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Yen Jumps after US Bans European Travellers, ECB Stimulus Awaited

Yen surges in Asian session as sentiments are knocked down hardly by US ban of European travellers. Global coronavirus cases jumped to 126,367 with 4633 deaths. Situation in Europe continue to worse, particular dire in Italy, cases in US also rose above 1,300. Nevertheless, new numbers in China, the...

US Crude Oil Inventory Jumped amidst Price Selloff

The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks slumped -7.58 mmb to 1271.01 mmb in the week ended March 6. Crude oil inventory soared +7.66 mmb (consensus: +2.27 mmb) to 451.78 mmb. Stockpile rose in 3 out...

UK Delivers Coordinated Coronavirus Relief, with Fiscal Package and BoE Cut, Sterling Unmoved

UK is at the center of focus today as BoE announced an emergency rate cut, followed by massive coronavirus relief package from the government. Yet the Pound is relatively unmoved. Stock markets also show no optimism as the outbreak continues to worsen. After initial gains, all major European indices...

Coronavirus Theme Continues, Aussie Lower on Consumer Sentiments and Uncertainties

Asian markets soften generally, having no follow through actions the strong but limited rebound in the US overnight. On the one hand, investors are disappointed by the lack of concrete announcement from US on coronavirus relief. On the other hand, the coronavirus outbreak continues to accelerate globally. Number of...

Stocks in Recovery as Markets Await Trump’s Coronavirus Package, Dollar Firmer

Global stocks are staging a recovery today after yesterday's crash. In the currency markets, Canadian and Dollar are currently the strongest ones for today. Yen and Sterling are the weakest. Governments are preparing or announcing special coronavirus relief packages. EU leaders will also have a video conference today to...

ECB Expected to Announce Stimulus Package Including Deposit Rate Cut

Coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China has become an pandemic affecting about 90 countries and territories in the world. In the Eurozone, the top 3 economies have reported totally 11,800 cases so far, with Italy alone taking up over 9,000 cases. The rapid transmission of the virus is expected hurt...

Markets Stabilized after Mass Selloff as Global Governments Prepare Coronavirus Support Measures

Financial markets in Asian somewhat stabilized despite the massive crash in the US overnight. Investors are awaiting the next development in global coronavirus pandemic. Governments are all preparing fiscal support to their respective economies. US will announce "very dramatic" actions on Tuesday, which include payroll tax cut and "very...

Global Selloff Intensifies as US Stock Market Circuit Breaker Triggered

Risk aversion continues to be the main theme in the markets today, on the back of global coronavirus pandemic and plunge in oil price. US trading is halted for 15 minutes after DOW tanks more than -1800 pts at open while S&P 500 drops -7%.. The selloff triggered a...

Saudi’s Oil War to Lead to Oversupply in 2Q20, Driving Away High-Cost Producers

Oil market roiled by the surprising collapse of OPEC+ talk. For the time since late 2016, OPEC members and a number of non-OPEC oil producers failed to agree on a deal to limit output, as Russia refused to commit. In response, Saudi Arabia, the largest producer in OPEC and...

Asia Went Wild on Coronavirus Fears and Oil Price War

Asian markets went wild today, on the back of acceleration in coronavirus spread in Europe, as well as free falling oil on price war. Sentiments have never been hit that had for quite some time. Commodity currencies, as led by Australian Dollar, are the biggest casualties in the massive...

CFTC Commitments of Traders – Traders Trimmed Bets on Euro as the Currency Rallied Despite Soaring Coronavirus Cases in the Region

As suggested in the CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended March 3, NET LENGTH in USD Index droped -2 589 contracts to 22 488. Speculative long positions fell -7 880 contracts and short positions declined -5 291 contracts. Bets on both sides obviously shrank as the...

CFTC Commitments of Traders – Crude Oil Prices Slumped as OPEC+ Failed to Agree on Further Output Cut

According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended March 3, NET LENGTH for crude oil futures plunged -43 097 contracts to 388 369 for the week. Speculative long positions added +5 106 contracts while shorts jumped -48 203 contracts. NET LENGTH for crude oil futures...

Dollar Tumbles as Markets Expect More From Fed Even after Panic Rate Cut

Global Wuhan coronavirus pandemic overshadowed all developments last week. Total confirmed cases broke 100k level (103,813 at the time of writing), with 3,522 deaths. Situation in China eased with daily new cases continued to drop. But there is no sign of slowing in South Korea (7,041 cases, 48 deaths)...

Dollar Ignores Strong Non-Farm Payrolls, Soldoff on Aggressive Fed Cut Pricing

Both US and Canadian Dollar continue to be the weakest one for today despite stronger than expected job data. In particular, markets are aggressively pricing in another deep rate cut by Fed on March 18, as Wuhan coronavirus pandemic worsens. At certain point today, fed fund futures were pricing...

Dollar Pressing Key Support as Fed Expected to Cut Again This Month

Dollar and Canadian remain the worst performing major currencies for the week and stay pressured. Both Fed and BoC s are perceived as having more room for rate cuts, comparing to, say, ECB and BoJ. Indeed, as the Wuhan coronavirus continues to spread to the world quickly, markets are...

Stock Market Roller Coaster Ride Continues With Another Red Day, Dollar Capped by Fed Cut Bets

Commodity currencies are back under pressure today, led by Aussie, as Europe equities are back in red. DOW futures point to a deep gap down. Wuhan coronavirus pandemic continues to spread all over the world and it's accelerating. Yen and Swiss Franc are the strongest today, followed by a...

Stocks Rebound on IMF Coronavirus Aid Package, Consolidation Continues

Global stock markets rebounded again as consolidations continue in a wide range. This week's central bank rate cuts, plus IMF's USD 50B aid package, could have stabilized market sentiments for now. But the global spread of Wuhan coronavirus is still there, accelerating. It remains to be seen if cases...

Stock Markets Rebound as Consolidations Continue, Euro Weakens ahead of Resistance

Stock markets rebound strongly in European session, on speculations that ECB could follow Fed to announce new monetary stimulus soon. There are also talks that markets are boosted by former US Vice President Joe Biden's Tuesday night victories in the Democratic primary for for US presidential candidate. But we're...

Investors Unmoved by Fed’s Emergency Rate Cut, Wuhan Coronavirus Continues to Spread

The financial markets are generally steady today. Fed's emergency -50bps rate cut provided no apparent boost to investor confidence. Instead, US stocks ended sharply lower again as traders are worried about worsening global outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus. Asian markets are mixed too. Major forex pairs and crosses are bounded...

Fed’s Emergency Cut Reveals the Lack of Tools to Deal with Corona-Crisis

The Fed implemented an emergency rate cut of -50 bps on Tuesday, just two weeks ahead of the FOMC meeting scheduled on March 18. The Fed funds rate range now stands at 1-1.5%. While the move is not entirely surprising, given Chair Jerome Powell’s statement last Friday and Goldman...