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Market Overview

Aussie Tumbles as Risk Aversion Continues on Global Coronavirus Pandemic Fear

Risk aversion continues in Asian session today, following the worst 2-day percentage drop in DOW in two years. Nevertheless, panic is no spreading to other markets so far. Gold is staying in consolidation below 7-year high of 1689, currently hovering around 1645. In the currency markets, Australian is currently...

Markets in Digestion Mode, Awaiting Next Coronavirus Development

Global financial markets turned mixed today, digesting yesterday's steep selloff. Investors are holding their bets again, awaiting next development regarding global outbreak of China's Wuhan coronavirus. There is no sign of a sustainable recovery European stocks, but US futures point to higher open. In the currency markets, Sterling is...

Risk Aversion Dominates as China Coronavirus Spreads Quickly Globally

Risk aversion dominates the financial markets as global outbreak of China's Wuhan coronavirus worsens. DOW suffered the third-worst point drop in history overnight. 30-year yield hit new record low while 10-year yield also hit 3-year low. Though, Asian markets turned mixed, except that Nikkei is in deep red coming...

European Markets Crash on Coronavirus Outbreak in Italy, Risk Aversion Intensifies

Global markets are clearly in deep risk-off mode today. In particular, with the sudden explosion in coronavirus cases in Italy (150 infections and 4 deaths), European stocks are suffering their biggest plunge since 2016. Italian stocks leads the decline, down -4.5%. South Korea is even worse (833 cases and...

Risk Aversion Deepens as China Coronavirus Spreads Quickly to other Countries

Risk aversion deepens in global financial markets today as China's Wuhan coronavirus is clearly spreading to other countries. Gold surges to seven-year high on safe haven flow while Asian stocks are generally pressured. The currency markets are relatively quiet though as major pairs and crosses settle back into Friday's...

Safe Haven Flows into Gold and Treasuries on China Coronavirus Contagion

Outbreak of China's Wuhan coronavirus continued to be a big market mover last week. According to China's own numbers, new cases in the country seemed to have slowed even though new daily deaths maintained at around 100 level. What's worrying is that contagion to other countries, in particular Asia,...

European Majors Recover after UK and Eurozone PMIs

European majors recover today following better than expected PMI data from UK and Eurozone. Concerns of China's coronavirus hasn't materialized into business confidence data yet. On the other hand, commodity currencies are generally lower, followed by Dollar. For the week, while New Zealand and Australian Dollars are among the...

Markets Worried as Coronavirus Outbreak Widens, Aussie Decline Continues

Market moods turned sour again today as outbreak of the coronavirus seems to be getting more serious outside China. In particular, South Korea cases surged by 52 to 156. In China, there were 889 new confirmed cases yesterday, with total accumulated cases rose to 75465. China's Science and Technology said...

Dollar Firm after Solid Job and Manufacturing Data, Selling Focus Turns to Sterling

Dollar remains generally firm today as supported by solid job and manufacturing data. Euro's selloff seem to have temporary passed a near term climate and focuses turn to other major currencies. Australian Dollar suffer deep selling after job data, dragging New Zealand Dollar lower. Meanwhile, Yen is closing following...

Aussie Tumbles as Unemployment Rate Surged, Yen Weak on Coronavirus Contagion

Australian Dollar is in free fall in Asian session today as surge in unemployment rate adds to case of April RBA cut. Sentiments are also generally weak as markets disapprove China's tiny rate cut. Instead, investors are concerned with sign of contagion of Wuhan coronavirus to other Asian countries,...

Sentiments Stabilized on China Stimulus Hope, Yen Falls on Political Pressure

Yen is under broad based selling pressure today as sentiments somewhat improved with expectations of more stimulus from China to counter the impact of Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Additionally, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is under increasing political pressure on handling the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Sterling...

Markets Stabilized as Focus Turns to FOMC Minutes, Dollar Resilient

Yen, Swiss Franc and Dollar weaken mildly today as risk markets stabilized. On the other hand, commodity currencies recover generally. But the movements are so far limited. Investors remain vigilant on the development of China's Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, but there is no breakthrough in either direction yet. FOMC minutes...

Euro Tumbles Again as Economic Sentiments Deteriorates Sharply, Markets Stays Risk-Off

Markets remain in risk-off mode today after Apple's warning that China's Wuhan coronavirus outbreak would hurt sales. Deep deterioration in German economic sentiment also reflect the impact on confidence. Investors will likely remain fragile until there is sign of full operation resumption in China. But that won't happen soon....

Risk-off after Apple Warning, Euro Extending Decline ahead of German ZEW

Markets are back in risk off mode in Asia after Apple's warning. While Wuhan coronavirus cases in China might appear to have slowed, investors remain vigilant. More risks lie ahead with German economic sentiment data featured today. For now, commodity currencies are the weakest ones as led by Australian...

Markets Quiet With US on Holiday, Investors Shrug PBoC Stimulus

Markets are generally quite today with US on holiday. PBoC's stimulus measure might have boosted Chinese stocks higher. Reactions from other markets are rather muted. Investors remain generally cautious as this week's February sentiment data will reveal how much China's Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak is hurting confidence. In the currency...

Yen and Nikkei Lower on GDP Contraction, Pessimistic Outlook

Asian markets are mixed as another week starts. Nikkei weakens, together with Yen, as data showed the Japan economy suffered worst contraction in six years. Singapore Strait Times is also mildly lower after the government downgrade this year's growth forecast. Yet, China and Hong Kong stocks are trading mildly...

Euro Collapsed on Coronavirus Spillover Fears, Next Two Weeks Crucial

While China's Wuhan coronavirus outbreak remained a major focus last week and triggered much volatility. But overall, stocks investors seemed not too bothered, with US indices continuing record runs. Other major markets are mixed only FTSE and Nikkei ended the week lower only. Gold closed higher but is well...

Dollar Mixed after Shrugging Off Retail Sales, Euro Trying to Recover

Economic data released today are generally ignored by the markets. Dollar is mixed, paying little attention to US retail sales. Euro recovers mildly today on short profit taking ahead of weekend. But it remains the weakest one for the week. Swiss Franc and Yen are trading as the next...

Euro Selloff Deepens on Growth Concern, No Sign of Bottoming Yet

Euro remains the weakest one for the week as selloff deepens. It seems that markets believe the coronavirus outbreak in China would hurt Eurozone's economy more, in particular the export led German economy. Optimism of recovery this year is dented. Swiss Franc is somewhat dragged down by the common...

Risk Off Again as China Reports Confusingly Large Wuhan Coronavirus Cases, Sterling Jumps on Cabinet Shuffle

Global stock markets tumble today after China reported a strong daily increase of 15152 Wuhan coronavirus cases on February 12. That was a huge difference from 2015 new cases reported for a day ago. However, the mass difference was due to change in counting method in Hubei province, which...