January 19, 2021
Stock markets closed on Tuesday up 2.7% in Hong Kong, 2.6% in China, 1.7% in India, 1.4% in Japan and appear headed for a rise of almost 1.0% on the U.S. open. European markets held back, with upticks so far of just 0.2% in Germany and 0.1% in the U.K. and France. Refuge currencies like […] Read Article
January 15, 2021
Central Banks: Many central bank policy reviews are scheduled next week, involving among others Canada, Japan, Euroland, Mexico, Norway, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Brazil, Ukraine, China, and Indonesia. European Central Bank President Lagarde, Bank of Canada Governor Macklem, and Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda will be holding press conferences, and the Bank of England’s Haldane, […] Read Article
January 18, 2021
The National Bank of Romania cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%. This reduction augments the full percentage point of cuts last year (50 bps in March and 25 bps each in May and August) and takes the rate level to its lowest point in the 21st century. A released statement […] Read Article
January 5, 2021
The announced existence of effective Covid vaccines lifted conditions faced by manufacturers in both the United States and Euroland in December. U.S. conditions according to the Institute of Supply Management improved by 3.2 index points to a 28-month high of 60.7. Euroland’s IHS-compiled manufacturing survey index rose 1.4 points to a 31-month high of 55.2, […] Read Article
January 18, 2021
Financial markets this Monday will lack U.S. leadership due to the observance of MLK Day. In the wake of aroused racial strains that culminated in the 1/6 domestic terrorism attack on the nation’s capitol, there is extra poignancy to this year’s observance and uneasiness that more violence may mar this day. The National Bank of […] More
January 15, 2021
U.S. stock futures point to a decline of at least 0.5% at the open. Stock markets closed Friday with losses of 2.0% in South Korea, 1.1% in India, 0.9% in Indonesia, 0.8% in New Zealand, 0.6% in Taiwan and Japan. Equities are currently down about 1% in the U.K., Germany, France and Spain. The 10-year […] More
January 14, 2021
President Trump has been impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time in 13 months. The Senate trial will commence soon after he leaves office. New Covid cases and deaths remain highly elevated in many countries. The British daily death toll set a record yesterday. Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda said monetary stimulus […] More
January 13, 2021
The United States experienced a new record high daily death count yesterday from Covid that exceeded 4.4k and was accompanied by almost 230k new reported cases of the illness. A drop of 10 years in the government’s recommended minimum age for getting a vaccine now and other sudden shifts in guidelines for administering the shot […] More
January 12, 2021
The dollar ticked up 0.1% against the yen overnight and held steady on balance versus the euro, but has slipped moderately against other key currencies such as sterling (0.5%), the Mexican peso (0.7%), the Canadian and Australian dollars (0.3%), the Chinese yuan (also 0.3%), the kiwi (0.2%) and the Swiss franc (0.1%). U.S. equity futures […] More
January 11, 2021
The dollar climbed overnight by 1.1% against the Mexican peso, 0.7% relative to the Swiss franc, sterling, and Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars, 0.5% versus the euro, and 0.3% vis-a-vis the yen (to a 5-week high above 104.0). The trade-weighted dollar move was +0.5%. U.S. equities have fallen 0.6-0.8% in futures trading. Share prices […] More
January 8, 2021
Central Banks: Monetary policies will be reviewed in South Korea, Poland, Peru, and Serbia. Tenreyro, Bailey, and Broadbent of the Bank of England will be speaking publicly. The Fed Beige Book of regional economic conditions will be published. Holiday: Japanese Coming of Age holiday on Monday. Scheduled U.S. Economic Data Releases: Consumer prices, producer prices, […] More
January 8, 2021
The biggest overnight dollar changes against a major currency are 0.3% dips relative to sterling and the Mexican peso, but the U.S. currency also firmed against the loonie and euro. U.S. equity futures rallied further overnight. In the Pacific Rim, stocks rose 4.0% in South Korea, 2.4% in Japan, 3.0% in Singapore, 1.4% in India […] More
January 7, 2021
The dollar depreciated much of the time last year, dropping from end-2019 to end-2020 by 9.0% against the Australian dollar, 8.2% versus the euro, 6.2% relative to the Chinese yuan and 5.0% against the Japanese yen. Those losses mask a well-bid first quarter that saw the U.S. currency attain its best trade-weighted value for the […] More
January 7, 2021
The U.S. Congress shortly before 04:00 today confirmed that the ticket of Biden/Harris won the 2020 election and will take office at noon on January 20th. This ordinarily ceremonial act of power transition was anything but ordinary this time after a mob stormed the Capitol building yesterday to prevent the process. Taking his cue from […] More
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