Currencies
- The euro (EUR) continued its bullish trend for a second consecutive day reaching as high as 1.2599 against the US dollar (USD) yesterday after the Federal Reserve Market Committee (FOMC) released the Meeting Minutes in public. The Fed is worrying about investors and the public losing their confidence in the ability of keeping the prices stable, resulting into a fall in inflation rates. Today the German and French Flash Manufacturing PMI will be announced with expectations at 51.5 and 48.9 respectively.
- The US dollar (USD) continued climbing against the Japanese yen (JPY) and is currently trading at 118.56 as the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan postponed a sales-tax hike, while started making plans for increasing fiscal stimulus measurement. The Governor of Bank of Japan (BOJ) Haruhiko Kuroda, spoke at the Press Conference that was held yesterday, putting the blame on Abe for the delay of the sales-tax hike. Today the US monthly CPI with expectations at -0.1%, while the US Philly Fed Manufacturing Index and the US Unemployment claims will be announced and are expected to be at 18.9 and 286K respectively.
Equities
- Asian equities fell on FOMC Meeting Minutes release, while Japan equities gained on yen fall. The Japan 225 (NKI) advanced to 17509, the Hong Kong 50 (HSX) fell to 23294, the China 50 (CNX) went to 7409 and the India 50 (IND) to 8385.
Commodities
- WTI Crude (OIL) remained range bound at 74.30 USD per barrel, despite the expansion in inventories at 2.6 million barrels, where it was expected to fall by -0.7.
Mover & Shaker with forex options
- Gold (XAU) dropped yesterday to 1182 after a big shake. The precious metal fell from 1196 before the FOMC Meeting Minutes announcement to 1175, then it rebound back to 1200 and closed at 1182 after the FOMC announcement. The holdings of SPDR Gold Trust continue to shrink as the US economy seems to recover faster.
- Option traders may consider buying a Put on the XAUUSD and gain if the pair moves lower, while the risk is limited to the premium paid.
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