After a nine-month pause, the US Federal Reserve is expected to resume its cycle of interest rate cuts this week. The big question is how far will it go? US President Trump has already made it clear that he wants to see cuts to a key interest rate of around 1% (from the current 4.25-4.50%), and probably as quickly as possible. Given the risk of stagflation in the wake of US tariffs, such a sharp easing of monetary policy would be disastrous for the US Dollar (USD), Commerzbank's Head of FX and Commodity Research Thu Lan Nguyen notes. Trump wants the Fed to help the Treasury finance the...
The USD/CHF pair strengthened around 0.8125 during the early European session on Monday (6/16), supported by a rebound in the US dollar (USD). Investors await the Swiss May Producer and Import Prices and SECO Economic Forecast, due to be published on Monday. Friday's stronger-than-expected US economic data lifted the greenback against the Swiss franc (CHF). The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index improved to 60.5 in June, compared to 52.2 in the previous reading. The reading was stronger than the expected reading of 53.5. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index (DXY), a gauge of the...
Oil prices were volatile on Monday, after jumping 7% on Friday, as fresh attacks by Israel and Iran over the weekend raised concerns that fighting could spread across the region and significantly disrupt oil exports from the Middle East. Brent crude futures rose 64 cents, or 0.86%, to $74.87 a barrel by 0507 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 76 cents, or 1.04%, to $73.74. Oil prices had jumped more than $4 a barrel earlier in the session and also briefly dipped into negative territory. Both benchmarks closed 7% higher on Friday, after jumping more than 13% during the...
Silver (XAG/USD) prices moved lower to around $36.20 during Asian trading hours on Monday (6/16). The recovery in the greenback weighed on the USD-denominated commodity. However, the downside potential seems limited amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Upbeat US economic data released on Friday could provide some support to the US Dollar (USD). The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index improved for the first time in six months, with the index rising to 60.5 in June from 52.2 in the previous reading. This reading was above the market estimate of 53.5. On the other...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened for the second straight day on Monday (6/16), pushing the USD/JPY pair to the 144.75 area during the Asian session, albeit without any follow-through. Expectations that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) may not raise interest rates again this year, along with a generally positive tone around equity markets, undermined the safe-haven JPY. However, investors seemed confident that the central bank will stick to its path towards policy normalization amid broadening inflation. This, along with rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, should help limit any deeper...
The GBP/USD pair remained below three-year highs touched on Friday, albeit lacked bearish conviction and oscillated in a narrow range around mid-1.3500s through the Asian session. Traders seemed reluctant and chose to wait for this week's key data/central bank event risk before positioning for the next leg of a directional move in the spot prices. The latest UK consumer inflation figures will be released on Wednesday ahead of the Bank of England (BoE) policy meeting on Thursday, which will play a key role in influencing the British Pound (GBP). Further, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is...
President Donald Trump said he would fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors if she does not resign her post over mortgage-fraud accusations from a top...
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate at 4.1% during its April meeting, holding borrowing costs unchanged after slashing 25 bps in the February meeting, aligning with market...