Tag Archive: federal-reserve

Higher for Longer Lifts the Dollar, while SNB Surprises Many by Standing Pat–Over to the BOE

2023-09-21

by

2023-09-21

Overview: The Federal Reserve's hawkish hold, which included 50 bp less of cuts next year than it had signaled in June, has lifted the dollar against most currencies today. The notable exception is the Japanese yen. The greenback did extend its advance to new highs for the year before the market turned cautious ahead of the outcome of the Bank of Japan meeting tomorrow. The Swiss franc is the weakest of the G10 currencies after the Swiss National...

Read More »

Softer UK CPI Weighs on Sterling and Lifts Gilts, while Yen Slumps to New Low for the Year, Ahead of the FOMC

2023-09-20

by

2023-09-20

Overview: Softer than expected UK CPI has drawn attention ahead of the key event of the day, the FOMC meeting. The UK's CPI has spurred a dramatic rally in Gilts and saw sterling initially extend its recent losses, falling to new four-month lows before stabilizing. The swaps market sees less than a 50% chance of a hike by the Bank of England tomorrow. Meanwhile, even though US Treasury Secretary Yellen suggested conditions in which intervention by...

Read More »

Week Ahead: Thumbnail Sketch of Central Bank Meetings

2023-09-16

by

2023-09-16

The week ahead is dominated by central bank meetings. Six of the G10 central banks meets. The post-Covid monetary tightening cycle is ending. The start was not synchronized, and neither will be end. It is tempting to think that those that began the tightening cycle early will among the first to finish. Among emerging markets that is true for Brazil and Chile, both of whom have begun cutting rates. And Brazil is likely to deliver the second cut in...

Read More »

Battle for $1.07 in the Euro

2023-09-07

by

2023-09-07

Overview: Despite disappointing German industrial output, where the 0.8% decline was twice expectations, the euro is holding above $1.07, where large options exist that are expiring over the next few sessions. The greenback is consolidating against the Japanese yen, where the fear of intervention has increased. Sterling remains on its back foot after yesterday's seemingly dovish comments by Bank of England Governor Bailey. Emerging market...

Read More »

Still No Follow-Through Dollar Buying After Last Week’s Surge

2023-08-29

by

2023-08-29

Overview: The dollar was threatening to break higher at the end of last week, and the euro and sterling closed below key supports. However, so far this week, the greenback is consolidating and has not seen follow-through buying. The key data this week, US consumption and jobs, and the eurozone's CPI still lay ahead. The Antipodeans and Norwegian krone enjoy a firmer today. A 0.8% contraction in Sweden's Q2 GDP was not as deep as had been feared,...

Read More »

Dollar Consolidates as Market Considers Breakout and Rebuffs Beijing’s Latest Efforts

2023-08-28

by

2023-08-28

Overview: Many market participants sense an inflection point is near. The dollar settled last week beyond key levels against several major currencies, bolstered by higher short-term US rates. The market is aware that the Bank of Japan could intervene in the foreign exchange market with the trading near its best levels of the year, and the 10-year JGB yield grinding higher. Beijing cut the tax on equity transactions, will restrict IPOs, and urged...

Read More »

BRICS to Expand a Little, USD Steadies after Yesterday’s Retreat, Attention Turns to Jackson Hole

2023-08-24

by

2023-08-24

Overview: Strong Nvidia's earnings after the US markets closed yesterday helped lift Asia Pacific markets today. All the large bourses were higher but India. Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan indices rose more than 1%. Europe's Stoxx 600 is higher for the fourth consecutive session and US index futures are higher, led by the NASDAQ. European benchmark bond yields have extended yesterday's PMI-induced decline and are mostly 1-2 bp lower. The...

Read More »

Greenback Remains Firm, with Yen and Aussie Falling to New 2023 Lows

2023-08-14

by

2023-08-14

Overview: The dollar and US rates remain firm. The greenback rose to new highs for the year against the Japanese yen and Australian dollar before steadying. Outside of the Swedish krona, which is off nearly 0.5%, the G10 currencies are nursing small losses late in the European morning, mostly less than 0.1%. Most emerging market currencies are also lower. The Chinese yuan gapped lower for the second consecutive session and is also approaching this...

Read More »

After Dramatic Week, Capital Markets are Stabilizing

2023-07-14

by

2023-07-14

Overview: After tumbling headlong this week, the dollar appears to be broadly consolidating ahead of the weekend Among the G10 currencies, the Canadian dollar's 1.2% gain is the least and it made new 10-month highs earlier today The beleaguered Scandis soared The Norwegian krone's 6.6% advance followed by the Swedish krona's 5.8% surge led the major currencies The Dollar Index is off about 2.4% this week ahead of the North American session It is...

Read More »

The Greenback Stabilizes After Pre-Weekend Drop

2023-07-10

by

2023-07-10

Overview: The US dollar is mostly firmer after selling off hard before the weekend in response to the jobs data. Ranges are mostly narrow, but the Australian and New Zealand dollars are the heaviest following news of China's deflation. Emerging market currencies are mixed, but of note the liquid, freely accessible currencies, South African rand, Hungarian forint, and Mexican peso are atop the leader board. Despite repeatedly lower US dollar fixes...

Read More »

Market Continues to Converge With Fed’s Forward Guidance

2023-06-30

by

2023-06-30

Overview:  A key development in recent days has been the market's convergence with the Federal Reserve's forward guidance regarding scope for two quarter-point hikes in the second half. The US two-yield is up about six basis points today, extending yesterday's 15 bp increase. It is approaching 5%. The Fed funds futures strip implies one hike has been fully priced in and about a third of the next one. The dollar has risen against all the G10...

Read More »

PBOC Fixes Dollar Lower, but It Recovers Against the Yuan, Riksbank Hikes and Market Yawns

2023-06-29

by

2023-06-29

Overview: The US dollar is narrowly mixed against the G10 currencies. Stronger than expected Australian retail sales helped steady the currency after the soft inflation data took it down. Sterling has also steadied after it suffered its largest loss yesterday (~0.9%) in over a month. Sweden's 25 bp rate hike has not given the krona much of a lift. Central European currencies lead the emerging market currencies higher, while the PBOC set the...

Read More »

Greenback Jumps on Weak Flash PMIs

2023-06-23

by

2023-06-23

Overview: As the market reluctantly edges toward the Fed's guidance, the disappointing PMIs from Europe (but also Japan and Australia) helped boost the greenback. The Dollar Index is trading at seven-day highs above 103 after briefly dipping below 102 to set a new low since mid-May yesterday. The unwinding of cross positions is helping the yen hold its own today as it consolidates near its worst level of the year. The surging dollar and risk-off...

Read More »

Higher for Longer

2023-06-22

by

2023-06-22

Overview:  The central banks of Norway and Switzerland have hiked rates by 50 bp and 25 bp, respectively. Attention is on the Bank of England. A 25 bp hike is widely expected but after strong inflation report, the risk is clearly for a 50 bp hike. In fact, we suspect a quarter-point move could see sterling sold. With a new orthodox economics team in Turkey, a large rate hike is expected today. Late in the North American session, Mexico's central...

Read More »

UK Inflation Surprises to the Upside and Weighs on Sterling

2023-06-21

by

2023-06-21

Overview: The UK surprised with higher-than-expected consumer inflation and budget deficit, and the odds of a 50 bp hike tomorrow edged higher. Sterling has been sold on the news and is the weakest of the G10 currencies, off about 0.5%. The dollar is mixed with the euro, Swedish krona, Canadian dollar, and Swiss franc posting small gains. Emerging market currencies are lower, including the Chinese yuan, which is at new lows since last November. The...

Read More »

Fed Day: Skip = Hawkish Pause, but Market Says Finito

2023-06-14

by

2023-06-14

Overview: The year-end effective Fed funds rate implied in the futures market is about 5.11%. The rate has been averaging 5.08% since the Fed hiked rates last month The Fed may go to pains to explain that the steady that to be announced later today is just a pause to get a better read on the economy, the market favors this to be the end of the tightening cycle. The dollar is trading softer against nearly all the G10 currencies. Emerging market...

Read More »

Dollar Gains Extended, Oil Steadies at Higher Levels after Saudi’s Cut, US Bill Deluge Begins Today

2023-06-05

by

2023-06-05

Overview:  The US dollar has extended its post-employment gains today, helped by firmer rates and several countries seeing downward revisions from the preliminary May PMI. The greenback is trading with a firmer bias against all the G10 currencies and most of the emerging market currencies, including Turkey, India, and China. July WTI gapped higher after the Saudi Arabia announced a voluntary and unilateral cut of one million barrels a day in output...

Read More »

Dollar Steadies After Fed’s Push Back

2023-06-01

by

2023-06-01

Overview: The market was gearing up for a June Fed hike and officials and this helped lift the greenback. However, the Fed Governor Jefferson, nominated to be the next vice-chair, pushed back against it. His views are thought to reflect the Fed's leadership. Philadelphia Fed's Harker, who is a voting member of the FOMC also backed a pause. This is not quite what we expected when we suggested the US interest rate adjustment was complete or nearly...

Read More »

Fitch Puts US on Negative Credit Watch and the Dollar Extends its Gains

2023-05-25

by

2023-05-25

Overview: Concerned about the political wrangling over servicing US debt, Fitch put the US on negative credit watch. Besides chin wagging and finger pointing, it has had little perceptible impact. The dollar is mostly higher, reaching new highs for the year against the Japanese yen, Chinese yuan, and the Antipodean currencies. The euro and sterling met retracement objective we have targeted (~$1.0735 and $1.2435, respectively). The greenback is...

Read More »

The Dollar Consolidates after Powell Sapped its Mojo

2023-05-22

by

2023-05-22

Overview:  Federal Reserve Chair Powell's offered a stronger case for a pause in the monetary tightening before the weekend and this sapped the dollar's mojo. The greenback is mostly consolidating through the European morning in quiet turnover. The JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index is trying to snap a four-day decline. The South African rand is recovering from its recent slide and is up nearly 1%. The South Korea won is benefitting from...

Read More »