Summary
Global divergences in monetary have come to fore with the US letting QE 3 see a natural death even as BoJ Governor Kuroda has finally convinced the rest of the monetary board to go his way with another massive JGB buying program. But what of the ECB? Mario Draghi has been speaking of willingness to and been laying the ground for quantitative easing but still nothing. Let us explore the arguments for the ECB taking the next step beyond the current negative interest rates.Latest Live Videos
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD remains bid near 1.1650 post-US ADP
Finally some respite for the risk complex see EUR/USD partially recover from the recent steep sell-off, this time hovering around the 1.1650 zone amid decent gains in a context of renewed selling pressure on the US Dollar. However, the duration and extension of this bounce should be put to the test amid the unabated tensions in the Middle East.
GBP/USD meets resistance around 1.3400
In line with its risk-linked peers, GBP/USD stages a modest comeback on Wednesday, although meeting some resistance around the 1.3400 neighbourhood. Cable’s humble recovery comes on the back of the fresh downward bias in the Greenback amid a marginal improvement in the global sentiment and steady geopolitical effervescence.
Gold flirts with $5,200 amid safe haven demand
Gold partially fades Tuesday’s sharp pullback, regaining the $5,200 mark per troy ounce on the back of the resurgence of investors’ demand for the safe-haven space. The precious metal remains well propped up by the deterioration of the geopolitical scenario in the Middle East, while the softer tone in the US Dollar collaborates with the uptick.
Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid mixed ETF flows
The cryptocurrency market is showing subtle recovery signs despite heightened global uncertainty following the United States (US) and Israel attacks on Iran and the subsequent retaliations that have morphed into a wider Middle East war.
Asian stocks fall as South Korea’s KOSPI slumps over 10%
Asian equities drop on Middle East tensions; the MSCI Asia Pacific Index falls up to 4%. South Korea’s KOSPI fell 10.71% near 5,170, with the Korean Won weakened past 1,500 per dollar.
Here is what you need to know on Wednesday, March 4:
The US Dollar enters a consolidation phase early Wednesday after outperforming its rivals for two consecutive days. The US economic calendar will feature ADP Employment Change data for February and the Institue for Supply Management will publish the February Services Purchasing Managers' Index data.