Tag Archive: China
The Market Discounts around a 40% Chance of not One but Two 50 bp Cuts in last Three FOMC Meetings of the Year Ahead of Jobs Report
Overview: The US jobs report is front and center. The market is going into the report with about a 40% chance of a 50 bp Fed rate cut later this month. The Dollar Index is trading lower for the third consecutive session. Helped by the fifth consecutive decline in US 10-year yields, the yen approached last month's high but without the turmoil seen in July and August. Still, equity markets are under pressure. Most large markets in the Asia Pacific...
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The Dollar is Bid but Ueda Lends Support to the Yen
The dollar is bid as the upside correction that began last week continues today. The greenback is trading above last week's highs against most of the G10 currencies. The yen is the notable exception.
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Sterling Shines
Overview: The US dollar is softer against all the G10 currencies but the Japanese yen. Sterling is leading the advance and is at new two-year highs, knocking on $1.3250. More generally, the dollar's consolidative tone remains intact, but it looks like a pause rather than a reversal, especially against the dollar-bloc currencies. The weaker yen is a headwind for most of the regional currencies, including the yuan. Most central European currencies...
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USD is Trading Mostly Firmer, but Yen and Swiss Franc Show Resilience
Overview: The US dollar is mostly firmer, though consolidating against most of the G10 currencies. The Japanese yen and Swiss franc are the strongest, while the Scandis and Antipodean currencies are the heaviest. Among emerging market currencies, a handful of Asian currencies, including the Chinese yuan are higher, but central European currencies, the South African rand, and the Mexican peso are softer.The news stream is light but the threat of the...
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Is the US CPI Anti-Climactic?
Overview: Today's US CPI is the focus but the bar to a Fed cut next month is low, and it could prove anti-climactic. The more moderate inflation reading creates more space for the central bank to respond to signs of a continued slowing of the US labor market and adopt less restrictive policy. The dollar is mixed as the North American session gets under way. The rate cut by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, not a total surprise, but has seen fall 1%....
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No, Chicken Little, the Sky is Not Falling
Overview: The most recent data showed that Japanese investors took advantage of the yen's strength last week to buy foreign bonds and stocks. The US weekly jobs claims to their lowest level in four weeks, suggesting that the slowdown in the labor market remains gradual. The sky is not falling. There is no emergency. With a 28% drop in Japanese bank shares in the first three sessions of the month, stress in Japan was acute, but Japanese official...
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Consolidation Featured
Overview: Yesterday's poor 10-year note US Treasury auction helped turn the equity market lower and this carried over into Asia Pacific and European activity today. Today, Treasury completes its quarterly refunding with the sale of $25 bln 30-year bonds. The general tone in the foreign exchange market is one of consolidation. Japanese investors were buyers of foreign stocks on bonds last week, according to the latest portfolio flow report, which...
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BOJ Offers Verbal Support, Extends the Yen’s Pullback
Overview: The calls earlier this week for an emergency rate cut seemed to be a call for the Fed put, which, we argue is misunderstood. It is not about the stock market per se but financial stability, which did not seem threatened in the US. Japan is a different story, and the Bank of Japan offered a verbal put today, with an indication that it wants to maintain low (accommodative) rates. The markets reacted accordingly. The yen was sold (and...
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Dollar Mixed as Markets Digest US Political Developments
Overview: News that President Biden will not seek re-election has left investors unsure of the next step, but PredictIt.org still points to a Trump advantage of slightly better than 60-40. It is not clear yet whether Vice-President Harris will be challenged for the nomination. The dollar is mixed against the G10 currencies, with the dollar bloc and Norway weaker. The yen is up around 0.45% to lead the others higher. The Swiss franc, euro and...
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Dollar Consolidates to Start the New Week
Overview: The assassination attempt on former President Trump has injected a new dynamic as his chances of being re-elected appear to have risen. There are a few trades that seem to benefit from a second term: steepening yield curve, weaker Mexican peso, and stronger crypto. The dollar initially strengthened as the market's initially responded, while Tokyo markets were closed for Marine Day. As North American activity is about to begin, the dollar...
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Narrow Ranges for the Dollar Prevail Ahead of Tomorrow’s US CPI
Overview: The dollar is mostly softer today, but largely within the recent ranges, as the market appears to be waiting for tomorrow's US CPI. There are a few exceptions to note. The yen is trading near its recent lows. A less hawkish Reserve Bank of New Zealand has triggered a sell-off of the local dollar. Softer than expected Norwegian inflation has knocked the krone lower. Most emerging market currencies are firmer, with several Asia Pacific...
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Sigh of Relief Lifts French Markets, But…
Overview: The market feels a bit more at ease after the first round of the French elections that extreme policies will be avoided by an effort to deny the National Rally a legislative majority. French stocks have recouped some of their recent losses and the euro reached $1.0775, its best level since June 13. The yen remains soft after the Tankan survey showed little change but an uptick in capex plans. Outside of the yen and Swiss franc, the dollar...
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The Greenback Consolidates while Sustaining Break against the Yen
Overview: The dollar is sporting a softer
profile today against all the G10 currencies but the Swedish krona. The
Riksbank sounded more dovish than previously, signaling the possibility of a
cut in each of the last three meetings of the year. The dollar has sustained its
push above JPY160 against the Japanese yen. Most emerging market currencies are
also firmer, with the notable exception of Türkiye and South Africa. Türkiye is
expected to keep its...
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Greenback Catches a Bid
Overview: The dollar has caught a bid ahead of the US retail sales and industrial production figures. It is higher against all the G10 currencies but the Swiss franc. The SNB meets Thursday. It surprised many by cutting rates in March and the same logic (low inflation, move ahead of the ECB, stronger franc) may apply now. A hawkish hold by the Reserve Bank of Australia has not done much for the Australian dollar, which is little changed on the day....
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Calmer Markets to Start the New Week
Overview: The US dollar is firmer against most G10
currencies to start the new week. The euro is a notable exception. It is only
slightly higher but confined to a narrow range around $1.07. On the other hand,
most emerging market currencies are firmer, but for a few Asia-Pacific
currencies, including those of China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The Mexican peso
is consolidating but it is also lower on the day. The tone is largely...
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Greenback Remains Firm, Still Driest Towel on the Rack
Overview: The US dollar is firm against all
the G10 currencies, except for sterling, which is straddling unchanged levels
after labor market report that showed an uptick earnings remain elevated, and
the unemployment rate ticked up to a new high since September 2021. The dollar
reached a new six-day high against the Japanese yen near JPY157.40. The Chinese
yuan (onshore) fell to new lows since last November as the mainland markets
re-opened from...
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Euro Sold After EU Parliament Elections and Macron’s Gambit
Overview: With mixed elements, the market took the
US jobs data as relatively strong and took the dollar and US rates higher. The
EU Parliament election has shaken up European politics, with the Belgium
government collapsing and French President Macron calling a snap legislative
election for the end of the month. Holidays in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and
Australia made for thinner Asia Pacific trading, but the euro was sold and has reached to...
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The Dollar Remains Soft Ahead of the Employment Report
Overview: The dollar is little changed against the major currencies ahead of the US jobs report. It has been trading heavier than we expected given that two more G10 central banks cut interest rates ahead of the Federal Reserve.
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The Euro Remains Firm Ahead of the First Time the ECB will Cut Rates Before the Federal Reserve
Overview: The dollar is mostly softer today, ahead
of tomorrow's employment report. The ECB meeting and President Lagarde's press
conference are main events today. There is little doubt that it will cut rates
today and do so ahead of the Federal Reserve for the first time. The ECB's
forward guidance may be the key to the market's reaction. That said, the euro
is in the upper end of its recent range, near $1.09. The Mexican peso, which
was crushed...
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Dollar Recovers from Yesterday’s Slide, but Slumps Against the Yen
Overview: The dollar's losses scored after yesterday's disappointing ISM manufacturing report were extended initially in Asia Pacific turnover earlier today before it recovered. The recovery has stretched the intraday momentum indicators, warning against expected strong follow-through dollar buying in North America, without fresh impetus.
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