The strongest factors influencing the direction and momentum of Foreign Exchange (FX) rates are changes in the key interest rates, themselves highly sensitive to macroeconomic data such as inflation and economic growth, as well as geopolitical concerns. Higher interest rates tend to render the currency more attractive (and vice versa) which, in turn, can result in it…
Friday, 6 July Guardian Mike van Dulken of Accendo Markets says Beijing is “teasing the markets” by delaying its response to America’s move, making it clear that the US fired the first shots. https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2018/jul/06/us-china-trade-war-34bn-tariffs-non-farm-business-live?page=with:block-5b3f286be4b0cb7e6f6c1f69#liveblog-navigation Thursday, 5 July Reuters “Full-year guidance [from AB Foods] remains unchanged but traders are clearly taking this with a pinch of sugar,” said Mike…
The first shots were fired overnight and responded to this morning. $68bn worth to be precise; $34bn in US tariffs on Chinese goods around midnight, and a reciprocal amount from China, just a few hours later, in retaliation. The question now is whether these opening salvos prove to be the first in a series of…
Next week sees the start of quarterly reporting season in the US, which means that it won’t be long until companies begin reporting results here in Europe too. Why so important? Because a certain key sector, namely the Banks, is first up. And this can offer a great indicator of economic health and thus a…
AB Foods sits firmly at the bottom of the UK 100 this morning, its shares down 4.1%, back around June lows, following a disappointing Q3 trading update. Revenues +3% was only really +2% once the flattery of currency movements was stripped out. This might be no worse than what was reported at the half-year stage,…
It may be a mixed trading update from Sainsbury this morning but traders like it nonetheless. The result is the shares +1.2%, in silver medal position on the UK 100 . Q1 like-for-like retail sales (ex-fuel) of 0.2% was in-line with Bloomberg consensus, however, groceries +0.5% was well down on Q4’s +2.1% and missed +0.7%…