[unable to retrieve full-text content]Overview: After an ugly week, market participants have returned with strong risk appetites. Equities are rebounding, and the greenback is paring recent gains. Bond yields are firm, as are commodities. Asia Pacific equities got the ball rolling with more than 1% gains in several large markets, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Read More »Consolidative Mood Grips Markets
Overview: The dollar is consolidating yesterday's advance and is confined to fairly narrow ranges in quiet turnover. Most of the major currencies are within 0.1% of yesterday's close near midday in Europe. The $1.1700-level held in the euro. Most emerging market currencies have edged a little higher. Despite the largest fall in the US NASDAQ in three weeks and the largest fall in the S&P 500 in a month, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose for the first time in...
Read More »FX Daily, August 17: Antipodeans and Sterling Bear Brunt of Greenback’s Gains
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.20% to 1.072 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, August 17(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Concern about the economic impact of the virus and new efforts by China to curb “unfair” competition among online companies has triggered a dramatic response by investors. A lockdown in New Zealand and the Reserve Bank of Australia signaling it will respond if the economic fallout...
Read More »Dollar Rally Stalls on Softening Rates and Dramatic Drop in Consumer Confidence
Profit-taking on long dollar positions was seen ahead of the weekend. The yield on the December 2022 Eurodollar futures slipped to finish unchanged on the week that saw CPI and PPI reports. The preliminary University of Michigan's consumer confidence measure tumbled to its lowest level since 2011 as the delta variant flares, leading to new social restrictions and delays in the return to work in the US for many. The market appears to have fully discounted a Fed hike...
Read More »Markets Look for Direction, Currencies in Narrow Ranges
Overview: The global capital markets are subdued today as investors wrestle with the rising virus, the shifting stance of several central banks, and a more tense geopolitical backdrop. Equity markets are struggling today. Most of the large bourses in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, moved lower, and Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 threatens to snap an eight-session advance. US futures are narrowly mixed. The US 10-year yield...
Read More »Rising Rates Underpin the Greenback
Overview: The US dollar remains firm ahead of the July CPI release, and even though Chicago Fed Evans demurred from the hawkish talk, the market is getting more comfortable with the idea of a rate hike next year. The implied yield of the December 2022 Eurodollar futures is rising for the sixth consecutive session. Most emerging market currencies are also under pressure. The JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index edged up yesterday to snap a five-day drop but...
Read More »Gold’s Flash Crash and Limited Follow-Through Greenback Gains
Overview: A flash crash saw gold drop more than $70 an ounce in early Asia. Silver was dragged lower too. The precious metals have stabilized at lower levels, but it signals a rough adjustment to a higher interest rate environment as a hawkish BOE and strong US employment data suggest peak monetary stimulus is at hand. The dollar is broadly mostly firmer against the major and emerging market currencies. The JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index is lower for...
Read More »The Greenback Reversed Higher in the Middle of Last Week and the Jobs Data Provided an Accelerant
The second consecutive monthly surge in US non-farm payrolls of more than 900k ensured that the five-week decline in the 10-year yield was over and sent the dollar to new highs for the week against most of the major currencies. The two-year yield's 2.5 basis point increase does not sound like much, but it is the largest increase in seven weeks and the second-largest increase since early April. Against most of the major currencies, the dollar reversed higher in the...
Read More »US Employment Data is Important but for the Millionth Time, Don’t Exaggerate It
Overview: Record high closes yesterday for the S&P 500 and NASDAQ have done little to help global equities today. Most of the Asia Pacific region markets, but Japan and Australia slipped ahead of the weekend while still holding on to gains for the week. Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is threatening to snap a four-day advance, and US futures are trading a little lower. The US 10-year yield reached 1.125% in the middle of the week and is extending yesterday's...
Read More »Yesterday’s Dollar Recovery Stalls
Overview: US interest rates and the dollar turned higher following comments by the Fed's Vice Chairman Clarida, who appeared to throw his lot with the more hawkish members. The dollar recovered from weakness that had seen it fall to almost JPY108.70, its lowest level since late May, and lifted the euro to $1.19. Still, there has been little follow-through dollar or Treasury buying today. The euro and yen are marginally softer, but most other major currencies post...
Read More »