Markets fear fragility of global growth [Video]

David Johnson Halo Financial

Today's Highlights

Australian construction sector starts week on a high note
Quiet Monday ahead of a busy week
Markets fear fragility of global growth

Current Market Overview

How healthy is the global economy?
The global economy has been recovering over the last couple of years; of that there is little doubt, but there are questions in the minds of many traders, analysts and commentators over how robust that recovery will continue to be. Slowing growth on the indices, in manufacturing and retail data, for example, in the US and elsewhere have knocked confidence in the recovery. Add in the threats of an escalating trade war between the US and China (and everyone else for that matter) and the picture becomes even more opaque.

Good news for Australian Dollar
We started the week with a little good news, though. Australia’s construction sector saw good growth in March and that strengthened the Australian Dollar. A 57.2 index reading is significantly up on last month’s 56.0 and it propelled the GBPAUD downward to below A$1.80.

Quiet start to the week for currency markets – but not for long…
Excitement over, though, and the markets are settling in for a quiet Monday. There are a few speeches expected from EU finance figures and there will be a little bit of Canadian housing data later in the day but, barring any unexpected excitement, the day is likely to pass without incident.

#Mondaymotivation
The week ahead is a very different matter:

Bets on for the next US interest rate hike?
We will get meeting minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting; a chance to test everyone’s theories on rate hike timing and pace.

What next for China-US stand off?
We will get inflation and trade data from China; a chance to test theories on the impact of their trade standoff with America.

Optimistic outlook for Eurozone trade balance?
We will get Eurozone industrial production and trade balance data; the forecasts for which look very optimistic at the moment. So there is certainly room for disappointment...

Author

David Johnson

Halo Financial

Trained as a Technical Analyst and hold MSTA and CFTe accreditation, David Johnson has been active within the foreign exchange market since 1994 and established Halo Financial with 3 fellow Directors in 2004.

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