Opinion – Wednesday 13 February 2019

Market sentiment has been boosted over the past 24 hours by some more encouraging news on US-China trade negotiations. Yesterday, White House press advisor Kellyanne Conway told Fox News that President Trump wants to meet with President Xi very soon while the...

Opinion – Tuesday 12 February 2019

In what has been a slow past 24 hours for news, the outstanding feature of financial markets has been further gains for the US Dollar, now sitting at its strongest level of 2019 in DXY terms albeit still comfortably inside the range that has held since mid-2018. This...

Opinion – Monday 11 February 2019

Markets closed last Friday in a cautious mood reflecting a change in sentiment following Thursday’s confirmation by President Trump that he will not meet President Xi before the March 1st tariff deadline. News the U.S. Administration is considering three options for...

Opinion – Friday 8 February 2019

Yesterday was a sea of red in risk markets with equities down in Europe and the US. The Eurostoxx 600 Index closed down 1.49% and the DAX a hefty 2.67% while  US main boards are all down just under 1% after a late rally in the last hour of trading. The mood was...

Opinion – Thursday 7 February 2019

US stock Indices closed slightly lower following late comments from U.S. Vice President Mike Pence saying he cannot guarantee there will not be another US government shutdown though several Congressmen and women have been out saying they think it can be averted. US...

Opinion – Wednesday 6 February 2019

After and up and down session, US equities ended the day higher, marking a fifth consecutive day of gains. A light trading environment however hints at market cautiousness ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union speech. Meanwhile European equities closed smartly...

Opinion – Tuesday 5 February 2019

The past 24 hours have been quiet on the Economic Front with little or no news to excite markets. The low volatility saw stock markets make new recovery highs while the VIX closed below its 50 Day Moving Average for the first time since early October. Markets saw some...

Opinion – Monday 4 February 2019

Last Friday brought the latest US Employment data and Manufacturing ISM, both of which comfortably exceeded expectations in headline terms though with softer underbelly as far as inflation related sub-data was concerned. Despite the latter, bond yields reversed a...

Opinion – Friday 1 February 2019

The markets like the idea of the Fed now sitting on their hands and letting the economy do the talking on the direction of Monetary Policy as the Fed also made clear that it is giving careful attention to the management of its balance sheet to ensure the size is...

Opinion – Thursday 31 January 2019

US equities were having a good day ahead of the Fed announcement, the US Dollar was steady and US Treasury yields were drifting higher. As expected the Fed delivered its patient pledge and also confirmed a review of its balance sheet normalisation guidance. Risk...

Opinion – Wednesday 30 January 2019

Understandably, price action yesterday was pretty subdued ahead of a series of events which have the potential to determine markets’ direction over the coming months. UK MPs voted last night with the key Brady and Spellman Amendments both passing while the Cooper...

Opinion – Tuesday 29 January 2019

On Friday, news of a temporary end to the US government shutdown alongside reassuring development on US-China trade negotiations and additional stimulatory policy tweaks from China combined to feel the air with optimism, driving equities, commodities and UST yields...

Opinion – Monday 28 January 2019

Last week brought something new for stock investors whiplashed by December’s drubbing and subsequent January snap-back: a lull in the action. Despite the S&P 500 Index closing 0.85% higher on Friday, it was down 0.2 percent for the week as earnings season kicked...

Opinion – Friday 25 January 2019

Markets are again choppy in the midst of Okay U.S. earnings, especially from a better performance from semi-conductor stocks yesterday. Overall, markets weighed down by continuing concerns over a global slowdown without resolution on trade issues, the shutdown, and...