Japanese trade balance
A Quartet of Central Bank Rate Cuts and Netflix Stock Takes a Large Hit
July 18, 2019
Central bank rates were cut today in South Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, and Ukraine. The likelihood that the Fed will ease at the end of this month played a role in each of these actions. All of the reductions were 25-basis point moves. The share price of Netflix has tumbled 10.75% in response to an […] More
Brexit Mess and Central Bank News
May 22, 2019
The latest Brexit proposal from British Prime Minister May was defeated heavily by a parliamentary vote of 432-202. That was a significantly bigger defeat than on her previous attempt. Sterling dropped to a four-month low of $1.2641. The ten-year British gilt yield slid six basis points to 1.02%, but the Ftse-100 avoided the slide experienced […] More
Another Possibly Terrorist Shooting
March 18, 2019
As the last business week ended on Friday, investors learned of a terrorist shooting by a neo-nazi at a mosque in New Zealand that killed 50 people, and today brings news of another shooting some 11,670 miles away on a tram in The Netherlands that is also believed to be the work of a terrorist. […] More
Awaiting FOMC Minutes and Assessing Data Out Earlier Today
February 20, 2019
The FOMC meeting in late January looms as an important inflection point in U.S. monetary policy. The statement released at that time deleted forward guidance that further increases in the target interest rate would be consistent with achieving the Fed’s mandates, instead spoke of patience while determining any future moves, and hinted at changes in […] More
Softer Equities and No Trade Deal Yet
November 19, 2018
Stocks have begun another week on a downbeat. The DOW is off slightly more than 1.0%. Share prices fell 0.6% in Germany, France and Australia but firmed 0.7% in Japan. The dollar is softer, too, with losses of 0.4% versus the euro, 0.3% vis-a-vis the yen and sterling, and 0.2% against the Canadian dollar. However, […] More
Trump Fighting a Two-Front War Against Fed and Over His Stance on Saudi Arabia
October 18, 2018
Minutes from the FOMC September meeting minutes at which monetary officials again raised interest rates reveal confidence in continuing growth, a view shared by some that the fed funds target is likely to spend a while above the perceived long-run level, and a considerable time allotted to discussion of the ramifications of U.S.-Sino trade tensions. […] More
Stronger Dollar, Weaker Equities, Softer Gold Price But Rebound in Oil
July 19, 2018
The dollar climbed overnight by 0.8% to a one-year high against the Chinese yuan. The greenback also gained 1.0% relative to the kiwi, 0.9% vis-a-vis the peso, 0.8% versus the Australian dollar, 0.6% against sterling, 0.5% versus the loonie and 0.3% against the euro and Swiss franc. Dollar/yen is unchanged. Stocks dropped 0.9% in Hong […] More
Trade War Concerns and Immigration Tensions Rattle Markets Further
June 18, 2018
Share prices fell 1.2% in South Korea and 1.0% in Singapore. In Europe, stocks have thus far dropped 1.4% in Germany, 1.2% in France, 1.1% in Switzerland, 1.0% in Spain, 0.9% in Italy and 0.4% in the U.K.. Markets were closed today in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong for the Dragon Boat Festival and remained […] More
Dampened Activity Due to Holidays in Asia and North America
February 19, 2018
The U.S. dollar is unchanged against the euro, peso, sterling and Canadian and New Zealand dollars.The greenback slipped 0.2% relative to the Aussie dollar and 0.1% vis-a-vis the Swiss franc but edged up 0.1% versus the yen. Several Asian markets remained closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, including those in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, […] More
Firmer Stock Markets and a Softer Dollar
December 18, 2017
With passage of a U.S. tax cut at mid-week looking increasingly probable, equities rallied in Asia and Europe overnight, and the dollar eased a bit. Dollar declines amount to 0.3% relative to sterling, the euro, Swiss franc loonie and peso, 0.2% against the Australian and and New Zealand dollars, and 0.1% versus the yen. Share […] More
