Market Overview
Sterling Pressured as Cross-Party Brexit Talks Collapsed, Sentiments also Weighed Down by Trade Worries
Sterling suffers heavy selling today as after Brexit negotiations between the UK government and opposition Labour formally collapsed. More uncertainties lie ahead as Prime Minister Theresa May will lay our the time line for stepping down, whether her Brexit deal would be approved by the Commons in June or...
Yen Mildly Higher as China Said to be Unkeen to Resume Trade Talks with US
Asian markets once again decouple from the US. While US stocks staged a strong rebound overnight, Asian indices are generally mixed. Weakness is indeed seen in China's Shanghai SSE while Yuan resumes recent free fall. There is some negative reaction to report that China is not eager to resume...
Sterling Extends Decline, Markets Shrug Trumps Huawei Threats
Market sentiments are generally steady today. Better than expected job and housing data lift Dollar mildly higher in early US session. Yen and Swiss Franc are trading of the softer side, paring some of this week's gains. While US moves to contain Huawei catch a lot of headlines, there...
Yen Firm as Risk Aversion Remains, Australian Dollar Lower on Unemployment Rate
US stocks recovered overnight on talks that Trump is going to delay auto tariffs decision, due May 18, by up to 6-months. All major stock indices staged mild recovery. German DAX also reversed earlier losses to close higher. However, such optimism wasn't carried through to Asian session today. In...
Yen and Franc Surge as German Yield in Free Fall on Italy Budget
Worries over Italy's budget takes center stage today. Italy 10-year yield hit as high as 2.812. On the other hand, German 10-year yield dived to as low as -0.131. US 10-year yield is also dragged down to as low as 2.364 so far. These are clearly signs of risk...
Australian Dollar Tumbles on Wage Growth Miss, China Data Point to More Slowdown
After some initial hesitation, Asian markets picked up some momentum and strengthen broadly, recovering some of this week's losses. Though, strength is so far limited with lots of uncertainty ahead. It's a fact that US-China trade war is dragging on for longer despite Trump's "positive" words. At the same...
Market Sentiments Stabilized, UK Job Data and German Confidence Ignored
Markets sentiments generally stabilized today as it seems that US and China are still will to continue trade negotiations. Nevertheless, otherwise some pleasing words, there is nothing concrete, not even a scheduled meeting. Further decline in German 10-year yield, deeper into negative territory, is a sign of nervousness among...
Yen and Franc Retreat as Sentiments Stablized Somewhat, But More Tariffs Still on the Way
Market sentiments somewhat stabilized in Asian session today. Major indices opened lower, following the selloff in US. But losses are so far rather limited. Indeed, in the currency markets, Yen and Swiss Franc are paring some of yesterday's strong gains while Gold also retreats back to below 1300. USD/CNH...
China Announced Retaliations as Nobody Read Trump’s Threat Tweets
Rallies in Yen and Swiss Franc accelerate while selloffs in commodity currencies intensify on US-China trade war today. Trump "stepped up" his pressure on China and warned the latter not to retaliate. But it's actually unsure who he was talking to as it's a known that Twitter is blocked...
Risk Aversion Staying after US and China Admitted the Gulf of Differences in Trade
Markets are back in risk averse mode in Asian session, with heavy selloff see in Chinese stocks and Yuan. Some noted that the gulf between US and China in trade talks have widened since last week's development. But the "gulf" has always been there. The negotiations just reached a...
US-China Trade War Escalated, No End in Sight as Principle Differences Remain
US-China trade war was the center of global focus last week. Markets were expecting a deal with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He visited Washington Instead Trump announced to escalate to full-blown level after China reneged on its commitments during the negotiations. Trump's decision was understandable even though it may...
Canadian Dollar Surges on Strong Job Data, Markets Shrug New Tariffs
A new round of US tariffs on Chinese imports took effect today and market reactions are rather muted. Trump stepped up his hard-line rhetorics and tweeted he's in no rush to make a trade deal. Yet investors shrug off such comments. Sterling also paid little attention to UK GDP...
Markets Steady as New Tariffs on China Take Effect, No Apparent Progress in US-China Negotiations
The financial markets are relatively steady today as new round of US-China trade war formally starts. Asian index are just mixed, with gains even seen in Hong Kong and Chinese stocks. In the currency markets, Dollar is currently trading as the weakest for today, followed by Sterling, and New...
New “Season” of US-China Trade War to Start Soon, Sentiments Weak
Risk aversion Dominates the market today as the world awaits a new "season" in US-China trade war drama. At this point, with Trump's hard line rhetoric, it's very doubt if Chinese Vice Premier Liu He could turn around the situation in his visit to Washington today. New rounds of...
Stocks in Free Fall Again as Trump Vows Not to Back Down on Tariffs
Risk aversion took a breath overnight in the US. But selloff in stock markets intensified again after Trump condemned that China "broke the deal" and pledged "we won't back down" on tariffs. It's so far highly doubtful if Chinese Vice Premier Liu He could turn around the situation in...
Sterling Tumbles on Brexit Impasse Again, Yen Stays Strong
Sterling suffers steep selling today after the UK Government conceded that there will be no Brexit compromise with opposition Labour any time soon. Thus, UK is prepared to participate in European election on May 23. New Zealand Dollar pared back much of the post RBNZ rate cut spike losses....
New Zealand Dollar Tumbles on RBNZ Dovish Rate Cut, Yen Firm as Global Stocks Tumble on Trade War
Yen remains the strongest one for today, extending this week's rally on risk aversion. Following steep decline in the US, Asian markets open broadly lower and stay pressured. Threat of full-blown trade war continues to weigh on investors' sentiments. New round of tariffs on Chinese imports is ready to...
Yen and Dollar Take Spotlights on Risk Aversion, Trade War Concerns Stay
Risk aversion remains the dominant theme in the global financial markets on trade war threats. In particular, German 10-year yield turns negative again on safe haven flows. Based on currently available information, the trigger for Trump's escalation was China's pull back on its commitments in the negotiation progress. And...
The Show of US-China Trade Talks Will Go On Despite Tariff Threats
Markets sentiments stabilized as more information was revealed regarding escalation of US-China trade tensions. The Chinese delegation will still travel to the US, with Vice Premier Liu He remaining as the lead negotiator. While there are still a lot of uncertainties with tariffs threats on, there is a least...
Yen and Dollar Stand Tall on US-China Trade War Threat
Imminent threat of full blown US-China trade war is the dominant theme in the global financial markets today. Chinese stocks were hardest hit, down the most in more than three years. Other Asian markets were generally down while Japan continued to enjoy its ultra-long 10-day holiday. European markets are...