TGIF:
This week has closed with a bang. A Federal Open Market Committee decision last night, more Brexit news than you can shake a stick at and a Euro that just can’t make up its mind all added to the confusion. This morning, DUP leader Arlene Foster kicked Sterling markets into a spiral with the Pound soon trading below 1.30 against the Dollar. Pushing the losses within cable to a little over 1.5 percent in 48 hours, the leader of the Northern Irish party said that May could not count on her party’s support on the incumbent Brexit deal. The Northern Irish politician slammed May’s Brexit plan, as a move against the Union and a danger to the stability of the United Kingdom. The move was less pronounced against an already subdued Euro, allowing EURGBP to continue its descent through 0.87. The Fed’s interest rate decision last night left the US Dollar virtually unchanged. Ahead of the event, futures markets attached an 80% probability of a 25-basis point interest rate hike at their December meeting. Following the event, the situation and market expectations remained almost entirely unchanged. Unsurprisingly, therefore, treasury yields were little changed with the US and Asian session last night leaving the value of the US Dollar unchanged. At market open in Europe this morning, there was a different story, with the greenback closing some 0.4% stronger than its rate at market open this morning. Moving into the weekend, any development on Brexit will continue to determine the Pound’s value.
Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter
Bank of England As expected the BoE cut interest rates by 25bps yesterday. So far so good but then the BoE departed from the script. Flat economic growth up until the end of 2024 was less of a surprise but then a new forecast for inflation +3.7% and 2025 economic growth slashed from 1.5% to […]
Not another headline Markets have either grown complacent or are reading beyond Trump’s headline statements. Over the past week markets have been presented with the challenge of fresh tariffs on China with retaliatory tariffs on the US also due to come into force in just under a week. In addition to that they have the […]
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