The market reaction to the two-week US-Iran ceasefire is already turning, with signs of rejection of ceasefire optimism emerging across key asset classes. What initially appeared as a decisive de-escalation could be reassessed as a fragile truce, not peace, with markets are pricing risk re-entry as early doubts take hold. The most telling signal lies […]
Dollar’s sharp slide as oil price drops below $100 on the US-Iran ceasefire is raising a critical question for FX markets: whether the unwinding of war premium is now enough to push EUR/USD back toward the 1.20 psychological level. The move reflects a rapid shift from pricing disruption to pricing partial normalization—but the path forward
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand maintained its key interest rate on Wednesday, citing the impact of the Middle East conflict on domestic inflation and economic recovery. The Monetary Policy Committee, governed by Anna Breman, decided to hold the key interest rate at 2.25 percent, as widely expected. Subscribe to continue reading the article. This
“King Dollar” returned with a vengeance last week as global markets were jolted by a volatile mix of geopolitical escalation and a dramatic repricing of U.S. monetary policy expectations. The greenback surged broadly, pushing Dollar Index back above the psychological 100 level. The question now is how long Dollar can keep the “throne”. To answer
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
Dollar jumped in early US session after jobless claims came in much stronger than expected, reinforcing signs of labor market resilience. The data added fresh fuel to a rally that had already begun following yesterday’s more hawkish-than-expected FOMC minutes. The greenback’s strength is most visible against European majors with EUR/USD sliding through the near-term low
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
Sterling trades broadly lower today after weaker-than-expected UK labor data strengthened expectations for a March rate cut from BoE. Rising unemployment and moderating wage growth have shifted the tone around policy outlook, particularly among more centrist MPC members who may now lean more dovish. Traders are now assigning more than 75% probability to a March
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
Euro is trading steadily today despite inflation data coming in weaker than expected. The muted market reaction suggests investors are comfortable looking through near-term softness, focusing instead on the broader policy and inflation backdrop. Indeed, recent data point to inflation likely undershooting the ECB’s own forecasts in the near term. That said, medium-term inflation expectations
Yen selloff returned to focus in Asian trading today as investors positioned ahead of Japan’s snap election this weekend. continues to enjoy solid public support. Although recent polls show a modest dip in approval, her standing remains strong enough to anchor expectations of electoral success. More importantly for markets, her ruling Liberal Democratic Party appears
Market reaction to the Fed’s widely expected rate hold was muted overnight, with equities struggling to find direction. S&P 500 briefly pushed above the 7,000 mark, but the move lacked follow-through. By the close, all three major US indexes finished near flat. Away from equities, two developments stood out. US Treasury yields moved higher, with
Global markets appeared to stabilize somewhat today after the sharp U.S. selloff overnight, which saw the DOW suffer its worst one-day loss since October. That said, the underlying source of stress has not faded. Greenland-related tensions remain unresolved, with no visible path toward de-escalation. The current stabilization looks more like position-squaring, rather than renewed confidence.
Yen recovered broadly today after Japan delivered its strongest verbal intervention in months, temporarily slowing the currency’s slide. The shift in tone came as USD/JPY neared 160, its strongest level since July 2024, prompting officials to push back more forcefully against what they described as excessive moves. Crucially, the rhetoric was aimed at speed and
Dollar gyrates in a tight range and remains an underperformer for the week, showing little reaction to December US consumer inflation data. With no meaningful downside surprise in the data, inflation figures effectively cemented expectations for a policy hold by the Fed at its upcoming meeting. Futures now assign around 95% probability that interest rates
