Forex Previews

Bank of Japan cuts inflation forecasts and delays hitting target

Posted on November 1, 2016 at 11:30 am GMT

The Bank of Japan ended its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday by refraining from further action following the measures taken at its September meeting. As expected, the Bank kept its policy rate unchanged at -0.1% and the size of its asset purchases at an annual pace of ‘more or less’ 80 trillion yen with the objective of maintaining the yield on 10-year JGBs at around 0%. The Bank had introduced the unconventional policy of ‘yield curve control’ at its last [..]

Week Ahead – Central banks dominate as Fed, BoJ, BoE and RBA meet ahead of NFP report

Posted on October 27, 2016 at 1:19 pm GMT

The coming week will be dominated by central bank meetings as the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England and the Reserve Bank of Australia all hold their regular policy meetings. There will be no shortage of economic data either as Eurozone flash inflation and GDP figures are due along with the Markit/CIPS PMIs for the UK. But US data may grab the most attention as it will include personal consumption expenditure numbers, ISM surveys and [..]

Eurozone business confidence jumps in October but euro capped below $1.09

Posted on October 25, 2016 at 11:36 am GMT

Business confidence is on the rise across the Eurozone according to the latest survey data from Markit and Germany’s Ifo Institute. Flash PMI readings out yesterday showed Eurozone economic activity expanding at the fastest pace in 10 months, while the Ifo’s survey for Germany showed business sentiment was at a 2½-year high. The Eurozone’s manufacturing and services sectors both performed strongly in October, rebounding from a mild slowdown during the summer months. Uncertainty surrounding Britain’s decision to leave the EU [..]

Week ahead – Eurozone PMIs and US-UK GDP growth for Q3 to attract market’s attention

Posted on October 21, 2016 at 12:06 pm GMT

Next week will be important from the point of view of economic data, as Eurozone business surveys for October will come out, together with third quarter growth numbers for the US and the UK, and finally inflation data out of Australia and Japan. Eurozone activity expected to be steady in October Monday will start with the Markit flash PMIs for key Eurozone countries as well as for the euro area as a whole. According to Reuters poll, a slight improvement [..]

UK inflation spikes up to 1% to highest in two years

Posted on October 18, 2016 at 11:52 am GMT

Consumer prices in the UK rose at the fastest pace in nearly two years in September as clothing and hotel costs pushed up the inflation rate. Annual CPI increased by 1.0% in September, up from 0.6% in August and the highest since November 2014. Expectations were for inflation to rise by 0.9%. The month-on-month rate was 0.2% – twice the expected rate of 0.1%. Core CPI, which excludes energy, food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco prices, also beat estimates. The 12-month [..]

Week Ahead – ECB meeting in focus after taper talk; China GDP eyed

Posted on October 14, 2016 at 2:08 pm GMT

The coming week looks set to be a busier one in terms of data but the European Central Bank’s meeting may take most of the attention given the recent rumours of QE tapering. UK inflation and retail sales figures may provide some support to the battered pound, while Chinese GDP data will also come in focus. It will be a lighter week for the US economic calendar, which will be dominated by housing data. Markets look at ECB for QE [..]

Week Ahead – US retail sales, Yellen speech and Chinese trade to attract attention

Posted on October 7, 2016 at 1:38 pm GMT

Given this week’s major events such as nonfarm payrolls, the twin ISM surveys out of the US and the steep drop in the British pound, next week will likely be calmer. Thursday and Friday could see more action due to US retail sales, Chinese trade balance and a speech by Fed Chair Janet Yellen. US: Retail sales and Yellen speech At the beginning of the week, the Columbus day holiday in the United States could lead to thin trading conditions during North American trading [..]

Strong UK PMIs fail to lift pound; BoE’s Broadbent says fall is “orderly”

Posted on October 5, 2016 at 11:35 am GMT

UK services PMI out today rounded up another set of stronger-than-expected monthly PMI figures since the post-Brexit rebound got underway in August. Services growth in the UK eased slightly in September compared to August with the Markit/CIPS services PMI declining slightly from 52.9 to 52.6. However, the figure was above forecasts of 52.0 and is further evidence that the British economy is proving resilient amid the Brexit uncertainty. Today’s PMI reading for the service sector follows better-than-expected figures for the [..]

RBA maintains neutral bias but aussie pressured from strong dollar

Posted on October 4, 2016 at 11:48 am GMT

The Reserve Bank of Australia decided to leave its cash rate unchanged at 1.50% at its policy meeting today as the new Governor, Phillip Lowe chaired his first meeting. No move was expected by the markets but analysts were hoping for some indication of future policy in the RBA’s decision statement. After the August cut of 25bps that took rates to the current record low of 1.50%, markets were expecting one more cut in 2016, with November seen as the [..]

Week Ahead – US jobs to be watched by Fed; RBA expected to hold rates

Posted on September 30, 2016 at 1:16 pm GMT

The latest non-farm payrolls report out of the United States will be the main focus of the coming week. But the RBA’s October monetary policy decision and industrial production numbers out of Germany, France and the UK will also be watched. Asian markets are expected to be a little quieter with Chinese markets closed for the entire week for the National Day Golden Week holiday. BoJ Tankan survey to show mixed sentiment The week will start with the Bank of [..]

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