Summary: The Canadian dollar’s link to oil has loosened. Its sensitivity to interest rates has increased. Lumber issue is coming to a head shortly. Of the majors, only sterling was weaker than the Canadian dollar in Q3. Sterling’s drop was a function of its decision to leave the EU and ease monetary policy. The Canadian dollar fell 1.6% compared with sterling’s 2.6% fall. The other dollar-bloc currencies...
Read More »FX Daily, September 30: SNB Intervenes to Polish Q3 Results
Swiss Franc During the day the EUR/CHF has fallen to a low of 1.0819. We know that the in-official new floor lies at that level. Moreover, the SNB had to polish the Q3 results. With interventions she lifted the EUR/CHF to 1.0893 and the euro continued rising thanks to speculators that jumped on the train.There was no economic data that could have justified the sudden increase. EUR/CHF, September 30. FX Rates True...
Read More »FX Daily, September 29: Dollar Quietly Bid, while Market is Skeptical of OPEC Deal
Swiss Franc The EUR/CHF has fallen to 1.0862, the downwards tendency since one day before the SNB monetary assessment meeting has continued. Click to enlarge. FX Rates The US dollar has firmer against most major and emerging market currencies. It remains well within its well-worn ranges, which continue to be narrow. A notable exception today is the yen’s weakness. While the majors are mostly off marginally and now...
Read More »FX Daily, September 26: Dollar Mixed while Stocks Slide to Begin Last Week of Q3
Swiss Franc The Swiss Franc remained nearly unchanged against the euro. It fell to 1.0875 during the day and recovered with the good U.S. new home sales data. Click to enlarge. FX Rates The US dollar is narrowly mixed. The euro, yen and Swiss franc are higher, while the dollar-bloc and sterling are softer. The moving element here is not so much the greenback, which serving more as a fulcrum, but idiosyncratic,...
Read More »FX Daily, September 23: It is Friday and the Dollar is Firmer Again
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF, September 23, 2016Click to enlarge. FX Rates As Nassim Taleb instructed, we should not be fooled by randomness. If you see six red results in a row at a roulette table, do not conclude the game is rigged. If you flip a coin, and it is tails six consecutive times, the contest is not necessarily rigged. Today has the making of the sixth consecutive Friday that the dollar gains against the euro...
Read More »FX Daily, September 22: Swiss Franc Strongest Currency Again
Swiss Franc Once again the Swiss Franc was the strongest. The EUR/CHF depreciated to 1.0875. As said yesterday, the reasons: the Fed and the strong Swiss trade balance. Click to enlarge. FX Rates The US dollar has lost another 0.5% against most of the major currencies today, as Asia and Europe respond to the Fed’s decision. There are few exceptions to this generalization. The Norwegian krone has gained nearly...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Punctuated Equilibrium and the Forces of Movement
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Shifting intermarket relationships pose challenge for investors. The market is convinced the Fed will not raise rates. Greater uncertainty surrounds the BOJ; there seems less willingness to shock and awe.
Read More »FX Daily, September 15: Early Update: Full Calendar but Little News
Swiss Franc As happened very often, traders expected more the SNB monetary assessment. And, as usually, the franc finally appreciated because the SNB did not act. Click to enlarge. FX Rates Looking at the diary, today is the most important day of the week. The Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank meet. The UK reports retail sales. EMU reports CPI figures. The US reports retail sales, industrial output, and...
Read More »FX Daily, September 14: Precarious Stabilization
Swiss Franc Swiss ZEW expectations came in better than expected. The value was +2.7 instead of expected negative value. Switzerland ZEW Expectations (see more posts on Switzerland ZEW Expectations, )Switzerland ZEW Expectations. Click to enlarge. FX Rates The US dollar advanced yesterday and is in narrow ranges with a mostly softer bias today. The exception is the Japanese yen. Japanese press have reported that...
Read More »Thoughts on the Price Action
Summary: Global interest rates are rising. Something important is happening. It appears to be dollar positive. Price is Right – click to enlarge. The market has not changed its mind. Following Brainard’s comments yesterday the market had downgraded the chances, which were already modest, of a Fed hike next week. The September Fed funds futures is unchanged on the day. The implied yield of 41 bp matches the...
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