Last month Chinese trade statistics left us with several key questions. Export growth was a clear outlier, with outbound trade rising nearly 45% year-over-year in February 2018. There were the usual Golden Week distortions to consider, made more disruptive by the timing of it this year as different from last year. And then we have to consider possible effects of tariffs and restrictions at the start of what is called a...
Read More »US Imports Don’t Quite Match Chinese Exports
In early 2015, a contract dispute between dockworkers’ unions and 29 ports on the West Coast of the US escalated into what was a slowdown strike. Cargoes piled up especially at some of the largest facilities like those in Oakland, LA, and Long Beach, threatening substantial economic costs far and away from just those directly involved. Each side predictably blamed the other for it. Management’s view: The ILWU has...
Read More »Neue Schweizer Plattform für Kryptowährungs-Brokerage
Mike Hofer, Partner, Wholsale & Institutional BCB Group BCB Group, ein führender globaler Kryptowährungs-Broker mit Sitz in London, lanciert seine Prime Brokerage Lösung für institutionelle Anleger. Diese ist darauf ausgelegt, dass Kunden ihren Investoren Zugang zu zahlreichen Krypotwährungen bieten können. BCB Group plant zudem eine Tochtergesellschaft in der Schweiz zu errichten. Die BCB...
Read More »FX Daily, April 02: Monday Blues
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.03% to 1.1746 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, April 02(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar drifted a little lower in Asia to start the week while equities had a slightly heavier bias. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.1%. European bourses are mostly closed for the extended Easter holiday, while the S&P is...
Read More »Emerging Markets: Preview of the Week Ahead
Stock Markets EM FX was mostly stronger last week, despite the dollar’s firm tone against the majors. Best EM performers on the week were MXN, KRW, and COP while the worst were ZAR, INR, and PEN. US jobs data poses the biggest risk to EM this week, as US yields have been falling ahead of the data. Indeed, the current US 10-year yield of 2.74% is the lowest since February 6. We remain cautious on EM FX, and do not think...
Read More »FX Daily, March 29: Bonds and Stocks are Firm, While the Greenback Consolidates Upticks
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.11% to 1.1758 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, March 29(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The choppy US equity session yesterday, ultimately ending with modest losses as the tech sector remained under pressure, has been shrugged off in Asia and Europe, where modest gains have been seen. The dollar is little changed after...
Read More »Banking 2.0 steht noch in den Sternen
Bild: Pixabay Schweizer Banken und Dienstleister sehen FinTech-Innovatoren nicht mehr als disruptiv an, sondern inzwischen als potentielle Partner – aber sie suchen immer noch Lösungen für Banking 2.0. Gleich mehrere Veranstaltungen versuchten darauf eine Antwort zu finden. Zum vierten Male veranstaltete SIX den Zürcher Hackathon (Wortschöpfung aus "Hack" und "Marathon") im Schiffsbau Zürich. 132...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: The Investment Climate
Eurozone The investment meme of a synchronized global upturn has been undermined by the recent string of US and European economic data. The flash March eurozone composite reading fell to 55.3, the lowest reading since January 2017. Although Q4 17 US GDP may be revised higher (toward 2.8% from 2.5%) mostly due to greater inventory accumulation, the curse of weak Q1 GDP appears to be showing its hand again, with...
Read More »Just A Few More Pips
On Page 1, Chapter 1 of the Central Banker Crisis Handbook it states very clearly, “do not make it worse.” It’s something like the Hippocratic oath where monetary authorities must first assess what their actions might do to an already fragile system. It’s why they take great pains to try and maintain composure, appearing calm and orderly while conflagration rages all around. The last thing you want to do is confirm the...
Read More »FX Daily, March 22: Dollar Trades Off
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.37% to 1.167 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, March 22(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar has not recovered from the judgment that yesterday’s that Fed was not as hawkish as many had anticipated. There was no indication that officials thought they were behind the curve or prepared to accelerate the pace of hikes....
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