Zahir Shah

China’s poor trade figures sends shockwaves through equity and currency markets

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

China’s authorities published desperately poor: import, export and trade balance data during the Asian trading session, leading to a significant sell off in Chinese equity markets and a rush into yen, as a safe haven option. China’s exports fell by -20.7% year on year up to February, imports fell by -5.20%, whilst the trade balance […]

China’s poor trade figures sends shockwaves through equity and currency markets Read More »

Euro slumps, as the ECB keeps the key interest rates unchanged, but add further monetary stimulus to the Eurozone economy

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries, Morning Roll Call

As widely predicted, the ECB announced on Thursday that the key interest rate would remain at 0.00%, with the deposit rate remaining locked in NIRP territory, at -0.4%. During the President of the ECB (Mario Draghi’s) press conference, he outlined how the central bank would continue to provide monetary stimulus, through subsidised investment bank lending,

Euro slumps, as the ECB keeps the key interest rates unchanged, but add further monetary stimulus to the Eurozone economy Read More »

The latest NFP jobs number, is expected to fall back dramatically, from January’s figure

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

On Friday March 8th, at 13:30pm U.K. time, one of the main American statistics agency, the BLS (Bureau Of Labor Statistics), will publish its latest data concerning jobs numbers. Referred to as the NFP data, non farm payroll numbers, this metric is one of the most closely watched data series on the economic calendar, pertaining

The latest NFP jobs number, is expected to fall back dramatically, from January’s figure Read More »

Aussie dollar fails to launch as Australia publishes a record trade surplus. FX traders turn focus to Eurozone GDP and the ECB monetary policy, forward guidance

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

Australia’s trade surplus surged to $4.55 billion in January 2019, from an upwardly revised $3.77 billion registered in the previous month of December 2018. Beating the market forecast of a surplus of $3 billion, whilst printing the largest trade surplus in Australian history. Exports leapt by 5% MOM, to print a record all-time high of

Aussie dollar fails to launch as Australia publishes a record trade surplus. FX traders turn focus to Eurozone GDP and the ECB monetary policy, forward guidance Read More »

Canada’s dollar sells off, as BOC signals dovish stance, and fundamental releases miss forecasts

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries, Morning Roll Call

As widely expected, the BOC, Canada’s central bank, announced on Wednesday afternoon, that they’d held the key interest rate at 1.75%. Maintaining their highest rate since 2008. The BOC stated there was “increased uncertainty” around future rate hikes, as it held the interest rates steady, diverting from the previous strategy; to engage in rate rises

Canada’s dollar sells off, as BOC signals dovish stance, and fundamental releases miss forecasts Read More »

The ECB rate setting announcement is forecast to reveal the rate maintained at 0.00%, but it’s Mario Draghi’s press conference where focus will be concentrated

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

At 12:45pm U.K. time, on Thursday March 7th, the Eurozone central bank, the ECB, will announce its latest interest rate decision. The widely held consensus is for the current key rate to be maintained at 0.00%, where it’s remained since July 2016, with the deposit rate held at -0.40%. After holding the rate steady in

The ECB rate setting announcement is forecast to reveal the rate maintained at 0.00%, but it’s Mario Draghi’s press conference where focus will be concentrated Read More »

Aussie dollar slumps as GDP growth falls in Q4. Focus turns to Canada’s interest rate announcement on Wednesday and Mario Draghi’s press conference, set for Thursday afternoon

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

The latest GDP growth figures for the Australian economy, missed the news agency forecasts, causing a sudden sell off in the Aussie dollar versus its peers, during the Sydney and Asian trading sessions. Reuters had forecast a 0.5% rise for Q4 2018, the figure came in at 0.2%, whilst annually the year on year growth

Aussie dollar slumps as GDP growth falls in Q4. Focus turns to Canada’s interest rate announcement on Wednesday and Mario Draghi’s press conference, set for Thursday afternoon Read More »

Positive fundamentals for the USA economy, fail to lift U.S. equity indices, as the U.S. dollar rises versus its major peers

Forex Trading Training, Market Commentaries, Morning Roll Call

With all the geo political tensions taking centre stage over recent days and weeks, FX traders could be forgiven for taking their collective eyes off the ball, in relation to the economic calendar. The issues for the USA concerning: the North Korea summit ending in failure, the China-USA trade talks fading and Trump’s personal lawyer

Positive fundamentals for the USA economy, fail to lift U.S. equity indices, as the U.S. dollar rises versus its major peers Read More »

Whilst the BOC bank of Canada is widely tipped to maintain its interest rate at 1.75%, speculation in the Canadian dollar might increase

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

At 15:00pm U.K. time on Wednesday March 6th, Canada’s central bank, the BOC, will announce its decision regarding its latest interest rate decision. The current interest rate for the globe’s eleventh largest economy is 1.75%, a level which has been maintained since the BOC wrong footed analysts and FX traders in October 2018, as they

Whilst the BOC bank of Canada is widely tipped to maintain its interest rate at 1.75%, speculation in the Canadian dollar might increase Read More »

China growth forecast falls to multi decade low of 6%, euro under scrutiny as ECB rate setting announcement nears

Forex Trading and Miscellaneous, Market Commentaries

During the Asian session, the Chinese authorities at the annual Chinese National People’s Congress, announced a fall in the projected rate of annual GDP growth, from 6.5% to 6.0%, the lowest growth rate projected since 1990. The Chinese government announced a massive fiscal stimulus to counter the pressures, including: lowering corporate tax rates, reducing VAT

China growth forecast falls to multi decade low of 6%, euro under scrutiny as ECB rate setting announcement nears Read More »