‘Tis the calm before year-end, when all through the street,Not a currency is stirring—even the yen is tucked in its seat.Dollar short positions are hung by low vols with care,In hopes that Fed easing soon will be there.Traders are nestled all snug in their carry-trade beds,While dreams of smooth returns dance in their heads.And CFOs in their spreadsheets, and dealers in our caps,Have settled our brains...

Underlying consumer price growth slowed dramatically in the US last month, helping support expectations for a more aggressive easing campaign from the Federal Reserve in the new year. According to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning—data that skipped the month of October—the core consumer price index rose just 2.6 percent in November over the same period last year, decelerating...

The dollar is edging higher against most major peers as yields firm in the wake of yesterday’s heavy US data slate. Ten-year Treasury rates have nudged up, equity futures are coming under mild pressure ahead of the North American open, and the Canadian dollar, euro, sterling, and yen are all trading with a softer tone. With no major economic releases on today’s calendar, investors will be focused on...

• Mixed signals. US data crosscurrents resulted in modest net market moves overnight. US equities consolidated. Oil prices fell. AUD lost a bit of ground.• US data. Core retail sales stronger, but PMIs underwhelmed. Labour market slack increasing with US unemployment highest since Q3 2021.• Macro events. NZ Q3 GDP due tomorrow. US CPI and ECB/BoE/BoJ meetings later this week. BoE expected to cut while...

US labour markets continued to cool in October and November, slightly raising market bets on a stepped-up easing campaign from the Federal Reserve next year. According to delayed data just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total -41,000 jobs were lost over the last two months—representing an undershoot relative to consensus forecasts—while the previous two months were revised lower by a...

Currency markets are trading cautiously as participants prepare to close the books on 2025, with many cutting exposure ahead of a week laden with economic data and central bank event risks. The dollar is adding to last week’s losses amid a debate over whether the next meaningful move comes from a narrowing in cross-currency rate differentials or a hawkish repricing in US growth expectations, trading...

• Equity wobbles. Fresh valuation concerns weighed on US equities on Friday. AUD & NZD lost a bit of ground, but still rose over the past week.• Event Radar. NZ GDP is out (Thurs). US jobs data, retail sales, & CPI due this week. ECB looks set to hold, BoE could cut, & BoJ might hike rates. Global Trends Outside of a narrowly based pullback in US equities on Friday stemming from fresh...

The dollar is back on the defensive this morning as markets absorb yesterday’s unexpectedly-neutral Federal Reserve rate cut as well as a stumble in the overheated US tech complex ahead of next week’s cluster of event risks. Treasury yields are slightly lower across the curve, and traders are assigning a marginally higher probability to additional easing in 2026 after yesterday’s decision landed with...

• US Fed. Another US rate cut announced. But guidance wasn’t as ‘hawkish’ as feared. Positive for sentiment. USD weaker. AUD close to year-to-date peak.• AU jobs. Australian employment data due today. Monthly figures are volatile. Another solid report would reinforce views RBA may hike rates in early-2026. Global Trends The US Fed meeting was the market focal point overnight....

The Federal Reserve cut rates for a third consecutive time this afternoon, and opened the door to a January pause amid growing uncertainty on the economy’s underlying trajectory. In the widely-expected decision, the Federal Open Market Committee voted by a surprisingly balanced 9-to-3 margin to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to between 3.50 and 3.75 percent. Trump appointee...