Macro Events & News

Andria Pichidi HFM

FX News Today

European Fixed Income Outlook: Asian stock markets moved mostly higher, with Hang Seng and CSI 300 outperforming again, while the Nikkei underperformed and declined -0.24% as the Yen moved higher against the dollar. Oil giants led the way in Hong Kong. 10-year JGB and Treasury yields climbed and recent volatility in bond markets seemed to subside somewhat, although the BoJ and ECB reminding markets this week that central bank support is slowly on the way out, yields are likely to continue to trend higher. UK100 futures are rising in tandem with U.S. futures. The calendar only has second tier data in the form of inflation numbers out of Spain, France and Sweden.

FX Update: The dollar has remained on a softening tack, with the narrow trade-weighted USD index (DXY) extending yesterday’s declines from levels around 92.50 to a 91.75 low today,, which matches the four-month low that was posted on January 2. The greenback has logged fresh lows versus the euro, sterling and Australian dollar, among other currencies, in the early part of the Asia-Pacific session after Fed’s Dudley saying that the case for gradualist approach to tightening monetary policy remains strong, arguing that the pace of rate hikes could be accelerated if need be. EURUSD clocked a five-day peak at 1.2066, with subsequent dips remaining shallow. AUDUSD traded above 0.7900 for the first time since late September, logging a peak of 0.7904. The hawkish-leaning ECB minutes, yesterday, and the BoJ’s QE tapering announcement earlier in the week, have been factors generating a softer dollar theme this week, via EURUSD buying and USDJPY selling, respectively.

Charts of the Day

Main Macro Events Today

US CPI & Core CPI – Headline CPI is forecast to increase 0.2% in December vs 0.4% , while core is set to rise 0.2% vs 0.1% — leaving core y/y at 1.7%.

US Retail Sales – December retail sales forecast to rise 0.4% vs 0.8%, while increasing 0.4% ex-auto. Lastly is business inventories that should rise 0.3% in November vs -0.1%.

German Buba President Weidmann Speech

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Rosengren Speech

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.