Explore the world.

Assess underlying market conditions and fundamentals in the world's major economies.

World

Stay ahead.

Follow the biggest stories in markets and economics in real time.

G
B
P

Shake, rattle & roll

• Divergence. A ‘dovish’ ECB hike & solid US data weighed on the EUR. Reports the BoJ could tweak its policy settings today also boosted the JPY.• AUD weaker. The USD rebound pushed down the AUD. Locally, retail sales are due today. The US PCE deflator & employment cost index are released.• BoJ in focus. Higher inflation means the BoJ’s ultra-loose stance is untenable. A change would be step along the normalisation path & could jolt markets. Markets were jolted overnight by the combination of a ‘dovish’ ECB rate hike, strong US data, and reports the Bank of Japan could...

Read More Read More

Data dependent Fed, lower Australian CPI

• Fed hike. Another rate rise from the US Fed. But it remains data dependent when it comes to future moves. USD a bit softer, tracking a slight dip in US yields.• AUD weaker. AUD underperforms after Q2 CPI undershot predictions. In response markets have reduced RBA rate hike expectations.• AUD events. ECB meeting, US GDP & jobless claims tonight. Australian retail sales & BoJ announcement tomorrow. RBA next week. The US Fed decision and Chair Powell’s press conference were in focus overnight. As widely expected, the US Fed hiked interest rates by another 25bps, taking the target range up...

Read More Read More

Price action slows ahead of Fed decision

Markets are looking essentially directionless as traders batten the hatches ahead of this afternoon’s Federal Reserve decision. The dollar is seeing some selling, but is holding near a two-week trade-weighted high against high-beta currencies and the euro, equity futures are mixed, and Treasuries are broadly flat.    North America Today’s biggest macroeconomic event will occur around 1:30 this afternoon, when the Bank of Canada is scheduled to release a summary of deliberations from its early July meeting. I kid: most market participants (including myself) will likely be too busy shotgunning espresso ahead of the Fed decision to pay it much heed – and Governor...

Read More Read More

Diverging growth trends

• European growth. EUR lower after Eurozone PMIs underwhelm. The shift in relative yield differentials supported the USD.• China Politburo. The leadership acknowledged the “difficulties”, & while it signaled it may inject fresh stimulus, no concrete measures were unveiled.• AUD events. Australia Q2 CPI due tomorrow, with the US Fed rate announcement & Chair Powell’s press conference on Thursday morning. Mixed performance across markets overnight, with divergence in the US and European business PMI data in focus. The impact of the rapid-fire policy tightening is bubbling to the surface. In Europe, falls in the PMI suggest growth momentum has slowed...

Read More Read More

A busy week ahead

• Firmer USD. The USD has continued to claw back ground. The AUD has remained on the backfoot and is now ~2.4% below its mid-July high.• Busy week. Locally, Q2 CPI (Weds) & retail sales (Fri) are due. Offshore, the US Fed (Thurs), ECB (Thurs) & BoJ (Fri) meet.• More AUD pressure? On net, we think the upcoming events/data could give the USD some more support, with AUD headwinds still in place. Markets had a quiet end to last week. But things could heat up this week with a string of major data points and central bank meetings on the...

Read More Read More