Australian Dollar

Its all systems go in risk markets here in Asia today as the solid night on Wall Street translated into outsized gains for stocks.

By Chris Becker A slew of very positive economic data overnight with the US CPI overshooting, EZ wide GDP was strong, German growth was stronger, as was industrial production.

Live webinar with Q&A today at 12.30pm with David Llewellyn-Smith and Damien Klassen.

Via Westpac: Since we released our February Market Outlook there has been a significant change in US fiscal policy. Congress has supported a $300 billion (1.5% of GDP) spending package over the 18 months from April 2018.

Another mixed day across Asia with only Chinese stocks rallying as the more correlated risk markets prepare for some serious economic releases.

By Chris Becker After a poor lead from Europe, US stocks looked like returning to their corrective phase overnight before a late surge saw minor advances as the USD continued to fall against the majors.

A slightly better day here in Asia on stock markets, although Japanese bourses are spoiling the party as the Yen continues to appreciate.

By Chris Becker Everything is awesome as US stocks continued their Friday rebound rally last night, dragging European markets along for the ride.

So we start the week here in Asia tentatively with some positive news coming out of Korea viz the Olympics and potential US talks with North Korea.

By Chris Becker  2018 is getting interesting as we head into the second and possibly third week of a major correction of heavily correlated risk markets.

The Australian dollar firmed Friday night as risk jumped back into stocks: Net speculative positioning rose slightly on the week to 13.7k contracts: However, there are good reasons to think that the big AUD top is past in the mid-81s.

Another interesting day here in Asia with Chinese stocks smacked down even though the latest CPI print came in bang on target, the risk off night in Wall Street has spooked markets across the region today.

By Chris Becker Can you smell that?

A less volatile session today here in Asia with most markets advancing, although the action was centered in China with the yuan falling on the back of poor trade data, taking mainland stocks with it.

Who knows where the BTC dead cat bounce will peak?

By Chris Becker A mixed reaction overnight to the subdued rebound in stocks in Asia yesterday with European bourses putting on strong gains, taking back their previous session losses.

Down goes AUD/USD: The 10 year yield spread inverted for the first time in twenty years: All durations are now deepening negative: As the Australian curve steepens: But not as fast as the US curve (in the last month): Finally some sense in markets reflecting real growth prospects.

Readers will know that the key driver of USD weakness (and AUD strength) this year has been the market charge into EUR chasing interest rate forwards.

Not the best rebound here in Asia with Chinese stocks selling off as other bourses reacted meekly to the overnight move higher in US markets.

By Chris Becker Crisis averted. Stocks bounced back in the US overnight after European bourses continued the selloff that wiped out Asia yesterday. The Volatility Index (VIX) went nuts (yes, that’s the technical term) ensuring a nail biting ride, but for currency traders it was a relatively calm night.

Because nothing says safe haven like a North Korean hack, via Quartz: North Korea is no stranger to cryptocurrencies: The rogue regime has been accused of launching a global ransom attack to raise bitcoin, hacking South Korean exchanges, and mining crypto both within its borders and secretly on your computers.

Via Adam Creighton: The Reserve Bank took a cautious stance yesterday, sitting on its policy hands for the 18th month in a row.