Subdued Trading and Anticipation for RBA Minutes
Activity in the global financial markets are rather muted today, with major European stock indexes reading water within a narrow range. US futures are also showing little change, reflecting the quietness of US market holiday. In the currency sphere, movements are similarly subdued, with Euro and Swiss Franc ranking...
Services Sector Boost and Shifting RBNZ Rate Forecasts Propel NZD Higher
New Zealand Dollar bounces broadly in quiet Asian session, partly underpinned by notable improvement economic data which showed that the services sector has swung back into expansion at the start of 2024. Additionally, economists are increasingly expecting that more work is needed by RBNZ to cool the economic to...
Market Optimism Endures Through a Week of Economic Paradoxes
This past week showcased a rollercoaster of economic revelations and market responses. Despite a mix of apprehensions, especially surrounding inflation and monetary policies, the prevailing mood remained decidedly risk-on. That culminated in DOW and S&P 500 reaching unprecedented highs, even though both concluded the week on a relatively subdued...
Dollar Finds Footing on Strong PPI Data
Dollar stages a notable recovery in the early US session, buoyed by stronger than expected January PPI figures. The highlight was PPI excluding foods, energy, and trade services, which saw its largest monthly increase in a year, hinting at persistent underlying inflationary pressures upstream. Despite the current rebound rebound,...
Yen Dips as Nikkei Charges Toward Record High
Yen weakens mildly in Asian session today, contrasting with Nikkei's continued up trend towards historical high made in 1990. This development comes amidst diminishing impacts of Japanese officials' verbal interventions aimed at stemming Yen's decline. Without tangible policy measures to back these statements, the currency's depreciation has persisted. Meanwhile,...
Dollar Setback on Poor Retail Sales, Sterling Faces Recession Woes
Dollar's pullback intensifies in early US session, prompted by unexpectedly poor retail sales data for January. This underwhelming performance is reigniting debates about the enduring strength of consumer spending, a critical factor in fueling inflation. Although a single data point does not dictate the broader economic narrative, it nonetheless...
Japan’s Recession Can’t Hold Back Yen’s Recovery and Nikkei’s Surge
Japanese Yen recovers broadly in Asian session today, while Nikkei also soared to a new 34-year high, surpassing the 38k mark. The move came as a rather complex reactions to economic data showing that Japan unexpectedly slipping into recession. The surprised downturn also led to the country's demotion to...
UK Inflation Data Tempers Sterling, But Impact Limited
Sterling is taking a modest step back today, responding to UK's latest inflation report that came in below market expectations. Despite this, the actual figures for both headline and core CPI merely held their ground compared to the previous month's readings, signaling continued pause in disinflationary progress. Additionally, the...
Eyes on UK Inflation While Dollar Dominance Continues
Dollar maintains its position as the week's top performer so far, following notable upside breakouts, while Asian markets remain relatively quiet. Without major economic releases from US today, the greenback could have a breather first. However, attention is set to return later in the week with the release of...
Core Inflation Slowdown Hits a Snag, Dollar Rises Amid Fed Cut Uncertainties
Dollar rises significantly in early US session supported by the latest consumer inflation data, which also triggers a marked in DOW futures, dropping by over -300 points. Concurrently, 10-year Treasury yield is soaring near 4.3% mark. Most critically, the inflation data revealed that core CPI remained unchanged at 3.9%...
A Packed Day With UK Employment, Swiss CPI, German ZEW, and US CPI
New Zealand Dollar falls notably during Asian session, triggered by the latest survey from the RBNZ, which revealed a further easing in inflation expectations. The implications of these findings have prompted traders to pare back the bets on the likelihood of more monetary tightening imminent meeting February. Australian Dollar...
Yen Regaining Ground, GBP/AUD Staying Bullish Despite Loss of Momentum
Japanese Yen stages a broad recovery today, buoyed by notable retreat in European benchmark yields. Meanwhile, Dollar is softening against Yen, yet holding its ground across other major currencies. New Zealand Dollar emerges as the day's underperformer, yet its losses remain contained within Friday's range against all counterparts. Sterling...
Asia Calm in a Quiet Prelude, US CPI and UK Major Data to Highlight the Week
Today's Asian session sees an unusual quietness across the region, with major markets closed for holidays, leading to limited movement among major currency pairs and crosses. New Zealand Dollar is having a slight downtick following RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr's appearance before a parliamentary committee, where he left market participants...
Central Bankers Work to Recast Rate Expectations, Yet Market Optimism Remains Unwavering
Last week's financial markets were characterized by a mix of resilience, speculation, and divergent central bank signals.
In the US, the narrative remained steadfast with Fed officials emphasizing a patient approach towards monetary policy, firmly pushing back against the market's eager anticipations for imminent rate cuts. This cautious did little...
Canadian Dollar Rises on Strong Job Data, Yen and Franc Weakness Persists
Canadian Dollar bounces broadly in early US session, bolstered by unexpectedly robust Canadian employment data. This development comes amidst cautious remarks earlier in the week from BoC Governor Tiff Macklem, who tempered expectations by noting that achieving the 2% inflation target would be a gradual process, fraught with persistent...
Franc and Yen Underperform, Canadian Dollar Anticipates Jobs Report
Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen are currently the weakest performers for the week on a couple of interrelated factors. Firstly, global central bankers are tempering expectations for early rate cuts, suggesting rate difference between SNB/BoJ and other central banks would remain large for longer.
This stance has been further compounded...
Dollar Rises on Relative Yield Strength and Economic Optimism
Dollar rises broadly in early US session, standing out in a day characterized by relatively slow news flow. The move in the greenback can be primarily attributed to the rise in US benchmark yields, which outpaced those of other regions, thereby bolstering the greenback's appeal.
Sentiment surrounding the US market...
Yen Weakens Amid BoJ’s Dovish Signals, S&P 500 Poised to Break Through 5000 Milestone
Japanese Yen declines broadly in today's Asian session, reacting to dovish remarks made by BoJ Deputy Governor. The official's commentary emphasized a cautious approach to monetary tightening, highlighting that even with exit from negative interest rate policy, the pace of interest rate hikes would remain measured.
This outlook, especially the...
Sterling and Euro Gain on Central Bank Patience, Swiss Franc Falls
Sterling, and to a lesser extent, Euro, are propelled slightly higher by hawkish comments from key figures in BoE and ECB. These officials have adopted a stance of patience, preferring to wait for additional economic data before making any decisions on interest rate cuts. Their cautious approach has also...
Commodity Currencies in Fragile Rebound, Await Concrete Market Stabilization Moves from China
Commodity currencies are the main movers in Asian markets today, gaining broadly, albeit against a backdrop of continued weak momentum. This situation unfolds as Chinese stocks carry forward their rebound from earlier this week, showcasing a divergence from Hong Kong's market dynamics, where signs of profit-taking are beginning to...