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Markets Turned Mixed after Stimulus Rally, Dollar Staying in Consolidations

The stimulus deal in US Congress gave markets just a very brief lift. European indices turned mixed after initial rally while US futures are essentially flat. Trading in the currency markets is subdued too with Australian Dollar leading commodity currencies higher. Yen, Swiss Franc and Dollar remain soft. Gold...

Sentiments Boosted By US Stimulus Deal, Dollar, Yen and Swiss Soften

Asian markets generally strengthen today and are given another lift after US politicians finally agreed to a USD 2T coronavirus stimulus deal. Australian Dollar leads other commodity currencies higher. On the other hand, Yen weakens broadly, followed by Yen and then Dollar. Some important economic data will be released...

Markets Shrug Disastrous PMIs, Continue to Digest Recent Moves

PMI data released together generally showed a disastrous picture in the service sectors around the world, due to coronavirus pandemic and the measures to contain it. Nevertheless, these data are generally shrugged off as they're generally expected. Reactions would likely be muted too even if the data come in...

Dollar Softens on Fed QE Infinity, Global PMIs in Focus

While Fed's QE infinity gave no apparent boost to US stocks, Asian markets are responding rather positively. Strong gains are seen in major indices. Dollar has turned broadly weak, followed by Swiss Franc, Yen and Euro. Australian Dollar is leading commodity currencies higher. Gold also ride on greenback's pull...

Flash PMI Gives More Evidence that Japan has Entered Recession, Unlikely to be Rescued by Stimulus

A week before the final data, the flash PMI report for Japan gives a glimpse of how the coronavirus outbreak has hurt the country’s manufacturing and services activities. The composite output index slumped to 35.8, compared with 47 in February. Sector-wise, the services index dived to 32.7 in March...

Sentiments Take a U-Turn as Fed Goes QE Unlimited

Market sentiments take a u-turn today after Fed surprised the markets with another emergency announce. Now, the targets for asset purchases are removed and Fed is going into QE unlimited. US futures turned from limit down to positive while major European indices pared back much of earlier losses. The...

Risk Aversion Continues, RBNZ Cut, NZ & AU Lockdown, US to See Surge in Unemployment

Markets are back in risk averse mode as another week starts, after Spain and Italy suffered the worst days of coronavirus pandemic over the weekend. US Senate failed to advance another aid package on differences between Republican and Democrats. But resolution would be seen soon based on the severity...

RBNZ Announced QE to Tame Tightening Market Conditions

RBNZ announced QE on Monday, following an aggressive emergency rate cut, by -75 bps, to 0.25% last week. The surprising move aims at soothing the credit conditions which have tightened significantly over the past weeks. Besides QE, the central bank last week introduced a Term Auction Facility, FX swap...

CFTC Commitments of Traders – Bets on Major Currencies Reduced as Global Central Banks Rushed to Cut Rates

Bets on major currency futures were trimmed on last week, as major central banks announced emergency measures to contain risks of global recession. US dollar soared last week despite Fed's two rate cuts in 2 weeks, bringing the Fed funds rate -150 bps lower. Besides announcing to expand QE...

CFTC Commitments of Traders – Traders Trimmed Bets on Commodities amidst Rising Global Uncertainty

Bets on oil and precious metals futures fell across the board. According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended March 17, NET LENGTH for crude oil futures jumped +52 840 contracts to 440 237 for the week. Speculative long positions fell -14 748 contracts while...

Dollar in Strong Rally as Coronavirus Pandemic Worsened, Key Resistance Levels Broken

The anticipated market stabilization didn't happen last week. Instead, despite massive monetary and fiscal stimulus, stocks around the world still ended sharply lower. Nevertheless, as stocks are showing sign of loss of downside momentum. Treasury yield has somewhat stabilized in range. We'd see that the rock bottom in investor...

Markets Staying in Consolidation as Dollar and Yen Turn Mildly Softer

The financial markets are generally staying in consolidative mode today. Global stocks managed to reverse some of this week's loss. in the currency markets, Dollar pares back some of recent gains while commodity currencies recover. Though, these moves are generally seen as profit-taking and position adjust ahead of the...

Markets Digesting Wild Moves, Stabilizing ahead of Weekend

Asian markets are rather quiet finally as the weekend is coming. Currencies are digesting this week's sharp moves for now, with mild recovery seen in commodity currencies and Sterling. Dollar and Yen turn slightly softer. But for the week, the greenback remains strongest, followed by Yen and Swiss Franc....

ECB’s Stimulus Lifted Peripheral Bonds, But Not Stocks Nor Euro

ECB's massive coronavirus pandemic program do have notably impact on peripheral bond markets. In particulars, Italian and Spanish bond yields dropped sharply today, with Italy 10-year yield back below 1.9% currently, Spanish 10-year yield below 0.9%. The boost to other markets is not that apparent though, as European stocks...

No Support from ECB’s Pandemic Emergency Purchase, Nor RBA’s Rate Cut and Bond Buying

Once again, it seems that emergency fiscal and monetary measures by global governments and central banks couldn't be cared less by investors. US Congress' second stimulus package, ECB's massive EUR 750B pandemic emergency purchase program, RBA's rate cut and government bond buying, are all shrugged off. Optimism won't come...

RBA Announced Emergency Rate Cut, Initiated QE

RBA announced an emergency rate cut of -25 bps, sending the cash rate to 0.25%, today. The central bank also announced a QE-style yield curve control plan. It attempts to target the yield for 3-year government bond at 0.25% through bond purchases. The move is not too surprising, following...

Crude Oil Inventory Gained for Another Week as Recession Fear Trimmed Demand

The report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total crude oil and petroleum products (ex. SPR) stocks slumped -7.68 mmb to 1263.33 mmb in the week ended March 13. Crude oil inventory gained +1.95 mmb (consensus: +3.26 mmb) to 453.74 mmb. Stockpile rose in 3 out...

Stimulus Effects Fade, Oil Tanks, Italian Yield Spikes Up

Neither fiscal nor monetary stimulus is able to provide sustainable support to market so far. Stock markets are back under pressure today despite the massive USD 1T stimulus proposal by the US. Additionally, sentiments are pressured by the sudden spike in Italian treasury yields, and break of a key...

US Fiscal Response to Coronavirus Just Gave Brief Lift to Sentiments

Investor sentiments were given only and mild and brief boost by the massive fiscal stimulus of the US. Asian markets quickly reversed initial gains and pessimism over coronavirus pandemic wild likely continue in European markets too. As for currencies, Canadian dollar is currently the weakest one for today, as...

Dollar Surges as Focus Turns from Stock to Currency Markets

Focus somewhat turns from stock markets to currencies today. Major global indices are staying in rather tight range today, based on recent volatility. Fiscal and monetary measures from major central banks and governments are providing little support to sentiments, as coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen. Dollar jumps broadly today,...