Forex trading headlines from April 18, 2013:
- Initial jobless claims 352K vs 350K exp
- Philly Fed +1.3 vs +3.0 exp
- BOE’s Weale says weaker inflation pressure adds to BOE stimulus case
- US leading indicators -0.1% vs +0.1% exp
- Fed’s Kocherlakota says sees low rates ‘for a number of years’
- Fed’s Lacker doesn’t see disinflation risk
- IMF’s Lagarde: ECB only central bank with “a bit of space” on rates
- BOC’s Carney says US ‘breaking out’ of crisis
- Second vote on Italian President fails
- Venezuela chatters about an extraordinary OPEC meeting
- S&P 500 down 0.7% to 1541
- GBP leads, NZD lags
After a few days of heightened volatility, the FX market was catching its breath Thursday. The Philly Fed headlines was okay but the details were weak and that led to some risk aversion and selling in the yen crosses. USD/JPY fell below 98.00 from 98.25 but has since recovered.
The euro found bids at 1.3025 and screamed higher to 1.3095 and then sank back down to 1.3045. There were rumors of trouble at French banks but spirited denials snuffed out the excitement.
Cable jumped alongside the euro but dovish comments from Weale, who has been voting against more QE knocked it back to 1.5278 after a quick spike to 1.5313.
CAD and AUD softened on the drop in stocks but the lows from Asia were never challenged.
Gold up $12 to $1389 after touching $1402.
