Due to high uncertainty about the net effect of an array of government policies on the economic outlook, the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy revealed officials believe it remains appropriate to take a “cautious approach” to future interest rate decisions. The minutes also reiterated recent comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell calling […]
The Minutes revealed that Federal Reserve policymakers almost unanimously agreed that the U.S. economy was at risk of experiencing both higher inflation and slower growth. They noted that “difficult tradeoffs” could lie ahead for the central bank. Key Takeaways All participants viewed it appropriate to keep interest rates unchanged in light of elevated uncertainty around
The rebound in US stock markets proved short-lived, with major indexes slipping back into the red by the end of Tuesday’s session. NASDAQ led the losses, as sentiment turned increasingly fragile. Asian markets followed suit, opening lower with large intraday volatility across the region. Concerns about a global recession continue to weigh heavily on investors’
Global market sentiment is showing tentative signs of stabilization. The tone improved slightly as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that for countries choosing not to retaliate, the US has already reached a “maximum tariff level,” which could gradually be rolled back. However, this was far from a green light for relief, as the broader
The global stock market crash showed no sign of slowing today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index returned from a holiday break and promptly plunged over -10% to catch up with last week’s global carnage. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei suffered another dramatic drop of more than -2200 points, or -6.6%. Risk aversion remains the dominant theme as
USD/CAD attracts some buyers for the second straight day amid a combination of supporting factors. Tumbling Oil prices, domestic political uncertainty, and Friday’s dismal jobs data undermine the Loonie. The risk-off mood benefits the USD’s relative safe-haven status and also acts as a tailwind for the pair. The USD/CAD pair attracts some follow-through buying for
There’s no relief in sight for the markets as risk aversion extends into Friday’s Asian session. Japan’s Nikkei is leading the losses once again, falling over -3% and cementing a near 10% weekly drop — the worst performance since early 2020. Singapore’s Strait Times Index has finally caught up with the global rout, slumping nearly
USD/CAD trades with negative bias for the fourth successive day amid the prevalent USD selling bias. Worries that Trump’s tariffs might trigger a US recession lift Fed rate cut bets and weigh on the buck. The overnight downfall in Crude Oil prices undermines the Loonie and lends some support to the major. Traders also seem
Asian markets traded cautiously today as investors await the long-anticipated reciprocal tariff announcement from the US, dubbed “Liberation Day” by President Donald Trump. Following the mixed close on Wall Street, risk sentiment remains fragile, with traders in clear wait-and-see mode. However, the rebound in commodity currencies overnight hints that some market participants are leaning toward
A combination of supporting factors pushes NZD/USD higher for the second straight day. A positive risk tone and Fed rate cut bets undermine the USD, lending support to the pair. The upside seems limited as traders keenly await Trump’s reciprocal tariffs announcement. The NZD/USD pair gains strong follow-through positive traction for the second straight day
EUR/USD finds cushion near 1.0780 after the release of the weak US ISM Manufacturing PMI and JOLTS Job Openings data. The Eurozone inflation grows at a faster pace in March on month but cools down on a yearly basis. Market participants are mixed over whether Trump’s tariffs would lead to a recession in the US. EUR/USD recovers some
The global equity selloff appears to have passed its peak—at least for now. After days of heavy risk-off moves driven by fears surrounding the upcoming US reciprocal tariffs announcement on Wednesday, traders have taken a cautious step back into a wait-and-see mode. US indexes clawed back most of their earlier losses overnight, closing mixed. Asian
USD/CAD lacks firm intraday direction on Monday amid a combination of diverging factors. Fed rate cut bets and concerns about a slowing economy continue to weigh on the Greenback. Subdued Crude Oil prices undermine the Loonie and support the pair amid the risk-off mood. The USD/CAD pair struggles to capitalize on its modest bounce
Silver price jumps to near $34.60 as its safe-haven demand improves amid growing concerns over global trade. Investors expect that Trump’s tariffs will impact economic growth and prompt inflation across the globe. The US core PCE inflation data rose at a faster-than-expected pace of 2.8% in February. Silver price (XAG) posts a fresh five-month high
The overall mood in the forex markets remains one of indecision, with major currencies largely range-bound. Yen is attempting a mild rebound after Tokyo’s CPI figures came in stronger than expected, with core-core inflation rising to 2.2% yoy. However, the Japanese currency is still the worst performer of the week, reflecting the broader uncertainty over
The steady drip of tariff news from US President Donald Trump continued overnight, pushing US equities lower and weighing on risk sentiment globally. The tech-heavy NASDAQ led the decline with a drop of over 2%, while broader US indexes also closed in the red. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi followed with notable
Sterling fell broadly today after UK’s February CPI came in slightly below expectations. However, the selloff has been contained, with markets still expecting the BoE to proceed cautiously with policy easing. In particular, services inflation remained sticky at 5%, signaling that underlying price pressures are not abating as quickly as hoped. Some economists argue that
