German industrial production
Dollar Extending Gains Against Commodity-Sensitive Currencies
February 7, 2020
The dollar rose overnight by a further 0.7% against the kiwi, peso, Russian ruble, and Aussie dollar and by 0.5% relative to the Chinese yuan. The dollar dropped 0.3% versus the yen and 0.1% vis-a-vis sterling but is unchanged against the euro. Intensifying concern about the spreading coronavirus epidemic provided an excuse for profit-taking in […] More
Unexpected Leap in U.S. Employment Last Month Dominates Friday’s News
December 6, 2019
U.S. non-farm payroll jobs increased 266k in November. Not since January had NFP risen so sharply, and the rises in September-October were revised upward by a combined 41k as well. Even with the resolution of the GM strike, these figures dwarfed expectations. Moreover, the jobless rate fell back 0.1 percentage point to a multi-decade low […] More
Risk Back On
November 7, 2019
A claim was made by a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman that the U.S. and China have agreed to a phased and mutual reduction of trade deficits but only contingent on a trade deal being done. Stock markets are up 0.7% in Germany, 1.0% in Australia, 0.7% in Singapore, 0.6% in Hong Kong, 0.5% in India, […] More
Stocks Hit by Geopolitical Factors
October 8, 2019
Share prices in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are down over 1.0%, and a lower U.S. open is implied by futures. Brexit talks between the U.K. and EU are seemingly paralyzed, and the U.S. blacklisting of Chinese tech firms over treatment of Uighur Muslims underscores trade tensions between the the two countries. Share prices in […] 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
Jobs Day in America
April 5, 2019
The dollar marked time overnight as investors await today’s release of U.S. March labor market data. The dollar slipped 0.2% against the euro but moved even less on balance against other key currencies. The price of gold, $1,294.10 per ounce, also is unchanged from Thursday’s close. U.S. employment growth in the prior two months was […] More
Some Weak Data from Japan and Germany and No End to U.S. Government Shutdown
January 8, 2019
Consumer confidence in Japan ended 2018 at a 25-month low. A 1.9% plunge in German industrial production in November has raised the risk of a second consecutive quarterly contraction of real GDP in Europe’s largest economy. GDP fell 0.2% in the third quarter, and industrial output posted back-to-back month-on-month declines of 0.8% in October and […] More
Dollar Down Broadly after Mixed U.S. Election Result
November 7, 2018
The dollar traded down overnight by 1.7% against the kiwi, 1.0% versus the Australian dollar, 0.7% relative to the euro and Swiss franc, 0.5% vis-a-vis the peso and sterling, 0.4% against the loonie, 0.3% versus the yen and 0.1% against the yuan. Share prices fell in Asia but have risen in Europe. Market losses totaled […] More
More Risk Aversion Lends Support to Dollar
October 8, 2018
The dollar has risen today by 0.8% against the Chinese yuan, 0.6% relative to sterling, 0.4% versus the euro, 0.3% vis-a-vis the loonie, and 0.1% against the Swiss franc and Mexican peso. Japan (Sports Day) and Canada (Thanksgiving) are observing holiday closures, but China reopened for business following a one-week observance of the Communist Revolution […] More
In Suspense Ahead of Tariff Announcements
September 7, 2018
President Trump is expected to announce a huge ramp-up in tariffs next week, especially on imports of Chinese goods, and China will no to retaliate in kind. Some pundits worry this escalating trade war will hammer U.S. equities, depress U.S. growth, lift U.S. inflation, and further incentivize the FOMC to raise interest rates. Stocks in […] More
