Yen & Dollar Recover as Markets Turned Cautious, Trump-Kim Summit & USTR Testimony Watched
Yen and Dollar trades mildly firmer today as markets turn cautious ahead of Trump-Kim summit. But the biggest risks could lie on US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer's testimony at the House Ways and Means Committee. After Trump postponed trade truce deadline with China "indefinitely", there is added optimism on...
Sterling Breaks Key Resistance as UK Moves a Big Deal to Avoid No-Deal Brexit
Sterling rises broadly today and takes out key resistance against Dollar and Euro. UK has moved a big step in avoiding no-deal Brexit. Prime Minister Theresa May announced to hold three separate votes on Brexit deal, no-deal Brexit and delay. The key is, no-deal Brexit is no longer the...
Sterling Surges as BoE Hearing and May’s Cabinet Meeting Watched
Sterling rises broadly today on news that opposition labor is going to back second Brexit referendum. Meanwhile, the UK government is also considering delaying Brexit. The Pound stays firm entering in to European session and eyes will be on Prime Minister Theresa May's post Cabinet meeting update. Meanwhile, Sterling...
China’s Monetary Easing to Continue after End of Trade War
Market sentiment improves further as Trump sent more hints on trade truce extension and “substantial progress” on striking a trade deal with China. Indeed, his indication that a deal on “currency manipulation” has send renminbi (Chinese yuan) to the 7-month high against the US dollar. Meanwhile, China January money/...
Trump Knocks Down Oil Price after Shooting Up Chinese Stocks
Trump is the biggest market mover in an otherwise rather listless day. Chinese stocks surged 5.6% on news that trade truce deadline on March 1 is postponed. He's now planning a summit in Mar-a-Lago to seal the trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Later in the day, WTI...
Asian Markets Lifted Mildly as US-China Trade Truce Extends
Asian markets traded higher earlier today after Trump announced to extend trade truce with China beyond March 1. But there is no sustainable buying, except in China. Australian Dollar is lifted by positive sentiments. But New Zealand Dollar is even stronger after better than expected retail sales. On the...
Trade Optimism Boosted Risk Appetite, Dollar and Yen Ended Lower
Yen and Dollar closed the week generally lower on strong risk appetite. There was some sort of optimism over US-China trade negotiations throughout the week. And that helped DOW and China SSE extend recent rally. DOW closed above 26000 for the first time since November. SSE also closed above...
Sterling Sold off ahead of Weekend, Aussie Rebounds
Sterling is sold off broadly today as it's getting unlikely to have a Brexit breakthrough at the Sharm El-Sheikh summit on Sunday. Prime Minister Theresa May is highly unlikely to bring back any revised deal for parliament approval next Wednesday. Dollar follows as the second weakest as markets await...
Markets Await US-China Trade Talk Results, NZD Hammered by RBNZ
The financial markets are slightly firmer today but lacks conviction. All eyes are on the results of US-China negotiations in Washington. There were rumors that the teams are drafting MOUs, and China pledged to increase agricultural purchases. But no details were leaked regarding the real core issues, in particular...
US Crude Oil Inventory Increased Less than Expected. Refined Stocks Declined
The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks fell -2.49 mmb to 1263.03 mmb in the week ended February 15 Crude oil inventory added +3.67 mmb to 454.51 mmb (consensus: +3.08 mmb). Inventories jumped +3.39 mmb in...
Dollar Weakens Again on Data Disappointment, Eyes Trade Talk Results
Dollar turns weaker again in early US session after data disappointment. Also, the USDA reported that US farm exports to China will suffer steep decline. Business in the US are eager to know more about the progress of US-China trade negotiation. There are reports that China offers to buy...
Crude Oil Price’s Rally Likely Short-lived. Outlook Dim as Global Growth Slowdown Persists
Crude oil prices rallied, sending the WTI and Brent benchmarks to the highest level since November 2017. Investors shrugged off rising US shale rig counts and higher inventory, but focused on hopes of resolution to US-China trade war. Adding to the optimism was OPEC compliance and ongoing sanctions against...
Australian Dollar Tumbles on RBA Cut Talks & Dalian Coal Import Ban
Australian Dollar was the center of focus in Asian session today. Stellar job data provided some brief boost to the Aussie. It was then hammered by talks of two RBA rate cuts this year. Selloff accelerates further on news that China's Dalian ports banned the countries' coal imports. In...
FOMC Minutes – Balance Sheet Reduction Likely Ends This Year
In the minutes for the January FOMC meeting, the members elaborated the rationale for their dovish shift. While affirming solid growth and the resilient employment market, the members focused on the softening inflation and were concerned about the “muted” price pressure. Together with rising uncertainty from aboard, including rapid...
Dollar Recover Mildly ahead of FOMC Minutes, Sterling Pares Gains
Dollar and Yen recover mildly today but remains the two weakest for the week. For now, there is little news regarding the US-China trade talks in Washington. Focus will turn to minutes of January 29/30 FOMC meeting first. There Fed made a drastic turn and declare it will be...
Dollar Turning Bearish on Fed Outlook and Yield Curve Inversion
Dollar was sold off broadly overnight, as dragged down by falling treasury yields. Also, recent comments from Fed officials continued to affirm the "patient" monetary policy stance. While the greenback is trying to recover in Asian session today, there is no clear follow through buying. The greenback will look...
Dollar Jumps as World Trade Outlook Worsened, Sterling Even Stronger
Sterling surges broadly in European session and it's trading as the strongest one for today so far. There is some support by slightly better than expected wage growth. Also, there could be some buying on expectation for the parliament to take over control on Brexit at a later stage,...
Dollar & Yen Recover as Markets Turn Cautious, US-China Trade Talks Resume Today
Dollar and Yen trade generally higher today as Asian markets turned mixed. The strong rally in Asian stocks yesterday was based on optimism on US-China trade negotiation. But such optimism has quickly turn into cautiousness. Another round of negotiation will start in Washington today, followed by high-level meeting later...
Euro and Sterling Strong for Today, But No Key Resistance Broken
Yen and Dollar are pressured for the whole day, and remain so in early US session. Risk appetite in Asian markets was boosted by optimism over US-China trade talks. There is hope that the meetings in Washington this week will eventually yield a memorandum of understanding of some sort,...
Asian Markets Boosted by Trade Optimism Again, Yen Broadly Lower
Yen remains the weakest one as another week starts with solid risk appetite. Sentiments towards US-China trade negotiation turned optimistic again after positive statements from both sides. Trump also hailed there were "big progress" during last week's meetings in Beijing. More talks are scheduled this week in Washington to...