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Market Overview

Yen Continues to Shine as Sentiments Weighed Down by Italy and Trade Tension

Italy political turmoil and trade tensions are weighing on market sentiments on two fronts. Italy will now likely go into a snap election soon. And the eurosceptic parties will frame that as referendum on Euro membership. US President Donald Trump reignites trade spat with China while NAFTA negotiation is...

Euro Pared Loss after Steep Selloff as 5 Star Di Maio Calmed Markets

While Euro remains the worst performer for today, selling slowed and it recovered much ground as in early US session. Investors seemed to be calmed by Five Star leader Di Maio's facebook comment that he never see leaving the Euro. Also, there are reassessment on how bad the situation...

Yen Extends Rally as 10 Year Yield Breaches 2.9%

Yen is staying strong today and it's extending recent rally. Falling major European and US treasury yields and risk aversion are the main factors. German 10 yield bun yield closed at 0.353% yesterday's concern. That's nearly half of this month's high at 0.651%. US 10 year yield's decline continues...

Euro Decline Resumes as Italy is Facing New Election Risks

Euro is back under broad based selling pressure after an ex-IMF official accepted the mandate to form an interim government. While traders were relieved that the anti-establishment eurosceptic coalition government couldn't be formed, they're now facing uncertainty of a new election. EUR/USD has already broken last week's low at...

Euro Rebounds as Markets Cheer Italy Political Turmoil, Yen and Franc Retreat

Euro rebounds strongly and broadly today as the markets cheer political turmoils in Italy. On the other hand, Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen are trading as the weakest as sentiments improved. There appears to be some breakthrough again between US and North Korea as South Korean President Moon Jae-in...

Yen Surged Again as Italy, Protectionism, Geopolitics and Central Bank Expectations Weighed on Yields

Yen ended as the strongest one last week followed by Swiss Franc. Meanwhile Sterling was the weakest one, followed by Euro, Canadian and then US Dollar. A number of factors were behind such development and they're all inter-related. The most direct one is decline in major European and US...

Italy Concerns Hammer German Yield and Euro, Canadian Dollar Falls With Oil Price

Canadian Dollar, Euro, to a lesser extend Sterling, are the clear losers today. The Loonie is dragged down by oil price as WTI drops through 70 handle. It reaches as low as 68.96 so far on news that OPEC and Russia are considering to raise production. On the other...

Markets Calm as North Korea Responded Diplomatically to Trump’s Unilateral Cancellation of Summit

Markets are rather steady in Asian session today. Major forex pairs and crosses are staying in yesterday's range. Dollar is a bit firmer entering into European session. But there is no follow through buying yet. US President Donald Trump's cancellation of the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong...

Trade Wars and Auto Tariffs Dominate the Markets, 10 Year Yield Losing 3% Handle

Sterling recovers mildly today as there was finally a piece of better than expected key data from the UK. Nonetheless, Swiss Franc outshines Sterling as the strongest one for today. And the Pound is still the weakest one for the week, followed by Euro. Canadian Dollar, on the other...

Yen Stays Strong on Risk Aversion and Trump Pushes for Auto Import Tariffs

Yen strengthens broadly today and remains the strongest one for the week. New wave of risk aversion trades was triggered by news that US President Donald Trump is using national security as excuse again to study imposition of tariffs on import cars. Nikkei closed down -1.11% at 22437.01 as...

Yen Crosses Dive with Treasury Yields on Risk Aversion, UK and Eurozone Data Misses

Yen surges broadly today as driving by steep decline in major European and US treasury yields. German 10 year bund yield dropped to as low as 0.497, comparing to prior day's close at 0.559, and it's now at 0.500. UK 10 year gilt yield reached as low as 1.446,...

Yen Surges Broadly Risk Appetite Fades, GBPJPY on Shaky Ground ahead of UK CPI

Yen surges broadly today and is trading as the strongest one, followed by Swiss Franc. On the other hand, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Dollar are under heavy selling pressure. The boost from optimism in China-US trade talk faded quickly and the markets are back in risk-off mode. DOW...

Sterling’s Rebound Lacks Steam as BoE Carney Offered No Inspiration

The forex markets are lacking a clear direction today. Commodity currencies were generally higher earlier today but there was no follow through buying. Instead, as in early US session, the Swiss Franc is the strongest one. Dollar is retreating quite notably since yesterday. But again, there is no follow...

Australian Dollar Leads Commodity Currencies Higher on Strong Risk Appetite

Global markets are blessed by strong risk appetite this week so far. DOW closed up 298.2 pts or 1.21% at 25013.29. S&P 500 also gained 0.74% while NASDAQ jumped 0.54%. FTSE jumped to record high at 7859.17 while CAC 40 also extended recent up trend to 5637.5. These were...

Sterling Lower ahead of Important Week Brexit Talks, CPI and GDP Revision

The development in the forex markets are pretty much unchanged. Australian, Canadian and US Dollar remain the strongest ones for the day. On the other hand, Japanese Yen and British Pound have been taking turns to be the weakest. Receding risks of US-China trade war is a key focus...

Yen Lower as Receding Trade War Fears Lifts Risk Appetite, Dollar Extending Rally

Yen suffers broad based selling in today as lifted by return of risk appetite. Asian equities trade generally higher on receding fear of US-China trade war. The joint statement released on Saturday is seen as a "vow" to avoid trade war. It's affirmed by comments from US Treasury Secretary...

USD Index Futures Recorded Net Length, First Time since March

As we expected, USD Index futures turned to NET LENGTH of 18 contracts in the week ended May 15. This was driven by increasing pessimism over other major currencies. According to CFTC's Commitments of Traders report, reduction in speculative long positions greatly surpassed that of short for EUR futures,...

Dollar Rally Limited by a Number of Political Factors, Swiss Franc Ended as Strongest

Swiss Franc ended last week as the strongest one, very much thanks to the selloff in EUR/CHF. Uncertainty over the EU policy of the new Italian government sent Euro broadly lower, which ended as the weakest. Despite surge in 10 year yield to 7-year high, Dollar could only extend...

Euro Weighed Down by Italy, CAD Lower on Data, Dollar Back in Spotlight

Dollar takes back the driving street in early US session as it jumps higher against all other major currencies. Swiss Franc is probably the only one that can counter Dollar's strength, as helped by the selloff in EUR/CHF. Euro is weighed down by news that the populist parties of...

Canadian Dollar Lower on NAFTA Deadlock, Awaits CPI and Retail Sales

Dollar remains the strongest one for the week as supported by treasury yields. 10 year yield extended recent rally to close at 3.109 overnight, and it hits as high as 3.127 in Asian session. 30 year yield also jumped to near 30 year high at 3.246, breaking a key...