Currency markets grapple with Hassett's rise as Fed chair candidate, along with UK budget chaos
26 November, 2025
Currencies are trading on a mixed footing this morning as investors pivot from expecting some Federal Reserve easing to anticipating too much. The dollar slumped, equity markets rallied, and yield curves shifted in yesterday’s session when Bloomberg reported that Kevin Hassett had become the front-runner in the race to replace Jerome Powell at the head of the world’s most powerful central bank. Hassett—now...
RBNZ & AU CPI in focus
25 November, 2025
• Upbeat vibes. US equities rose while bond yields dipped. USD softer. Run of weak US data supported the case for another US Fed rate cut in December.• RBNZ meeting. NZD ticks up ahead of RBNZ decision. Another cut expected with markets looking for a 25bp move. Is the easing cycle almost over?• AU CPI. First full monthly CPI report out. Data could be volatile the next few months. Will it reinforce...
Optimism returns as 'Fed put' comes back into play
25 November, 2025
Financial markets are back in recovery mode and Nasdaq is coming off its best day in six months as growing evidence of a “Fed put” boosts risk appetite. Index futures are pointing to further gains, Treasury yields are down across the curve, and the dollar is losing altitude after Federal Reserve officials expressed deepening concern about labour market softness, prompting a recovery in technology stocks...
Risk appetite turns fragile, markets reverse some gains
24 November, 2025
The dollar is slipping from its highs, Treasury yields are inching lower, and stock market indices are retrenching as investors trim exposures to the technology sector amid an ongoing retreat from speculative asset classes. With US markets closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and likely thinly-populated on Black Friday, traders are working to compress position adjustments into the first three...
Market swings continue
23 November, 2025
• Positive vibes. Increased odds of a December US Fed rate cut boosted sentiment. US equities rose. AUD & NZD ticked higher on Friday.• AU/NZ events. RBNZ expected to cut rates again (Weds). Most are predicting a 25bp move. First full monthly CPI inflation report out in Australia (Weds).• Event Radar. In the US shutdown delayed retail sales & PPI data due (Tues night AEDT). Thanksgiving holidays...
Shaky ground
20 November, 2025
• Risk wobbles. Positive sentiment after the Nvidia earnings report faded. US equities declined, as did bond yields. AUD & NZD lost ground.• US jobs. Delayed US jobs data showed stronger payrolls but also higher unemployment. Odds of a December US Fed rate cut have declined.• Data flow. Global PMIs & Fed members speaking today. Because of shutdown backlog Fed won’t have another jobs report...
Stale data shows US job creation picking up even as unemployment rises
20 November, 2025
The US job creation engine turned in a solid performance in September, maintaining market expectations for a short pause in the Federal Reserve’s easing campaign. According to delayed data just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 119,000 jobs were added in the month—representing an overshoot relative to the 51,000-consensus forecast—while the previous two months were revised down by a total...
Dollar climbs ahead of non-farm payrolls
20 November, 2025
Currency markets are holding steady after an extremely busy session that saw odds on a December rate cut plunge, helping the dollar post its best daily performance in almost two months. Benchmark ten-year Treasury yields are holding near 4.14 percent—up almost three basis points from yesterday—equity futures are setting up for gains at the open, and the euro, yen, and Canadian dollar are all trading...
Markets brace for Fed minutes and Nvidia earnings (and not necessarily in that order)
19 November, 2025
Markets are trimming risk this morning as participants brace for what could become a make-or-break moment in technology speculation and global capital flows. With artificial intelligence juggernaut Nvidia set to publish third-quarter earnings after the closing bell, equity futures are setting up for a positive open after four days of losses, ten-year Treasury yields are again clinging to the 4.12-percent...
Traders monitor exits even as global selloff slows
18 November, 2025
Selling pressure is easing across global financial markets after volatility expectations intensified during yesterday’s session, triggering classic risk-off dynamics and lifting the dollar to its best daily performance in weeks. Benchmark ten-year Treasury yields are down 4 basis points to 4.10 percent, the greenback is paring its advance against a basket of its most-traded rivals, and North American...