Dollar Firms As Trump's Letter-Writing Campaign Accelerates
11 July, 2025
The dollar looks set to end the week on a more supportive footing after Donald Trump redoubled his efforts to revive the forgotten art of letter writing, threatening to substantially raise tariffs on Canadian goods and warning that he would soon announce increases in levies on most other countries. Ten-year yields are little changed, equity futures are setting up for a softer session, and currencies...
Canadian Dollar Tumbles As Trump Ups Tariff Ante With 35-Percent Threat
10 July, 2025
Update: Bloomberg is reporting that a US official has clarified that the new tariff threshold is NOT intended to apply to USMCA-compliant goods, suggesting that the impact on the Canadian economy could be far smaller than might otherwise have been the case. Our admittedly-unscientific estimates suggest that roughly 80 percent of Canadian exports to the US could ultimately meet the qualification criteria...
Tariff pen pals
09 July, 2025
• Holding on. US sends out more tariff letters. Equities unfazed with S&P500 pushing higher. Bond yields dip. USD consolidated. AUD range-bound.• RBNZ steady. RBNZ on hold. But underlying tone & outlook still points to a bit more easing over coming months. This should act as a NZD handbrake.• AUD trends. AUD hovering near top end of its multi-month range. We think the risks of a USD rebound...
Currency Traders Yawn As Tariff Threats Continue
09 July, 2025
Currency markets remain firmly rangebound even after President Donald Trump warned “no extensions will be granted” to his August 1 tariff date, threatened to raise levies on copper and pharmaceutical imports to 50 percent and 200 percent, respectively, and said at least seven additional countries would receive updated trade letters this morning, with the European Union getting one in two days. Stock...
Trump's Tariff Letters Leave Markets Largely Unmoved
08 July, 2025
The dollar is losing altitude once again after Donald Trump reignited trade tensions with a fresh round of tariff threats, unsettling global markets and complicating the outlook for monetary policy. Trump sent letters to 14 countries last night—including close allies and key trading partners Japan and South Korea—threatening them with the reimposition of tariffs from August 1, and more are expected...
Markets Trade Sideways As Trade Uncertainties Loom
07 July, 2025
The dollar is holding near a three-year low and measures of risk appetite are pointing to subdued trading action after the Trump administration seemingly extended its tariff deadline to August 1—reducing fears of a violent selloff around Wednesday’s original drop-dead date. Measures of trade policy uncertainty* have fallen sharply from their heights. At an event dubbed “Liberation Day” in early April,...
Jobs boost
03 July, 2025
• Upbeat tone. US equities, bond yields, & the USD edged up overnight. EUR eased back, as did NZD & AUD, though they remain at high levels.• US data. US jobs report a bit better than expected. But topline result masks some pockets of weakness under the hood. Private payrolls were soft.• Event radar. US on holiday tonight. Next week RBA & RBNZ meet. RBA expected to cut rates. US’ ‘pause’...
US Jobs Report Crushes Expectations, Triggering Dollar Rally
03 July, 2025
The US job creation engine accelerated last month, weakening market expectations for at least two rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in the back half of the year. According to data just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 147,000 jobs were added in June – representing a solid overshoot relative to the 110,000-position consensus forecast – and the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked...
USD remains on the back foot
01 July, 2025
• Consolidation. Modest moves across most markets. USD index remains heavy with EUR pushing higher. AUD hovering near top of its range.• Macro pulse. US manufacturing ISM shows momentum still sluggish. US jobs report the main data focal point later this week.• AU data. Retail sales & building approvals released today. After a subdued start to the year will retail spending turn the corner? Global...
US dollar blues
30 June, 2025
• Pressure points. US equities hit another record high, while the USD remains under pressure. AUD has risen to the top of its multi-month range.• USD trends. USD index ~10.5% below where it started the year. Worst performance over the first half of a year since the early-70s.• Macro events. Eurozone CPI & ECB conference in focus tonight. Various US jobs indicators due over next few days. US ISM...