China makes it more expensive to short CNY - ANZ

Ross J Burland FXStreet

Analysts at ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited ("ANZ") explained that the big news comes with the PBoC re-instating a 20% reserve requirement on some trading of FX forwards – a move akin to that on 1 September 2015 to help stem CNY declines after the August devaluation.

Key Quotes:

"In effect, 20% of notional is locked up for a year with no interest, making it more expensive to short CNY. USD/CNH spot fell on the news, falling from 6.89 to 6.84. Risk sentiment rose and emerging markets rallied."

"However, shortly after China’s Ministry of Commerce retaliated to Trump’s plan to increase the tariff rate from 10% to 25% on the previously announced $200bn of Chinese imports."

"Four tiers of tariffs ranging from 5 to 25% will be placed on over 5000 different products imported from the US. Officials said this was a “rational and restrained” response to the US action and their implementation is conditional on what the US decides."

Author

Ross J Burland

FXStreet

Ross J Burland, born in England, UK, is a sportsman at heart. He played Rugby and Judo for his county, Kent and the South East of England Rugby team.

EUR/USD looks sidelined around 1.1850

EUR/USD remains on the back foot, extending its bearish tone and sliding towards the 1.1850 area to print fresh daily lows on Monday. The move lower comes as the US Dollar gathers modest traction, with thin liquidity and subdued volatility amplifying price swings amid the US market holiday.

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD has quickly given back Friday’s solid gains, turning lower at the start of the week and drifting back towards the 1.3630 area. The focus now shifts squarely to Tuesday’s UK labour market report, which is likely to keep the quid firmly in the spotlight and could set the tone for Cable’s next move.

Gold battle around $5,000 continues

Gold is giving back part of Friday’s sharp rebound, deflating below the key $5,000 mark per troy ounce as the new week gets underway. Modest gains in the US Dollar are keeping the metal in check, while thin trading conditions, due to the Presidents Day holiday in the US, are adding to the choppy and hesitant tone across markets.

Bitcoin consolidates as on-chain data show mixed signals

Bitcoin price has consolidated between $65,700 and $72,000 over the past nine days, with no clear directional bias. US-listed spot ETFs recorded a $359.91 million weekly outflow, marking the fourth consecutive week of withdrawals.

The week ahead: Key inflation readings and why the AI trade could be overdone

It is likely to be a quiet start to the week, with US markets closed on Monday for Presidents Day. European markets are higher across the board and gold is clinging to the $5,000 level after the tamer than expected CPI report in the US reduced haven flows to precious metals.

XRP steadies in narrow range as fund inflows, futures interest rise

Ripple is trading in a narrow range between $1.45 (immediate support) and $1.50 (resistance) at the time of writing on Monday. The remittance token extended its recovery last week, peaking at $1.67 on Sunday from the weekly open at $1.43.