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Euro Lifted as EU Made Progress With China, Dollar Soft after Retail Sales

Dollar remains generally weak in early US session despite a mild lift from retail sales data. While the greenback and Japanese yen are competing as the weakest one, Canadian Dollar joins the race as WTI crude oil drips below 70 handle. European majors are generally firm with Euro supported...

Markets Weighed Down Slightly by Soft China Data, Dollar and Yen Dip Lower

Asian markets are weighed down slightly by a batch of soft economic data from China, but loss is limited so far. At the time of writing, China Shanghai SSE is down -0.47% and stays above 2800 key level throughout the session. Hong Kong HSI is down -0.17%. Singapore Strait...

Dollar Not Ready to Resume Up Trend Yet, Risk Appetite to Continue

Yen and Swiss Franc ended as the weakest ones last week as global stock markets ended higher. There were some jitters in risk sentiments after US announced to move on with tariffs on additional USD 200B in China imports, which come effective as soon as in September. But investors...

Dollar Retreats Mildly after Import Price Miss, Still Set to Close the Week as Strongest

Dollar is set to close as the strongest one for the week, after today's rally. Some setback is seen after import price index miss but the retreat is so far shallow. Yen is trading as one of the strongest alongside Dollar. But that's mainly because it's digesting some of...

Review of China’s June Macro Data (Inflation, FX Reserve, Trade Balance and Credit

Inflation Headline CPI in China climbed +0.1 percentage point to +1.9% y/y in June, in line with expectations. On monthly basis, inflation contracted -0.1%, compared with consensus of a +0.1% increase. Yet, this is the smallest contraction since March this year. In June, food price registered modest recovery (+0.3% y/y...

Dollar Regaining Momentum While Risk Appetite Stays Strong, NASDAQ Hit Record High

The markets are rather calm today as supported by relatively positive investor sentiments. NASDAQ surged to new record high at 7825.67 before having a strong close at 7823.92, up 1.39%. DOW ended up 0.91% at 24924.89 while S&P 500 rose 0.87% to 2798.29. In Asia, Nikkei is having a...

Risk Appetite Unmoved by ECB Accounts, US CPI, Brexit White Paper, Nor NATO Showdown

Return of risk appetite is probably the main theme in the markets without a main theme today. There are quite a number of "high-level" events today, ECB meeting accounts, US CPI release, UK's Brexit white paper, and the NATO showdown. Plus, the continuous development of US-China trade war in...

Dollar Strong as Markets Look into US CPI

Yen was sold off sharply overnight after stronger than expected US producer price inflation data. Selling continues in Asian session as risk aversion receded. The impact of US-China trade war escalation on the markets was brief and limited. Most importantly, the China Shanghai Composite rebounded strongly and is trading...

US Crude Oil Inventory Sank to Lowest Level in 2 Years

Crude oil prices fell as US inventory slumped last week. The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products stocks dropped -7.17 mmb to 1199.73 mmb in the week ended July 6. Crude oil inventory plunged -12.63 mmb (consensus: -4.49 mmb)...

BOC Review – Raised Growth Outlook but Upbeat Business Investment Might Diminish in Coming Years

BOC delivered its fourth post-crisis rate hike in July. While the increase of +25 bps had been widely anticipated, the accompanying statement and the updated growth forecasts appear more hawkish. While raising GDP growth outlook for 2019 and 2020, BOC’s wage growth forecast remained benign. Meanwhile, it heightened its...

Dollar Marches On With NATO Showdown and US-China Trade War

Global stocks tumble as US escalated the trade war with China again today, moving on to the process to impose tariffs on additional USD 200B of Chinese goods. On the other hand, Trump is fighting allies of the US in NATO summit in Brussels. At the time of writing,...

Yen and Dollar Surge as US Moves on with Tariffs on $200B in Chinese Imports

Yen and Dollar are both strong as the US announced to move on with 10% tariffs on another USD 200B in Chinese imports. That could come into effect as soon as in September. Asian Markets are broadly in red. At the time of writing, China Shanghai SSE is down...

Theresa May Walks Brexit Tightrope after Two Senior Officials Quitted, Key Dates ahead

While the optimists suggest that the latest political turmoil in the UK has increased the chance of a “soft" Brexit which is positive for UK’s economic outlook and the British pound, we see ongoing uncertainty in the negotiations with the EU. Pro-Brexit Dominic Raab has replaced the David Davis...

Dollar Rallies as Euro Pressured by German ZEW Miss, Yen Lower on Risk Appetite

Dollar strengthens broadly today, partly with help from Euro's post data weakness. Much weaker than expected German ZEW economic sentiment is giving some pressure to the common currency. On the other hand, USD/JPY surges through 111.13 temporary top and is now taking on 111.39 key near term resistance. Yen's...

Bets for Falling GBP Likely Increase Further as Political Turmoil Heightens Brexit Uncertainty

As suggested in the CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended July 3, bets for US dollar increased modestly on both sides. Speculative long positions for USD Index (DXY) futures added +2 399 contracts while shorts added +1 953 contracts, resulting in a Net LENGTH of 18 672...

Sterling Stabilized after Wild Ride, Strong Risk Appetite Continues to Pressure Yen

Strong risk appetite is keeping the Japanese Yen broadly weak this week. DOW jumped as impressive 302.11 pts or 1.31% to close at 24776.59, turned positive for 2018. S&P 500 followed by rising 24.35 pts or 0.88% to 2784.17. NASDAQ gained 67.81 pts or 0.88% to 7756.20 and is...

Traders Increased Bets on Higher Crude Oil and Gasoline Prices

According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended July 3, net LENGTH for crude oil futures soared +31 629 contracts to 656 720. Net LENGTH for heating oil futures rose +2 297 contracts to 49 443 while that for gasoline added +1 145 contracts to 96...

Sterling’s Fortune Reversed after Boris Johnson Resignation

While the reaction to former Brexit Minister David Davis was largely muted, the situation seemed to change drastically after adding former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson. Prime Minister Theresa May wanted to provide certainty to UK businesses with her locked up meeting in the Chequers with cabinet last Friday on...

Sterling Strengthens Broadly as Davis Resignation is Seen as Good For Soft Brexit

Quick update: Sterling drops notably after Foreign Minister Boris Johnson finally resigns. judging from the current price action, Boris's resignation seems to be taken more seriously by the markets than Davis's. The global stock markets are in positive mood today. Major European indices open higher, following the strengthen in Asian...

Sterling Volatile on Brexit Jitters, Yen Lower as Chinese Stocks Lead Asian Rebound

Yen trades broadly lower today, followed by Dollar, as Asian markets recovered broadly. China's Shanghai SSE composite leads the way by gaining 1.9% and breaches 2800 handle. It looks like some solid support was obtained between 2016 low at 2638 and 2700 psychological. Current momentum warrants a near term...