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Swiss Franc and Yen Higher on Selloff in Hong Kong and China

Yen and Swiss Franc are trading mildly higher as the week starts. Heavy selling is seen in stock markets in Hong Kong and China. Yet, Japan came back from holiday with mild gains. Commodity currencies are generally soft, with Aussie leading the way down. Dollar and Euro are mixed...

CFTC Commitments of Traders – Loonie Fell In Line with Crude Oil’s Decline

As suggested in the CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended July 20, NET SHORT of USD index futures gained +931 contracts to 12 188. Speculative long positions added +1 280 contracts while shorts increased +349 contracts. Concerning European currencies, NET LENGTH in EUR futures fell -13...

CFTC Commitments of Traders – Long Bets Trimmed on Crude Oil Futures amidst Profit-Taking

According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended July 20. NET LENGTH for crude oil futures slumped -50 356 contracts to 448 740 for the week. Speculative long position declined -43272 contracts, while shorts rose +7 084 contracts. For refined oil products, NET LENGTH for...

Stocks Closed at Records as Delta Worries Receded, Dollar Index Holding On to Weak Rally

It has been a very volatile week as risk markets were initial knocked down by fear of the infectious delta variant. But sentiment made an about-turn then, even with US indexes closing at record highs. Still, despite late recovery, Australian Dollar ended as the weakest one. Yen was surprisingly...

PBOC Likely to Ease Further, Adding to Renminbi’s Downside Bias

Renminbi has been range-bounded against the US dollar since June. Traders in the Chinese currency has turned cautious after People’s Bank of China (PBOC) surprisingly reduced the reserve requirement ratio earlier this month. The move was contrary to the broad theme of monetary policy normalization in major central banks...

Yen Lower Again as Risk Turned On, Loonie Shrugs Retail Sales

Yen drops broadly today as markets turn back into risk-on mode. It has indeed become the worst performing one for the week. Dollar is also staying to look a bit vulnerable against European majors and commodity currencies. Canadian Dollar is firm and shrug off retail sales data, which shows...

Canadian Dollar Firm as Focus Turns to Retail Sales

Trading in Asian session is relatively subdued today, as some participants are already looking forward to the weekend, after a roller coaster ride. Canadian Dollar is currently the strongest one for the week, helped by rebound in WTI oil price, which is back above 71. However, New Zealand and...

ECB Pledges to Continue Front-load QE Purchases until Inflation Reaches 2% Sustainable

The ECB has updated the forward guidance on the policy rate, reflecting the new inflation target concluded in the strategic review. All monetary policy measures stay unchanged as it strives to achieve the symmetric 2% inflation target: The deposit rate stays at -0.5%, the total Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program...

Euro Steady Against Dollar after ECB, Jobless Claims

Euro is trading steadily in US session after ECB finally revealed it's new forward guidance. Though, the common currency is notably weak against Sterling and commodity currencies. Meanwhile, Dollar and Swiss are also weak, together with Yen, as market sentiments are generally stable. We'd now see if US stocks...

Euro Looks Forward to ECB, Canadian Dollar Rebounds With Oil Price

Dollar and Yen lost their position as the strongest ones as US stocks staged another day of massive rebound overnight, together with treasury yields. On the other hand, Canadian Dollar is currently the best performer for the week, helped by WTI crude oil's reclaim of 70 handle. But Aussie...

US Crude Oil Inventory Surprisingly Increased for First Time in 3 Months

The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks rose +4.42 mmb to 1275.28 mmb in the week ended June 16. Crude oil inventory increased, for the first time since mid-April, by +2.11 mmb (consensus: -4.47 mmb) to...

Dollar Rises Against Yen as Sentiments Recover Further

The forex markets appear to be turning into a consolidative phase for now. Yen is trading broadly lower as European indexes and US futures rebound further. Canadian Dollar is the strongest one with WTI crude oil reclaiming 68 handle. Aussie and Sterling are following as the next strongest for...

Dollar and Yen Firm as Asia Shrugs US Rebound, Sterling Vulnerable

While US stocks staged a strong rebound overnight, the moves didn't follow through in mixed Asia. There is also little reaction in the currency markets. Yen and Dollar remain the strongest ones for the week, despite retreating mildly. New Zealand Dollar is the worst performer, followed by Aussie and...

ECB Preview: New Forward Guidance to Reflect New Inflation Target

ECB’s conclusion of the strategy review on July 8 has made this week’s meeting very important. Policymakers adjusted the inflation target to a symmetric 2%, allowing a temporary overshoot. Despite the significant change, no monetary policy is expected to change in July. We only expect some changes in the...

Sterling and Kiwi Fall on Fragile Market Sentiments, Dollar Strong

Overall sentiments in the financial markets remain rather fragile today, despite some stabilization. Major European indexes are trading slight up while DOW futures also gains over 150 pts at the time of writing. But there appears to be little support for treasury yield, with Germany 10-year yield below -0.4...

Markets Stabilized after Massive Risk-Off, Yen Remains Firm

Overall market sentiments stabilized in Asia, after the massive risk-off trades in the US overnight. While Asia indexes are still down, losses are limited. Yen and Swiss franc are paring some gains but remain the overwhelmingly strongest ones. Commodity currencies are the weakest as led by Canadian Dollar. Dollar...

Yen Accelerates Higher as Risk Aversion Intensifies

Yen and Swiss Franc dominates the markets for the day, as selloff in stocks spread from Asia to Europe, to US. Risk aversion intensified with DOW down over -800 pts in initial trading, while 10-year yield breaks1.2 handle. Canadian Dollar is the worst performing one, as WTI crude oil...

Yen Surges as Asia Opens on Risk Aversion

Yen rises broadly as the markets start the week with risk aversion in Asia. On the other hand, Canadian Dollar is trading as the weakest, leading other commodity currencies lower. European majors are mixed together with Dollar for the moment. The economic calendar is rather light today and focuses...

NZD Surged But Couldn’t Overcome Resilient Dollar and Yen

New Zealand Dollar ended as the strongest one last week, boosted by hawkish expectation on RBNZ. Though, the Kiwi's strength didn't provide much support to other commodity currencies, as Aussie and Loonie were indeed the worst performing ones. Yen and Dollar followed Kiwi as the next strongest, while European...

Dollar Firms Up Slightly after Retail Sales, Kiwi Still the Strongest

Dollar trades mildly higher in early US session after better than expected retail sales data, but upside moment is weak so far. Mild strength in US futures sends Swiss Franc and Yen slightly lower. Overall, New Zealand Dollar is set to end as the best performer for the week,...