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Market Overview

UK CPI and BoC to Guide the Markets as Sentiments Improved

Markets sentiments turned positive as there were now continuous flow of bad news. All three of DOW, S&P 500 and NASDAQ closed higher overnight, with NASDAQ scoring the best performance. Technically, all three have taken out 55 day EMA decisively which suggests more near term upside. Nikkei follow and...

Sterling and Euro Reverse Gains after Disappointing Data, Dollar Rebounds Broadly

Sterling and Euro strengthened earlier today but both reversed earlier gains after disappointing economic data. On the other hand, Dollar is trying to make a come back as buying accelerates in early US session. It's more a coincidence than a response. But the greenback picks up momentum after US...

Sterling Firm as Markets Look into UK Unemployment Rate and Wage Growth, Aussie Lower after RBA Minutes

Sterling retreats mildly in Asian session today, against Dollar, Euro and Yen. But it remains the strongest one for the week. The breach of 1.4345 resistance in GBP/USD overnight signals medium term up trend resumption. But the rally slowed a little bit above there. For now, GBP/JPY is limited...

Dollar Weak after Mixed Data, Sterling Shines

Dollar remains general weak in early US session after mixed economic data, in particular against European majors. The greenback does try to rebound against Australian Dollar and Canadian Dollar. But momentum is being capped. Yen also tried to rebound earlier today but quickly lost steam. Sterling is emerging as...

Yen Making a Come Back in an Important Week for BoE and BoC

Yen is making a come back in Asian session today. The reaction to the Syria strike was muted. But risk aversion comes back with selloff in Chinese and Hong Kong stocks. Nikkei is maintaining slight gain of 0.25% at the time of writing. But China SSE and Hong Kong...

Yen and Franc Ended as the Weakest Ones as Risk Aversion Temporarily Eased, Reaction to Syria Strikes Watched

Easing risk aversion was the main theme last week as Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc ended as the weakest two. It's not the kind that investors were in euphoria. But nonetheless, major stock indices around the world ended up higher. Dollar ended as the third weakest despite markets firming...

Yen Selling Intensified, Dollar Supported by Hawkish Fed Rosengren

Yen continues to be the weakest one today as selloff intensifies in European session. Relieves from immediate risks are still as the major reason driving the Japanese currency down. Australian Dollar continues to be the strongest one with AUD/USD and EUR/AUD taking out key near term levels. Dollar was...

Australian Dollar Higher after China Data, EUR/AUD in Focus

Australian dollar strengthens broadly in Asia session as lifted mildly by China's trade data. The Aussie is also among the strongest ones for the week, together with Canadian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar. Euro suffered some selloff overnight, in particular against, Sterling. But the common currency quickly found footing...

Euro Tumbles after ECB Minutes, Dollar and Stocks Love Trump’s Uncertain Timing on Missile Strike

The financial markets don't always hate uncertainties. Sometimes, they embrace it. US President Donald Trump backed down from his initial tough stance on Syria, and it's now unsure when he will order firing of missiles over it. European equities cheered the newly created uncertainty with DAX turning initial loss...

Euro to Look into ECB Minutes for Guidance, Markets Steady in Asia

The Asian markets are relatively steady today as for now, there is no escalation in the situation in Syria. At the time of writing Nikkei is trading down -0.26% only while HK HSI is down -0.17%. Performance of US indices overnight were not too bad. DOW closed down 0.9%...

Risk Aversion Comes Back on Syria Tension, Dollar Gets No Help from CPI

Risk aversion comes back to the markets today. Syria tension comes into spotlight and US-China trade war leaves the stage temporarily. DAX turned south at initial trading and never looked back. It's currently trading down -1% at the time of writing. CAC id down -0.67% while FTSE is down...

Dollar Stays Weak as Focus Turns to US CPI and FOMC Minutes

Risk appetite stays strong so far with receding fear of full-blown trade war between US and China. Major US indices closed up overnight with DOW gaining 1.79%, S&P 500% risen 1.67% and NASDAQ up 2.07%. Hong Kong HSI is lifted further by more specific details regarding China opening up...

Yen and Dollar Broadly Lower, Markets on Risk on Mode as Trade War Fear Temporarily Relieved

Japan Yen and, to a slightly lesser extent, Dollar suffer broad based selloff today as global markets return to risk seeking mode. Major European indices are generally higher with DAX up near 1% at the time of writing. CAC is up 0.55% and FTSE is up 0.6%. That followed...

Markets Cheer as China Xi Didn’t Escalate Tension with US, Australian and Canadian Dollar Lead the Way Up

Asian markets responded positively to the highly anticipated speech by China President Xi Jinping. At the time of writing, Nikkei is trading up 0.65% and HK HSI is up 1.14%. But it should be noted that Nikkei is already trading way off today's high at 21933.99. We could see...

Sterling Surges Broadly, Taking Europeans Higher; Dollar Selling Emerges into US Session

Sterling surges broadly today and is so far trading as the strongest one. Some point to solid housing data as a trigger for the buying. Mortgage lender Halifax house price rose more than expected by 2.7% in Q1. And that should be something welcomed by BoE hawks on their...

Asian Markets Shrugged Off US Selloff; FOMC Minutes, NAFTA and Trade War Watched This Week

Asian markets open positively this week in spite of the sharp selloff in the US on Friday. At the time of writing, Nikkei is trading up 0.55%. China is back from holiday with SSE up 0.35%. Hong Kong HSI is also up 1.8%. The lack of risk aversion lifts...

Dollar Mixed as Markets Pared Back Expectations of Fed Hikes Slightly, after NFP and on Trade War

US-China trade war was the dominant theme in the financial markets last week. US started by announcing the list of 1300 product lines to be tariffed under Section 301 actions. China quickly responded by announcing 25% retaliation tariffs to US imports, matching the size of USD 50b product values....

Dollar Supported by Wage Growth Despite NFP Miss, No Drama from China’s Brief Press Briefing

Reactions in the financial markets to the escalation in US-China trade tensions remain rather mild. Nikkei closed down just -0.36% today. European indices are in red at the time of writing. But DAX is down -0.5%, CAC down -0.3% and FTSE is nearly flat. US futures point to triple...

As Trump Seeks Attentions With Trade Tensions Escalation, Markets are Looking Forward to Non-Farm Payrolls Instead

Trade war comes back to headline as US President Donald Trump announced his intention to triple down on the tariffs on Chinese imports. But so far, market reactions are muted. Major forex pairs are trapped in yesterday's range, just with some notable weakness in New Zealand Dollar. Swiss Franc...

Widening US Trade Deficit and Higher Jobless Claims Not Deterring Dollar Rebound

Global stock markets rebounded impressively today as traders looked past the first chapter of US-China trade war. Nikkei closed up 1.53% at 21645.42 earlier today. European indices are all trading up at the time of writing, with DAX gaining 2.44% being most impressive. CAC is up 2.07% while FTSE...