Analysis: Currencies

Traders place record bet on rising Japanese yen, eyeing further rate hikes

Speculators have mounted their biggest ever wager that the Japanese yen will continue to rise as they position for further Bank of Japan interest rate hikes, an abrupt reversal from huge bets against...

Currencies: The euro withstands Trump's attacks well

The trade war with Europe has been declared. Until now, the old continent had escaped the wrath of the American president, but now he has set the record straight, announcing his intention to tax...

Ukraine international bonds tumble after Trump-Zelenskiy clash

Ukraine's international bonds suffered sharp falls on Monday following a clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump late on Friday. The 2035...

Investors unnerved by heated Trump-Zelensky Oval Office showdown

Investors were stunned on Friday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump ended in disaster, adding uncertainty to financial markets already jittery due...

Canada's economy posts surprise annualized fourth quarter growth of 2.6%

Canada's gross domestic product in the fourth quarter expanded by 2.6% on an annualized basis, surpassing widespread expectations, as a jump in consumer spending, business investments and exports...

Exclusive-Fed's Hammack eyes steady balance sheet cuts amid US government financial uncertainty

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack reckons the U.S. central bank can keep steadily shrinking its balance sheet through a period of uncertain government finances, while noting she...

BOJ chief warns of strong global uncertainty from US tariffs

CAPE TOWN -Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Thursday warned of very strong uncertainty on the global economic outlook that required vigilance in setting monetary policy. Speaking...

US weekly jobless claims rise more than expected

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased more than expected last week, but that likely does not signal a material shift in labor market conditions. ...

ECB reports glitches in securities settlement system

LONDON -The European Central Bank reported a problem in its securities settlement system on Thursday that disrupted communications within the network of operators that form the basic plumbing of...

Fed's quantitative tightening expectations upended by debt-ceiling worries

Expectations for the future path of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet drawdown process have been scrambled in the wake of last week's readout of January's policy meeting, which showed central...

Exclusive-Head of Fed-watchdog task force in Congress plans broad U.S. central bank review

The head of a new congressional panel gearing up to strengthen Capitol Hill's oversight of the Federal Reserve plans a broad review of how the U.S. central bank makes its interest rate decisions,...

Fed's Logan floats idea of discount-window loan auction facility

Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Lorie Logan on Tuesday floated the idea of allocating a modest part of the Fed's balance sheet to loans and repos, perhaps holding a daily auction of...

Putin holds meeting on rare earth metals, aims to significantly boost output

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with officials on Monday to discuss rare earth metals production, which he described as a strategic reserve vital for Russia's future competitiveness...

Currencies: Fears of stagflation

The narrative surrounding the US economy is slowly shifting from a soft landing to possible stagflation. While the Trump trade was supposed to make room for small caps and the dollar, we have to admit...

Trump envoy says US firms may do business in Russia in case of peace deal

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that there would be an expectation that U.S. firms may do business in Russia in the event of a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine...

Fed's QT pause, Treasury's debt plans may offer fleeting relief to US bonds

A potential slowdown of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet drawdown and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's assurance against imminent long-term debt hikes could offer relief in the near term to bond...

New US House task force focused on the Fed sets first meeting

A new congressional task force focused on the Federal Reserve, set up by the head of a powerful committee who is critical of the U.S. central bank's approach to setting monetary policy, has penciled...

Bank of Canada head wants review to leave 2% inflation target unchanged

he Bank of Canada's 2% inflation target should be maintained in a review set for 2026, Governor Tiff Macklem said on Friday, saying central bank needed to focus on risks such as the imposition of U.S....

BOJ isn't fretting much about rising bond yields - for now

Investors in Japan's government bond market are getting a glimpse of life without heavy intervention by the Bank of Japan, which is showing little sign of reverting to a hands-on approach despite the...