The AUD is the strongest and the EUR is the weakest as the NA session begins

The AUD AUD The Australian dollar (AUD) is the official currency of Australia, which is also used in Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, as well as independent pacific states.Introduced in 1966, the AUD is currently the fifth most traded currency in the world, behind only the US dollar, euro, Japanese yen, and British pound.The currency is very important to forex markets and is routinely used as a carry trade against other majors.The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is the central bank The Australian dollar (AUD) is the official currency of Australia, which is also used in Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, as well as independent pacific states.Introduced in 1966, the AUD is currently the fifth most traded currency in the world, behind only the US dollar, euro, Japanese yen, and British pound.The currency is very important to forex markets and is routinely used as a carry trade against other majors.The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is the central bank Read this Term is the strongest and the EUR is the weakest as the NA session begins. The USD is tilting to the upside with gains against all currencies Currencies Currencies are a typically a form of money in wide circulation, being the primary medium of exchange with respect to buying and selling goods and services. These are often issued by a specific government or collection of governments, by way of paper notes and coins. Other forms of currencies include previous metals such as gold and silver, and digital currencies such as Bitcoin. Currencies serve as a backbone of the country’s or countries’ economy, due to the perception of value held by the popu Currencies are a typically a form of money in wide circulation, being the primary medium of exchange with respect to buying and selling goods and services. These are often issued by a specific government or collection of governments, by way of paper notes and coins. Other forms of currencies include previous metals such as gold and silver, and digital currencies such as Bitcoin. Currencies serve as a backbone of the country’s or countries’ economy, due to the perception of value held by the popu Read this Term with the exception of the AUD and NZD ahead of the CPI data which is expected to rise to a 40 year high (with more to come next month). Expectations are for 7.9% (from 7.5% last month) for the headline, and core YoY at 6.4% (from 6.0%).

The tide has gone out again after a one day reprieve that saw stocks move higher, gold tumble, oil tumble. Today, stocks are lower, gold is higher and oil is also higher. The vision from the rose colored glasses have become more murky again.

Russia and Ukraine met for two hours and made no progress. The bombing continues. The sanctions continue with the UK adding sanctions to the owner of the Chelsea Football club, Roman Abramovich. Abramovich had put the club up for sale. That idea is now put on ice (although provisions have been granted a “special license”, that will allow the Premier League club to fulfil its fixtures and for “staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches”.

That bullish feeling in bitcoin yesterday has turned to a bearish feeling today.

The ECB is expected to keep rates unchanged with focus on when quantitative buying will be stopped and if there is any expectations for a hike in 2022. Lagarde press conference starts at 8:30 AM ET

A snapshot of the markets currently shows:

• Spot gold is trading up $16.13 or 0.82% at 2007.71
• Spot silver is trading up $0.12 or 0.48% at $25.90
• WTI crude oil is trading at $113.62 up $4.85 from the settlement price yesteray
• Bitcoin is back below $40,000 at $39186 after trading as high as $42053 and as low as $38796.

In the premarket for US stocks, the futures are implying a lower open after strong gains yesterday

• Dow is down --317 points after yesterday's 653.61 point rise
• S&P is down -39 points after yesterday's 107.18 point rise
• Nasdaq is down -192 points after yesterday's 459.99 point rise

In the European equity markets, the major indices are also lower after the sharp gains seen yesterday

• German Dax -2.8%
• France's CAC, -2.4%
• UK FTSE 100, -1.2%
• Spain's IBex, -1.2%
• Italy's FTSE MIB -3.05%

In the US debt market the yields are modestly higher. The 30 year is up a bit more. Today the US treasury will auction 30 year bonds at 1 PM ET. The 3 and 10 year issues have been met with more tepid demand.

In the European debt market, the yields the benchmark yields are little changed.