The week ahead is arguably the most important here at the start of 2020. The Federal Reserve and the Bank of England meet. The US and the eurozone report initial estimates of Q4 19 GDP. The eurozone also reports its preliminary estimate of January CPI. China returns from the extended Lunar New Year celebration and reports its official PMI. Japan will report December retail sales and industrial production. These data points will provide insight into the state of the...
Read More »FX Daily, January 24: Coronavirus Hits Asia Hardest, Europe and the US Resilient
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.04% to 1.0702 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 24(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The new coronavirus in China has moved into the vacuum left by the US-China trade agreement and clear indications that the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, and the Federal Reserve are on hold as investors searched for new drivers. The World Health Organization refrained from...
Read More »FX Daily, January 23: ECB’s Strategic Review and the Coronavirus Command Investors’ Attention
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.27% to 1.0704 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 23(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The spread of the coronavirus and the lockdown in the epicenter in China has again sapped the risk-taking appetite in the capital markets. Asia is bearing the brunt of the adjustment. Tomorrow starts China’s week-long Lunar New Year celebration when markets will be closed, which may...
Read More »SNB’s Jordan: Franc exchange rate is important in relation to Swiss monetary conditions
Comments by SNB chief, Thomas Jordan, to CNBC Thomas Jordan Negative rates are a necessity Negative rates have side effects, SNB trying to minimise those side effects Balance of risks is tilted to the downside SNB conducts independent monetary policy, does not follow the ECB But needs to take international environment into account SNB could still cut rates if needed Franc is still highly valued Must maintain negative rates, interventions SNB can intervene as...
Read More »FX Daily, January 22: Fragile Stability in Capital Markets even as SARS Comparisons Grow
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.08% to 1.0741 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 22(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The S&P 500 lost less than 0.3% yesterday, even as the first case of the Wuhan Virus was found in the US. The relative subdued US reaction may have helped stabilize the capital markets today. Nearly all the major markets in the Asia Pacific regions rose, including more than a 1%...
Read More »FX Daily, January 21: New Respiratory Illness Saps Risk-Taking Appetites
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.05% to 1.0743 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 21(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The spread of a new respiratory illness in China has spurred a wave of profit-taking in equities and risk assets more generally. All of the markets in the Asia Pacific region tumbled, with Hong Kong hit the hardest (-2.8%) after posting a key reversal yesterday. The sell-off continued...
Read More »FX Daily, January 20: Stocks Stall while the Dollar Remains Bid
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.05% to 1.0737 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 20(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The new week is off to a quiet start as the US celebrates Martin Luther King’s birthday, and investors look for a fresh focus. Hong Kong and Indian markets were suffered modest declines while most of the other large Asia Pacific markets edged higher. European stocks are trading a...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Central Bank Meetings Featured
The US dominated the news stream at the start of 2020. The spasm in the US-Iran confrontation has quickly subsided. The much-heralded US-China Phase 1 trade deal has been signed. The US has completed the ratification process of the US Mexico Canada Free-Trade Agreement. The early signs from the economic entrails suggest the world’s largest economy continue to enjoy a record-long, even if not robust, expansion. The focus shifts elsewhere in the week ahead,...
Read More »FX Daily, January 17: China and the UK Surprise in Opposite Directions
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.06% to 1.0745 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 17(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Helped by new record highs in the US, global stocks are moving higher today. Nearly all the markets in the Asia Pacific region advanced and the seventh consecutive weekly rally is the longest in a couple of years. Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is at new record highs and appears set to...
Read More »FX Daily, January 16: Markets Look for New Cues with US-China Trade Pact Signed
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.04% to 1.0749 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, January 16(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The global capital markets are calm today as investors await fresh trading incentives. New record highs in the US equity indices gave Asia Pacific stocks a lift, though China and Taiwan were notable exceptions. Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is firm new record highs set last week. US...
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