US corporate results continued to beat estimates for a range of industries with Facebook and Microsoft flexing muscle and the latter's market value reaching $1 trillion to join Amazon and Apple. Amazon is due to report after the NY Closing Bell JPY and gold are the only gainers vs USD as indices decline for the 2nd straight day, The Canadian dollar is little changed following Wednesday's plunge triggered by the BOC's dowgraded forecasts for interest and growth. US durable goods orders beat estimates but US jobless claims jumped 37K, the highest in 19 months due to the effect of Easter and Passover holidays. Today's Premium trade is currently 150 pts in the green.
Wednesday's 40-pip fall in the Canadian dollar probably isn't a fair indication of how the BOC was received. The loonie was higher against the euro, aussie and kiwi and a mid-performer overall. The CAD lows of the day came immediately after the statement as the modest hawkish bias was removed. GDP estimates for this year were also cut to 1.2% from 1.7%.
Poloz, however, offered his usual positive spin in the press conference and the loonie bounced almost all the way back. He highlighted risks on both sides of the forecast and skepticism about some recent negative data.
The bigger move in FX remains that of the US dollar. Much of is via the tumbling euro after softer German and French economic surveys.The dollar didn't get any help from Treasuries, with yields across the curve down 4-5 basis points. Cable struggles around 1.29, but key support remains at 1.2780.
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