The Swiss National Bank Capitulates On the Swiss Franc

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 15, 2015. Click here to read the entire piece.) The Swiss national Bank (SNB) curtly reminded me that paper currencies are just the playthings of central banks. Just over a week after I had start enjoying more actively shorting the … Read more

Short the Franc Even As Negative Rates Are Proving Insufficient to End Strength Versus the Euro

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 5, 2015. Click here to read the entire piece.) Don’t look now, but the Swiss franc (FXF) is seemingly back for another test of the 1.20 currency floor against the euro (FXE). When the market forced the hand of the … Read more

Currency Markets Once Again Force the Hand of the Swiss National Bank

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 18, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) The Swiss National Bank (SNB) reacted swiftly. It could have just been a “fat finger” trade an hour before U.S. trading began. In an instant, the euro (FXE) vs Swiss Franc … Read more

Forex Chart Review: The Power of 50 – Carving Out A Large Swath Of Key Pivots?

Tonight, January 14, 2014, I was casually doing my periodic check of forex charts and was absolutely startled to see so many currency pairs pivoting around the 50-day moving average (DMA). I was so captured by this pattern, I decided to post every single chart for the record. I realize that the tests and touches … Read more

How to Trade “Euro Fatigue”

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 6, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) It seems that the U.S. market has grown weary of worrying about the euro. The euro has lost 4.5% versus the U.S. dollar (EUR/USD)(FXE) since December 9, 2011 while the S&P … Read more

“There Is No Risk of Inflation in Switzerland”

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 15, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) In its latest monetary policy assessment, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) “reaffirmed its commitment to the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro.” The SNB also gave its sternest warning … Read more

No Currency Peg Yet for the Swiss Franc As SNB Escalates

Today, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced it is taking additional measures to try to weaken its currency and wave off the franc’s many adoring fans. The SNB’s latest statement gets an “A” in rhetoric for amplifying its fighting words and claiming victory in one battle even as the bank warns it is prepared to … Read more

No Relief Rally, but the Dollar Squeaks By the Pound and Franc

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) The relief rally for the U.S. dollar that I expected after the S&P downgrade of U.S. government debt did not materialize last week. {snip}…The dollar gained 1.6% over the franc BUT not until after the … Read more

The Swiss National Bank Warns That Strong Currency Threatens Economy

Two nations have the odd combination of near zero interest rates and extremely strong currencies: Japan and Switzerland. Japan has finally moved once again to try weakening its popular currency (click here for a description I gave on how to play the intervention). The Swiss National Bank (SNB), burned by a very unsuccessful attempt to … Read more

The Stock Market Meanders Higher, But It Is Not Overbought

I have seen and heard several headlines pronouncing that the market is overbought, extremely overbought even. Yet, my favorite oversold/overbought indicator, T2108, the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs), has calmly churned around 60% for almost the entire month of December. The market is typically considered overbought after T2108 crosses … Read more