Chinese trade balance
Continuing Rise of Long-Term U.S. Bond Yields Lifts Dollar but Depresses Equities
March 8, 2021
The 10-year Treasury yield’s uptrend that began from 0.89% in mid-December has been extended another three basis points to 1.60%. The senate approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package along partisan lines over the weekend, and investors are concerned that U.S. inflation will exceed the Fed’s expectations in both the short and long run. Bond […] More
Several Data Releases but Little Market Movement
December 9, 2019
Markets are mostly marking time ahead of numerous central bank meetings this week and Britain’s momentous election on Thursday. The dollar is trading very near its closing levels last Friday. The price of gold is 0.2% firmer. That of WTI oil is 0.5% softer. Stock markets closed 0.3% higher in Japan, South Korea and Australia […] More
Atypically High Amount of Data Reported This Monday
September 9, 2019
Data releases rather than market action were in today’s spotlight. Japanese real GDP growth last quarter was revised downward by a half percentage point to an annualized 1.3% from the first quarter. Business investment and exports were weaker than estimated initially. Real GDP was 1.0% greater than in the second quarter of 2018, and the […] More
Monetary Policy Reviews, an Intensifying U.S. Political Crisis, Trade Talks, and Some Data Surprises
May 8, 2019
Central bank officials in New Zealand and Malaysia cut their interest rates, while those in Thailand maintained an “accommodative but appropriate” 1.75% rate level. Thailand’s growth outlook was revised downward, but the inflation prognosis wasn’t changed. New Zealand’s official cash rate was lowered 25 basis points to 1.5%. Such had been 1.75% since November 2016. […] More
Sterling Continues to Stumble on Hard Brexit Fears
August 8, 2018
Sterling hit new 2018 lows of EUR 0.9019 and $1.2859. The dollar is 0.6% stronger against the pound than its Tuesday closing level. The dollar is also up 0.3% versus the loonie, down 0.3% relative to the yen, and barely changed against the euro, Swiss franc, Aussie dollar or kiwi. Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday, […] More
Oil Down & Dollar Up Ahead of Trump’s Announcement on Iran Nuclear Deal
May 8, 2018
President Trump’s decision is scheduled for 14:00 EDT (GMT 18:00). He is widely expected to pull the United States out of the deal. West Texas Intermediate crude oil has traded 1.4% lower and is back under the $70 per barrel level. The dollar’s gains so far today are most pronounced against commodity-sensitive currencies like the […] More
Chinese, Japanese and German Trade Figures Reported Plus Several Second Tier Other Releases
August 8, 2017
China’s $46.74 billion trade surplus in July was the widest since $51.35 billion last January. Japan recorded a JPY 935 billion current account surplus in June, 4.3% less than a year earlier, the the seasonally adjusted surplus rose 8.7% on month to JPY 1.523 trillion. The settlements trade surplus was 32% smaller than a year […] More
Reaction to Trump Remarks Muted by Coming Holidays
April 13, 2017
President Trump gave an exclusive interview to the Wall Street Journal in which among other things he complained that the dollar was too strong, proclaimed that China is not a currency manipulator, and jaw-boned the Fed to keep interest rates low. Markets were closed today in Norway and Mexico. Good Friday observances tomorrow will shut […] More
Dollar Up and Some Eye-Catching Data Results
March 8, 2017
The dollar is trading higher, with gains of 0.6% against the Aussie currency, 0.5% relative to the yen, 0.4% versus the kiwi, 0.3% vis-a-vis the euro, loonie, peso and sterling, 0.2% against the Swiss franc, and 0.1% versus the yuan. The ten-year Treasury yield rose another four basis points. At 2.56%, such is 25 basis […] More
Dollar Strengthens against Euro after ECB Announcement
December 8, 2016
The dollar advanced 1.3% against the euro, 1.0% versus the Swiss franc, 0.5% relative to the Aussie dollar, 0.3% vis-a-vis the yen and sterling and 0.2% against the Mexican peso and Chinese yuan. ECB interest rates were left unchanged. The non-standard asset purchase program was extended nine months in duration but reduced to EUR 60 […] More
