Macro Events & News

Dr. Nektarios Michail HFM

FX News Today

10-year Treasury yields are up 0.5 bp at 2.693%, JGB yields lifted 1.2 bp to -0.0013%.

Stocks were supported by trade talk hopes as US President Donald Trump suggested that he could see letting the March 1 deadline on tariffs China slide a little if the two sides were close to a complete deal helped to underpin sentiment.

The negative sentiment that had dominated much of the last months of 2018 continues to unwind, but markets will ultimately have to see permanent solutions and real results, otherwise they remain at risk of sliding back again.

For now though markets are mostly in a positive mood and while the ASX closed with a loss of -0.26$, Topix and Nikkei rallied 1.06% and 1.34% respectively. The Hang Seng is up 1.21%, China’s blue chip index CSI is up 2.1% and the Shanghai Composite 1.92%.

US futures are equally moving higher, as are European futures.

Oil prices have also come back from the lows seen early in the week and the front end WTI future is trading at USD 53.64 per barrel.

The calendar today has inflation releases for the UK and the US, with the Riksbank’s meeting not expected to post any surprises.

Charts of the Day

Main Macro Events Today

UK Price Indices – The UK’s Price Indices are expected to continue close to their December levels, however at mixed outcomes. The Retail Price Index is expected to stand at 2.6% y/y compared to 2.7% last month, the PPI to increase to 3.8% y/y compared to 3.7%, while the CPI is expected to have stood at 1.9% compared to 2.1% in December.

EU Industrial Production – Industrial production in the European Union is expected to continue its decline albeit at a slower pace, with a reduction of 0.4% m/m expected in the December data, compared to a 1.7% reduction in November.

US CPI Inflation – Inflation is expected to have declined in the US, in association with the prevailing understanding of a slowdown in the economy, with the CPI expected to have increased by 1.5% y/y, compared to 1.9% y/y in December. Core CPI is expected to have increased by 2.1% y/y compared to 2.2%.

Support and Resistance

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.