We are approaching the mid-point of the first quarter, and the coronavirus from China is the new key development for businesses and investors. The economic impact appears to be still growing as the disruption to supply chains, production, and demand continues. The re-opening of China from the extended Lunar New Year holiday brought some relief to the markets as officials ensured ample liquidity, leaned against short selling, and offered concessions to businesses...
Read More »FX Daily, February 7: Dollar Rides High as Eurozone Disappoints, and Caution Sets In
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.07% to 1.0692 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, February 7(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: makets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: A more cautious tone is evident today in the markets, which seem to have run well ahead of macro developments and evidence that the new coronavirus is not yet contained. After a roughly 3.5% advance in the past three sessions, the MSCI Asia Pacific index pulled back with nearly the...
Read More »FX Daily, February 6: Stocks Push Higher but more Cautious Tone may be Emerging
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.07% to 1.071 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, February 6(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The bullish enthusiasm that carried the S&P 500 to new closing highs yesterday is helping Asia Pacific and European shares today. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose for the third session with Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Korea jumping two percent. Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx 600 gapped to new...
Read More »FX Daily, February 5: Markets Extend Recovery, but Look for a Pause
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.13% to 1.0716 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, February 5(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The S&P 500 gapped higher and surged 1.5% yesterday, the most since in six months, helping set the stage for a continued recovery in global equities, and stoked risk appetites more broadly. An experimental antiviral treatment is to begin clinical testing. All of the markets in the...
Read More »FX Daily, February 4: Relief Rally Fueled by Liquidity not Peak in Coronavirus
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.21% to 1.0701 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, February 4(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The combination of the rally in US shares yesterday and the continued efforts of China to inject liquidity helped lift sentiment today. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index snapped an eight-day slide, and many markets jumped more than 1%. Led by energy and materials, Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx...
Read More »February Monthly
The global capital markets were roiled in recent weeks by the new virus that jumped species in China. It is contagious during the incubation periods and appears similar though more aggressive than SARS in 2003-2004. And China is larger and significantly more integrated into the global political economy. The new coronavirus is impactful in several areas outside of the human tragedy. It is a blow to ideas of better growth impulses to start the year. The outlook...
Read More »FX Daily, February 3: Inauspicious Start to the Year of the (Flying) Rat
Overview: The Year of the Rat is off to an inauspicious start as apparently a fly rat (a bat) virus has jumped to humans. China’s markets re-opening amid much fanfare, and the Shanghai Composite dropped 7.7%, which is about what the futures in Singapore had anticipated. Several other markets in the region (Japan’s Nikkei, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand) fell by more than 1%. However, European and US shares are edging higher, and other measures of...
Read More »FX Daily, January 31: Stocks Finishing on Poor Note, while the Dollar and Bonds Firm
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.09% to 1.0681 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 31(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: It was as if the World Health Organization’s recognition of that the new coronavirus is an international health emergency was the catalyst that the markets needed. US equities recovered smartly and managed to close higher on the session. However, the coattails were short, and...
Read More »FX Daily, January 30: Contagion Impact not Peaked, Weighs on Risk Appetites
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.21% to 1.0689 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 30(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The ongoing concerns about the geometric progression of the new coronavirus continues to swamp other considerations for investors. Risk continues to be unwound, as the World Health Organization meets to decide if this is indeed a global health emergency. Several large equity markets...
Read More »FX Daily, January 29: Escaped from a Crocodile’s Mouth, Entered a Tiger’s Mouth
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.10% to 1.0731 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 29(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: This colorful Malay saying captures the spirit of the animal spirits. Narrowly escaping an escalation of a trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the outbreak of a deadly virus has spurred moves, especially the sell-off in stocks and rally in bonds, for which many...
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