Tag Archive: Bank of Canada
Markets Catch Collective Breath
Overview: The US dollar is mixed today. The dollar-bloc currencies are firmer, while the euro and yen are softer. We had anticipated a recovery of the dollar on ideas that the market has too aggressively pushed down US rates, and pricing in more Fed easing with higher confidence than seems to be warranted by the recent data. However, US rates have not recovered, but the dollar has. Partly, this reflects that rates have fallen as faster if not...
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Tensions Run High Ahead of ECB Meeting and US Q3 GDP as JPY150 Breached
Overview: The market is on edge. Anxiety is running higher. It is
partly geopolitics, and it is partly market stresses. The dollar is holding
above JPY150 but so far, no reports or signs of intervention. Bank shares are
under pressure. An index of Japanese banks has fallen for five of the past six
sessions and are off about 8% from the year's high set last month. An index of
European bank shares has fallen in six of the past seven sessions and...
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Divergence Continues to Underpin the Greenback
Overview: The divergence reflected in the flash PMI
readings seen yesterday underpinned the dollar, which is firmer in mostly quiet
turnover. The initial Australian dollar gains scored in response to the
slightly less decline in Q3 CPI have been unwound. The greenback also remains
within striking distance of JPY150 where there are still some large options and
some apprehension over possible BOJ intervention. Hungary's larger than expected
rate cut...
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Battle for $1.07 in the Euro
Overview: Despite disappointing German
industrial output, where the 0.8% decline was twice expectations, the euro is
holding above $1.07, where large options exist that are expiring over the next
few sessions. The greenback is consolidating against the Japanese yen, where
the fear of intervention has increased. Sterling remains on its back foot after
yesterday's seemingly dovish comments by Bank of England Governor Bailey. Emerging
market...
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Dollar Sell-Off is Getting Stretched
Overview: Softer-than-expected US CPI, following
weaker than expected job growth has sent the greenback tumbling. The dollar is
stabilizing against the yen today, but the downside momentum is intact against
the other major currencies. The euro approached $1.1175, sterling $1.3080, and
the greenback slumped to almost CHF0.8615. The Australian dollar reached $0.6850,
and the New Zealand dollar tested $0.6360. The Canadian dollar, often a laggard
in a...
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US CPI and Bank of Canada Highlight North American Session
Overview: The US dollar's losses have been extended
ahead of the June CPI. At the same time, speculation that the Bank of Japan
will adjust policy later this month saw the yen extend its gains for the fifth
consecutive session. Sterling made new highs since last April, while the Swiss
franc has risen to its best levels in about 2 1/2 years. The Dollar Index
gapped lower and through the trendline drawn off the April and May lows. The
greenback has...
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Japan’ Q1 GDP was Revised Up, While the Eurozone’s was Revised Down
Overview: The back-to-back surprise rate hikes by
the Australia and Canada spurred speculation that the Fed could hike next week,
and this lifted US rates and helped the dollar recover. The odds of a hike
increased, according to the indicative pricing in the Fed funds futures market
from about a 20% chance to a little above 35%. now. At yesterday's high, the
two-year yield was up a little more than 25 bp since the low before the US
employment data...
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RBA Surprises with a Quarter-Point Hike and German Factory Orders Disappoint
Overview: The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised
many with a quarter-point hike and German factory orders unexpectedly fell.
Reports suggest that China has asked banks to cut deposit rates. The next
result is the Australian dollar is the strongest currency in the G10 and helped
lift the Canadian dollar ahead of the Bank of Canada meeting tomorrow. Australian
stocks sold off (~1.2%) while large markets outside of China rose in the region.
Europe's...
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US Dollar Slumps and China Surprises with Twice the Expected Trade Surplus
Overview: The market took US short-term rates and
the dollar lower after the CPI data, which was largely in line with
expectations. On the one hand, the odds of a quarter-point hike next month
increased slightly (73.6% vs. 71.6%) to 5.25%, but it reinforced that sense
that it is last hike and that the Fed will unwind this hike and more before the
end of the year. The year-end implied policy rate fell by about six basis points to
4.33%. The dollar...
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US CPI is Unlikely to Tell Us Anything We Don’t Already Know
Overview: Today's highlight is the March US
CPI, and while everyone is talking about it, it is unlikely to tell us anything
we do not already know. Headline price pressures are easing but the core rate
is sticky, and despite comments from the Chicago Fed president about the need
for patience, the odds of a hike next month have crept up. Understanding the
Fed's reaction function, it seems clear that for most officials, inflation is
remains too high...
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Yen Jumps Despite Poor GDP Ahead of Tomorrow’s BOJ Outcome
Overview: Seeing the drama he inspired on Tuesday,
the Fed chair tried soft-pedaling the idea that he was signaling a 50 bp hike
in March. The market did not buy it. And the odds, discounted by the Fed funds
futures rose a little above 70% from about 62% at Tuesday's close. The two-year
note yield solidified its foothold above the 5% mark. With the Bank of Canada
confirming its pause, the Reserve Bank of Australia does not seem that far
behind, and...
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Powell Sends the Two-Year Yield above 5% and Ignites Powerful Dollar Rally
Overview: Federal Reserve Chair Powell's comments to
the Senate Banking Committee were seen as hawkish by the market, even though it
has been clear to most observers that the 5.10% median terminal rate that the
Fed projected in December would be increased. Also, it seemed well appreciated
a few Fed officials support a 50 bp hike at the February 1 FOMC meeting, two
days before a "hot" jobs report that showed over 500k jobs were
filled. It...
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US Dollar is Better Bid Ahead of Powell, while Aussie Sells Off on Dovish Hike by the RBA
Overview: The US dollar is trading with a firmer bias against
nearly all the G10 currencies ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Powell's
semi-annual testimony before Congress. Speaking for the Federal Reserve, the
Chair is likely to stay on message which is higher rates are necessary to cool
the overheating economy. This comes on the heels of the Reserve Bank of
Australia's 25 bp hike and indication that it is not pre-committing to an April
hike. The...
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Yields Pull Back to Start the New Week
Overview: The modest economic goals announced as
China's National People's Congress starts was seen as a cautionary sign after
growth disappointed last year. It seemed to weigh on Chinese stocks, though
others large bourses in the region advanced, led by Japan's Nikkei and South
Korea with gains of more than 1%. Europe's Stoxx 600 is little changed after
rising for the past two sessions. US index futures are slightly softer. Strong
gains were seen...
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Euro Closed above $1.09 but Follow-Through Buying Limited
Overview: After
some intraday penetration, the euro finally settled above $1.09 yesterday. However,
follow-through buying has been limited and technical and option-related
resistance is seen in the $1.0940-50 area. The dollar is more broadly mixed
today, with the dollar-bloc and Norwegian krone leading the advancers. The
euro, yen, and sterling are nursing small losses near midday in Europe. The
recovery of US equity indices yesterday after gap...
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Bank of Canada may say Pause, but the Market Hears Finished
Overview: Amid sharp losses in the US equity futures, the US dollar is mostly firmer against the G10 currencies. The notable exception is the Australian dollar, where high-than-expected inflation boosts the risk of a more aggressive central bank.
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No Follow-Through Euro Buying while S&P Holds Yesterday’s Breakout
Overview: A quiet consolidative session has been recorded
so far today as North American leadership is awaited. The preliminary PMI
readings are mixed. Japan and the eurozone look somewhat better, but Australia
and the UK disappointed. The dollar is trading with a mostly firmer bias,
but largely confined to yesterday's ranges. The markets seem to be looked
ahead toward next week's Fed, ECB, and BOE meetings, and the return of China
from this...
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Greenback’s Sell-off may Stall Ahead of Powell Tomorrow
Overview: Don't fight the Fed went the manta as the
market took the US two-year yield back up to 4.50% in the aftermath of the FOMC
minutes last week, the highest in over a month. The minutes warned of a
premature easing of financial conditions. And then bam, softer than expected
hourly earnings and a weak service PMI and bonds and stocks rallied, and the
dollar was sold. This is a key part of the backdrop for this week, for which
several Fed...
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Week Ahead: RBA and BOC Meetings Featured and China’s Inflation and Trade
The week ahead
is more than an interlude before five G10 central banks meet on December
14-15. The data highlights
include the US ISM services and producer prices, Chinese trade and inflation
measures, Japanese wages, household consumption, and the current account.
Also, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Bank of Canada hold policy
meetings. Central banks from India, Poland, Brazil, Peru, and Chile also meet.The dollar appreciated in Q1 and Q2...
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Dollar Slumps, Yuan Rallies by Most this Year amid Intervention Talk
Overview: The US dollar is having one of toughest days of the year. It has been sold across the board and taken out key levels like parity in the euro, $1.15 in sterling, and CAD1.36. The Chinese yuan surged over 1%. Chinese officials promised healthy bond and stock markets.
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