US bond yield inverts

US DOLLAR Treasury yields pulled back from 15-month lows as investors reassessed the risks of a sharper downturn in the global economy. When the 10-year yield is lower than the three-year yield, it tends to signal that people are locking up money longer term because they fear a slowdown in business profits and its accompanying…

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May pinning hopes on the DUP to unlock parliament stalemate

US DOLLAR The Dollar Index surrendered the 97 handle last week, weighed by a flurry of weaker-than-expected data releases including CPI, PPI and industrial production. This may factor into this Wednesday’s FOMC policy decision although most economists expect a wait-and-see stance after they dropped language in January that signalled further hikes were necessary. On the…

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Trump continues criticism of Fed monetary policy

US DOLLAR After a soft start to last week, the US Dollar finished strongly with the Dollar Index hitting a one-week high on Friday at 96.55. Thursday’s stronger than expected GDP data was the main catalyst after the Greenback had shown little reaction to relatively mundane comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Comments from US…

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May delays meaningful vote until 12th March

US DOLLAR The Dollar Index edged lower last week, hitting a two-week low on Wednesday at 96.29 but has started this week around 96.4. There was some mild volatility after the FOMC minutes while a pretty dismal retail sales report provided a weight and prompted a number of banks to trim their Q1 GDP forecasts.…

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Trump comes up $4.3 billion short for wall funding

US DOLLAR The Dollar Index spent most of last week with a 97 handle but surrendered it before the weekend after US retail sales dropped the most since September 2009, prompting a flurry of growth downgrades for the coming quarters. Elsewhere, lawmakers appear to have avoided another government shutdown for the time being and more…

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US-China trade talks set to resume

STERLING The Pound hit its lowest level against the US Dollar in over two-weeks on Thursday at 1.2854 after the Bank of England voted 9-0 to leave the Bank Rate on hold at 0.75%. Growth forecast’s they predicted only three months ago were revised lower from 1.7% to 1.2%. The Pound strengthened during the press…

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’Meaningful vote’ to take place tomorrow

STERLING Sterling rose last week with GBP/USD topping out at a seven-week high on Friday at 1.2867. Gains on Friday were spurred by reports that cabinet ministers were looking to delay Brexit. Parliament are still scheduled to vote on Theresa May’s deal tomorrow with weekend press reports suggesting a Plan-B is being drawn up as…

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A vote for a vote for a vote

STERLING At 11:20am this morning, the Prime Ministers spokesperson confirmed the parliamentary vote was still going ahead tomorrow. Just thirteen minutes later, leaks from inside the government to the contrary had GBP selling off against all its major peers, currently down 1% against the US Dollar and 0.65% against the Euro for the day. To…

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3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a Sign off on the Treaty?

STERLING Had edged higher this morning but then fell a cent against the US Dollar in two hours as Theresa May refused to rule out a second referendum and stated ‘’we can be better off without a deal’’. The Northern Irish DUP party threatened to withdraw their support for the Prime Minister in a confidence…

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