Overview: The combination of the firmer than expected US CPI and larger than expected rise in initial and continuing jobless claims saw short-term US rates fall, and the odds of a quarter-point cut by the Fed rose from about 83% to about 93%. The Fed funds futures market boosted the odds of another quarter-point cut in December (~90% vs.78%). The dollar initially weakened but recovered, though the key levels held, such as $1.09 in the euro, $1.30 in sterling,...
Read More »US Rates Extend Gains to Fray 4 percent
Overview: The stronger than expected US jobs report triggered a 20 bp jump in the US two-year yield and sent the greenback broadly higher. The market slashed the probability that the Fed would cut by 75 bp in Q4. There are now slightly less than 50 bp discounted in the Fed funds futures strip. US rates have continued to back up today, and both the two- and 10-year yields traded above 4% today. The greenback is mostly firmer, though the yen, Swiss franc, and...
Read More »Patient BOJ Weighs on the Yen, Hong Kong Re-Opens with a Bang, Middle East War Underpins Crude, while the Dollar Consolidates
Overview: The US dollar is mostly little changed today. Comments from the new Japanese government and BOJ Governor Ueda reinforce the sense driven by the softness in the September Tokyo CPI and larger-than-expected decline in August industrial output that there is no urgency for another rate hike. The yen is the weakest of the G10 currencies today. The Norwegian krone leads the major currencies higher after underperforming yesterday. Outside of the yen and krone,...
Read More »Mortgage Relief Lifts China’s CSI 300 by more than 8% Ahead of the Golden Week Holiday
Overview: The US dollar is narrowly mixed on the last trading day of Q3 24. The Australian dollar, the G10 proxy for China, is leading the major currencies higher and reached its best level since February 2023 (~$0.6940). The yen and Swiss franc continue to trade heavily and are off 0.2%-0.25%. The euro firm and traded above $1.12 for the fifth time since late August but has failed to settle above there once. The soft inflation readings have boosted the chances of...
Read More »The Market Discounts around a 40% Chance of not One but Two 50 bp Cuts in last Three FOMC Meetings of the Year Ahead of Jobs Report
Overview: The US jobs report is front and center. The market is going into the report with about a 40% chance of a 50 bp Fed rate cut later this month. The Dollar Index is trading lower for the third consecutive session. Helped by the fifth consecutive decline in US 10-year yields, the yen approached last month's high but without the turmoil seen in July and August. Still, equity markets are under pressure. Most large markets in the Asia Pacific region fell. Taiwan...
Read More »Disappointing US Data Followed by Better Japanese Wages and Stronger German Factory Orders Weigh on the Greenback
Overview: The one-two punch of the disappointing US job opening report and the downbeat Beige Book weighs on the US dollar, which is softer against all the G10 currencies. The Canadian dollar is a notable exception. Prime Minister Trudeau's minority Liberal Party lost key support and the Bank of Canada affirmed expectations for more rate cuts. Japan's wage growth was stronger than expected, underscoring the divergence of policy and the dollar was sold to almost...
Read More »The Dollar and Rates Come Back Firmer
Overview: The US dollar's decline continued yesterday after the steep jobs’ revision and an unusual solid auction of the Treasury's 20-year bond. The minutes from the recent meeting confirmed that the FOMC will begin its easing cycle next month. The dollar is mostly firmer today. The market has looked through the stronger than expected eurozone flash PMI--seeing the impact of the Olympics--and stalled the euro's rally, which lifted it to new highs for the year...
Read More »US Benchmark Payroll Revisions Over-Hyped? Dollar may Benefit from Buying on Fact after Being Sold on Rumors
Overview: The preliminary annual revision to US jobs growth is front and center today. It has gotten more play that usual, amid speculation of a historically large revision. Yet, the direct impact on policy may be minimal. Federal Reserve officials, including Chair Powell, acknowledged that the payroll growth may have been overstated. Moreover, the Fed's judgment of the labor market is not based on one element of the multidimensional labor market. Indeed, given the...
Read More »Yen Slumps, Germany Contracts, and the Week’s Key Events Still Lie Ahead
Overview: An unexpected decline in Japan's unemployment did not prevent a retreat in the yen to a four-day low ahead of tomorrow's data and conclusion of the BOJ meeting. The dollar has probed the JPY155 area where nearly $3.5 bln options expire today. An unexpected contraction Germany's Q2 GDP was offset in the aggregate by better French, and especially Spanish figures, leaving the euro consolidating in a narrow range (~$1.0815-$1.0835). The greenback is softer...
Read More »Market Boosts Odds of a BOE Rate Cut this Week
Overview: The US dollar is mostly firmer today ahead of what promises to be an eventful week. Sterling is bearing the brunt today, off a little less than half-of-a-cent as expectations creep up of a rate cut this week and Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves plays up the poor state of public finances left by the Conservative government. Sterling (and the euro's) five- and 20-day moving averages have crossed. The yen is mostly within the pre-weekend range. Outside a of...
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