Bank of Korea
Equities Tumbling Anew as Inflation and Interest Rates Climb
January 14, 2022
The dollar overnight rose 0.1% against the euro and on a weighted basis, held unchanged against the Swiss franc and sterling and fell 0.3% versus the yen. Share prices dropped 1.3% in Japan, 1.4% in South Korea, 1.1% in Australia, and 1.0% in South Korea. The German Dax and Paris Cac show losses so far […] More
Data Mix of Elevated Inflation Despite Moderating Growth
October 12, 2021
Today’s menu of price data around the world revealed The highest rate of Japanese domestic producer price inflation (6.3%) since September 2008 and also a larger 31.3% year-on-year leap in import prices. The steepest on-year jump in German wholesale prices (13.2%) since June 1974. As then, energy played a prominent role in the spike. The […] More
Watching China and Central Banks
July 15, 2021
The U.S. dollar edged slightly higher overnight, with gains of 0.4% against the Australian and New Zealand currencies, 0.3% versus the euro, and 0.1% relative to the Swiss franc, loonie, and DXY weighted index. Alternatively, the dollar slipped 0.2% against the Chinese yuan and 0.1% versus sterling, while dollar/yen stayed steady. Share prices had climbed […] More
Markets Looking for Clues to How Central Banks React to Spike in Inflation
May 27, 2021
In analyzing foreign exchange movement, the calendar year divides into three seasons, with the middle summer period –when trading volume oftentimes thins and dollar movements can be erratic and unrepresentative at times — lying between the U.S. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The dollar is approaching the end of the winter-spring with a trivial […] More
Spotlight on Central Banks, Fresh Data and, as Always, Covid
April 15, 2021
The uncertain delayed roll-out of the J&J one-shot Covid vaccine is creating consternation, especially in light of high rates of new cases in many places. The National Bank of Ukraine’s policy interest rate was raised a full percentage point to 7.5%. This was the second straight tightening and twice the size of the initial 50-basis […] More
Many Data Released Today as Inflation fears Continue
February 25, 2021
Shortly before today’s release of U.S. economic data, 10-year sovereign debt yields were showing considerable increases (for example, 8 basis points in the United States and Italy, 12 bps in Canada, 6 bps in Spain and the U.K., 5 bps in Germany and France, and 2 basis points in Japan). The trade-weighted dollar had eased […] More
Dollar Up Marginally, Stock Markets Mixed, and Americans Observe Thanksgiving Day
November 26, 2020
The U.S. Thanksgiving holiday is depriving financial markets of some degree of leadership. The dollar overnight drifted up 0.1-0.2% against the euro, loonie, yen, kiwi, Swiss franc and Australian dollar. The U.S. currency rose a bit more against the peso (0.4%) and sterling (0.3%). Stock markets in Asia closed up 1.4% in Indonesia, 1.0% in […] More
Marginally Softer Dollar
October 14, 2020
The U.S. dollar edged down overnight by 0.3% against sterling, 0.2% relative to the Australian and New Zealand dollars, and 0.1% versus the yuan, Swiss franc and yen, while holding steady vis-a-vis the euro and loonie. The dollar price of gold firmed 0.5%. Stock markets in the Pacific Rim rose 0.9% in Indonesia, 0.7% in […] More
Covid-19 Is in Control Rather than Being Under Control
July 16, 2020
The best laid plans of mice and men…. Governments want to reopen economic activity, but a rising curve of new coronavirus cases both around the world and in the United States is setting other imperatives. Over the past 24 hours, there were 230.3k cases world wide, including a record 71.7k in the United States, where […] More
South Korean Central Bank Rate Cut after Big Downward Growth Forecast Revision
May 28, 2020
Another central bank interest rate cut was announced today, this time by the Bank of Korea, where by a unanimous decision the 7-day repo rate was lowered 25 basis points to 0.50%. This was the second cut of 2020 following a 50-basis point reduction back in March. The 0.50% level represents what officials have considered […] More
