Summary: Many are discussing a possible head-and-shoulders pattern in the Dollar Index. We are skeptical as other technical signals do not confirm. We recognize scope for disappointment over the border tax and the next batch of employment data, but European politics is the present driver and may not be alleviated soon. Here is the chart nearly everyone is discussing. The Dollar Index appears to be carving...
Read More »FX Daily, February 20: Marking Time on Monday
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, February 20(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ) - Click to enlarge FX Rates US markets are closed for the Presidents’ Day holiday, but it hasn’t prevented its pre-weekend gains giving a bullish tone to global equities. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ recovered from early weakness to close at new record levels before the weekend. Global equity markets are following suit today. The...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Number One Rule of the Game is Stay in the Game
Summary: Light economic calendar in the week ahead, but anticipation of US tax reform may underpin dollar and equities. European politics are in flux (France, Italy, Greece) and this may see spreads widen over Germany. Russia’s outlook was upgraded by Moody’s before the weekend, and China has announced no coal imports this year from North Korea. Brazil is expected to cut Selic by 75 bps. The week ahead is...
Read More »The Consensus Narrative does not Appreciate the Resilience of the System
Summary: The system of checks and balances is working. Populism-nationalism is not sweeping across the world. Even in US and UK, populist agenda was appropriated by the main-center right party. The attack on the body politics is activating the immune system in ways that the consensus narrative does not recognize. The high level of anxiety among investors is masked by the rise of equities. As political issues...
Read More »FX Daily, February 17: Greenback Stabilizes Ahead of the Weekend
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, February 17(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ) - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar is finishing the week on a steady to firmer note against the major currencies but the Japanese yen. The softer yields and weaker equity markets often are associated with a stronger yen. For the week as a whole, the dollar is mostly lower, though net-net it has held its own against sterling,...
Read More »FX Daily, February 16: Corrective Forces Emerge, Tempering the Dollar’s Rally
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, February 16(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ) - Click to enlarge GBP/CHF At the time of writing the pound is trading much closer to it’s annual low against the Swiss Franc than it’s annual high, and for reason for this can simply be put down to last years Brexit vote. We are now just weeks from the formal initiation of the Brexit process and interestingly the Pound is...
Read More »FX Daily, February 15: Yellen Helps the Dollar Extend Streak
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, February 15(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ) - Click to enlarge GBP/CHF The pound to Swiss Franc exchange rate remains in a volatile position susceptible to risks of deterioration from outside global events. The Franc being a safe haven currency leaves it at the mercy of some international events which can cause a flight to safety as investors use the Franc’s stability and...
Read More »Lies, Damn Lies, and Taxes
President Trump hinted at the end of last week that the Administration’s tax proposals would be aired in the next two or three weeks. This seems to be a signal of its inclusion in his address to both houses of Congress on February 28. This is not quite a State of the Union speech, but similar and precisely what Obama did in February 2009. Taxes are complicated. Much of the discussion so far has been on the border...
Read More »FX Daily, February 14: Markets Showing Little Love on Valentines
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, February 14(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ) - Click to enlarge The pound has seen a good start to the week making gains against all of the major currencies including the Swiss Franc. One of the reasons why the pound is supported appears to be the shift of attention from Brexit to other global changes to include the new Trump administration and the upcoming European...
Read More »What is Good for the Dollar is Bad for Gold
Summary: The Dollar Index is powering ahead, moving higher for the eighth consecutive session. Over the past 100 sessions, gold and the Dollar Index move in the opposite direction more than 90% of the time. The technical condition of gold is deteriorating. The Dollar Index is extending its advancing streak today into its eighth consecutive session. It is at its best level since just before Trump’s...
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