Yen recovered mildly today following hawkish comments from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda, who signaled that the bank will “scrutinize data” at the March and April meetings before making a rate decision. However, gains remain capped as Yen remains the week’s laggard. While Ueda explicitly put a March hike on the table, markets suspect this is […]
Yen is firmly back in its traditional inverse relationship with global risk sentiment. Today’s broad-based selloff in the currency moved in tandem with a powerful equity rally stretching from Asia to Europe. In Asia, the Nikkei 225 surged past 58,000 for the first time, while the KOSPI smashed through the 6,000 level in a decisive
Yen came under marked pressure in otherwise subdued trading, with the move driven less by global risk appetite and more by domestic political developments. The catalyst was a reported shift in tone from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is said to have voiced direct opposition to further rate hikes in discussions with BoJ Governor Kazuo
Asian markets traded mixed despite a softer US session overnight. In particular, regional tech stocks showed resilience, with hardware names outperforming on the view that supply-chain positioning remains intact even if US software valuations reset. South Korea’s Kospi notched a fresh record high for a third straight session, powered by a rally in chipmakers. In
While US tariff chaos dominated headlines, its market impact has been surprisingly contained. Equities in Asia are brushing aside the latest escalation. In South Korea, the Kospi extended gains for a third consecutive session to fresh highs, signaling confidence that trade rhetoric has not yet translated into real economic disruption. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index
Global markets were forced to face three major developments last week, each capable on its own of destabilizing sentiment. Instead of buckling under the weight of legal, monetary, and geopolitical shocks, investors responded with surprising composure. At the end of the week came a landmark legal decision in the US that struck at the core
Sterling leads the currency markets today, buoyed by stronger-than-expected UK PMI and retail sales data that reinforced the narrative of economic resilience. The rebound in business activity helped offset lingering concerns generated earlier in the week by softer labor and inflation figures. For the BoE this means policy easing can proceed cautiously. A March rate
Dollar remained generally firm in otherwise quiet Asian trading, with broader FX flows subdued but sentiment increasingly cautious. There is a noticeable sense of nervousness across markets as geopolitical risks intensify. Precious metals edged higher, with Gold and Silver ticking up modestly. However, there is no clear follow-through buying. The lack of sustained momentum suggests
Japan’s consumer price inflation weakened to a two-year low in January, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed Friday. Core inflation that excludes prices of food, slowed to 2.0 percent from 2.4 percent in the previous month. This was the lowest since January 2024. At the same time, headline inflation stood at
The manufacturing sector in Japan continued to expand in February, and at a faster pace, the latest survey from Jibun Bank revealed on Friday with a manufacturing PMI score of 52.8. That’s up from 51.5 in January and it moves further above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. This was supported
Risk appetite was strong in Asian markets today, with several centers returning from Lunar New Year holidays and equities advancing. South Korea led the gains, with the Kospi hitting a fresh record high, driven by strength in technology heavyweights like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Japan’s Nikkei also posted notable gains, although it remains below
Dollar trades slightly firmer as investors position ahead of FOMC minutes from January meeting. The hold decision itself is old news; what markets want to understand is how far policymakers are from resuming rate cuts. The dissent from Governors Christopher Waller and Stephen Miran was expected, given their dovish leanings. The more critical insight lies
Yen strengthened modestly in quiet Asian trading, with many regional centers closed for Lunar New Year. Liquidity remains thin, keeping most major pairs confined within last week’s ranges. Despite limited volatility, Japanese assets offered a subtle signal of resilience. Japan’s government bonds extended gains after the first JGB auction since the snap election passed without
Aussie is mildly firmer in quiet trading, though momentum remains restrained. Broader market conditions are subdued, with most major pairs still trapped inside Friday’s ranges, reflecting wait-and-see stance. RBA February meeting minutes are due tomorrow, followed by January employment data on Thursday. These releases will help shape expectations for whether the central bank is preparing
Trading in Asian markets was subdued at the start of the week, with activity dampened by the U.S. holiday and the approach of Lunar New Year. Many regional desks are already lightly staffed, leaving liquidity thin and conviction limited. The holiday mood has kept volatility compressed. Major currency pairs and crosses are confined within Friday’s
Japan’s gross domestic product expanded a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2025, the Cabinet Office said in Monday’s preliminary reading. That missed expectations for an increase of 0.4 percent following the downwardly revised 0.7 percent contraction in the three months prior (originally -0.6 percent). On an annualized basis, GDP
There was no single, dominant theme in currency markets last week. Instead, price action reflected a mix of cross-asset divergences. Dollar ended as the worst performer, despite the fact that Fed expectations barely shifted following high-profile releases of non-farm payrolls and CPI. Meanwhile, US Equities experienced volatility, particularly around renewed AI disruption fears, yet there
