USD rallied to 105.85 during Powell’s hawkish speech and holds above 105.57 since then. Yields rose and stock markets remain under pressure. The Nikkei was a notable exception overnight, with a 0.5% gain. Curves are inverting further in Germany and the US as concern that overly aggressive central bank action will hurt the recovery returns. The curve inverted to -104 bps, the most since 1981, from -93 bps.
A more hawkish than expected stance from Fed Chair Powell saw Treasury yields spike and Wall Street sink, while the dollar firmed. Although Powell did not really say anything new as he reiterated the “higher for longer” policy mantra, he did open the door for a return to a more aggressive 50 bp rate hike and the markets jumped through it. BlackRock sees ‘reasonable chance’ of Fed raising rates to 6%.
- USD at 105.66 now. Euro drifted to 1.0544, Sterling broke 4-month support to 1.1861, below 20-WMA. Yen spiked to 137.54 on US Dollar strength.
- Stocks – US500 tumbled 1.53% to close under the 4000 mark. The US100 slid -1.25%. The US30 dropped -1.72% with losses accelerating after the break below 33,000.
- Commodities – USOil – massive sell off from $80.95 to $77.13 on fears that more aggressive US interest rate hikes would hit demand. API shows US crude stocks fall helped oil to find a floor, while USD rise keeps lid on oil. Gold – 1-week low (-1.9%) at 1814.22.
- Cryptocurrencies – BTC – at $21936.
Today – Fed Chair Powell’s Testimony to the House Finance Committee. US ADP, & BoC rate decision.
Biggest FX Mover @ (07:30 GMT) XAUUSD (-1.9%). Plummeted to 1809. MAs flattened, MACD histogram & signal line remain well below 0, RSI 30 & flat, H1 ATR 2.32, Daily ATR 18.25.
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Andria Pichidi
Market Analyst
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