Dollar’s Rebound Pauses ahead of FOMC, Oil Prices Decline
Dollar's rally slowed slightly in early US session despite robust ADP job data, as traders adopt a cautious stance ahead of the highly anticipated FOMC statement and Chair Jerome Powell's press conference. With a hawkish shift expected from Fed, the extent of Powell's hawkish tone remains the primary focus....
Dollar Firms as Markets Brace for Hawkish Fed Shift, Swiss Franc Under Pressure
Dollar rebounded broadly overnight and stayed generally firm in Asian session. Stock investors were apparently adopting a cautious stance and lightening up positions ahead of Fed's rate decision and subsequent press conference today. With recent data pointing to persistent inflationary pressures, expectations are mounting that Fed would adopt a...
Dollar Rebounds on Strong Employment Cost Data, Euro Supported by GDP and CPI Core
Dollar's rebound is picking up momentum in early US session, bolstered by latest Employment Cost Index which rose by 1.2% in Q3, marking the fastest pace since Q3 2022. This unexpected acceleration in employment costs adds to a series of economic data that suggests the US economy remains hotter...
Aussie Weighed Down by Retail Sales and China, Gold Ready for Another Down Leg
Australian Dollar weakened across the board in Asian session, dragged down by unexpectedly poor retail sales data for March. The contraction in sales is a reminder to RBA about the ongoing impact of cost of living pressures exacerbated by higher interest rates and inflation. This challenging economic backdrop is...
Yen Stabilizes After Sharp Rally, Japan Withholds Confirmation of Intervention
Yen is currently trading as the strongest currency for the day as the markets enter into US session. The earlier dip below 160 psychological support against Dollar spurred a wave of buying, propelling Yen sharply higher. However, subsequent trading has not shown clear follow-through momentum, indicating that the initial...
Yen Rebounds Vigorously Post-160 Breach as Traders Take Profits
Japanese Yen mounted a strong comeback in Asian session today after initial dip through 160 psychological support against Dollar. While the moves are exaggerated by today's thin trading volumes due to public holiday in Japan, the strong rebound is marked by widespread squaring of short positions. Traders are clearly...
Yen’s Decline, Robust US Investor Confidence, and Aussie’s Rise
Last week's market activity was shaped by several significant themes. Firstly, the Japanese Yen's rapid decline caught market participants off guard. The sell-off was exacerbated by what many considered tepid verbal interventions from Japanese officials. Current momentum suggests that the Yen's free fall is far from over. The key...
Stronger Inflation Data Fails to Lift Dollar; Yen’s Decline Persists
Dollar remains stable in early US session despite release of another set of persistently high inflation figures. The strong rebound in DOW futures suggest that investors are somewhat relieved to see no disastrous surge in inflation rates. Additionally, robust spending growth appears set to continue bolstering the US economy,...
Yen’s Free Fall Resumes Post-BoJ; Dollar Eyes PCE Inflation Data for Rescue
Japanese Yen resumes its free fall today, after a brief pause, and reaches new 34-year low against Dollar. Yen's weakness is also broad-based and evident against other major currencies, with EUR/JPY marching towards its 2008 high and GBP/JPY heading to its 2015 peak. It's clear that the absence of...
Disappointing GDP Growth and Rising Inflation Spark Risk Sentiment U-Turn
Risk sentiment took a sharp downturn following the release of US Q1 GDP data, which revealed weaker-than-expected economic growth alongside an acceleration in both headline and core PCE price indexes. This combination suggests that the US economy may be caught in a challenging cycle where high interest rates are...
Yen Weakens Further as Market Eyes Possible 160 Mark, Dollar Awaits Key GDP Data
Japanese Yen's accelerated decline captured significant attention in Asian session, while the broader currency markets remained generally stable. Market participants interpret the apparent lack of urgency from Japanese officials to address Yen's fall as a tacit approval for its continued depreciation. This perspective gains significance following the recent trilateral...
Dollar Gains Following Durable Goods Data, Canadian Drops on Retail Sales Miss
Dollar is making a modest recovery in early US session, supported by slightly better-than-expected durable goods orders and recovery in benchmark Treasury yields. However, the overarching direction of the greenback for the near term remains uncertain, largely dependent on shifting risk sentiments. Current stock futures are showing mixed opening,...
Aussie Propelled by CPI, Has Stock Market Correction Ended?
Australian Dollar is having a robust, broad-based rally today, boosted by unexpectedly strong CPI data. This inflation report is particularly notable given the unexpected reacceleration in monthly CPI in March, which contributed to the quarterly figure not slowing as much as anticipated. Meanwhile, both services and domestic inflation remain...
Sterling and Euro Rebound on PMIs, But No Turn Around Yet
Sterling and Euro rebound broadly today, bolstered by encouraging PMI data that suggests continued recovery momentum in both UK and Eurozone. For the Pound, the latest PMI readings indicate that UK's recovery from last year's recession is gathering pace. Meanwhile, rising cost pressures, particularly in the services sector, are...
Aussie Gains on Solid PMIs and RBA Hike Possibility
Australian Dollar trades broadly higher today, lifted partly by resurgence in risk sentiment, as well as robust PMI data reflecting the cyclical recovery in Australian economy. Improvement in the economic outlook reduces the immediate need of a rate cut by RBA. Judo Bank, who complied the PMI data, warned...
Sterling Tumbles Broadly Amid Speculation of BoE Dovish Turn
British Pound faced broad selloff today, continuing its decline in response to comments made last Friday by BoE Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden. Ramsden expressed he is now much less worried about inflation, and expects upcoming data to show significant slowdown in April. More importantly, he emphasized that UK inflation...
Commodity Currencies Tick Up after Calm Weekend; US GDP and PCE to move markets
Commodity currencies rises broadly in Asian session today, buoyed by slight improvement in risk sentiment after a relatively quiet weekend in the Middle East. This contrasted with the performance of typically safe-haven assets such as Swiss Franc, Japanese Yen, and Dollar, all of which traded mildly lower. Gold also...
Market Turbulence Amid Middle East Tensions Highlights Fragile Investor Sentiment
It was a dramatic week in the global financial markets with rapid shifts in investor sentiment triggered by heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. While calm was eventually restored somewhat, the volatility served as a clear indicator of the underlying vulnerability in investor confidence.
Amidst this geopolitical backdrop, the...
Market Calm Restored After Middle East Tensions Subside
Financial markets have steadied following a brief period of heightened volatility triggered by fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Initial concerns about a full-scale confrontation were alleviated. Both Israel and Iran played down the significance of recent explosions near an Iranian military base, suggesting a broader conflict...
Middle East Conflict Shakes Markets, But Risks Seem Contained for Now
Significant volatility was seen in Asian session, following the news of Israel's missile strike in retaliation against Iran. This geopolitical development initially led to steep decline in Asian stocks and concurrent surge in oil prices and safe-haven assets like Swiss Franc, Yen, and Dollar. Nevertheless, fund flows started to...