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Market Overview

Dollar Ignores Strong ADP, Drops on Weak ISM, Looks to Fed for Rescue

Economic data released from the US are mixed today. ADP report shows much stronger than expected growth in private sector jobs. However, ISM manufacturing points to deep cool down in the manufacturing sector, with deteriorating new orders, prices and employment. Dollar chooses to react to the negative one and...

Dollar Generally Lower as Markets Await Fed Powell’s Comments on Inflation and Interest Rates

Dollar trades broadly lower in thin holiday market as trades await FOMC rate decision. There is no expectation of a change in interest rate nor Fed's patient stance. But Fed chair Jerome Powell's comments on inflation could make or break recent rally in the greenback. For now, Dollar it's...

Euro Surges as Data Paint Improved Growth and Inflation Outlook

Euro surges broadly today as boosted a series of better than expected economic data. GDP beat market expectations and argue that the slowdown wasn't as worse as expected. In particular, strength was also seen in problematic countries like Italy and Spain. Unemployment rate dropped to lowest in more than...

China PMI Misses Raise Doubt on Recovery, Australian Dollar Turns Soft

S&P 500 and NASDAQ made record highs overnight but sentiments turned around in Asia. Weaker than expected China PMIs raised doubt on the sustainability of the post lunar new year recovery. There is even question on whether slowdown has bottomed. Nevertheless, Chinese stocks remain resilient so far, with Shanghai...

Dollar Mildly Higher after Strong Personal Spending, Upside Capped by Cooling Core Inflation

Dollar strengthens mildly in early US session as supported by strong personal spending growth in March. Though, upside is capped by steadily cooling core inflation. For now, today's set of data is not decisive enough to trigger a breakout in the greenback yet. Dollar would likely engage in more...

Markets Steady Ahead of Busy Week With Trade Talks, Fed, BoE, and Heavy Weight Data

The forex markets are rather quiet in Asia, as Japan starts an ultra-long 10-day holiday ahead of Imperial succession. New Zealand and Australian Dollar extends the corrective recovery started late last week, ignoring initial weakness in Chinese stocks. On the other hand, Yen is generally lower, followed by Canadian....

Worsening Inflation, Dovish Central Banks and Falling Treasury Yields

Yen and Dollar were the biggest winners last week on worsening inflation outlook, dovish central banks and falling treasury yields. Australian Dollar was the weakest one as CPI just rose 1.3% yoy in Q1 versus expectation of 1.5% yoy. The added heavy weight to the case of RBA rate...

Strong US GDP With Weak Details Send Dollar Lower, 10-Yr Yield Breaks 2.5

Dollar spikes higher in early US session as Q1 GDP grew much more than market expectations. However, the greenback quickly pulled back as details are seen as much weaker than the headline number suggests. It's actually a set of data welcome by stock traders as Fed will likely stay...

Dollar and Yen Pare Gains as Focus Turns to US Q1 GDP

Commodity currencies recover broadly in Asian session as risk markets somewhat stabilized. US stocks closed mixed with DOW paring much of initial losses overnight. New Zealand Dollar is additional supported by record exports in March, and helps lift Australian too. Yen is the weakest so far for today, followed...

Strong Durable Goods Fail to Boost Dollar, Yen Taking the Driving Seat

Yen takes the driving seat from Dollar today as markets could be turning into risk averse mode. The greenback is still firm and remains the second strongest for the week. But strong US durable goods orders is not giving it enough boost to extend this week's rally. On the...

Dollar Surges on Flight to Quality Flows, EUR/USD Breaks Key Support

It appears that the global economy is now running at two different speed. US is maintaining firm momentum despite all the uncertainties and slowdown elsewhere. Strong corporate earnings provide evidence on underlying resilience. While global central banks are turning cautious or even dovish, there is little pressure for Fed...

Euro Weakens as German 10-Year Yield Threatens to Turn Negative, Swiss Franc Rebound

Swiss Franc regains much ground today in mixed financial markets. Optimism over US corporate earnings had virtually no impact in Asian and European markets. Instead, European stocks turned mixed after German Ifo business confidence turned south again after brief recovery last month. German 10-year yield also suffers rather steep...

Australian Dollar in Free Fall after Big CPI Miss, BoC Watched Today

Australian Dollar is overwhelmingly the worst performing one today. It suffers heavy selling after much weaker than expected CPI raises the chance of RBA rate cut later this year. New Zealand Dollar follows as second as RBNZ is also expected to cut, just probably earlier in May. Canadian Dollar...

Dollar Surges Broadly on Earning Optimism, Gold Extends Decline

Dollar rises broadly in early US session as traders seem preparing for solid Q1 earnings reports in US. Stocks indices are relatively steady, though, with DOW, S&P 500 and NASDAQ up slightly in initial trading. But after all, improvement in the overall sentiments could revive the chance for a...

Forex Markets Tread Water as Impact of Oil Rally Fades

The forex markets remain relatively quiet in Asian session today. Canadian Dollar surged briefly yesterday as lifted by rally in oil price. WTI crude oil remains firm in at 65.80, after rising on news that US is ending Iranian oil sanction wavier for eight countries. But the boost to...

Canadian Dollar Pulled Higher by Oil, But Cautious ahead of BoC

Canadian Dollar open the week generally higher, as helped by strong rally in oil price, on supply concern. Though, the Loonie is generally bounded in range only. BoC rate decision and statement this week will be crucial to the next move. For now, risks are mildly on the upside...

Strong Retail Sales and Jobless Claims Boost Dollar, But Yen Outperforms

Dollar jumps broadly in early US session after very strong retail sales and jobless claims. Yen is the only one stronger than the greenback, thanks to pull back in global treasury yields. Euro, as well as benchmark German yield tumble as poor PMIs dent hope for a recovery in...

Eurozone PMIs, Retail Sales from UK, US and Canada Watched

Asian markets turned softer today, ahead of long weekend. Major indices are trading in slightly in red as traders lighten up positions. In the currency markets, Yen is so far the strongest one for today, naturally. Australian Dollar is the second strongest, as lifted slightly by solid employment data....

Canadian Dollar Jumps on CPI, Treasury Yields Rise on China Data

Global treasury yields are boosted by solid data from China today. German 10-year yield hit at high as 0.104 and is now back at around 0.08. US 10-year yield breaches hit 2.614 and it's now trying to own 2.6 handle. These are both signs of improvements in market sentiments...

Aussie Lifted by Strong China Data, Kiwi Tumbles on CPI and RBNZ Bets

Australian and New Zealand Dollars have very different fortunes today. Aussie was boosted higher by stronger than expected Chinese data. On the other hand, Kiwi dived as weaker than expected CPI raises the chance of RBNZ rate cut at next meeting. In between, Euro is the second strongest so...