Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.21% to 1.0964 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, December 13(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The combination of a US-China trade deal and exit polls showing the Tories securing a majority in the House of Commons boosted risk assets, sent sterling flying, and the euro sharply higher. Separately, the Fed stepped up its efforts to make as smooth as possible funding over the...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: An Eventful Week Ahead
The US employment report on the first Friday of December usually marks the unofficial end of the year. The desks are often lighter and dealers are loath to jeopardize the year’s bonuses in thin and often erratic markets. This year is an exception. Next week features the first ECB meeting with Lagarde at the helm and the final FOMC meeting of the year. The UK and China have their monthly data dumps—a concentration of high-frequency data. The US reports both CPI...
Read More »FX Daily, November 11: Dollar Consolidates and Equities Follow Asia Lower
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.23% to 1.0964 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, November 11(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Escalating violence in Hong Kong and the continued fall in Chinese producer prices weighed on equities in Asia Pacific trading. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index has risen nearly 7% during the five-week rally and is off to a weak start this week. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell around 2.6%,...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Same Three Drivers in the Week Ahead but Changing Tones
Three themes have dominated the investment climate: US-China tensions, Brexit, and the policy response to the disinflationary forces. None have been resolved, which contributes to the uncertainty for businesses, households, and investors. However, the negativity that has prevailed is receding a little. It begins with the most substantive progress on Brexit in months, but also entails a possible new tariff truce between the US and China. Indeed, we irreverently...
Read More »FX Daily, June 14: Waning Risk Appetite Going into the Weekend
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.02% at 1.1201 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, June 14(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Worries about an escalation in the Gulf following US accusations that Iran was behind yesterday’s two attacks and weaker growth impulses, while trade tensions remain high, are dampening risk appetites ahead of the weekend. Equities are...
Read More »FX Daily, May 03: Ahead of US Jobs Report, the Greenback Remains Firm
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.13% at 1.1374 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, May 03(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The US April jobs data stand before the weekend, and the greenback is holding on to most of yesterday’s gains as participants wait for the report. Equities in the Asia Pacific region were mixed without leadership from China and Japan, where...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Three Highlights in the Week Ahead
Three events next week will shape the investment climate. The Federal Reserve meets and will update its forecasts and guidance. The British House of Commons may vote for a third time on the Withdrawal Bill before Prime Minister May heads of the EU Summit to ask for an extension of the UK leaving the EU. The eurozone sees the flash March PMI, with great hope that the green shoots of spring will be evident. There is...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: For the Millionth Time, Markets Exaggerate
The S&P 500 fell more than 12% in a few weeks. The 10-year Treasury yield fell nearly 40 bp. There were cries that the sky was falling. A recession is imminent, we are warned by prognosticators. The Fed went ahead and raised interest rates on March 21, 2018, and the S&P 500 proceeded to gap lower the next day and continued to sell-off the following day. Investors did not like the unanimous decision. Yet far from...
Read More »After May’s divorce deal: the road ahead for Brexit
But significant political challenges lie ahead before the 29 March deadline for Brexit. Sterling likely to be in the spotlight for several months. Theresa May’s cabinet has approved her divorce deal with the European Union (EU). A few cabinet secretaries have resigned, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab because the deal keeps the UK in a transitory ‘customs union’ with the EU, which in his view continues to give...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Next Week’s Drivers
It is a testament to the Federal Reserves communication and the evolution of investors’ understanding that we can say that the rate hike that the central bank will deliver is not as important as what it says. A rate hike is a foregone conclusion. According to the CME’s model, there is about an 85% chance of December hike discounted as well. The effective Fed funds rate is 1.92% with the target range of 1.75%-2.00%. The...
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