Australian Dollar Tumbles on Dovish RBA Minutes, Sterling Weakens Too
Australian Dollar drops broadly today after RBA minutes confirm that more rate cuts are underway. Additional, worse than expected house price data gives the Aussie more selling pressure. Sterling is not far away as second weakest, ahead of the next round of UK Conservative leadership voting today. For now,...
RBA Minutes Indicate More Rate Cuts In Coming Months
RBA, in its June meeting minutes, explicitly noted that the policy rate would be lower. This message came in more dovish than market expectations. The major concern remained in the lackluster improvement in the labor market. RBA cut the bank rate by -25 bps to 1.25% in June. The...
BOE Preview – Record Low Interest Rate Remains Intact Despite Recent Hawkish Comments
We expect BOE to leave the policy rate unchanged at 0.75% this week. It would also keep the size of the asset purchase program at 435B pound. Although there has been some noise pushing for a rate hike, we expect the votes on both measures to be unanimous.
UK’s economy...
Euro Rises on Strong Wage Growth, Dollar Softens on Weak Data
Euro strengthens broadly in mixed forex markets today. Record wage growth in Q1 is a factor under-pinning the common currency. Poor US economic data also helps. But at this point, strength mainly centers in crosses, against Aussie most notably. Meanwhile, New Zealand Dollar is the second strongest one for...
Dollar Firm as Markets Skeptical on Fed Insurance Rate Cut Path
Dollar remains generally firm in quiet Asian markets today. The greenback continues to be supported by expectation that FOMC won't deliver any "insurance" rate cut this week. Instead, Fed policy makers will look at the upcoming developments before making a decision, in particular the result of G20 summit regarding...
FOMC Preview – Preparing for Rate Cut
The Fed could make a number of changes in the upcoming June FOMC meeting, to pave way for a rate cut in as soon as July. We would focus on three things: updated economic projections, adjustment in the forward guidance and median dot plot. It is likely that the...
CFTC Commitments of Traders – Bets on USD Futures Trimmed Further Ahead of FOMC Meeting
The CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended June 11 suggests that bets for US dollar continued to fall on both long and short sides. NET LENGTH in USD Index dropped -2 245 contracts to 23 989. Both speculative long and short positions decreased during the week....
CFTC Commitments of Traders – Net Speculative Length for Crude Oil Futures Declined for Seven Weeks In A Row
According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended June 11, NET LENGTH for crude oil futures dived -48 513 contracts to 351 655 for the week. Speculative long positions plunged -23 490 contracts while shorts jumped +25 023. More traders were speculating weaker oil prices...
Dollar Rebounded Strongly as Focus Turns to FOMC Meeting
Dollar ended as the strongest one last week as economic data from the US affirmed that Fed is in no rush to deliver the "insurance" rate cut this month, that is, on June 19. Yen was the second strongest as US and German treasury yields stays pressured. Canadian Dollar...
China’s Economic Data Prove Economy Slowing Down. PBOC Could Follow FOMC in Cutting Interest Rate
Despite the mixed headline readings, China's macroeconomic data in May were in line with our view that the country's economy continues to slow.
Growth in industrial production fell to 5% y/y, missing consensus of , and April's, 5.4%. IP growth in May marks the lowest growth since 2002. Moreover, this...
Dollar Rises Broadly on Retail Sales and Industrial Production
Dollar jumps broadly in early US session after solid gain in retail sales in May, with upward revision in April figures. Yen is following as the second strongest on risk aversion, followed by Canadian Dollar. Geopolitical tensions heightened after US blame Iran for attacks on oil tankers yesterday. New...
Geopolitical Tensions and Poor China Down Weigh on Sentiments, Gold Shines and Yen Jumps
The financial markets are generally weighed down by risk aversion. Geopolitical tensions heightened after US blamed Iran for involving in the oil tanker attacks near the entrance to the Persian Gulf on Thursday. But Iranian officials denied any involvement and reiterated calls for a regional dialogue. Adding to that...
SNB Maintained Pledge to Intervene FX Market if SNF Too Strong. Question is How to React if Fed and ECB Ease Further
In its quarterly meeting, SNB announced to leave the policy rate – the interest rate on sight deposits, unchanged at -0.75%. On a technical change, the central bank introduced a new benchmark – the SNB policy rate- in replacement of the 3-month LIBOR. The members acknowledged recent strength in...
Swiss Franc Lifted by Attacks on Oil Tankers, Shrugs SNB
Attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman is the biggest news in early US session. WTI oil price is up 3.5% and is back pressing 53 handle after dipping to 50.85 yesterday. The news is both supportive Swiss Franc and Canadian Dollar, which are currently the...
Australian Dollar Dives as Job Data Gives Nod to More RBA Rate Cuts
Australian Dollar tumbles broadly today as weak employment data solidifies the case for more RBA rate cut ahead. The headline number might be strong but the details are generally weak. The Aussie is also generally pressured by mild risk aversion in Asian markets. For now, Dollar is following Aussie...
US Inventory Increased for Another Week as Economic Outlook Remains Hazy
The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks rose another week, by +9.56 mmb to 1317.18 mmb in the week ended June 7. Crude oil inventory gained +2.21 mmb to 485.47 mmb (consensus: -0.48 mmb). Inventories rose...
Dollar Survives Slight US CPI Miss, But No Turnaround Yet
The forex markets are rather mixed today. Dollar suffered very brief selling after CPI miss. But the greenback quickly regains footing as the readings are not bad enough to push Fed for a cut. For now, Sterling is the strongest one for today, followed by Yen and then Dollar....
Aussie Lower on Deteriorating Consumer Sentiment, Risk Appetite Recedes Mildly
ommodity currencies trade broadly lower today as risk appetite lost momentum. Major US indices reversed earlier gains to close mildly lower. Asian stocks generally follow with the exception of Singapore. Aussie is also weighed down by deteriorating consumer sentiment. Swiss Franc and Yen gearing up some momentum but for...
Sterling Recovers on Wage Growth, Euro Shrugs Poor Investor Confidence
Sterling recovers broadly today as lifted by stronger than expected wage growth. A key BoE official also noted that interest rate might have to rise more quickly than market expected. Though, upside of the Pound is capped so far, by Brexit uncertainty and worries over slowdown if such uncertainty...
Closer Look at China’s Trade Data Reveals that Trade War is Eating Into Economy
The US-China trade war continues to evolve. The upcoming important event would be the G-20 summit on June 28 and 29. US' Donald Trump has recently noted that he expects to meet China's Xi Jinping, or would impose 25% tariff on the rest of US$300B Chinese exports. The latest...