The U.S. Dollar Should Remain On Center Stage Despite Market Tentativeness

The U.S. dollar index ended 2015 on a strong note, but it has yet to develop any post-Fed momentum. Of the ten trading days following the rate hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve, the index has closed below that day’s intraday high five days. Notably, the intraday LOW of that day is still holding strong … Read more

A Policy Island for the Fed: The Bank of England and U.S. Economic Data Isolate the Fed

This past week was an important one for monetary policy. The Bank of England (BoE) made clear it is willing to put off rate hikes as long as necessary. Despite its words that suggest otherwise, the Bank is NOT biased for action. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen made it clear that, all else being … Read more

It Is A Low Rate World – Get Used to It

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on September 24, 2015. Click here to read the entire piece.) {snip} After reading the actual speech by Andrew Haldane, titled ominously “How low can you go?,” I realized that the BBC had overly focused Haldane’s concluding remarks. I can understand the … Read more

The British Pound Suddenly Reverses Course

Perhaps as a great irony, the British pound (FXB) is suddenly losing favor even as the euro appears to stabilize in the wake of the latest drama in Greece. Since touching the 0.70 level last week, the euro has made steady gains against the British pound as seen here in EUR/GBP. Now, the British pound … Read more

Forex Positioning Update: Short Euro, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Long Pound

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on April 7, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) There was a lot of action last week in the foreign exchange market. This piece is a quick update on how I have adjusted and/or maintained positioning in select currencies: the … Read more

Forex Setup Week (August 10, 2014): Major Trends In Play

Currency markets have been providing some excitement during the past several weeks. Some will ascribe it to lower liquidity, but I think that explanation is too easy. Major adjustments are likely underway in sentiment and positioning, so traders will do well to review charts on at least a weekly basis to assess the bigger picture … Read more

United Kingdom Manufacturing PMI Should Bookend the Decline in the British Pound

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on August 1, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) The British pound (FXB) has experienced a steep and near continuous decline ever since it hit new multi-year highs in July against the U.S. dollar. {snip} Source: FreeStockCharts.com After a strong … Read more

A June UK Manufacturing PMI Full of Superlatives Suggests Rate Hikes This Year

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on July 1, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) The British pound (FXB) responded so strongly to the June Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI® report that I decided to read it and go beyond the headlines. I found a report full … Read more

Carney Rate Hike Talk Drives Over-Eager Buying of the British Pound

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on June 12, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) After artfully fending off questions about the timing for higher interest rates, Mark Carney finally gave the market throngs a clearer hint: {snip} Mark Carney on timing of first rate rise: … Read more