Category Archive: 4) FX Trends
Brexit is here: How to trade the Article 50 trigger
On March 29, Theresa May will trigger Article 50. That sets a two year negotiation period for the UK to leave the European Union — the Brexit is here. The foreign exchange market has built up an incredibly large short position against the pound in anticipation of Article 50. In this video, Adam Button from …
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FX Weekly Review, March 20 – March 25: Dollar Bottom Near?
In the last week, the Swiss Franc index recovered and gained about 2%. The dollar index lost 1.5%. Position adjustments: The dollar tended to trade heaviest against those currencies that speculators were short, like the euro, yen, and sterling.
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FX Daily, March 24: Dollar Trying to Stabilize Ahead of the Weekend
The US dollar has been stabilizing over the past couple of sessions. This broad stability of the dollar is impressive because of the questions of the prospects of US President Trump's economic agenda. Expectations for tax reform and infrastructure spending have bolstered investor confidence and helped boost equity prices despite what appears to be stretched valuation.
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FX Daily, March 23: Some Thoughts about the Recent Price Action
The gains the US dollar scored last month have been largely unwound against the major currencies. The dollar's losses against the yen are a bit greater, and it returned to levels not seen late last November. The down draft in the dollar appears part of a larger development in the capital markets that has also seen the US 10-year yield slide 25 bp in less than two weeks. The two-year yield is off 17 bp.
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Status of US Pivot To Asia
Pivot still taking place, but without TPP, more militaristic. President Trump seems a little less confrontational toward China. China is unlikely to be cited as a currency manipulator in next month's Treasury report.
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FX Daily, March 21: Euro Recovery Continues, Posts New Six Week High Other Currencies Mixed
Growing confidence that Le Pen will not be the next president of France following the televised debate for which two polls showed Macron doing best has lifted the euro and reduced the French interest rate premium over Germany. The euro pushed through $1.0800 after initially dipping below yesterday's lows.
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Weekly Speculative Position: After ECB, Reduction of Euro Shorts
Speculators reduced their net Euro shorts after the less dovish ECB. But the net short of CHF nearly remains stable. This resulted in an appreciation of EUR/CHF.
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FX Weekly Preview: Divergence Theme Questioned
Recent developments have given rise to doubts over the divergence theme, which we suggested have shaped the investment climate. There are some at the ECB who suggest rates can rise before the asset purchases end. The Bank of England left rates on hold, but it was a hawkish hold, as there was a dissent in favor of an immediate rate hike, and the rest of the Monetary Policy Committee showed that their patience with both rising price prices and the...
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FX Weekly Review, March 13 – March 18: Fed Disappoints, Dollar Losses
The failure of the Fed to signal an increased pace of normalization and the prospects of other central banks raising rates spurred dollar losses, which deteriorated its technical outlook.
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Oil Supply Remains Resilient, Prices Heavy
Nearly half of OPEC's intended cuts are being offset by an increase in US output. The contango rewards the accumulation of inventories. The drop in oil prices probably weighs more on European reflation story than the US.
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FX Daily, March 17: Dollar Remains Heavy
The dollar is softer against most of the major currencies to cap a poor weekly performance. The Dollar Index is posting what may be its biggest weekly loss since last November. The combination of the Federal Reserve not signaling an acceleration of normalization, while the market remains profoundly skeptical of even its current indications, and perceptions that the ECB and BOE can raise earlier than anticipated weighed on the dollar. The PBOC...
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Trump: Unilateralism or Isolationism?
Many who think that the US is becoming isolationist are wrong. The thrust is now more about unilateralism. Unilateralism can lead to the US being more isolated.
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FX Daily, March 16: Greenback Consolidates Losses as Yields Stabilize
The US dollar remained under pressure in Asia following the disappointment that the FOMC did not signal a more aggressive stance, even though its delivered the nearly universally expected 25 bp rate hike. News that the populist-nationalist Freedom Party did worse than expected in the Dutch elections also helped underpin the euro, which rose to nearly $1.0750 from a low close to $1.06 yesterday.
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Federal Reserve Hikes, but Changes Little Else
Fed made mostly minor changes in the statement as it hiked the Fed funds rate for the third time in the cycle. The average and median dot for Fed funds crept slightly higher. There was only one dissent to the decision.
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FX Daily, March 15: Greenback Softens Ahead of FOMC
The US dollar is paring yesterday's gains as the market awaits the outcome of the well-telegraphed FOMC meeting. In recent weeks, the combination of data and official comments have swayed market, which had previously anticipated a hike in May or June.
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China’s NPC Ends with New Initiatives
China will make its mainland bond market more accessible. As China's portfolio of patents grows it will likely become more protective of others' intellectual property rights. PRC President Xi will likely visit US President Trump early next month.
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FX Daily, March 14: Brexit Takes Fresh Toll on Sterling, While Dollar Firms more Broadly
UK Prime Minister May got the parliamentary approval the courts ruled was necessary to formally trigger Article 50. It is not clear what UK she will lead out the EU. Scotland is beginning the legal proceedings to hold another referendum on independence. There is some talk that Northern Ireland, which voted to remain, might be allowed to rejoin the Republic of Ireland.
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Trump Administration Modifying Stance on Way to G20
Confrontation with China has been dialed down. Criticism of the Fed has been walked back. There is less talk about the dollar. Employment data has been embraced.
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Weekly Speculative Position: Less dovish ECB not include yet
The commitments of traders were released on March 7 before the ECB meeting of March 9. We expect a considerable re-adjustment.
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