Above the 40 (August 10, 2018) – Facing Fresh Macro Challenges and Lacking Technical Confirmations, the S&P 500 Stalls Under All-Time Highs

AT40 = 51.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 13.2 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The indicators barely changed from the last Above the 40 post, but the technical winds are likely changing yet again. A little … Read more

Canadian Dollar: Economic Data Overriding the Brakes of the Bank of Canada

The Canadian dollar (FXC) is at an interesting juncture. Strong economic data has strengthened the currency but the Bank of Canada (BoC) has applied brakes on currency’s rally. The Canadian dollar weakened in the wake of policy statements in October and December. The last word of 2017 went to the economic data as hot inflation … Read more

Australian Dollar Slammed By Inflation Data – More Weakness Likely

On October 28, 2015 (Australian time), the Australian dollar (FXA) was slammed by Australia’s September, 2015 inflation data. Source: FreeStockCharts.com The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 1.5% year-over-year increase in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September. While inflation is still hovering above the lows for the post-crisis period, this is the longest stretch … Read more

Strong Economic News Bolsters the Case for the Canadian Dollar

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on April 20, 2015. Click here to read the entire piece.) In my last post on the Canadian dollar (FXC), I claimed that it was time to start buying Canada while at the same time cautioning about an over-extension in the currency … Read more

Australia’s Q4 2014 Inflation Enough to Erase Momentum for February Rate Cut

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 25, 2015. Click here to read the entire piece.) Perhaps the market was really expecting a much lower inflation reading in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Australia for the fourth quarter of … Read more

Quietly the Swiss Franc Presses the Swiss National Bank’s Nerves Again

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 5, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) Suddenly, the Swiss franc (FXF) is nearing the 1.20 floor against the euro again. Almost three months ago, I thought the Swiss franc was hurtling toward a retest of the longstanding … Read more

Q4 2013 Inflation Reading Removes Australia’s Scope For Lower Rates

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 22, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) Remember last September when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) somewhat mysteriously removed the following language from its statement on monetary policy?… “The Board also judged that the inflation outlook, as … Read more

Failed Breakouts Provide Buying Opportunity in the Australian Dollar

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on October 25, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) Ever since news of Chinese banks making massive write-offs and a parallel spike in China money rates stoked renewed fears over the Chinese financial system, the Australian dollar (FXA) has pared … Read more

No New News on Negative Rates from Bank of England’s Meeting Minutes

This morning, the Bank of England released its minutes from the September meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee. From my reading, it contained no new news on the prospects for negative interest rates. The “relief” from the minutes has so far lifted the pound against the euro, the U.S. dollar, and even the yen. I … Read more