Japanese trade
Many Balls in the Air
September 18, 2014
There is much for investors to watch this Thursday. A Scottish referendum on independence will determine the future of Great Britain and have implications far beyond the Commonwealth. The vote is considered too close to predict, although latest polls suggest a marginal edge toward rejections. Markets continue to react to yesterday’s FOMC hand-outs and press […] More
PMI’s, Japanese Trade, British Retail Sales, and an Important New Zealand Statement
July 24, 2014
Preliminary purchasing manager survey results for July showed An 18-month high in Chinese manufacturing growth. Faster euro area growth especially in the services but also manufacturing. Slower manufacturing growth in Japan. Japanese customs trade data for June also were disappointing. There was an unadjusted JPY 822 billion deficit, which was the 24th shortfall in a […] More
PMI’s, Japanese Trade, British Retail Sales, and an Important New Zealand Statement
July 24, 2014
Preliminary purchasing manager survey results for July showed An 18-month high in Chinese manufacturing growth. Faster euro area growth especially in the services but also manufacturing. Slower manufacturing growth in Japan. Japanese customs trade data for June also were disappointing. There was an unadjusted JPY 822 billion deficit, which was the 24th shortfall in a […] More
Four Central Banks in the Spotlight
May 21, 2014
Minutes from the Bank of England’s meeting on May 7-8 revealed an increasing inclination by some members of the Monetary Policy Committee to entertain the thought of starting to raise interest rates, but the vote against doing so at that meeting remained unanimous. The debate is focused on determining how much slack remains in the […] More
Continuing Focus on Emerging Market Difficulties
January 27, 2014
Asian share prices were battered additionally at the start of the new week. Stocks fell 2.5% in Japan, 2.6% in Indonesia, 2.1% in Hong Kong, 2.0% in Thailand and India, 1.8% in the Philippines, 1.6% in South Korea and Taiwan, 1.3% in China and Malaysia, and 1.1% in Singapore. While the British Ftse followed suit […] More
Modest Rise in Dollar
October 21, 2013
The dollar has firmed by 0.3% against the kiwi and yen, 0.2% relative to the Swiss franc, and 0.1% versus the euro. The greenback is unchanged against the Aussie dollar and sterling and has dipped 0.1% versus the Chinese yuan. Share prices rose 1.9% in China, 0.9% in Japan and New Zealand, 0.7% in Indonesia, […] More
The Morning After Delivers More Central Bank News
September 19, 2013
In the wake of the Federal Reserve’s decision not to cut quantitative stimulus just yet, the euro soared to a 7-month high of $1.3569, gold has climbed 4.4% to $1365.5 per ounce, other commodities like WTI crude oil (+0.6% to $108.76) are also higher, share prices are higher in Europe and Asia (especially where selling […] More
Lower Bond and Stock Prices
August 19, 2013
Financial turbulence in Indonesia where 1) equities plunged 5.6% to a 21-month low, 2) the rupiah dropped 1% and touched 10,500/USD for the first time in four years, and 3) the 10-year bond yield advanced to a 29-month high. Markets have reacted adversely to a string of bad economic news including Friday’s report of a […] More
Resumed Yen Slide Continues
May 10, 2013
The yen touched lows today of 101.75 per dollar and 132.29 per euro and is 1.1% softer against the U.S. currency than at Thursday’s close. The U.S. dollar also has risen 0.9% against the Swiss franc, 0.8% versus the kiwi, 0.7% relative to the Australian dollar, 0.3% against the euro and pound, 0.2% versus the […] More
Confidence Continuing to Build into the New Year
December 19, 2012
An optimistic mood surrounds the fiscal cliff talks. The German IFO business climate index rose to a 5-month high in December despite a softer reading on current conditions. Peripheral sovereign debt yields slipped further in the euro area. S&P removed the “Selective Default” designation on Greek debt. Japan’s Nikkei soared 2.4%, its best single session […] More
