Markets Hold Breath as US-China Trade Talks Resume
The cautious optimism in Asia failed to spill into European markets, as investors turned cautious ahead of today's US-China trade talks in London. While no one expects a sweeping resolution to the broader trade conflict, hopes are centered on incremental progress—particularly around rare earths.
Kevin Hassett, Director of the US...
Markets Eye US-China Trade Talks for Fresh Catalyst
Asian equity markets opened the week on a positive note, supported by cautious optimism surrounding the high-stakes US-China trade negotiations in London. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, are meeting Chinese counterparts as efforts to revive dialogue intensify. The...
Job Data and US-China Rapprochement Fuel Dollar Rebound Prospects
Risk sentiment improved last week, driven by the solid US non-farm payroll report that helped ease fears of a deepening slowdown. Adding to the optimism was a thaw in US-China relations. While no concrete breakthrough emerged, the fact that both sides were willing to engage again offered some relief...
Dollar Rebounds as NFP and Wages Beat Forecasts, Tariff Impact Yet to Materialize
Dollar staged a firm comeback today following slightly better-than-expected non-farm payroll figures, with job growth at 139k and wage growth coming in strong at 0.4% mom. While not a blowout report, the data was enough to alleviate immediate concerns of a sharp labor market slowdown. Stock futures also advanced,...
Markets Eye NFP as Trump-Xi Call Fails to Lift Sentiment
There was a fleeting uptick in sentiment overnight after US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling the conversation “very positive” and announcing renewed lower-level trade talks. However, the initial optimism quickly faded, with major US indexes reversing early gains to end the session...
Euro Firms as ECB Lagarde Stays Confident; Silver Surges on Shift from US Assets
Euro surged against Dollar after ECB President Christine Lagarde struck a relatively confident tone in her post-meeting press conference. She downplayed immediate trade war fallout, stating that U.S. tariffs would likely impact growth more in 2026, by which time EU fiscal expansion—particularly military spending—would help cushion the blow.
Also, Lagarde...
Markets Unshaken by Weak US Data, Await Guidance from ECB
The US markets remain remarkably steady overnight despite a string of soft US economic releases overnight. Disappointing job and services data failed to trigger any meaningful selloff in equities, while Dollar edged slightly lower. Market pricing for Fed policy remains broadly unchanged, with a 96% chance of a hold...
Muted Trading Persists as Trump Pressures Fed after ADP Miss
Trading remains subdued as markets drift into the US session, with little conviction across asset classes. US futures dipped slightly after a dismal ADP employment report showing only 37k job additions in May, sharply below expectations. Still, the reaction was contained, with no clear evidence of a broad risk-off...
Subdued Markets Drift as Tariff Tensions Resurface and BoC Decision Looms
Global markets remain subdued as investors struggle to find a firm direction. US stocks closed higher overnight, with NASDAQ extending to fresh multi-week highs, suggesting some resilience in tech-led risk appetite. Asian equities followed suit to some extent, but the overall momentum has been tepid.
In the currency markets, Dollar...
Euro Slips on Softer CPI, But Trading Largely Listless
The currency markets remain largely listless today, with all major pairs and crosses still trapped within last week's ranges. Euro edged slightly lower following the release of Eurozone CPI data, which showed inflation falling below the ECB’s 2% target for the first time since September last year. The core...
Dollar Struggles, Gold Rally Stalls, Trade Uncertainty Caps Conviction
Global markets remain mixed, reflecting a cautious investor mood amid heightened trade uncertainty and a lack of clear directional drivers. US stocks closed modestly higher overnight, reversing losses from earlier in the session. Asian equities broadly followed the rebound, seemingly brushing off disappointing Chinese manufacturing data. The overall tone,...
Trade Tensions Drag Dollar While Oil Jumps on OPEC+ Hold
Risk sentiment remains fragile as the US session gets underway, with equity markets under pressure from renewed tariff threats. European stocks are particularly heavy after US President Donald Trump threatened to double tariffs on imported steel. UK equities, however, are finding some support from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement...
Cautious Mood in Asia as Markets Eye Trump-Xi Trade Call and Steel Tariff Fallout
Asian markets traded with a mild risk-off tone to start the week, though overall activity remains subdued due to holidays in China, Malaysia, and New Zealand. Nikkei is under pressure, weighed down by rising US-China trade tensions and US President Donald Trump's announcement of steeper steel tariffs. Hong Kong...
Trade Chaos Likely to Linger, June to Bring More Uncertainty
Markets endured another week of trade confusion, with sentiment swinging sharply on alternating headlines. As a result, investor confidence remains fragile, with markets finding little footing as the tug-of-war between hopes of progress and fear of escalation continues.
While the 90-day reciprocal tariff truce is now in effect, its second...
Trade Rhetoric Sours Sentiment Again as US-China Tensions Resurface
Market sentiment took another bearish turn today following renewed rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who accused China of having "totally violated" its preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. The comments, delivered via social media, were echoed by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a CNBC interview, where he expressed...
Markets Turn Cautious Again on Trade Stalemates; Euro Picking Up Momentum in Some Crosses
Asian markets returned to a risk-off tone today, with investor sentiment once again weighed down by the lack of clarity on the US tariff front and the apparent stalling of key trade negotiations. The week’s earlier relief rally following the U.S. court ruling against President Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs...
Dollar Reverses as Markets Doubt Lasting Impact of US Tariff Ruling
Dollar initially surged after the US Court of International Trade ruled against President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariff orders. Market participants initially interpreted the ruling as a potential turning point in the US trade policy, fueling a rally in the greenback and risk assets.
However, the greenback's rally proved short-lived....
Dollar Surges as US Court Strikes Down Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs; Risk Appetite Rebounds
Dollar's rebound gather extra momentum today, after the US Court of International Trade struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs, giving markets a fresh catalyst. The court ruled that the reciprocal tariffs imposed in April across multiple countries under claims of correcting trade imbalances exceeded presidential authority under...
Dollar Recovery Slows Ahead of FOMC Minutes as Market Seeks Clarity
Dollar’s near-term rebound is still intact as markets head into US session. But appears to be fading as traders await fresh catalysts. While the greenback has benefited from stabilizing sentiment, there’s a lack of conviction behind the move, particularly with no data releases of note today. Markets are now...
Dollar Rides Optimism Wave; RBNZ Lifts Kiwi, Aussie Ignores CPI Surprise
Dollar's broad-based rebound gained further momentum in Asian session today. The turnaround in risk appetite has been key in lifting the greenback, which had come under pressure amid recent tariff tensions and soft economic signals. The rebound is also visible across asset classes, US equities have reversed losses tied...