Despite having one of the largest EU unemployment numbers at 3.3million, Spain is continuing to post the highest growth rate in the EU at 2.5%. Next year Spanish growth is forecast to be 2.2% far ahead of the rest of the other largest countries -France, Germany and Italy in the Eurozone. Ole ole! Olé, Olé, Olé!
Commodities: Gold at $1310, WTI Oil at $59.98,
Currencies: With global interest rates having moved sharply lower following the Fed’s announcement on no rate rises this week, expectations are now for lower interest rates in the next two years than previously envisaged. Currency markets calm this morning despite GBP volatility overnight. EUR flat , USD 0.2% lower and GBP up 0.3%.
Equities: FTSE 7355, Dow 25,962.
I0 year Govt Yields: US 2.52, Germany 0.04, UK 1.06, France 0.40, Italy 2.46, Japan -0.07. All 10yr Govt yields on lows.
Last week Mike Love of the Beach Boys celebrated his 78th birthday and here’s part of California Girls from 1965- honestly you had to be there…but if you were, the chances are that you will not remember!
California girls
We’re unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We’ll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh
Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder
A rising tide lifts all boats As the Dollar continues to perform lacklustre oscillations, key pairs remain rangebound. The trend so far this week has been for a mildly weaker Dollar. Given that the Dollar is considered the primary counterparty for most currencies, this creates a rising tide effect across the rest of the market. […]
Calling time on Swissy Switzerland’s Franc may be destined to faulter under its own weight. Despite rock bottom interest rates, the Swiss Franc has been a significant beneficiary of the post-Covid and Trump2 world. EURCHF, a key barometer of European risk, shows some 20-cents worth of Swiss rally post-Covid. The pair has dropped from well […]
A look ahead The UK Pound continues to be influenced by the gilt market and fiscal concerns. Sterling has been a very expensive short this year, contributing to its relative outperformance. In fact, the few episodes of sustained weakness we have seen tended to have either coincided with a global risk-off turn or a sharp […]