HomeAction InsightMarket Overview

Market Overview

Brexit to Take the Spotlight from Fed, Trade War and US Government Shutdown

Risk sentiments continued to recover last week as Fed officials indicated they would be patient before making the next rate move. Positive developments of US-China trade talks also helped. One notable development was the rebound in US treasury yields as 10-year yield reclaimed 2.7 while 30-year yield is back...

Sterling Jumps on Brexit Delay Talks, Dollar Steady after CPI

Sterling surges broadly today on rumor that there will be delay in the Brexit date. Even though the government came out quickly denying intention for Article 50 extension, the Pound stays firm. As next Tuesday's Brexit meaningful vote looms, it's just getting less and less likely for the Brexit...

Dollar Stays Soft as Fed Powell and Clarida Called for Patience, But No Extended Selling

Dollar continues to trade as the weakest one for today and the week. The chorus of Fed's "patience" rhetoric continued overnight with the top two men in Chair Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Richard Clarida. But the marginal impact in the markets seem to be diminishing. Stocks were just...

Forex Markets Turn Mixed as Stocks Rebound Fade, More Fed Speaks Ahead

The forex markets is rather mixed today, partly thanks to fading momentum in global stock rebound. Australian Dollar is so far the strongest one for today. Dollar follows as second strongest, paring some of yesterday's losses. Yen is the third strongest. But no apparent momentum is seen in all...

Dollar Weakened Broadly as Fed Seeks Patience, Government Shutdown Continues

Dollar is turning mixed in Asian session today, but it remains the weakest one for the week. The greenback was knocked down by a wave of cautious comments from Fed officials, as well as the FOMC minutes. In short, Fed could be "patient" before making another rate move. And...

Global Markets Surge as US-China Trade Talks Ended Positively

Global stock markets are boosted by optimism over US-China trade negotiation. And commodity currencies ride on positive sentiment to strengthen broadly today. On the other hand, Yen is clearly under broad based pressure as risk aversion receded. It's followed by Dollar and then Swiss Franc. Euro shows little reaction...

Optimism on US-China Trade Talks Lift Sentiments, Canadian Dollar Strong ahead of BoC

Commodity currencies are trading broadly higher today as risk appetite is lifted by optimism over US-China trade negotiations in Beijing. Canadian Dollar is additionally supported by rally in oil price, with WTI breaking 50 handle. On the other hand, Yen is trading as the weakest one, followed by Swiss...

Dollar Trying to Recover Further as 10-Year Yield Back Above 2.7

Canadian and US Dollar are the strongest ones in a rather quiet day. WTI crude oil stays firm above 49 but there is no buying to push it through 50 handle yet. But that's enough to keep the Loonie buoyed ahead of BoC rate decision tomorrow. Dollar is supported...

Dollar Higher after Defending Support, Canadian Even Stronger

Dollar trades generally higher in Asian session today, rebound from near term support levels against Euro and Swiss Franc. The greenback is also seen losing some downside momentum against Sterling and Australian Dollar. Recovery in US treasury yields help and there is also some optimism on the result of...

Euro Shrugs Off Deteriorating Investor Confidence, Rises Together With Swiss Franc

Swiss Franc and Euro are the strongest major currencies in a rather quiet day today. Mild recovery in German bund yield is giving the common currency a little lift. But the main drive in the forex market is Dollar's weakness. The greenback is trading as the worst performing one....

Dollar Broadly Lower on Cautious Fed Powell, US Government Shutdown Continues

Riding on the strong rally in the US on Friday, Asian opened the week generally higher. While major Asian indices maintain gains, there is no follow through buying seen. There seems to be enough risks to keep investors' hands tied, including the result of the vice ministerial level US-China...

Sentiments Saved as Fed Powell Turned Cautious, China Stepped Up Supporting Measures

There were big roller coaster rides in the financial markets last week. Apple's sales outlook downgrade heightened the concerns over serious slowdown in the Chinese economy. There was the "Currency Flash Crash" which sent through all key technical resistance levels while Australian Dollar tumbled to multi-year low. The partial...

Strong Non-Farm Payrolls Lift Sentiments, Dollar Rises With Hesitation

Global stock markets are staging a strong rebound today as China announced to cut bank reserve requirement to help the private sector and small companies. There is also a sense of optimism as China and US finally confirmed that trade talks will resume in Beijing early next week. US...

Asian Markets Stabilized as China Pledges Countercyclical Measures, Yen Continues to Pare Gains

Despite the deep selloff in US stocks overnight, Asian markets are rather calm. Sentiments are somewhat lifted as China pledged to provide more stimulus, in particular to private and small companies. At the time of writing, Yen is trading as the weakest one for today, continuing to pare back...

Dollar Weighed Down by Dovish Fed Comments, Canadian Lifted by Oil Rebound

Dollar received no support from better than expected ADP employment data. Instead, it's weighed down by dovish comments from a Fed official. The greenback is trading as the second weakest for today in early US session. It's just slightly better than Sterling, which continues to be pressured by Brexit...

Yen in Driving Seat after Currency Flash Crash, Australian Dollar Suffers

Yen is trading as the strongest one for today after what many described as "currency crash". Key levels in many Yen crosses were breached. or even broken. In particular, USD/JPY just hold on to 2017 low at 104.62 after hitting 104.69. AUD/JPY even breached 72.39 (2016 low) and hit...

Yen Stays Strongest on Global Risk Aversion and Diving Yields

Yen remains the strongest one for today as the risk aversion dominates the global markets. Major European indices do pare back much of earlier losses. But it's unsure whether the recovery could sustain. Persistent decline in German 10 year bund yield, which hit the lowest since April 2017, is...

Yen Jumps as Asian Markets in Deep Selloff to Start the New Year

Yen surges broadly while Australian Dollar is pressured as Asian markets start the new year with deep selloff. Hong Kong HSI is quickly down over -2.3% in initial trading. China Shanghai SSE is down -1.0% and Singapore Strait Times is down -0.48%. Japan is still on holiday. Canadian and...

Swiss Franc Shows Power ahead of Weekend, Stocks Rebound in Progress

Just ahead of the weekend, Swiss Franc shows broad based power today as it surges across the board. Yen is trading as the second strongest one, but with much weaker momentum. For now, we're unsure of the exact reason for the rally. European stocks are enjoying a solid rebound....

Asia Shrugs US Stock Rebound Again, Some Dollar Weakness Before Year End

Despite initial setback, US equities extended the post-Christmas historic rebound overnight. DOW ended up 1.14% to 23138.82. S&P 500 rose 0.86% and NASDAQ added 0.38%. But the improvement in sentiments isn't carried over to Asian session. Nikkei is currently down -0.39%. Hong Hong HSI is just up 0.09% while...