Chinese retail sales and industrial production
Chinese Data, MLK Day and First Central Bank Rate Change of 2021
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
Electoral College Honors Voters’ Choice and Picks Biden; Data Focus on China
December 15, 2020
The dollar is little changed today. It’s biggest move, a 0.4% decline against sterling, comes as trade talks were extended past the deadline and as British labor market data revealed a full return of average wage earnings growth to the pre-pandemic pace but also a larger-than-forecast 64.3k jump in jobless insurance claims due to a […] More
Chinese Data Dominate Monday Newswire
October 19, 2020
Chinese real GDP expanded at a solid, albeit less-than-forecast 2.7%, rate in the third quarter, supported by strengthening exports, consumption and business expenditures. This lifted the year-on-year growth rate to 4.9% from 3.2% in 2Q and negative 6.8% in 1Q when many activities were locked down. Chinese industrial production and retail sales in September were […] More
Further Erosion of Dollar’s Value
September 15, 2020
The dollar dropped 0.6% to a 16-month low against the Chinese yuan overnight and also lost 0.5% relative to the Australian dollar, 0.4% vis-a-vis the Mexican peso, 0.3% versus the kiwi, Swiss franc, loonie, euro and sterling, as well as 0.1% against Japan’s yen. The latest declines bring the dollar’s trade-weighted depreciation over the past […] More
Attack on Saudi Refinery and Oil Field Sends Price of Oil Up Nearly 10%
September 16, 2019
More than 15 drone and cruise missile attacks against the largest oil refinery and an oil field in Saudi Arabia on Saturday is likely to impede over half that country’s production. The attack is believed to have been orchestrated by Iran or perhaps Iraq, but culpability hasn’t been firmly established. U.S. President Trump has threatened […] More
A Fresh Worry: Chinese Growth Slowed Last Month
May 15, 2019
Asian stock markets had taken the North America upward cue, posting gains on Wednesday of 1.9% in China, 0.6% in Japan and Hong Kong, 0.4% in Taiwan, and 0.5% in South Korea but that was before news of soft Chinese industrial production, retail sales, and business investment. In European trading, stocks are down 1.0% in […] More
Continuing Move Into Riskier Assets
April 17, 2019
Share prices in Europe and Asia mostly rose. So did 10-year sovereign debt yields and the price of oil. The dollar is unchanged on net against the yen and sterling. The greenback lost 0.5% against the Canadian dollar, 0.3% relative to the Australian dollar and yuan, 0.2% versus the euro and peso, and 0.1% against […] More
Dollar Broadly Higher as Investors Seek Clarity on Brexit Mess and U.S.-Sino Trade Talks
March 14, 2019
British MPs last night defeated a motion for allowing the U.K. to leave the EU without any Brexit deal by a vote of 321-278. Today’s vote will be a motion to extend the Article 50 deadline beyond March 29th. Prime Minister May aims to hold another vote within the week on her Brexit deal. A […] More
Lots of Data Released and Mostly on the Softer Side
May 15, 2018
The dollar strengthened across the board overnight, rising 0.7% against the peso, 0.4% relative to the euro, Aussie dollar and yuan, 0.3% versus the yen and sterling, and 0.2% vis-a-vis the Canadian dollar, Swiss franc and kiwi. Equity markets in the Pacific Rim mostly fell, a 0.6% rise in China being the main exception. Share […] More
More U.S. Dollar Declines
March 14, 2018
The dollar lost some additional ground overnight, dipping 0.7% against the Aussie currency, 0.5% relative to the peso after Trump examined border wall prototypes, 0.3% versus the loonie, and 0.2% vis-a-vis the yen, kiwi, yuan, and sterling. The dollar, however, is unchanged on net against the euro and Swissie. In U.S. news prior to the […] More
