Overview: Bottom-picking, after officials step up efforts and some optimism creeps in, is helping lift spirits today. As one looks at the equity bounces, it is important to remember that among the biggest rallies take place in bear markets. Nearly all the bourses in Asia-Pacific rallied, led by a 7% advance by Japan's Nikkei and an 8%+ surge in South Korea's Kospi. Most other markets were up 2%-5%.
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Tag Archive: U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index
FX Daily, February 3: Inauspicious Start to the Year of the (Flying) Rat
Overview: The Year of the Rat is off to an inauspicious start as apparently a fly rat (a bat) virus has jumped to humans. China's markets re-opening amid much fanfare, and the Shanghai Composite dropped 7.7%, which is about what the futures in Singapore had anticipated. Several other markets in the region (Japan's Nikkei, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand) fell by more than 1%.
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FX Daily, September 23: Dreadful European Flash PMI Drags the Euro Lower
Overview: The critics who claim the ECB's policy response was disproportionate got a rude shock today with the unexpected weakness revealed by the flash PMI. The euro looks to re-visit the lows set recently near $1.0925. Sentiment has also been eroded by the poor South Korean export figures. Asia Pacific equities moved lower, though Tokyo markets were closed. Indian equities, however, continue their pre-weekend surge.
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FX Daily, June 03: US Penchant for Tariffs Keeps Investors on Edge
Overview: The weekend failed to break the grip of investor worries that is driving stocks and yields lower. The US Administration's penchant for tariffs is not simply aimed at China, where there is some sympathy, but the move against Mexico, dropping special privileges for India, and apparently, had considered tariffs on Australia. At the same time, the threat of 25% tariff on auto imports.
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FX Daily, May 23: Trade, Brexit, and Disappointing Flash PMIs Weigh on Global Markets
Overview: The deterioration of the investment climate is spurring the sales of stocks and the buying of bonds. The dollar is firm. China and the US appear to be digging as if the trade tensions will remain for some time and the breech is beginning to look too big for Trump and Xi to pull another rabbit out of the hat like they did at the end of last year when the tariff truce was struck. The move against Huawei and possible a number of...
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