Aussie Mixed Despite Strong Export Data, Dollar Heading South
The forex markets are staying in mixed consolidative mode in Asian session. Australian Dollar trades mildly higher following strong, record making, export data. But that's offset by Melbourne's return to pandemic restriction, on masks and gatherings. Dollar turns weaker as Asian stocks rebound, together with Yen and Canadian. European...
Euro Rises in Quiet Trading, Sterling Softens
Markets are generally staying in consolidative mode today, with subdued movements. Sterling is trading mildly lower, followed by Aussie, and Dollar. New Zealand Dollar firms up mildly after initial dip. Euro and Swiss Franc are also stronger, helped by buying against the Pound. Gold is struggling in range below...
RBNZ Preview: Upgrading Economic Assessments to Reflect Stronger-than-Expected Recovery
Economic data released since the last meeting have continued to improve. We expect the RBNZ to upgrade economic assessments at the upcoming meeting, acknowledging recent positive developments. Yet, policymakers would continue to attribute the spike in inflation to temporary factors. All monetary policy measures will remain intact.
The job market...
Yen Mildly Firmer in Subdued Trading, Kiwi Soft Despite Strong Retail Sales
The forex markets are rather quiet in Asian session today. With some European markets and Canada on holiday, trading will likely remain subdued for the day ahead. Yen is trading mildly firmer, as near term consolidations are extending. Meanwhile, Australian Dollar and Canadian Dollar are the slightly softer ones.
Technically,...
Swiss Franc Ended as Strongest, Aussie as Weakest, But Bitcoin Stole the Show
While Fed minutes started to prepare the markets for discussion on tapering in the coming months, Dollar wasn't give much support. It has indeed ended as one of the worst performers for the week, just next too New Zealand and Australian Dollar. On the other hand, Swiss Franc and...
CFTC Commitments of Traders – USD Strength Lacks Momentum
As suggested in the CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended May 18, NET LENGTH of USD index futures added +261 contracts to 2 684. Speculative long positions added +27 contracts while shorts dropped -234 contracts. Bets on both sides were limited as traders awaited FOMC minutes....
CFTC Commitments of Traders – Bets on Crude Oil Trimmed as Iran Sanctions Prone to be Lifted
According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended May 18, NET LENGTH for crude oil futures sank -20 614 contracts to 475 947 for the week. Speculative long position fell -37 588 contracts, while shorts were down -16 974 contracts. Bets were trimmed on both...
CAD Rises after Retail Sales, Euro Tumbles
Canadian Dollar rises in early US session after stronger than expected retail sales data. Sterling is also firm after strong PMIs. But Euro had little reaction to the solid PMI data. Instead, the common currency seems to be reacting to ECB President Christine Lagarde's comment that accommodative policies remain...
Dollar Back Around Lows as Eurozone PMIs Eyed
The forex markets still generally range bound for the moment. Dollar weakened mildly overnight, but stays above near term lows against other major currencies. Similarly, Yen is also bounded in very tight range. US stocks' rebound overnight was as positive development for sentiments. Yet, there is no follow through...
Dollar Pare Gains in Quiet Ranging Markets, Euro Stays Strongest
The forex markets are very quiet today, with most major pairs and crosses staying inside yesterday's range. Dollar is paring some post FOMC minutes gains, while Sterling is also soft. On the other hand, Australian and New Zealand Dollar are both recovering mildly. As for the week, Euro is...
Dollar Recovers after FOMC Minutes, But No Technical Levels Broken Yet
Dollar recovered overnight, with help from mild risk aversion and some slight hawkish twists in FOMC minutes. Yet, it couldn't manage to break through any near term technical level yet. Euro remains the strongest one for the week at this point, followed by Yen. Commodity currencies are the generally...
FOMC Minutes Revealed that Some Members Raised Discussion over QE Tapering
The minutes for the FOMC meeting in April revealed that policymakers discussed about QE tapering. This came in as a surprise to the market, sending USD higher and Treasury lower. Both the policy statement and the press conference of the April meeting downplayed the need of QE tapering. Recall...
US Crude Oil Inventory Increased for First Time in 3 Weeks
The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks slipped -0.23 mmb to 1283.59 mmb in the week ended May 14. Crude oil inventory increased +1.32 mmb (consensus: +1.68 mmb) to 486.01 mmb. Stockpile increased in 4 out...
Stocks Fall on Inflation Data and Surging Yields, Dollar Recovering Mildly
Global equities are under selling pressure today with another round of rise in treasury yields. In particular, Germany 10-year yield jumped above -0.1% handle and hit the highest level since mid-2019. The development came after stronger than expected inflation reading from UK, which was later followed by Canada CPI....
Dollar Staying Weak ahead of FOMC Minutes, Canadian Dollar Lost Momentum
Dollar's decline slowed in Asian session today, but remains generally weak, in particular against European majors. Though, indecisive risk sentiment is somehow limiting upside in commodity currencies, with Canadian Dollar following oil prices lower today. There is prospect of more volatility in the markets today, with consumer inflation data...
Dollar Selloff Intensifies, European Majors Winning
Dollar's selloff intensifies today as risk-on sentiment is slowly coming back to the markets. Yen is following as the next weakest. European majors are currently the main winners. Commodity currencies are somewhat lagging behind. In other markets, European indexes are trading slightly higher while US futures also point to...
Sterling Jumps on Reopening Optimism and Job Data, Risk Appetite Returning
Dollar and Yen are both under pressure again today, as broad based risk sentiments improved. In particular, the volatile Nikkei managed to close up more than 2%. New Zealand Dollar is leading other commodity currencies higher too. But Canadian Dollar and Sterling are the strongest ones for the week...
RBA Minutes Reaffirmed Likelihood of QE Expansion in July
The RBA minutes for the May minutes reaffirmed our view that further expansion in the asset purchase program would be announced later this year. The most likely timing for the announcement would be July.
Domestically, the members noted that the economic was in the transition from recovery to expansion. The...
Weak Risk Sentiment Supporting Dollar, For Now
Commodity currencies are trading as the weaker ones for today so far, as risk markets turn softer. Major European indexes are in slight red,. while US futures point to lower open. Yen is currently the stronger ones, followed by Swiss Franc and then Dollar. But overall, major pairs and...
China’s Growth Slowed Across the Board in April
China’s April data sent a mixed message about the economy. Retail sales expanded +17.7% y/y in April, significantly weaker than consensus of +25% and March’s +34.2%. Urban fixed asset investment (FAI) growth moderated to +19.9% in the first 4 months of the year, from +25.6% in 1Q21. The market...