Action Insight

European majors are generally the strong ones this week so far. While Euro and Sterling lost some intraday momentum after yesterday's rally, they're both remain firm as supported by solid economic data. ON the other hand, While data from US are not too back, the greenback is being pressured by the political drama in the White House. Aussie is leading commodity currencies down as RBA warned of its recent appreciates in the rate decision statement.

Dollar suffered another round of selloff against Euro, Sterling and Yen yesterday as the political drama in White House continued. Australian Dollar jumps earlier today as lifted by better than expected data from China. But there is no follow through buying after RBA stands pat and warns of recent appreciation in the exchange rate. Sterling is also trading mildly higher as markets await UK manufacturing data. Euro also stays strong ahead of Q2 GDP. WTI oil price surged through 50 handle overnight but provides little boost to Canadian Dollar, as USD/CAD is struggling in tight range around 1.2460 key support level

As widely anticipated, the RBA left the cash rate unchanged at 1.5%. Policymakers acknowledged that June inflation drifted back below the +2% target but remained confident it would improve gradually alongside the pickup of the economy. Policymakers, however, warned of Australian dollar's appreciation, suggesting that it would limit economic growth. A reference of the negative impact of strong currency on economic developments reappeared as AUDUSD has risen +5.7% from July's low of 0.7567.

Yen and Dollar trade mildly firmer today as markets are staying consolidation mode ahead of the key events ahead, including RBA, BoE and US NFP. Economic data from Eurozone are positive but provide little inspiration to the common currency. Meanwhile, commodity currencies are trading generally lower even though WTI crude oil extends recent rise and breaches 50 handle briefly. Released from Canada, IPPI dropped -0.1% mom in June, below expectation of -0.3% mom. RMPI dropped -3.7% mom, below expectation of -2.2% mom.

Dollar recovers mildly today but momentum has been weak. There is no change in it's general down trend against Euro, Yen and Sterling. And, not the mention the greenback's weakness against Canadian and Aussie. Political uncertainty in US is one of the key factors in limiting any rebound attempt in the greenback. Fed fund futures are now pricing in less than 50% chance of another rate hike by end of the year. And indeed, markets are starting to question that even if Fed does hike, the sluggish inflation outlook will keep it standing pat next year. The drama in the White House seems never-ending with US President Donald Trump replacing his chief of staff Reince Priebus last Friday. Retired General John Kelly was installed in the place. Some analysts noted that could be a turning point for Trump as he's now shaking up his top team.

While there were quite a number of key events last week, Swiss Franc came up as the surprised biggest mover. The Franc tumbled broadly as safe haven funds flowed out in accelerated pace. Franc has indeed ended the week down over -3% against Sterling, Aussie, Canadian, Kiwi and Euro. Against Yen and Dollar, Franc closed down -2.8% and -2.4% respectively. Dollar ended as the second weakest one as FOMC statement was taken as a dovish one while GDP price data missed. Also, continuous political drama in the White House means that there is still no clear light on when US President Donald Trump's tax reform would be implemented. Commodity currencies closed generally higher as supported by surge in energy and metal prices. Nonetheless, another surprise was that Sterling ended as the strongest one as it recovered on position squaring ahead of BoE Super Thursday.

Dollar is set to end the week as the second weakest currency as slightly better than expected growth data provides little support. Q2 GDP grew 2.6% annualized, up from prior 1.4% and versus consensus of 2.5%. However, GDP price index slowed to 1.0%, down from 1.9% and below expectation of 1.3%. Employment cost index rose 0.5% in Q2, also below expectation of 0.6%. Subdued inflation will affirm the case for Fed to starting shrinking the balance in September first, and leave another rate hike to December. This will give Fed more time to assess inflation and growth outlook before raising interest rates. Also from US session, Canada GDP rose 0.6% mom in May, much stronger than expectation of 0.2% mom.

Selloff in Swiss Franc continued overnight and weakness extends into Asian session. EUR/CHF is trading up over 300 pts, or 2.75% for the week. As we noted before, the strong break of 1.12 handle is now setting up the stage for EUR/CHF to head back to prior SNB floor at 1.2. USD/CHF's break of 0.9699 resistance also argues that the down trend from 1.0342 has completed and reversed after defending 0.9443 key support level. Oversold condition could start to limit selling in the Swiss Franc and we might see Franc crosses slow down a little bit before ending the week. Focus will be turned back to US with Q2 GDP data featured.

The spotlight moves back to the Swiss Franc today as EUR/CHF surges past 1.12 key resistance level. The cross is now setting up the momentum to regain 1.2 handle in medium term, which is the prior SNB imposed floor. Back in January 2015, SNB shocked the market by removing the floor and EUR/CHF dived to as low as 0.86, depending that what chart you read. With all the improvements in Eurozone, fundamentally, politically and system-wise, it now looks like there is no longer the need of safe haven parking in the Franc, with negative interest rates. The surge in commodity and energy prices would also help lift Eurozone inflation which keep ECB on course for stimulus exits.

Dollar's broad based selloff resumed overnight after Fed kept monetary policies unchanged. The move was seen as reaction to Fed's slight tweak in description of inflation. Also, Fed's indication that balance sheet normalization would start very soon suggest that it will push another rate hike, if any to December. While the greenback is weak, it's still slightly better than the Swiss Franc. The Franc dived yesterday in catch up to recent developments in the financial markets and there is no sign of halting yet. Commodity currencies are the best performer this week as markets are on full risk-on mode.

The July FOMC meeting came in as widely anticipated. The Fed left its monetary policy unchanged, maintaining the federal funds rate target at 1-1.25%. The Fed made two tweak in the statement, though. First, it noted that balance sheet reduction would begin 'relatively soon', signaling that the official announcement would come in September. Second, policymakers revised lower the outlook on core inflation. US dollar plunged, with the weighted index falling to a 13-month low as the market interpreted the inflation assessment as dovish.

Dollar bulls are clearly unhappy with the FOMC statement today. Fed kept target range for the federal funds rate at 1 to 1.25% as widely expected. The new FOMC statement was almost a carbon copy of the May's one. The exceptions are firstly, Fed indicated that it will start the "balance sheet normalization program relatively soon". Secondly, Fed took the part that "job gains have moderated" and just described that "job gains have been solid". It's clear that markets are taking the message that Fed is going to announce the plan to shrink the balance sheet in September. And Fed will hold it cards for another rate hike till December to see how the economy evolves.

Swiss Franc is stealing the show today as it tumbles broadly and sharply across the board. EUR/CHF is trading up 0.6% at the time of writing and is set to take on key resistance level around 1.12. The selloff in the Franc is believed to be a catch up to a combination of recent developments in the financial markets. Those include surge in risk markets including European stocks, oil and commodities. Market expectations are also firm that ECB is on course to exit stimulus down the road, or least, taper its asset purchase. Such expectation is reinforced by the rally in stocks, energy and commodities that would help lift inflation.

Aussie dropped after the weaker than expected inflation report, as traders took profit after the currency rallied to 2-year against USD and last week. Headline CPI moderated to +1.9% y/y in 2Q17 from +2.1% a quarter ago. The market had anticipated an increase to +2.2%. Key contributors to the weakness were lower automotive fuel prices as global oil prices plunged and the usual seasonal drop in domestic holiday, travel and accommodation prices. RBA's trimmed mean slipped 0.1 percentage point to +1.8%, in line with expectation, while the weighted median CPI climbed +0.1 percentage point to +1.8% in the second quarter. Consumer price levels are an important gauge of central banks' monetary outlook. The dilemma currently facing major central banks worldwide is the continuing economic growth and employment market improvement, alongside subdued inflation. At the July meeting minutes, RBA acknowledged that weak inflation is a global phenomenon with core inflation remaining low while headline inflation turning down..

US stocks ignored policy uncertainty surrounding President Donal Trump and surged to record highs overnight. S&P 500 jumped to record high at 2477.13, up 0.29%, on strong earnings. NASDAQ also rose 0.02% to record at 6412.17. DOW jumped 0.47% to close at 21613.43, just shy of record. Surging oil price, which saw WTI reaching as high as 48.66, is another factor boosting sentiments. Meanwhile, US yields also staged a strong comeback just ahead of FOMC rate decision. 10 year yield closed up 0.072 to 2.326, scoring the largest jump in nearly 4 months. In the currency markets, Canadian Dollar is trading as the strongest major currency for the week while Yen and Swiss Franc are the weakest. Dollar and Sterling are mixed as markets await FOMC meeting and UK Q2 GDP.

Dollar's selloff resumes after Fed is starting its two day policy meeting today. In particular, EUR/USD extends recent rally and is pressing 1.17 as helped by record sentiment data. The greenback, on the other hand, stays weak on uncertainty over Fed's outlook. Politics in the US is also weighing on the greenback. There are news about US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's contacts with Russia. There are also news of Trump blasting attorney general Jeff Sessions. And there are news that Trump's boy scout Jamboree speech angered parents. But, there seems to be no news regarding tax reforms and expansive fiscal policies.

The forex markets are treading water in a rather dull start to the week, staying mostly in ranges. Other financial markets are mixed too. NASDAQ hit record high overnight and closed up 0.36% at 6410.81. But DOW and S&P 500 closed down by -0.31% at 21513.17 and -0.11% at 2469.91 respectively. Treasury yield staged a mild recovery with 10 year yield closed up 0.022 at 2.254. Asian markets are trading in tight range with mild loss in Nikkei as it struggles to regain 20,000 handle. In other markets, Gold is losing some upside momentum ahead of 1260 but is staying near term bullish. WTI crude oil is back above 46.6 on recovery and helped keeping USD/CAD below 1.25 handle.

Global financial markets trade in mild risk averse mode today. European indices are dragged down by auto makers and oil producer stocks. Weaker than expected Eurozone PMIs also weigh. US futures also point to lower open. The forex markets are rather mixed with Aussie trading generally higher but Kiwi is the weakest one. Dollar and Euro are soft against most major currencies. Trader, nonetheless, are subdued as markets are eyeing the key events later in the week, including FOMC rate decision and GDP from US and UK.

Dollar and Sterling are trading mixed as another week starts, but both remain the two weakest currency for the month. The greenback will try hard to draw something from FOMC statement to halt its decline, but that's unlikely. Meanwhile, US and UK GDP for Q2 will also catch much attention. Latest economic projections from IMF showed that the world is going to rely less on US and UK for growth this year. And that is, generally speaking, in line with the current market sentiment. In other markets, Gold is staying firm above 1250 handle while WTI crude oil is hovering between 45.5/46.0.

Another week of much volatility in the forex markets. Euro surged to two year high against Dollar as markets took ECB's message as a nod to stimulus withdrawal down the road. The common currency ended as the second strongest one, just next to it's cousin Swiss Franc. On the other hand, Sterling fell broadly as rate hike speculations were dented by much lower than expected CPI reading. Dollar followed closely as markets were getting more dissatisfied with US President Donald's lack of progress in tax reforms. Much volatility was also seen in Australian Dollar on RBA rhetorics. Canadian Dollar also gained against the greenback but is seen as losing momentum.