New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Clinging to the Possibility of Renewed Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz
August 26, 2026
In two more days, the war between the United States and Iran will be seven months old in a conflict initially estimated to last five weeks at top. Seven months represents a sixth of the duration of U.S. participation in the second world war from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. There have been many elusive moments […] More
Central Bank Watch
Another Hungarian Central Bank Interest Rate Cut
August 25, 2026
As was expected, officials at the National Bank of Hungary cut the central bank base rate by another 25 basis points. This is the fourth such reduction so far in 2026. At 5.5%, the base rate is down from 6.5% prevailing from September 2025 until this past February and a peak of 13.0% maintained from […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Waiting for More Clues
August 25, 2026
The dollar has lost ground in August but has not significantly broken out of the narrow corridor traveled so far during 2026. At 100.5 on July 28, it was 0.3% shy of its 52-week peak, and at 98.56 last Friday, it was only 1.2% above a low touched six months ago. Today has been another […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Week Kicks off Light on Data but Heavy with Anticipation
August 24, 2026
(125) Even for a Monday, today’s session has very few scheduled releases of economic data around the world. Financial market participants are focused on what lies ahead. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz failed to exceed a measly ten vessels yesterday. With a shift from military to economic warfare, President Trump has called today […] More
Foreign Exchange Insights and Next Week
Next Week’s Menu: August 22-28, 2026
August 21, 2026
Central Banks: Monetary policies will be reviewed in the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Hungary and Kyrgyzstan. Some of the officials with speaking engagements will be Fed Chairman Warsh, Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Himino and Richmond Fed President Barkin. Special Events: The Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress will be in session, and the […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Bottom-Fishing
August 21, 2026
After Thursday’s difficult session for equities, Friday has seen a bounce. Stock markets closed up 1.2% in Hong Kong, 0.9% in India, and 0.7% in Taiwan and Indonesia. European bourses show gains but of less than 1.0%, and the DOW, SPX and Nasdaq just opened slightly higher. Today’s biggest winner has been crypto. Bitcoin’s price […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Premeditated Chaos
August 20, 2026
The Trump administration is stirring the uncertainty pot in multiple ways, adding new dimensions of the phenomenon on a daily basis. To name just a few of the initiatives, there’s the shift from a half century-old alliance with South Korea to a blossoming friendship with North Korea; the constantly new accusations about U.S. election fraud […] More
Central Bank Watch
Rate Hike at the Central Bank of Iceland
August 19, 2026
Officials at the Central Bank of Iceland lifted their 7-day deposit rate by 25 basis points to 8.0%. This marks the third such tightening since March. Today’s 4-1 vote in favor of a higher interest rate comes amid elevated inflation caused by the world energy price shock. Icelandic CPI inflation was at 5.3% in July […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
More Trump-Inspired Confusion and A Slightly Softer Dollar
August 19, 2026
President Trump claims the Strait of Hormuz is cleared of mines and back to normal. Other reports suggest that little shipping traffic is passing through that crucial channel. A U.S.-threatened 50% tariff on many Canadian goods that was to go into effect today was paused last night at least for 3 days as President Trump […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Unsettling Geopolitics Crowding Out Economics
August 18, 2026
In this mid-August season of vacationing, this Tuesday saw few releases of economic data and no central bank rate announcements. In this vacuum, market attention turned to politics for guidance and and the musings of U.S. President Trump. He indicated no interest in extending the expired interim peace with Iran. Tomorrow is D-day for U.S./Canadian […] More
