SGM-FX insights

Pause for Thought:     Markets at the end of the first full week of 2019 have a lot of data and global political risk factors to process and try to make some sense of. Aside from the slew of economic data due out in the UK today, yesterday’s results from the flagship High Street […]

When the going gets tough…     It tends to keep on going! Another glance at the parliamentary arithmetic that Prime Minister Theresa May faces, this time by the BBC, shows just how great a task is standing in front of the British premier next week. As reported last night, the hand of the UK […]

Stock Check:   Pun intended, let’s take a look at how our three biggest headline risks have evolved. Any fall out from our biggest risk, the trade talks in Beijing, was closely watched by markets. As the US delegation travelled back to Washington and murmurings continued in the Chinese capital, the heads of those observing […]

Well, well, well…   What have we here! Scarlet Johansen riding in on a shiny unicorn, big hitters landing in Beijing and German recession. Alright, I admit, the unicorn wasn’t shiny but still, these are three shocking headlines that have each stamped their mark on global foreign exchange markets today.   Prime Minister Theresa May […]

Take a pew:   Across the globe, some of the most important political and technocratic figures participating in some of the most closely watched and intensely documented global risks sat down at their respective tables for serious discussion. From Beijing, to Westminster, to Washington, discussions unfurled with huge potential consequences for global foreign exchange markets. […]

Elephant in the Room:   With two death-defying stunts performed by firstly Mr Trump over the Christmas period and secondly a rollercoaster ride in the Japanese Yen overnight on Tuesday, I’ve managed thus far to avoid the sometimes hard and always intimidating subject of Brexit. Four days into the New Year I can hold my […]

January Flash Sale:   What in the world was that?!… I faintly hear you ask. Well, it was an opportunity for incredible value for the brave and woeful losses for the fearful! Take a look below at exactly what the dying hour of the first trading day of 2019 decided to deliver:       […]

Resolutions:     It appears as though the supposed leader of the free world, President Trump, takes New Years’ Resolutions a little too seriously, frantically packing his proposed reforms into the dying days of 2018. Cast your mind back to before the Christmas period. What did we see coming from the White House?     […]

Banks: Do what we say (and not what we do) Dollarwise     All those exposed to currency markets whether corporate or private clients need to have a view on where the USD will go in 2019. The consensus from bank forecasters is that the USD will weaken in 2019 and especially in H2 2019 […]

Another Brick in the Wall:   The US stock market rallied sharply after the London close last night wiping out the losses and posting a gain of 1.14% on the day. The FTSE has similarly rallied in relief this morning currently up 100 points. So, what is the volatility all about? Rising US interest rates […]

Chinese Takeaway:     With an absence of liquid London markets and a dearth of political news with President Trump in Iraq, it is a chance to turn to the city of Yiwu in north eastern China. Why and what? This is a city of 1.2 million comparable to our own Birmingham (1.1 million) with […]

Ding Dong Merrily:   But not on (a) high: This year has not ended with a traditional Santa Rally and the FTSE has ended the year down 12.12%. Looking on the bright side, a lot better than the Shanghai Composite which was the worst of the major stock markets with a 24.85% decline in 2018. […]