduced their Net long CHF position (against USD) from 10.9K contracts to 8.7K contracts. In five of the eight currency futures, we track, speculators covered their gross short exposure and added to their gross long exposure.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Daily, July 08: US Jobs Data, Little Policy Significance, Swiss Unemployment falls
Positive job data in the United States are typically positive for both USD and EUR, because the odds of a rate hike are increasing. Consequently the EUR/CHF rose. In the last two days SNB interventions should have been smaller. The Swiss unemployment rate fell from 3.5% to 3.3%.
Read More »
Read More »
North American Jobs Report and Implications
There is something for everyone in today's US jobs report, and at the end of the day, it is unlikely to sway opinion about the direction and timing of the next Fed move. The greenback itself may remain range bound after the initial flurry. On the other hand, the disappointing but noisy Canadian data underscores the risk of a more dovish slant to the central bank's neutral stance next week.
Read More »
Read More »
FX Daily, July 07: Sterling Bounces Two Cents, but Does not Appear Sustainable
Amid a better if not strong risk appetite, sterling has rallied two cents from yesterday's lows near $1.28 to poke through the $1.30 level in the European morning. It was helped by an industrial production report that was better than expected. Industrial and manufacturing output fell 0.5% in May. This was around half of the expected decline after a strong April advance (2.1% and 2.4% respectively).
Read More »
Read More »
Plan your trade: A look at the key levels for the EURUSD through US employment report
The June US employment report will be released tomorrow at 8:30 AM ET. The expectations are around 180K. The unemployment rate is expected to tick up to 4.8% from 4.7%. I don’t look to go into a high risk event with a position. There are better times to trade, but after the news is known, …
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: More Thoughts on Banks
Italian banks have done worse that European banks. Italian banks outperformed Germany banks from end of H1 12 through H1 15. US banks and financials more broadly have outperformed Europe.
Read More »
Read More »