Opinion – Friday 23 June 2017

In terms of market moves yesterday was a quiet trading session with only minor changes in currencies (USD flat), equities (S&P500 -0.1%) and Bond Yields (USTs -1.8bps). The biggest moves occurred in the Canadian dollar, (+0.7%) Norwegian Krone (+0.5%) and Kiwi...

Opinion – Thursday 22 June 2017

A lingering risk off tone remains evident in markets with equities on either side of the Atlantic ending the day with small losses. Oil prices are again lower weighing on energy shares and commodity linked currencies while US Treasury Yields are little changed after...

Opinion – Wednesday 21 June 2017

Yesterday’s trading session was one of more UK political uncertainty with still no government formed (and with the Queen’s speech to Parliament today that is going to be voted on), a dovish Mark Carney (hot on the heels of last week’s surprise three votes on the MPC...

Opinion – Tuesday 20 June 2017

The US Equity markets made New and all-time closing highs for both the Dow and S&P 500, following upbeat comments from Fed Member Dudley who noted that financial conditions remain easy and that there is a need ‘’to tighten monetary policy very judiciously’’. His...

Opinion – Monday 19 June 2017

Friday’s markets were not just about more weak data – important as that was with US Housing Starts, Housing Permits and Consumer Sentiment all much weaker than expected and driving the US dollar and US bond yields lower. Amazon’s $13.7bn bid for Whole Foods sent...

Opinion – Friday 16 June 2017

A split Bank of England (BoE) decision to keep Interest Rates unchanged and another fall in oil prices were the two big events over the past 24 hours. In terms of market moves, equities were slightly lower (S&P500 – 0.2%), the US dollar was stronger (+0.6%)...

Opinion – Thursday 15 June 2017

The Fed last night announced its fourth Rate hike in the Fed Funds rate by ¼%, as entirely expected, lifting the Federal funds rate to 1.00-1.25%. But we walk in this morning with the US dollar having been pressured and the US Treasury curve lower. Another case of the...

Opinion – Wednesday 14 June 2017

The top performer among major currencies has been the Canadian dollar where recent strong hints from Senior Deputy BoC Governor Carolyn Wilkins that the Bank of Canada is shifting to a ‘tightening bias’ given signs of an improving economy continues to resonate with...

Opinion – Tuesday 13 June 2017

Yesterday the main market price action has been the continued sharp fall it the NASDAQ of some 2.0%, seemingly driven by a succession of negative analyst reports on valuations, renewed selling of Sterling on Monday after a reprieve when markets opened in Asia on...

Opinion – Monday 12 June 2017

The NASDAQ 100 wiped out one month’s worth of gains in less than five hours on Friday, when it plunged to a 5657 intraday low print. This sell-off dragged the S&P lower with both Indices ending Friday with large Downside Key Day Reversals. This wide ranging...

Opinion – Friday 9 June 2017

Sterling has been hammered (-1.7% to 1.2735) as the BBC exit poll points to a Hung Parliament (Tories are set to be 12 seats short of a majority, being on track to get 314 seats; Labour 266; SNP 34; 326 required for majority). While still early days and the result...

Opinion – Thursday 8 June 2017

Oil (and gas) has been the big mover since I posted yesterday morning, with crude oil prices off between 4% and 5% (WTI – $2.40 and Brent off $1.93). This is all the result of an unexpected large build in oil and gas inventories reported by the Energy...

Opinion – Wednesday 7 June 2017

It was another quiet session yesterday with an ever so slight risk-off tone (Yen, Gold, VIX higher and Treasury yields lower) ahead of Thursday’s key risk events – ECB, UK Election and the Testimony by former FBI chief Comey. As for Comey’s testimony, this may not be...

Opinion – Tuesday 6 June 2017

It has been a quiet past 24 hours for the markets ahead of what could be a stormy Thursday with the ECB, UK election and former FBI Director Comey’s testimony all occurring on the same day. US equities have closed the day marginally in negative territory, tension in...