Zahir Shah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 »

U.S. equity markets sell off suddenly as investors question China-USA trade talks progress, sterling slips in late trade

The main equity indices in America sold off, during the mid point of the New York trading session, as investors appeared to suddenly take cover, due to the progress regarding the ongoing trade agreement talks between China and the USA, apparently stalling. The inference appeared to suggest that the previous market optimism has been overdone,

U.S. equity markets sell off suddenly as investors question China-USA trade talks progress, sterling slips in late trade Read More »

Traders of the Aussie dollar need to remain vigilant during the Sydney and Asian trading sessions

On March 5th, at 3:30am U.K. time, the central bank of Australia, the RBA, will announce their decision regarding the country’s key interest rate, referred to as the “cash rate target”. The forecast, after the Reuters news agency has polled its panel of economists, is for the rate to remain unchanged at 1.5%. This record

Traders of the Aussie dollar need to remain vigilant during the Sydney and Asian trading sessions Read More »

Chinese equity markets close up as optimism increases over China-USA trade deal. Sterling rises as the threat of no deal Brexit recedes

The CSI and Shanghai indices rose by over 1% during the Asian trading sessions, taking the year to date rise in 2019 of the CSI to 26%. Representing a highly significant reversal of Chinese equity markets’ fortunes and in stark contrast to the slump experienced in late 2018. The indices have risen significantly over recent

Chinese equity markets close up as optimism increases over China-USA trade deal. Sterling rises as the threat of no deal Brexit recedes Read More »