Category Archive: 4) FX Trends
We have Lift-Off
The Federal Reserve delivered a hawkish hike. The dot plot reflects expectations for four rate hikes in 2016. There were no dissents. This is important. It underscores the decisiveness of the decision. There have been three voting Fed mem...
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: US Bill Yields and Fed Hikes
There are many investors and observers who do not think the Fed ought to raise interest rates today. The Fed's targeted inflation measure, the core PCE deflator, stood at 1.3%, well below the 2% target. They see the fresh sell-off in oil prices and are more concerned disinflation than inflation. Over the past week or so, …
Read More »
Read More »
Fe Fi Fo Fed
The much awaited Fed meeting is here. A 25 bp increase in the Fed funds range to 25-50 bp is widely expected. The near certainty of this contrasts to the high uncertainty of the immediate impact stocks, bonds, and the dollar. There are five components of the Fed's decision that will command attention. First, is … Continue reading...
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: US Equities in December
This Great Graphic shows how different measures of US equities perform in December by day for the past 20 years. I got it as a tweet from Urban Carmel, who got it from the Stock Almanac. Today is eleventh session of the month. Equities typically rallied starting now in December. Since 1994, the S&P … Continue reading...
Read More »
Read More »
While Waiting for the Fed, Don’t Forget Fiscal Policy
The focus of most investors is the rate decision by the Federal Reserve tomorrow. Since the central bank completed its asset purchase program at the end of last year, a rate hike has been understood as a matter of time.
Expectations for a Ju...
Read More »
Read More »
Corrective Forces Dominate
The euro made marginal news highs near $1.1060 while sterling and the yen have been confined to yesterday's ranges. European equities are bouncing off ten-week lows. The dollar-bloc is firm; the upbeat RBA meetings provided only a short-lived...
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: Large Yuan Devalution in 2016?
Following the mini-devaluation in August, the yuan appreciated in September and October. It began depreciating again in November and this has continued through the first half of December. The dollar finished the local session at new multi-year highs against the yuan. Many observers see in the pre-weekend announcement about monitoring the yuan against a basket …
Read More »
Read More »
Emerging Markets: Week Ahead Preview
Indonesia reports November trade Tuesday. Exports are expected at -11.5% y/y, while imports are expected at -21.3% y/y. Bank Indonesia then meets Thursday and is expected to keep rates steady at 7.5%. We believe an easing bias is in place, given ...
Read More »
Read More »
Outlook for Spain’s Election
The pace of reform in Spain has slowed, with electoral considerations likely playing a role. A new center-right government may resume efforts to reform the labor market, even if leading a government costs Rajoy his job. Representation of Podemos i...
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: Euro Forecast by Global Banks
The dollar-euro is the most actively traded currency pair in the world. It is often what is meant when people ask where is the dollar trading. Dollar bullish sentiment prevailed in 2015, but many large banks doubt that it will continue in 2016. This Great Graphic from the Wall Street Journal shows the euro forecasts … Continue...
Read More »
Read More »
Slow Start to Important Week, though Rand Jumps Back
The US dollar is firmer against the euro, sterling and yen, but within the ranges seen before the weekend. The greenback is softer against the dollar-bloc currencies after early gains were unwound. The biggest mover has been the South African rand, which is up a little more than 5%, retracing nearly half of last week's … Continue reading...
Read More »
Read More »
After ECB’s Hawkish Cut, Is the Fed about to Deliver a Dovish Hike?
After much hemming and hawing since mid-year, the Federal Reserve is finally poised to raise rates for the first time in nearly a decade. Indeed, given the speeches by the leadership and the economic data, especially the labor market readings, the failure to raise rates would likely be more destabilizing at this juncture than lifting them. …
Read More »
Read More »
Weekly Speculative Position Limited: Adjustment Warns USD Correction may not be Over
1. Activity increased during the Commitment of Traders reporting week ending 8 December. There were four significant (10k+ contracts) gross currency adjustments by speculators. Given that this period covers the second largest gain in the euro's history, it is surprising that it did not meet the threshold. It is astounding that only that speculators added only …
Read More »
Read More »
Technical Condition of the Greenback on the Eve of Lift-Off
The US dollar turned in a mixed performance in the week following the ECB's surprise and the healthy US jobs report. In some ways, the greenback was like a fulcrum, not the driver.
The dollar-bloc currencies and the Norwegian krona were on ...
Read More »
Read More »
Emerging Markets: What has Changed
1) South African President Jacob Zuma fired Finance Minister Nene and replaced him with little-known ANZ lawmaker David Van Rooyen
2) S&P revised the outlook on South Africa’s BBB- rating from stable to negative
3) People’s Bank of Chi...
Read More »
Read More »
Insight into the ECB
Investors, fellow central bankers, and the media continue to try to make sense of last week's ECB surprise. We had argued that given the market positioning, especially the dramatic accumulation of speculative short euro positions since the m...
Read More »
Read More »
Commodity Weakness takes a Toll, Rand Fall Continues, US Retail Sales Awaited
The US dollar is confined to narrow ranges against the euro and sterling after pushing higher yesterday. The greenback is staging stronger upticks against the yen but is struggling to resurface above previous support in the JPY122.25 area. Weak commodity prices and the loss of upside momentum has seen profit-taking in the Australian and New …
Read More »
Read More »
Great Graphic: A Divergence that Gives China a Headache
China was instructed by the IMF that as an operational requirement for joining the SDR that the gap between the onshore and offshore yuan (CNY and CNH respectively) needed to close. This was important for central banks to hedge. The opposite is taking place. That is what this Great Graphic, created on Bloomberg depicts. The …
Read More »
Read More »
Morning Edge – SPECIAL – Interview with Marc Chandler along with Chris Bayer – 12/10/15
Note; Recording contains some sound drops due to unresolved internet problems. Blake (@PipCzar) interviews Marc Chandler. Marc Chandler has been covering the global capital markets in one fashion or another for more than 25 years, working at economic consulting firms and global investment banks. Chandler attended North Central College for undergraduate work, where he majored …
Read More »
Read More »