Overview: The appetite for risk seen earlier this week is fading. Yesterday’s US equity gains helped lift most of the large markets in the Asia Pacific region, but China’s CSI 300 fell 1.1%, giving back most of this week’s gains as credit issues from the property sector haunt sentiment. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is trading heavily ahead of the ECB meeting outcome. US futures are also trading off. Benchmark 10-year yields are firmer with the US Treasury near 3.05%. European...
Read More »Calm before the Storm?
Overview: The biggest rally in the S&P 500 in three weeks helped lift global equities today. The MSCI Asia Pacific index rose for the third consecutive session, the longest streak this month. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is up for a fourth day and is at its best level since mid-June. US futures are firmer. The rally in equities has not spurred a rise in rates. The US 10-year yield is back below 3%, and European benchmark yields are mostly 5-8 bp lower, though signs that a...
Read More »The Dollar is on its Back Foot
Overview: The dollar’s downside correction continues today, helped by hawkish signals from the Reserve Bank of Australia and unnamed sources who have played up the chances of a 50 bp hike by the European Central Bank on Thursday. Asia Pacific equities were mixed, and mostly lower after the losses in the US yesterday. The prospect of a more aggressive ECB is weighing on European equities. The Stoxx 600 is slightly lower after rallying 2.7% in the past two sessions....
Read More »Is the Dollar Tired? Did Fed Frenzy Peak? A Look at the FX Price Action
The price exchange in the foreign exchange market was a story separate from the macro developments. The euro traded below parity for the first time since 2002. The yen fell to its lowest level against the dollar in 22 years. Sterling, the dollar-bloc currencies, fell to their lowest levels since 2020. Yes, the stronger than expected rise in the US June CPI, above 9%, helped spur speculation that the Fed could raise rates 100 bp in a couple of weeks. Still, the...
Read More »Market Prices in More Aggressive Fed AND is more Confident of Rate Cuts by the End 2023
Overview: The higher-than-expected US CPI and the strong expectation of a 100 bp hike by the Fed in two weeks is propelling the dollar higher. It jumped to almost JPY139.40 and the euro is off more than cent from yesterday's high (though holding above parity). Even where there has been favorable economic news, like the strong jobs report in Australia, is failed to dent the greenback. Most of the large bourses in the Asia Pacific regions advanced. Hong Kong is a...
Read More »Euro Parity Holds ahead of US CPI
Overview: The US dollar is consolidating with a slight downside bias ahead of the June CPI report. The euro held above $1.00 but is still pinned in the trough. The rate hike by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand failed to have much impact. On the other hand, the JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index is lower for the fourth consecutive session. Most of the large markets in the Asia Pacific region rose, led by a 2.7% rally in Taiwan after the government promised to...
Read More »Euro Tests Parity
Overview: Equities remain under pressure as investors contemplate tighter financial conditions and the risks of recession. Most of the large equity markets in the Asia Pacific region sold-off, led by a 2.7% drop in Taiwan. Australia managed to buck the trend and managed a small gain. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is off by about 0.2% near midday after a 0.5% loss yesterday. US futures are lower and are threatening a gap lower opening for the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Bonds are...
Read More »Monday Blues
Overview: The US dollar is bid against most currencies today, encouraged not just by good news in the US and poor news out of China, where Covid is flaring up and new social restrictions are fared, while Macau has been lockdown for a week. The energy crisis in Europe is fanning fears of a recession before the ECB lift rates above zero. Japanese markets bucked the global move and advanced, which it often does after the government wins an upper house election. The...
Read More »Pendulum of Sentiment Swings Back against Imminent Recession Fears Despite Curve Inversion
High political drama in recent days included the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe and the resignation of UK Prime Minister Johnson. Yet, the capital markets in general, and the currency market in particular, were not roiled. This is because investors have their sights elsewhere. The dollar surged. It is partly a function of bad news elsewhere. Japan's easy monetary policy stance sticks out like a sore thumb, and the May data showed the economic...
Read More »FX Daily, July 8: Abe’s Assassination Shocks the World
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.14% to 0.9906 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, July 8(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge Overview: News that former Prime Minister Abe was assassinated while campaigning in Japan ahead of the weekend election shocked the nation and world. The immediate market impact looks minimal. Asia Pacific equities mostly advanced. Chinese stocks were the main exception and generally underperformed the...
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