Macro Events & News

Andria Pichidi HFM

FX News

European Outlook: China outperformed and stocks head for the best week in three months, after an announcement that limits on foreign ownership of Chinese banks and asset managers will be removed. and while Chinese investors also propped up Hong Kong markets, elsewhere in Asia equities mostly declined, with Japan leading the way, following on from declines on Wall Street in Europe yesterday. U.S. tax concerns have spooked markets and the GER30 closed with a loss of -1.49% on Thursday, amid disappointing earnings reports, a stronger EUR and concerns about the prospects for U.S. tax reforms and while the index still remains at high level of over 13000 some are speculating on a broader correction from record levels. UK100 futures as well as DJ mini futures are posting marginal gains, but the UK100 already outperformed yesterday amid a weaker pound. Today’s calendar focuses on production data out of the U.K., France and Italy and the U.K. also has trade data for September and the NIESR GDP estimate in the afternoon.

FX Action: USDJPY has recovered poise in Asia after tumbling yesterday on news that the implementation of the Senate plan to cut corporate tax in the U.S. will be delayed by two years and the extent of some other taxes will be trimmed. The news sparked a steep sell-off in U.S. and global equity markets, driving demand for the yen, among other perceived safe haven currencies and assets. A subsequent report that Republican Senator Cornyn is looking to avoid a one-year delay seemed to throw markets a lift line. USDJPY pair has recouped to around 113.40 after clocking a low at 113.09, which is the lowest level seen since October 31.

Main Macro Events Today

UK Manufacturing Production – Expectations – a fall to 0.3% m/m from 0.4% and a 2.4% y/y from 2.8%.

UK Good Trade Balance – Expectations – a deficit of -12.8B Pounds for September from – 14.25B.

US Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment – Expectations – unchanged at 100.7.

Charts of the Day

Support and Resistance Levels

Author

Andria Pichidi

HFM

Having completed her five-year-long studies in the UK, Andria Pichidi has been awarded a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Bath and a MSc degree in Mathematics, while she holds a postgraduate diploma (PGdip) in

EUR/USD hits two-day highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD picks up pace and reaches two-day tops around 1.1820 at the end of the week. The pair’s move higher comes on the back of renewed weakness in the US Dollar amid growing talk that the Fed could deliver an interest rate cut as early as March. On the docket, the flash US Consumer Sentiment improves to 57.3 in February.

GBP/USD reclaims 1.3600 and above

GBP/USD reverses two straight days of losses, surpassing the key 1.3600 yardstick on Friday. Cable’s rebound comes as the Greenback slips away from two-week highs in response to some profit-taking mood and speculation of Fed rate cuts. In addition, hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill are also collaborating with the quid’s improvement.

Gold climbs further, focus is back to 45,000

Gold regains upside traction and surpasses the $4,900 mark per troy ounce at the end of the week, shifting its attention to the critical $5,000 region. The move reflects a shift in risk sentiment, driving flows back towards traditional safe haven assets and supporting the yellow metal.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid risk-off, $2.6 billion liquidation wave

Bitcoin edges up above $65,000 at the time of writing on Friday, as dust from the recent macro-triggered sell-off settles. The leading altcoin, Ethereum, hovers above $1,900, but resistance at $2,000 caps the upside. Meanwhile, Ripple has recorded the largest intraday jump among the three assets, up over 10% to $1.35.

Three scenarios for Japanese Yen ahead of snap election

The latest polls point to a dominant win for the ruling bloc at the upcoming Japanese snap election. The larger Sanae Takaichi’s mandate, the more investors fear faster implementation of tax cuts and spending plans.

XRP rally extends as modest ETF inflows support recovery

Ripple is accelerating its recovery, trading above $1.36 at the time of writing on Friday, as investors adjust their positions following a turbulent week in the broader crypto market. The remittance token is up over 21% from its intraday low of $1.12.