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Market Overview

Yen and Franc Ended as the Weakest Ones as Risk Aversion Temporarily Eased, Reaction to Syria Strikes Watched

Easing risk aversion was the main theme last week as Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc ended as the weakest two. It's not the kind that investors were in euphoria. But nonetheless, major stock indices around the world ended up higher. Dollar ended as the third weakest despite markets firming...

Yen Selling Intensified, Dollar Supported by Hawkish Fed Rosengren

Yen continues to be the weakest one today as selloff intensifies in European session. Relieves from immediate risks are still as the major reason driving the Japanese currency down. Australian Dollar continues to be the strongest one with AUD/USD and EUR/AUD taking out key near term levels. Dollar was...

Australian Dollar Higher after China Data, EUR/AUD in Focus

Australian dollar strengthens broadly in Asia session as lifted mildly by China's trade data. The Aussie is also among the strongest ones for the week, together with Canadian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar. Euro suffered some selloff overnight, in particular against, Sterling. But the common currency quickly found footing...

Euro Tumbles after ECB Minutes, Dollar and Stocks Love Trump’s Uncertain Timing on Missile Strike

The financial markets don't always hate uncertainties. Sometimes, they embrace it. US President Donald Trump backed down from his initial tough stance on Syria, and it's now unsure when he will order firing of missiles over it. European equities cheered the newly created uncertainty with DAX turning initial loss...

Euro to Look into ECB Minutes for Guidance, Markets Steady in Asia

The Asian markets are relatively steady today as for now, there is no escalation in the situation in Syria. At the time of writing Nikkei is trading down -0.26% only while HK HSI is down -0.17%. Performance of US indices overnight were not too bad. DOW closed down 0.9%...

Risk Aversion Comes Back on Syria Tension, Dollar Gets No Help from CPI

Risk aversion comes back to the markets today. Syria tension comes into spotlight and US-China trade war leaves the stage temporarily. DAX turned south at initial trading and never looked back. It's currently trading down -1% at the time of writing. CAC id down -0.67% while FTSE is down...

Dollar Stays Weak as Focus Turns to US CPI and FOMC Minutes

Risk appetite stays strong so far with receding fear of full-blown trade war between US and China. Major US indices closed up overnight with DOW gaining 1.79%, S&P 500% risen 1.67% and NASDAQ up 2.07%. Hong Kong HSI is lifted further by more specific details regarding China opening up...

Yen and Dollar Broadly Lower, Markets on Risk on Mode as Trade War Fear Temporarily Relieved

Japan Yen and, to a slightly lesser extent, Dollar suffer broad based selloff today as global markets return to risk seeking mode. Major European indices are generally higher with DAX up near 1% at the time of writing. CAC is up 0.55% and FTSE is up 0.6%. That followed...

Markets Cheer as China Xi Didn’t Escalate Tension with US, Australian and Canadian Dollar Lead the Way Up

Asian markets responded positively to the highly anticipated speech by China President Xi Jinping. At the time of writing, Nikkei is trading up 0.65% and HK HSI is up 1.14%. But it should be noted that Nikkei is already trading way off today's high at 21933.99. We could see...

Sterling Surges Broadly, Taking Europeans Higher; Dollar Selling Emerges into US Session

Sterling surges broadly today and is so far trading as the strongest one. Some point to solid housing data as a trigger for the buying. Mortgage lender Halifax house price rose more than expected by 2.7% in Q1. And that should be something welcomed by BoE hawks on their...

Asian Markets Shrugged Off US Selloff; FOMC Minutes, NAFTA and Trade War Watched This Week

Asian markets open positively this week in spite of the sharp selloff in the US on Friday. At the time of writing, Nikkei is trading up 0.55%. China is back from holiday with SSE up 0.35%. Hong Kong HSI is also up 1.8%. The lack of risk aversion lifts...

Dollar Mixed as Markets Pared Back Expectations of Fed Hikes Slightly, after NFP and on Trade War

US-China trade war was the dominant theme in the financial markets last week. US started by announcing the list of 1300 product lines to be tariffed under Section 301 actions. China quickly responded by announcing 25% retaliation tariffs to US imports, matching the size of USD 50b product values....

Dollar Supported by Wage Growth Despite NFP Miss, No Drama from China’s Brief Press Briefing

Reactions in the financial markets to the escalation in US-China trade tensions remain rather mild. Nikkei closed down just -0.36% today. European indices are in red at the time of writing. But DAX is down -0.5%, CAC down -0.3% and FTSE is nearly flat. US futures point to triple...

As Trump Seeks Attentions With Trade Tensions Escalation, Markets are Looking Forward to Non-Farm Payrolls Instead

Trade war comes back to headline as US President Donald Trump announced his intention to triple down on the tariffs on Chinese imports. But so far, market reactions are muted. Major forex pairs are trapped in yesterday's range, just with some notable weakness in New Zealand Dollar. Swiss Franc...

Widening US Trade Deficit and Higher Jobless Claims Not Deterring Dollar Rebound

Global stock markets rebounded impressively today as traders looked past the first chapter of US-China trade war. Nikkei closed up 1.53% at 21645.42 earlier today. European indices are all trading up at the time of writing, with DAX gaining 2.44% being most impressive. CAC is up 2.07% while FTSE...

Stocks Staged Massive Rebound as Trade War Development Takes a Rest For Now

While the initial selloff in US stocks were steep, they quickly recovered and didn't look back. DOW made a massive 700 pts come back from session low at 2523.16 to close at 24264.30, up 230.94 pts or 0.96%. Nikkei followed and staged a strong 1.5% rebound. For now, the...

Markets Rocked by China’s Speedy and Intense Response to US Tariffs

US-China trade war is the dominant theme in the markets today. Initial reactions were muted to US announcement of the product list in Section 301 tariffs on China. However, global stock markets were rocked by China's immediate response of its own retaliation measures against the US. The speed of...

Dollar Lower as Battle 1, US-China Trade War Starts, But Other Markets Shrug Off

The US finally announced the list Chinese products to be tariffed in its Section 301 actions. China responded with strongly worded statement. But so far, market reactions are muted. After limited volatility, both Japan Nikkei and Hong Kong HSI are trading nearly flat at the time of writing. The...

Euro Selling Gathers Momentum against Dollar and Canadian, EUR/USD Breaks 1.2285 Finally

EUR/USD finally breaks 1.2285 support with some momentum in early US session. That could be seen as a sign that the forex traders are finally back from holiday, and starting to commit on a position. Events earlier today were important, but non-market moving. PMI data from UK and Eurozone...

Yen Pared Gains as Asian Markets Stabilized, Australian Dollar Steady after RBA

US equities suffered steep selling overnight with DOW losing -1.9%, S&P 500 losing -2.23%. NASDAQ was worst hit as tech rout continued and closed down -2.74%. While Asian equities opened lower and stay in red, selloff is relatively much milder. Nikkei hit as low as 21056.02 but at the...