Euroland current account
Investors Remain on Edge
October 19, 2018
China reported the lowest on-year GDP growth (6.5% in 3Q) since the first quarter of 2009. Damning evidence continues to mount that the highest levels of the Saudi government were complicit in the likely death of dissident journalist Khashoggi. U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia was cancelled. Two Fed officials, Governor Quarles […] More
Released Current Account Data and Some Central Bank Decisions
September 19, 2018
The dollar is steady to mostly softer. North America’s stock market rally on Tuesday carried over into Asia and Europe. The ten-year British gilt yield edged up 2 basis points, and gold firmed 0.4%. Oil is steady, as are German bunds and Japanese JGBs. New Zealand recorded a larger-than-forecast NZD 1.619 billion current account deficit […] More
Trump’s Latest Comment on Tariffs Stirs Up Fresh Market Anxiety
July 20, 2018
Stocks had performed decently in the Pacific Rim, rising overnight by 2.1% in China, 1.0% in Hong Kong, 0.4% in Australia and 0.9% in Taiwan. The Japanese Nikkei had been an exception, drifting down 0.3%. In an interview with CNBC, President Trump signaled a willingness to impose tariffs on China equal to the sum of […] More
Intensifying Fear of a Trade War Generating Stampede from Risky Assets
June 19, 2018
Today’s story lies in market movement, not fresh economic news. The DOW, German Dax and Paris Cac have dropped over 1.0%. Chinese share prices plunged 3.8%. The Hang Seng lost 2.8%. Japan’s Nikkei closed down 1.8%, and the South Korean Kospi fell by 1.5%. The 10-year Treasury yield slid another 3 basis points and is […] More
Some Price Data and a Discouraging Remark from China
May 18, 2018
The dollar firmed overnight by 0.3% against sterling, 0.2% versus the yuan, yen and euro, and 0.1% relative to the loonie. The greenback fell 0.5% against the kiwi and 0.1% vis-a-vis the Swiss franc and is unchanged relative to the Australian dollar and peso. Share prices in the Pacific Rim climbed 1.2% in China, 0.6% […] More
Down Day for Stocks and Dollar
April 11, 2018
Military conflict between U.S. and Russian forces in Syria appears at hand. Trump is promising missile strikes, and Russia claims to have the ability to knock them out of the sky before targets are hit. Investors are uneasy that these hostilities will escalate further. U.S. consumer price inflation accelerated further in March in spite of […] More
Trade War Fear Takes Center Stage
March 22, 2018
While Fed Chairman Jay Powell downplayed the risk to growth from trade restraints at least insofar as any influence on U.S. monetary policy is concerned, global financial markets are taking the danger of a trade war very seriously, particularly as President Trump seems poised to slap $50 billion of tariffs on imported Chinese goods. There’s […] More
Dampened Activity Due to Holidays in Asia and North America
February 19, 2018
The U.S. dollar is unchanged against the euro, peso, sterling and Canadian and New Zealand dollars.The greenback slipped 0.2% relative to the Aussie dollar and 0.1% vis-a-vis the Swiss franc but edged up 0.1% versus the yen. Several Asian markets remained closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, including those in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, […] More
U.S. Federal Government Shutdown at Midnight Still Possible
January 19, 2018
Talks to avert a U.S. fiscal shutdown at the end of today have degenerated into a 3-way circus. House Republicans passed a short-term fix that excludes DACA but enhances CHIP child support. President Trump’s tweets endorse the CHIP enticement only as part of a long-term solution and continue to insist on funding for the Mexican […] More
Rise in Sovereign Debt Yields Extended
December 20, 2017
The Senate approved the tax bill without any support from the Democrats by a vote of 51-48. All that remains is one final assured vote today in the House of Representatives and President Trump’s signature on the bill. This legislation is projected to boost economic growth in 2018 but also will raise federal deficit spending […] More
