Chartbook: February 27

• 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 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...

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...

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,...

• 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’...

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...

• 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...

• 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...

• Holding on. Pockets of volatility on Friday but on net US equities & bond yields rose. EUR continues to climb. AUD drifted a little lower.• US macro. Consumer spending fell. Some signs of tariff impacts on US inflation. Has the uncertainty flowed through to the US jobs market?• Event Radar. China PMIs today. Annual ECB conference & EZ inflation due this week. US jobs report scheduled (Thurs...

The peace and quiet was nice, while it lasted. The Canadian dollar is down almost 60 basis points after President Donald Trump said he was ending all trade negotiations with the country, while threatening to impose new tariffs within the next week. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with, including the fact...