Russia: Markets strongly expect a rate cut

Yann Quelenn Swissquote Bank Ltd

The Central Bank of Russia will decide about its key rate today. There is a significant likelihood that the central bank lower its key rate to 8.5%. In July, the CBR decided to remain on hold, markets expectations for a rate cut are now strong.

There are a major reason for that, it has been a while that Russian inflation is on its way lower. Consumer prices have increased 1.7% year-to-date. Annualized figure is 3.3% below the central bank expectations. The central bank has now some room to act to normalize its monetary policy.

Stay on top of the markets with Swissquote’s News & Analysis

Currency-wise, the ruble is trading at the highest levels for the last two years against the dollar at 52 ruble for one single dollar note. It is important to remember that before 2013, the USDRUB was trading around 30. We consider that the CBR is willing to strengthen the currency by lowering its key rate. Today’s event should not appear as a non-event but as a remainder of benefiting from the likely strengthening of the Russian currency over the medium-term.

Author

Yann Quelenn

Swissquote Bank Ltd

Yann Quelenn is a Market Analyst at Swissquote Bank with strong technical and financial background. Previously, he worked as FX Trader at Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild and as Portfolio Manager at Polaris Investment in Luxembourg.

EUR/USD treads water around 1.1900

EUR/USD edges a tad lower around the 1.1900 area, coming under mild pressure despite the US Dollar keeps the offered stance on turnaround Tuesday. On the US data front, December Retail Sales fell short of expectations, while the ADP four week average printed at 6.5K.

GBP/USD looks weak near 1.3670

GBP/USD trades on the back foot around the 1.3670 region on Tuesday. Cable’s modest retracement also comes in tandem with the decent decline in the Greenback. Moving forward, the US NFP and CPI data in combination with key UK releases should kee the quid under scrutiny in the next few days.

Gold flirts with daily lows near $5,000

Gold comes under marked selling pressure on Tuesday, giving back part of its recent two day advance and threatening to challenge the key $5,000 mark per troy ounce. The yellow metal’s correction follows a better tone in the risk complex, a lower Greenback and shrinking US Treasuty yields.

AI Crypto Update: BankrCoin, Pippin surge as sector market cap steadies above $12B

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) segment is largely on the back foot with major coins such as Bittensor (TAO) and Internet Computer (ICP) extending losses amid a sticky risk-off sentiment.

Dollar drops and stocks rally: The week of reckoning for US economic data

Following a sizeable move lower in US technology Stocks last week, we have witnessed a meaningful recovery unfold. The USD Index is in a concerning position; the monthly price continues to hold the south channel support.

XRP holds $1.40 amid ETF inflows and stable derivatives market

Ripple trades under pressure, with immediate support at $1.40 holding at the time of writing on Tuesday. A recovery attempt from last week’s sell-off to $1.12 stalled at $1.54 on Friday, leading to limited price action between the current support and the resistance.