Asian markets returned to a risk-off tone today, with investor sentiment once again weighed down by the lack of clarity on the US tariff front and the apparent stalling of key trade negotiations. The week’s earlier relief rally following the U.S. court ruling against President Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs has faded, as the legal battle […]
Dollar’s rebound gather extra momentum today, after the US Court of International Trade struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs, giving markets a fresh catalyst. The court ruled that the reciprocal tariffs imposed in April across multiple countries under claims of correcting trade imbalances exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Yen is under intense selling pressure today, dragged down by a sharp plunge in super-long JGB yields. The 30-year yield closed at 2.836%, down significantly from 3.165% just days ago. This abrupt move followed a Reuters report suggesting that the Ministry of Finance may reduce super-long bond issuance as part of a potential tweak to
Markets were subdued in the Asian session today, showing little enthusiasm in response to China’s better-than-expected industrial profit figures. Profits rose 3.0% yoy in April, following a 2.6% gain in March, pushing year-to-date growth to 1.4%. The data was notably resilient given ongoing trade tensions. Still, the NBS struck a cautious tone, warning of persistent
Global markets are showing tentative signs of relief after US President Donald Trump walked back his threat to impose a 50% tariff on the European Union. The abrupt shift to reinstate a July 9 deadline for negotiations has helped ease investor concerns for now. Stocks in Germany and France are trading modestly higher in European
Global financial markets are thrown back into turmoil today after US President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions by announcing he would recommend a sweeping 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1. In a pointed social media post, Trump accused the EU of stonewalling negotiations, declaring that discussions were “going nowhere.” The announcement came on
The dominant driver in global markets at the moment is rising concern over the US fiscal deficit. 30-year yield surged toward 5.1% overnight, its highest level since October 2023. 10-year yield also breached the 4.6% mark for the first time in months. Equity markets responded accordingly, with major US indexes closing sharply lower. Gold has
Canadian Dollar firmed modestly in early US trading after inflation data showed a sharper-than-expected pickup in core price pressures. While headline CPI slowed to 1.7% in April, the drop was largely due to a steep decline in energy prices. In contrast, underlying inflation picked up pace, with core measures such as CPI-median, trim, and common
Euro and Sterling surged today after the UK and EU unveiled a sweeping new agreement resetting their defence and trade relationship, the most substantial since Brexit in 2020. The comprehensive deal spans key sectors including security, energy, travel, trade, and fisheries. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in
Global financial markets are trading in tight ranges today, with little conviction seen across major asset classes. U.S. futures are pointing to a mildly weaker open. Despite a surprise decline in US producer prices in April, suggesting a possible easing of inflation pressures, there was little follow-through in market reaction. Earlier today, stronger-than-expected UK Q1
Dollar softened slightly in early US trading today, though the move appears more related to a fading post-trade-deal rally than any direct reaction to economic data. While April’s inflation report showed encouraging progress on headline disinflation, the core CPI reading held firm, suggesting underlying price pressures remain sticky. That dynamic should keep Fed cautious, and
The forex markets are quiet today, with major pairs largely consolidating after yesterday’s modest directional movement. Dollar and British Pound remain the strongest performers overall, bolstered earlier in the week by the announcement of the US-UK trade agreement. However, both currencies are now struggling to extend their momentum. Canadian Dollar continues to lag after today’s
Market reaction to the much-anticipated US-UK trade agreement was cautiously positive, though not particularly enthusiastic. While major US equity indices closed higher overnight, DOW, S&P 500, and NASDAQ all gave back early gains to finish near their opening levels, suggesting that the initial optimism faded as details of the deal emerged. The muted tone suggests
Trading in the forex markets remains subdued. Fed’s policy announcement overnight triggered minimal market reaction, as it delivered a widely expected hold at 4.25–4.50%. While Fed acknowledged that risks of both higher unemployment and higher inflation have increased, Chair Jerome Powell made it clear that rate cuts are not imminent. “It’s not a situation where
Positive developments out of Asia offered some encouragement to global investors today, though market responses remained muted. China unveiled a wide-ranging stimulus package, cutting both its seven-day reverse repo rate and the reserve requirement ratio to inject liquidity to stabilize the economy. In parallel, officials from the US and China announced plans to hold a
Both Swiss Franc and Euro are under some selling pressure today, especially against Sterling. The Franc suffered after SNB Chair Martin Schlegel signaled the willingness to reintroduce negative interest rates if deflationary risks persist. Meanwhile, Euro came under pressure as fresh political instability emerged in Germany CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz’s failure to secure a parliamentary
Dollar remains on the soft side today, although losses are so far limited. Currency market activity is subdued as traders remain cautious ahead of the upcoming FOMC rate decision. While no policy changes are expected from the Fed tomorrow, markets are watching closely for any forward guidance. Notably, expectations for a June rate cut have
