Known for its strong trade balance surplus, Switzerland is giving signs of deceleration for Q1, though Swiss watch exports continues its expansion for five consecutive months, valued at 4.80% (CHF 1.67 billion), largely above 6-year average of -0.50% (due to mid-2015 – 2016 export decrease...
The greenback continued to extend gains on Wednesday amid an upside shift in the US Treasury curve. Since the beginning of the week, the buck appreciated against all major currencies, with EM currencies taking the biggest hit. The Mexican pesos tumbled more 1.90% as USD/MXN rose to 18...
Following two straight decline since January 2018, Eurozone Markit purchasing managers index (PMI) data holds steady, given at 55.20 (consensus: 54.80), signaling a rise in business activities following a shaky start in 2018...
After months in the doldrums, cryptocurrencies are finally back in the game as the total market capitalisation increases by $173bn to $418bn since the beginning of the month of April...
This Thursday the European Central Bank will update monetary policy: we expect that interest rates will not change. The ECB will say it needs to wait again in its slow move to normalise money without pushing EUR/USD significantly higher...
Risk appetite seem to be recovering, as shown by EUR/CHF testing 1.2000. Yet demand for emerging market currencies remains weak. Brent crude is nearing US$75/barrel on the back of supply concerns, declining US inventories and OPECs announcement that the supply glut is now gone...
After publication of disappointing consumption data in February, German economy shows signs of recovery in March, supported by an acceleration in March producer price index given at 1.90% on y/y basis (0...
FX markets continue to send of complex and puzzling signals. Risk appetite seem to be recovering supported by EURCHF testing 1.2000 level. Yet demand for EM remains weak...
After reaching 3.10% in November 2017, UK inflation is giving signs of further slack, a rather positive sign for UK households who benefit from an increasing purchasing power. Published at 2...
The euro has finally made its way back to the infamous 1.20 level against the Swiss franc. EUR/CHF traded as high as 1.1995 on Thursday morning but was unable to break the 1.20 resistance to the upside as traders wonder whether the market is ready to accept finally a weaker Swiss franc...
Japan trade surplus continues to arouse the envy of its commercial partners. Maintained at 10 years high, Japan trade balance given at JPY 797.3 billion (USD 7.51 billion) continues to expand, though trade tensions started earlier in the year with the United States...
This is supremely difficult to answer. Anything can happen, and sometimes does. The Trump administration seems to be more focused on domestic scandals than anything else and is flying by the seat of its pants in most other matters...
The world’s second largest economy grew at the steady pace of 6.8%y/y in the first quarter of 2018, in line with estimates, and making it the third-straight quarter of 6.8% expansion. Industrial production came in slightly on the soft side in March, printing at 6.0%y/y versus 6...
Bitcoin has surged more than US$1,000 from below $7,000 to around $8,050 in a bizarre surge that follows months of bearish consolidation. Its rise is pulling the rest of crypto sector higher. Technicians say the technical break of $7,450 triggered a surge in Bitcoin buying...
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monetary policy meeting decision to maintain its key rate at 6% last Thursday rather than reduce it by 25 basis points shows that it got it right. Indian inflation was contained during first quarter 2018 period, with March consumer price index given at +4...
Bitcoin has surged more than US$1,000 from below $7,000 to around $8,050 in a bizarre surge that follows months of bearish consolidation. Its rise is pulling the rest of crypto sector higher. Technicians say the technical break of $7,450 triggered a surge in Bitcoin buying...
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monetary policy meeting decision to maintain its key rate at 6% last Thursday rather than reduce it by 25 basis points shows that it got it right. Indian inflation was contained during first quarter 2018 period, with March consumer price index given at +4...
When will the European Central Bank tighten money? Austrian Ewald Nowotny, one of its governors, said yesterday to Reuters that the ECB should get on with it now: hike interest rates and stop buying bonds. The ECB then disowned the remarks...
Under Brexit pressure to split by December 2020 and uncertainty about the Irish border, the UK economy is in turmoil in Q1 2018. February month-to-month industrial and manufacturing production output was weak at +0.10% and -0.20% (prior: +1.30% and 0...
