Tag - currencies

Welcome to October, the tenth month of 2023. For this installment of What to Trade, I have handpicked a few of my favorite trade ideas for the month. Let’s go over a few of them.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is expected to raise interest rates for the second time in a row on Wednesday, reflecting resilient growth, a tight labor market, and persistent underlying inflation…

Today's focus is on the US CPI data, which experts believe will be better than expected. The forecasted US CPI m/m is 0.3%, and y/y is 3.1%, a positive sign for the market as the Fed's inflation target is 2%. Even a strong inflation reading may lead to one more interest rate hike, keeping traders somewhat worried. The reaction of the 2-year Treasury yield and the dollar index will indicate the Fed's next move. With inflation slowing down, the path of least resistance for the US equity market is skewed to the upside.

Here's the latest news from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. While speaking at a conference in Portugal, Powell expressed optimism about the US economy and decreased the possibility of a recession, stating that the economy has shown resilience and is still growing, albeit at a modest pace. He acknowledged the possibility of a recession but emphasized that it is not the most likely scenario.

Here's the scoop on China's gold demand. According to Bloomberg, the country's economic slowdown is beginning to affect the sector, resulting in a cooling off of gold sales. While jewelry sales experienced rapid growth earlier this year, they only expanded by 24% in May, indicating a slowdown. China, alongside India, is a leading consumer of physical gold, including bars, jewelry, and coins

In May, against expectations of a slowdown, inflation stubbornly held at 8.7%, creating additional pressure on the Bank of England. This comes just a day before the anticipated 13th consecutive interest rate hike to curb price growth. The headline figure places British inflation at the top among major advanced economies. These numbers aren't exactly comfortable for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who aimed to cut inflation by half this year before the 2024 election. Moreover, they could lead to increased mortgage costs for homeowners.

The possibility of a US recession has ignited intense debates, especially as the labor market and consumer spending continue to demonstrate resilience despite aggressive interest rate hikes. However, hold on to your hats because Deutsche Bank is bringing a bold statement. They see a 100% probability of a US recession unfolding.

The European economy trudged along with meager growth from the first quarter, lacking the oomph needed to gain momentum. As inflation persists and groceries become pricier, people become more reluctant to part with their hard-earned paychecks. The recent 0.1% increase from the previous quarter falls short of expectations, and the United States isn't faring much better, fueling concerns of a potential recession in the world's largest economy.

Don't give up on gold just yet! Despite some challenging times, the World Gold Council believes gold should remain a key asset in your strategic arsenal. Even as the Federal Reserve takes a breather from its aggressive monetary policy stance, it's still maintaining a hawkish stance. In fact, they're signaling the possibility of two more rate hikes this year.

Get ready for some suspense as the Bank of Canada faces a tough decision on whether to raise interest rates or keep them on hold. The resilient Canadian economy and the goal of curbing inflation further are at the heart of this dilemma. While some money markets and economists predict another rate hike, others believe the central bank should exercise caution and wait, hinting at a possible increase later in the summer.

Let's dive into the latest developments shaping the global economic landscape. Good news first: the threat of an unprecedented US debt crisis has receded, as US lawmakers passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default. Phew! But don't pop the champagne just yet, because storm clouds are still looming. High inflation, rising interest rates, and sluggish growth are challenges that have yet to disappear.

Let's dive into the world of gold. Currently, the price of gold, represented by XAUUSD, is stuck in indecision, hovering around the $1,975 mark. The market is anxiously awaiting two important factors: the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes and the extension of the US debt ceiling.