Japan & Germany Avoided Recession, Trade Talk Optimism, Yen Pressured
Australian and New Zealand Dollar are the strongest ones for today so far as the forex markets seem to be cheering positive developments in US-China trade negotiations. The idea of 60-day extension to trade truce is certainly welcomed given the complexity in the deal, in particular enforcement. Data from...
US Inventory Rose More than Expected. Yet, Crude Oil Price Strengthened on US-China Trade Hopes
The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks jumped +6.53 mmb to 1265.51 mmb in the week ended February 8. Crude oil inventory added +3.63 mmb to 450.84 mmb (consensus: +2.67 mmb). Inventories increased in 3 out...
Dollar Trying to Rebound on CPI, Risk Appetite Continues
Strong risk appetite remains the main theme for today on trade optimism. Though, Dollar is trying to steal the show in early US session with stronger than expected inflation data. For now, Yen remains the weakest one for today. Euro follows as weighed down by poor industrial production data,...
Yen & Dollar Tumbles on US-China Trade Optimism, Kiwi Surges on RBNZ
Strong risk appetite dominates the financial markets today. Investors are getting more optimistic on US-China trade negotiations, with another round of talks happening in Beijing now. Both sides seem to express more desire to make a deal. Trump hinted that he's willing to let the March 1 trade truce...
NZD Jumped although RBNZ Postponed Timing of Rate Hike (At Least Not Expecting a Cut)
Kiwi rallied although RBNZ left the OCR unchanged at 1.75% as anticipated. The central bank did turn slightly more dovish than in November but the market had expected more. The central bank indicated that “the tailwinds to growth have eased” while “trading-partner growth is starting to slow”. It also...
Risk Appetite Extends, Swiss Franc Decline Accelerates
Swiss Franc is overwhelmingly the weakest one today with fresh selling in early US session. While Japanese Yen is also weak, it's a relatively distant second. Both are pressured by extended rebound in global stocks. Meanwhile, additional pressure is seen on Franc from strong rebound in oil prices and...
Dollar Paring Gains, Focus Turns Back from Government Shutdown to Trade Talks
Dollar is paring some gains today after yesterday's rally, but remains the strongest one for the week. A temporary agreement was reached in the US Congress to avert another government shut down. Focus is turning back to trade negotiation with China in Beijing. There is little news regarding the...
Dollar Surges Against Yen and Swiss as US-China Trade Talks Resume
Yen and Swiss Franc are trading broadly lower today thanks to rebound in global equities. Fresh selling is seen on news that White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump may still meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in the near future. And she said that it looks like US...
Sterling Soft as GDP, Productions and Trade Balance Awaited
Sterling is trading generally soft today, except versus Yen, as market focus turns to UK data. GDP, productions and trade balance will be featured. BoE just downgraded both growth and inflation forecasts last week, based on assumption on smooth Brexit. The Pound would be vulnerable to another round of...
Sanction on Venezuelan Exports Poses Little Impact on Oil Prices
Oil prices have got limited boost after the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil exports. The direction of oil price movement is ultimately driven by the expectations of demand and supply balance. Oil demand is anticipated to reduce for the years ago amidst global economic slowdown, which is intensified...
Dollar Emerged as Strongest in a Bad Batch on Global Slowdown Worries
Dollar ended last week as the strongest ones, mainly due to weakness elsewhere. Worries of global slowdown, or even recession, sent Germany and Japanese stocks sharply lower. Global treasury yields also tumbled on safe haven demand. Adding to that, renewed concern over re-escalation of US-China trade war also weighed...
Canadian Dollar Jumps on Job Data, Risk Aversion Dominates on Trade War Worries
Risk aversion is the main theme in the financial markets today. Worries over US-China trade tension escalation resurfaced after Trump said he will not meeting Chinese President Xi this month. This came despite Trump's schedule to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on February 27-28 in Vietnam, just next...
RBNZ Preview – Turning More Dovish while Affirming Next Move Can be Up or Down
We expect RBNZ, at next week’s meeting, to leave the OCR unchanged at 1.75% and downgrade its economic growth forecasts. We believe the tone would be tilted to the dovish side as both global and domestic environment deteriorated since November. Increased downside risks and heightened uncertainty likely warrant a...
Yen Rises as Trade War Concern Resurfaces, RBA Hammers Aussie Again
Global markets are in mild risk averse mode on concerns over US-China trade talk. That came after Trump said he will not meet Chinese President Xi this month to complete the trade agreement. Yen and Swiss Franc are trading as the stronger ones, as lifted by falling treasury yields...
BOE Downgrades Growth and Inflation Forecasts, Expects Fewer Tightening Despite Retaining Forward Guidance
BOE joined other central banks in downgrading the economic growth outlook. In addition to heightened risks of global growth slowdown, ongoing Brexit uncertainty is the key concern for the members. The members voted unanimously to keep the Bank rate at 0.75% and the asset purchase program at 435B pound....
Sterling Survives Dovish BoE Selloff for Now, Yen Staying Strong
It's a very volatile day with two market moving events in BoE Super Thursday and EU economic forecasts. Sterling initially dived sharply after BoE downgraded economic forecasts and painted a slower rate path. But the Pound appears to rebound after BoE Governor Mark Carney insisted that the markets shouldn't...
Sterling Range Bound ahead of BoE Super Thursday, New Zealand Dollar Dives after Job Data
Sterling is generally steady today and gyrates in tight range. UK events are the major focuses with BoE Super Thursday featured. UK Prime Minister Theresa May will also visit Brussels to seek alternative arrangements on Irish border backstop. For now, the recovery in the Pound is rather weak. Real...
Less- than- Expected Increase in US Inventory Fails to Rescue Crude’s Weakness
The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks declined -3.36 mmb to 1258.98 mmb in the week ended February 1. Crude oil inventory added +1.26 mmb to 447.21 mmb (consensus: +2.18 mmb). Inventories increased in 3 out...
Dollar Takes a Breather, Sterling Recovers Despite Brexit Spats
Dollar is taking a breather for in early US session but remains the strongest one for the week. Positive development on trade talk with China is providing some support to the greenback, except versus Yen, which is the strongest for today. Sterling is also trying to recover after this...
Aussie Dives as RBA Lowe Put Rate Cut Back on Table, Dollar Reversing?
Australian Dollar is again the focus in Asian session today. It drops sharply on surprised turn in RBA Governor Philip Lowe's stance. To him, the next interest rate move is no longer more likely a hike, but evenly balanced. Aussie reversed all of yesterday's gains and it's now trading...