Australia building approvals recovered in September, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday. Building approvals increased 12 percent month-on-month in September after a 3.6 percent fall in August. Approvals for private sector houses rose 4.0 percent. Meanwhile, approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses surged 26.0 percent. On a yearly basis, building […]
Yen was under pressure across the board in Asian session today as improved sentiment toward China and dovish domestic signals combined to sap demand for the safe-haven currency. Traders interpreted the latest Chinese inflation report and a surprise U.S. trade gesture as signs of stabilizing conditions, prompting flows back into risk assets. China’s October CPI
Global markets traded with a mild risk-off tone today as investors favored defensive plays. With no major data releases scheduled, sentiment rather than fundamentals set the tone, pushing the Japanese Yen to the top of the performance board while the Australian and New Zealand Dollars lagged. Yen’s strength was also supported by another round of
The Reserve Bank of Australia maintained its key interest rate as the full effects of earlier rate cuts are yet to be felt and policymakers became cautious after data showed evidence of more persistent inflation. The policy board governed by Michele Bullock decided to hold the cash rate at 3.60 percent, as widely expected, on
Australian Dollar traded mildly lower after the RBA left its cash rate unchanged at 3.60%, a move fully expected by markets. The policy hold came with few surprises, and the key takeaway was that the RBA’s updated forecasts signal no further rate cuts this year, reflecting a sharper upward revision in near-term inflation. The decision
Dollar climbed across the board today, defying dovish rhetoric from Fed Governor Stephen Miran. The greenback’s resilience suggests that Miran’s influence on expectations is limited, with investors noting that he represents the dovish edge of a divided policy spectrum. The broader committee remains split. Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid argued recently against imminent rate
Trading was subdued in Asia today, with Japan closed for a public holiday and investors awaiting a series of major events later in the week. Aussie led mild gains, supported by positioning for a hawkish hold from the RBA on Tuesday. The British Pound, by contrast, stayed on the defensive as traders reduced exposure ahead
The total number of building permits issued in Australia was up a seasonally adjusted 12.0 percent on month in September, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Monday – coming in at 17,019. That beat forecasts for an increase of 5.1 percent following the upwardly revised 3.6 percent drop in August (originally -6.0 percent). On
It was a week packed with market-moving headlines and wild cross-asset swings. Traders found themselves caught between optimism over a U.S.–China trade breakthrough and caution sparked by a hawkish twist from the Fed. The result was a volatile mix that saw US equities push to new records, yields jump, and currencies shuffle in dramatic fashion.
Sterling tumbled sharply today, hitting its lowest level against Euro in nearly a year as renewed fiscal concerns dominated sentiment. The selloff followed reports from the Financial Times that UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will face a deeper-than-expected deterioration in the UK’s public finances, delivering an early setback ahead of next month’s crucial Budget. According to
Risk appetite swept across Asian markets today, lifting equities to fresh records as political clarity in Japan and trade optimism across the region buoyed investor confidence. Nikkei 225 surged to another all-time high after the Liberal Democratic Party’s Sanae Takaichi won 237 of 465 votes in the lower house, securing her position as Japan’s next
Global markets turned sharply defensive today as renewed U.S.–China trade tensions reignited fears of broader economic disruption. Equities fell across Asia and Europe, while safe-haven demand lifted Yen and Dollar. The latest flashpoint emerged at sea, where both countries introduced new port charges on ocean shipping firms, adding a fresh dimension to the ongoing trade
Dollar firmed modestly as markets transitioned into early US session. Despite the resilience, it remain skeptical whether the greenback could stage a breakout. While Dollar continues to outperform the struggling Yen, its strength against other currencies is refrained. Against Loonie, the greenback is losing traction as oil prices stabilize. Similarly, Dollar remains range-bound versus Euro
The manufacturing sector in Australia continued to expand in September, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Wednesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 51.4. That’s down from 51.6 in August, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Incoming new orders fell
Australian Dollar is staying the day’s top performer, rallying after the RBA kept its cash rate unchanged but leaned hawkish in tone. Later at the press conference, Governor Michele Bullock avoided any firm guidance on future cuts, telling reporters she would not “predict what the interest rate is going to be in the next three
Private sector credit in Australia was up 0.6 percent on month in August, the Reserve Bank of Australia said on Tuesday – in line with expectations and easing from 0.7 percent in July. On an annual basis, private sector credit was up 7.2 percent. Individually, housing credit rose 0.6 percent on month and 6.1 percent
The forex markets remained largely directionless today, with consolidative trading dominating across major pairs. Price action was muted, and the release of PMI data failed to provide much impetus, with investors largely shrugging off the surveys. Eurozone PMIs offered a mixed picture. Germany showed a promising improvement, but sluggish readings in France offset the optimism.
