SNB & CHF

Swiss Franc Currency Index Our weekly comparison with the dollar index: The positive performance of the Swiss franc index was reversed on Friday. Finally the dollar index had a better week than the Swiss Franc index. Click to enlarge. Swiss Franc Currency Index (3 years) The Swiss Franc index is the trade-weighted currency performance (see the currency basket) On a three years interval, the Swiss Franc had a...

For a period that included a BOJ and FOMC meeting and the US GDP, speculators in the currency futures were unusually quiet.  Summer holidays with family may be more important. Of the 16 gross currency futures speculative positions we track, 12 of them were less than 5k contracts. There was only one gross position adjustment more than 10kcontracts.  Euro bears covered 13.2k gross short euro contracts,...

Summary: Underlying concerns about US labor market ease after two robust reports. Sept Fed views will not change much. Canada’s data is disappointing, BOC optimism may be challenged. United States Nonfarm payrolls The market’s angst over the underlying trend in the US labor market eases with the help of the second consecutive robust report. The 255k rise in non-farm payrolls was well above expectations, and...

  Right on the Money OUZILLY, France – It is not often that you get investment advice from a presidential candidate. It is even rarer that you get good advice But yesterday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gave investors both good advice and good analysis. Bloomberg has the report: Donald Trump on Stocks Photo credit: Michael Nagle / Getty Images The Donald dispenses investment advice. “Better get out...

Swiss Franc As usual, when U.S. data is good, then the EUR/CHF appreciates. Click to enlarge. FX Rates The focus is squarely on the US employment data today, ahead of which the capital markets are mostly consolidating yesterday’s Bank of England inspired moved. The Australian and New Zealand dollars, alongside sterling, which is up about half a cent after losing two yesterday. The RBA’s monetary policy statement...

BofA’s Michael Hartnett points out something amusing, not to mention diabolical: following the rate cuts by the BoE & RBA this week, “global central banks have now cut rates 666 times since Lehman.” One would think this attempt by central banks to push everyone into risk assets, certainly the Swiss National Bank which as we showed yesterday has increased its US equity holdings by 50% in the first half of 2016 … …...

India’s upper house approved the creation of a Good and Services Tax (GST) The Polish government softened its stance on the proposed Swiss franc loan conversion plan Support for South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) appears to have fallen below 60% for the first time ever Brazil’s Senate impeachment committee recommended putting President Rousseff on trial In the EM equity space as measured by MSCI,...

When the history books are finally written, I believe the tone-deaf handling of the refugee crisis by EU bureaucrats will be seen as one of the primary catalysts in the ultimate disintegration of the European Union. Although I knew many millions across the eurozone were irate about how the refugee crisis was being handled, I had no idea how irate they were until I read the results of a recent survey by the Pew...

Crumbling Stability In the past few months, we have witnessed a series of defining events in modern political history, with Britain’s vote to exit the EU, (several) terror attacks in France and Germany, as well as the recent attempted military coup in Europe’s backyard, Turkey. Uncertainty over Europe’s political stability and the future of the EU keeps growing. These worries are quite valid, as geopolitical...

  “Experts” Assert that Inflation is an Agent of Economic Growth For most experts, deflation, which they define as a general decline in prices of goods and services, is bad news since it generates expectations for a further decline in prices. As a result, they hold, consumers postpone their buying of goods at present since they expect to buy these goods at lower prices in the future. This weakens the overall flow of...