Central Bank Watch
Central Bank of Colombia
February 1, 2016
Colombian monetary policymakers like to change their interest rate in consecutive monthly moves. From 5.25%, the rate was sliced by 25 basis points each in July and August, followed by five straight cuts totaling 150 basis points from November 2012 through March 2013. When an initial 25-basis point rate hike was done a year later […] More
Foreign Exchange Insights and Next Week
Tougher Dollar Sledding Against the Euro and Yen
February 1, 2016
The strong dollar performance of 2015 carried over into the first month of 2016 against a large number of currencies. Appreciation last month was most pronounced against commodity sensitive currencies and emerging economy monies and also included the performances against the Swiss franc and sterling. The dollar’s two most influential relationships moved only slightly on […] More
Deeper Analysis
First Favorable Shift in U.S.-Minus-Eurozone Factory PMI Since May
February 1, 2016
The U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers index edged up 0.2 points to 48.2 in January. Not since August has the reading been above 50.0, the breakeven line between improving and deteriorating conditions. Jobs registered a 2.1-point slide to 45.9, indicating a significantly faster rate of jobs loss. The prices index was only 33.5 for a second […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Most Stock Markets Head Back Lower
February 1, 2016
Share prices fell 1.8% in China, 1.0% in Singapore, 0.4% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in India. European equities are so far down 1.1% in Germany, France, and the U.K., 0.8% in Italy a and 0.3% in Switzerland and Spain. Stocks rose 2.0% in Japan, 0.8% in Australia and 0.7% in South Korea. Ten-year sovereign […] More
