Macro Events & News

Dr. Nektarios Michail HFM

FX News Today

Asian Market Wrap: 10-year Treasury yields are up 1.5 bp at 3.171%, JGB yields rose 1.0 bp to 0.142%. Bond yields are resuming their uptrend then as stock market sentiment stabilised during the Asian session, although rising oil prices as Saudi tensions spike limited gains. There are also concerns over China’s GDP data later in the week, which markets fear will show the impact of US-Sino trade tensions. Japanese markets managed to bounce back from the 19-months low yesterday as Topix and Nikkei are up 0.13% and 0.41% respectively. The ASX is up 0.56% but the Hang Seng lost -0.09% so far and the CSI -0.13% and Shanghai Comp and Shenzen Comp are down -0.14% and -0.21% respectively. US futures are moving higher though, in line with the overall improving trend in Asia. The front end Nymex future is trading slightly under USD 72 per barrel.

European Fixed Income Outlook: 10-year Bund future opened at 158.49, down from a close of 158.59 on Monday. The 10-year cash yield is also down -0.3 bp at 0.497% in the opening trade after an unexpected dip in German import price inflation at the start of the session. Generally global bonds are back under pressure as stock market sentiment stabilized during the Asian session and 10-year Treasury rates are up 1.1 bp at 3.1675. The stalled Brexit talks, as well increased spending targets in Italy, and now Spain, remain in focus as is the fallout from the Bavarian election on the central government in Berlin. The data calendar focuses on UK labour market data as well as German ZEW investor confidence, with the latter expected to fall slightly.

Charts of the Day

Main Macro Events Today

UK Labour Market Data – Expectations – UK Unemployment rate is expected to remain flat at 4%, while Average Earnings should increase by 2.8% in August, compared to 2.9% in July.

US Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization – Expectations – Industrial Production is expected to have increased by 0.3% in September, while Capacity Utilization to have increased to 78.2% compared to 78.1% in August.

Author

Dr. Nektarios Michail

HFM

With more than 4 years of experience at the Central Bank of Cyprus where he obtained hands-on experience with real-life economics, Dr Nektarios Michail is a supporter of a balanced approach between science and art when it comes to

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.