Tag Archive: Italy
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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Risk Appetites Survive China Keeping Zero Covid Policy
Overview: Chinese officials denied plans to end the zero-Covid policy
and after a brief wobble, risk assets have traded better. Asia Pacific equities
rallied, led by Hong Kong and mainland stocks that trade in Hong Kong. Europe’s
Stoxx 600 opened lower but recovered and is around 0.5% higher after the 1.8%
gain before the weekend. US futures are firm. Benchmark 10-year yields are mostly
2-4 bp softer in Europe and the US. The dollar is mixed. The...
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RBA Hikes by 25 bp, Chinese Stocks Surge, and the Greenback Trades Heavier
Overview: Risk appetites have returned today. Bonds
and stocks are advancing, while the dollar is better offered. Unsourced claims
that Beijing has formed a committee to assess how to exit the zero-Covid policy
sent Chinese shares sharply higher. An index of mainland companies list in Hong
Kong jumped nearly 7% and closed up almost 5.5%. The Hang Seng surged 5.2%,
while all the large markets in the region advanced. Europe’s Stoxx 600
recovered...
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BOJ Doesn’t Surprise, but EMU does with October CPI and Q3 Growth
Bonds and stocks are being sold ahead of the weekend. Poor corporate earnings and higher inflation in Japan and Europe are weighing on sentiment. The dollar is mostly higher. Hong Kong and mainland China led large Asia Pacific markets lower. India and Singapore were notable exceptions.
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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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Can We Look Past US CPI ?
Overview: There seems to be a nervous calm today ahead of the US CPI. The dollar is hovering near JPY147 but the risk of BOJ intervention in the North American session seems slim. The BOE’s emergency Gilt buying operation ends tomorrow and UK bonds yields have tumbled. While equities in the Asia Pacific region lost ground, Europe’s Stoxx 600 is trying to snap a six-day decline.
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No Rest for the Weary: The Week Ahead
In Volcker's days, when he used money supply to justify tightening monetary policy despite high unemployment, the money supply was released while markets were open, and it was The report. Later, by the mid-1980s, leading up to the Plaza Agreement, the deterioration of the US monthly trade balance was critical.
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Semblance of Calm Returns
(Business travel will prevent me from updating the blog for the next couple of days. Thank you for your patience. Good luck.)Overview: After extending last week’s moves yesterday, the capital
markets are mostly calmer today. Sterling is firmer, as are UK Gilts.
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Sterling Continues to be Pounded
Overview: Sterling’s pounding continued in Asia where it was driven to $1.0350, a new record low before stabilizing. UK rates also continued to rise sharply after the new government promised more tax cuts next year. The right-wing victory in Italy was not surprising but it kept
pressure on Italian bonds.
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The Greenback Firms to Start the New Week, Stocks Slide
Overview: The busy week is off to a slow
start as Japan is on holiday and the UK and Canadian markets are closed to
honor Queen (Australia will commemorate with a holiday on Thursday). Nevertheless,
the sell-off in equities continues and the US dollar is firm. Most of the large
markets in Asia fell. India is a notable exception. Its benchmark rose for the
first time in four sessions, helped by bank shares and Infosys. Europe’s Stoxx
600 is off for...
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New Recession Worry Stalls Dollar Express but Doesn’t Derail It
A simply dreadful flash US PMI stopped the dollar's four-day rally in its tracks. It followed news that the eurozone, Japan, and Australia's composite PMIs are below the 50 boom/bust level. However, the dollar recovered, even if not fully as the market seemed unconvinced that the data could change Fed Chair Powell's message at Jackson Hole on Friday. A consolidative tone is evident today. Asia Pacific equities were mixed.
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The Dollar is on Fire
The dollar is on fire. It is rising against all the major currencies and cutting through key technical levels like a hot knife in butter. The Canadian dollar is the strongest of the majors this week, which often outperforms on the crosses in a strong US dollar environment. It is off 1.5% this week.
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Is it All Really about Today’s US CPI Print?
Overview: The US dollar is trading with a heavier bias ahead of the July CPI report. The intraday momentum indicators are overextended, and this could set the stage for the dollar to recover in North America.
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Dog Days
The dog days of August for the Northern Hemisphere are here and the capital markets are relatively subdued. Equities are firmer. The notable exceptions in Asia was China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index has advanced for the last three weeks.
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Aussie Hit with Profit-Taking after RBA Hikes 50 bp
Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has added to the risk-off mood of the capital markets today. Most of the large Asia Pacific equities sold off, with Australia and India being notable exceptions. Europe's Stoxx 600 is off for the second consecutive session, and by the most (~0.60%)
since mid-July. US futures are also weaker. Benchmark 10-year rates are lower.
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Attention Turns to US GDP, Ahead of Tomorrow’s EMU GDP and CPI
Overview: The Federal Reserve delivered its second consecutive 75 bp rate hike, and Chair Powell left the door open for another large hike at the next meeting in September. Yet, the market took away a dovish message and the dollar suffered, rates slipped, and equities rallied.
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Fed Day
Overview: Better US news from the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Texas Instruments has helped lift sentiment today and is encouraging a more risk-on mood ahead of the FOMC meeting. News that US President Biden and China’s Xi will talk tomorrow for the second time this year may be notable but does not appear to be impactful in the capital markets.
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Italian Politics Complicate the ECB’s Task
The appetite for risk seen earlier this week is fading. Yesterday’s US equity gains helped lift most of the large markets in the Asia Pacific region, but China’s CSI 300 fell 1.1%, giving back most of this week’s gains as credit issues from the property sector haunt sentiment.
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Calm before the Storm?
The biggest rally in the S&P 500 in three weeks helped lift global equities today. The MSCI Asia Pacific index rose for the third consecutive session, the longest streak this month. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is up for a fourth day and is at its best level since mid-June.
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The Dollar is on its Back Foot
The dollar’s downside correction continues today, helped by hawkish signals from the Reserve Bank of Australia and unnamed sources who have played up the chances of a 50 bp hike by the European Central Bank on Thursday.
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