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RBA Aware of Recent Rise in Yields

The April RBA meeting contained little surprise. Policymakers left the cash rate unchanged at 1.5% and made few changes in the policy statement. The central bank remained upbeat on growth and employment. Yet, it remained wary of the slow growth in wage. Meanwhile, the members took note of the...

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...

Dollar Attempts to Extend Rebound on ISM Price Paid, But Failing So Far

Some volatility is finally see in early US session even though there is still a lack of follow through momentum. US equities open lower with DOW losing over 150 pts, back below 24000 handle at the time of writing. Dollar accompanies the fall in DOW with a rally attempt....

Traders Were Bullish on Petroleum but Turned Bearish on Natural Gas

CFTC Commitments of Traders With the exception of natural gas, speculators were bullish over the energy complex in the week ended March 27. Net LENGTH for crude oil futures jumped +12 062 contracts from a week ago to 715 7708. NET LENGTH of heating oil gained +1 948 contracts to...

Hong Kong Dollar Weakest in Three Decades Due to Ample Liquidity

USDHKD has continued flirting slightly below 7.85, the weak end of its trading band. Since late-February, the market has been speculating about what and when the Hong Kong Monetary authority HKMA, the de facto central bank of Hong Kong, would do to maintain the peg. We judge that the...

Forex Markets Stay Quiet on Holiday Mood. RBA, ISM and NFP ahead

The forex markets are rather quiet today as most countries are still on holiday. Yen is trading generally lower but loss is limited so far. Japan Tankan survey posted some disappointing data but was shrugged off. Australian Dollar is also a touch weaker. Mixed data from China and the...

Markets Tread Water as Traders’ Minds are Already on Holiday

The forex market are starting to ignore economic data release today and tread water, just ahead of long weekend. Dollar is trading in black across the board for the week. But better than expectation job data doesn't the greenback a boost to extend its rally. Canadian Dollar also shrugs...

Dollar Rebound Lacks Conviction, Except Versus Aussie and Possibly Yen

Dollar jumps broadly overnight but it's rally is starting to lose steam again in Asian session. Instead, while Yen remains the weakest one for the week, it's starting to regain some strength. So far, the Japanese is not benefiting from risk aversion this week. Even though stocks attempted to...

Risk On Again as Stocks Futures Rebound on Facebook, Yen and Swiss Franc Dive

The pattern of risk on/risk off continues today. After opening lower, European indices pare back much losses with FTSE now back in black at the time of writing. US futures also point to slightly higher open. Tech stocks, who were the main reason of yesterday's selloff, recover mildly. Facebook's...

US- China Trade Tensions: Trump’s Soap Opera to Get Better Deal

Over the past months, US trade policy has been a major cause of the wax and wane of the financial markets. The White House has triggered a number of investigations under the rarely used 1972 US trade law since Trump took office. All investigations have resulted in tariff imposition,...

Euro Stays Strong after Volatility in Thin Holiday Markets

There was some volatility seen yesterday in the forex markets. But as dusts settled, Euro is staying as the strongest one for the week, followed by New Zealand Dollar and Sterling. On the other hand, Yen and Dollar are trading as the weakest one, followed not too far away...

Dollar Rebounds as Quarter End Position Squaring Starts, Stocks Lifted by Receding Trade War Fear

After being pressured initially, Dollar staged a strong come back European session. The greenback is now trading as the strongest one for day, followed by Canadian Dollar and then Yen. On the other hand, Sterling and Euro are suffering broad based selling together with Aussie. There is no apparent...

EUR/USD to Look into Confidence Indicators for Guidance, as Risk Aversion Eased

The financial markets responded positively to news that US and China are back on the table for trade negotiation. At least for now, the fear of further escalation in tension is eased. DOW ended yesterday up 669.40 pts or 2.84% at 2420.60. S&P 500 gained 70.29 pts or 2.72%...

Yen Lower as Trade War Fears Recede, Euro and Sterling Surge

Risk sentiments stabilized as markets reacted positively to the possibility of a trade deal between US and China. Major European indices are trading higher even though gains are only at 0.35-0.55% in FTSE, CAC and DAX only, at the time of writing. US futures also point to triple digit...

US Treasury Mnuchin in Trade Talk with China, But No One is Cheering Yet

The financial markets opened the week rather quietly. Nikkei and KOSPI opened lower and turned black as the session went on. But other major Asian indices stayed slightly in red. US is apparent in talk with China on trade agreement. But no one in the markets is cheering for...

Global Stock Market Crashed, Dollar Tumbled after Episode 1 of US-China Trade War

Global stock markets suffered steep selloff last week as US President Donald Trump has finally declare the start of trade war with China. Dollar was under broad based pressure with the development, but it was only the second weakest one. Australian Dollar suffered most for it's close trade link...

Canadian Dollar Lifted by CPI, Markets Stabilizing after Panic Selloff

After steep selloff in the Asian markets, sentiments stabilized mildly in European markets. At the time of writing, DAX is trading down -1.45%, CAC down -1.2 and FTSE down only -0.25%. US futures also point to a flat open, and stocks may recover from yesterday's panic selloff. In the...

Global Markets Crash, Yen Surge as US-China Trade War Starts

US stocks tumbled sharply in the final hour of trading overnight, taking out key support levels in the wake of the start of US-China trade war. DOW closed sharply lower by -724.42 pts or -2.93% at 23957.89 overnight as fear of trade war intensified. S&P 500 was down -68.24...

Yen Steals the Show on Trade War Worries, Sterling Reversed after Brief BoE Spike

Sterling attempts to rally after BoE rate decisions but failed to sustain gain. On the other hand, Yen is quietly stealing the show on risk aversion. Investors are worried that the world is finally entering into the phase of trade war with US President Donald Trump's scheduled announce of...

BOE Voted 7-2 to Leave Bank Rate Unchanged at 0.50%

BOE voted 7-2 to leave the Bank rate at 0.50%. The members voted unanimously to leave to asset purchase program unchanged at 435B pound. The members were generally positive over the economic outlook, noting that "recent data releases are broadly consistent with the MPC's view of the medium-term outlook...