Macro Events & News

Andria Pichidi HFM

FX News Today

Asian Market Wrap: Stock markets continued to rally during the Asian session after a record close on Wall Street yesterday. Risk appetite is back after robust US data yesterday added to hopes that the fallout from the latest round of US-China tariffs can be contained and that there will eventually be deals on trade and Brexit, despite little progress at the informal EU summit yesterday. Improvements in emerging market assets have also helped to underpin confidence with investors buying back into the rout. 10-year Treasury yields moved up 1.3 bp to 3.076%, 10 year JGB yields jumped 1.6 bp to 0.125% and 30-year yields rose 4.4 bp as BoJ cut bond purchases. Topix and Nikkei are up 1.01% and 1.06% respectively underpinned by a weaker Yen, the Hang Seng has gained 1.13% so far and the CSI 300 is up 1.80%. US stock futures are equally broadly higher, Oil prices are slightly lower and the November WTI future is trading at USD 70.25 per barrel. Today’s calendar includes Eurozone PMI readings as well as public finance data for the UK.

FX Action: USDJPY has lifted to a fresh two-month high at 112.80 amid a backdrop of a coursing risk-on theme in global markets. The USA30 and USA500 hit record highs yesterday, and Asian stocks have rallied robustly across the board. JP225 hit a 4-month high, and the Shanghai Composite a two-week high, with both showing gains of 1% or more. Expectations for China to turn the fiscal stimulus tap, among other measures, have been helping underpin sentiment in Asia, while the unexpectedly low starting tariff rate of 10% in Trump’s latest move on Chinese imports this week, along with tech sector exemptions, have helped buoy sentiment Global fundamentals are otherwise solid, despite the threat from the trade war escalation (with Beijing not expected to negotiate until after the mid-term elections in the US).

Charts of the Day

Main Macro Events Today

Eurozone Sep. PMI – Expectations – The Eurozone manufacturing PMI is expected at 54.5, down from 54.6 in the previous month, and expect the services reading to improve slightly to 54.5, which should leave the composite unchanged from August at 54.5. This still suggests ongoing expansion, but would also confirm the decelerating trend.

Canada CPI & Retail Sales – Expectations – CPI is expected to hold steady in August after the 0.5% surge in July. The CPI is projected to grow at a 2.9% y/y pace in August, easing slightly from the 3.0% pace in July that was the top of BoC’s 1-3% target range. Canada retail sales values are expected to rise 0.5% in July after the 0.2% drop in June.

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.