Economic Indicators - The dollar index (DXY00) is down -0.04%, influenced by a smaller-than-expected decline in US jobless claims and a larger-than-expected drop in January existing home sales [1] - US weekly initial unemployment claims decreased by -5,000 to 227,000, indicating a slightly weaker labor market than the expected 223,000 [2] - January existing home sales fell -8.4% month-over-month to a 16-month low of 3.91 million, below expectations of 4.5 million [3] Currency Movements - The Chinese yuan has strengthened, reaching a new 2.5-year high, which is putting additional pressure on the dollar [1] - The euro (EUR/USD) is up by +0.09% amid mild dollar weakness, although gains are limited by a decline in German bund yields [5] - The yen (USD/JPY) is down by -0.24%, with the yen reaching a 2-week high against the dollar, supported by lower T-note yields [6] Interest Rate Expectations - Swaps markets are pricing in a 6% chance of a -25 basis point rate cut at the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 17-18 [4] - The FOMC is expected to cut interest rates by approximately -50 basis points in 2026, while the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is anticipated to raise rates by +25 basis points in the same year [4] - There is a 3% chance of a -25 basis point rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) at its next policy meeting on March 19 [5]

The Chinese yuan, riding its longest weekly rally in more than a decade, is expected to strengthen further as exporters boost demand for the currency ahead of the Lunar New Year.Companies typically step up dollar‑to‑yuan conversions before the country's holiday season, said Li Liuyang, chief foreign‑exchange analyst at China International Capital Corp., who forecasts a continued climb into the February break. Crédit Agricole CIB and Malayan Banking Bhd offered similar projections, as the yuan is poised to a ...

Group 1 - Global stocks experienced a bounce, while safe-haven assets like gold and bonds retreated, driven by signs of cooling trade tensions between China and the U.S. [1][2] - A potential trade deal could pause U.S. tariffs and Chinese rare earths export controls, alleviating investor concerns about a breakdown in the trade truce between the two largest economies [2][4] - European shares rose modestly, with the STOXX 600 up 0.1% near record highs, influenced by a sharp rally in Asian stocks [2][4] Group 2 - U.S. stock futures indicated a strong opening, with Nasdaq futures up 1.4% and S&P 500 futures gaining 0.9% [3] - The Chinese yuan rose to a more than one-month high against the dollar, reflecting market optimism regarding U.S.-China trade momentum [4][5] - The People's Bank of China set the official midpoint rate at 7.0881 per dollar, its strongest since October 15, 2024, suggesting potential for further yuan gains if a deal is reached [5] Group 3 - Safe-haven gold prices fell by 2% to $4,028 an ounce, while U.S. Treasury prices eased, resulting in a benchmark 10-year bond yield increase of 2.7 basis points to 4.024% [6] - Commodities such as soybeans, wheat, and corn rose on the prospects of a trade deal [6] Group 4 - Investor attention this week is focused on central bank meetings in Japan, Canada, Europe, and the United States [7]

Group 1: Currency Movements - The U.S. dollar experienced mixed performance, ending a six-day rally against the yen and a three-day losing streak versus the euro as investors prepared for significant central bank meetings and trade negotiations [1] - The Chinese yuan reached a one-month high against the dollar at 7.1103, with the People's Bank of China setting the official midpoint rate at 7.0881 per dollar, the strongest since October 15, 2024 [2] - The yen continued to decline against the dollar for the seventh consecutive session, influenced by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's perceived dovish stance and rising oil prices [3] Group 2: Central Bank Meetings - Analysts anticipate that the Japanese fiscal premium will remain high, limiting the potential for yen appreciation, while the market's focus is on the upcoming Bank of Japan (BoJ) meeting [4] - The BoJ is expected to discuss the possibility of resuming rate hikes as concerns about a tariff-induced recession diminish, although political factors may delay any decision [5] - The Federal Reserve is widely expected to implement a 25-basis-point rate cut, with market attention on potential signals regarding the winding down of its quantitative tightening program [6]

Core Insights - Global stocks experienced a rebound, driven by easing trade tensions between China and the U.S., marking a positive start to a week filled with central bank meetings and major earnings reports [1][2]. Group 1: Trade Developments - Top economic officials from China and the U.S. outlined a trade deal framework for Presidents Trump and Xi to consider, which could halt further U.S. tariffs and Chinese export controls on rare earths [2]. - The positive sentiment from trade discussions led to significant stock gains in Asia, with South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan reaching record highs [3]. Group 2: Market Reactions - U.S. stock futures surged, with Nasdaq futures increasing by 1% and S&P 500 futures rising by 0.7%, reflecting investor optimism regarding the trade truce [4]. - The Chinese yuan strengthened to a one-month high against the dollar at 7.1091, indicating market confidence in the trade negotiations [5]. Group 3: Economic Indicators - The People's Bank of China set the official midpoint rate at 7.0881 per dollar, the strongest since October 15, 2024, suggesting potential for further yuan appreciation if a trade deal is finalized [6]. - Safe-haven assets like gold and U.S. Treasury prices declined, with gold falling 1.3% to $4,058 an ounce and the 10-year bond yield rising by 3.1 basis points to 4.027% [7]. Group 4: Upcoming Events - Investor attention is shifting towards central bank meetings scheduled in Japan, Canada, Europe, and the United States this week, which could influence market dynamics [8].

Economic Outlook - The Australian dollar rose by 0.3% to $0.6504, buoyed by positive economic data from China and a more optimistic trade outlook [1][4] - China's economy grew by 1.1% in Q3, surpassing forecasts, with industrial output increasing by 6.5%, although the annual growth rate of 4.8% was the weakest in a year [2][3] - Analysts suggest that China is on track to meet its growth target of around 5%, indicating resilience against U.S. tariffs [3] Political Developments - The yen weakened initially as Sanae Takaichi appeared set to become Japan's next prime minister, following crucial political backing [1] - Takaichi's bid for premiership was bolstered by an alliance with the Japan Innovation Party, aligning more closely with her policy views after a previous coalition breakup [5][6] - The market is reacting positively to the potential for Takaichi's leadership, leading to bullish equities and bearish sentiment towards the yen [5] Market Sentiment - Market analysts indicate a sense of "mutually assured destruction" regarding U.S.-China trade tensions, with both sides acknowledging the risks of escalating tariffs [4] - There is a prevailing sentiment that markets will remain jittery until explicit announcements of de-escalation are made [5]

Core Insights - The global trading volume of the Chinese yuan has reached $817 billion per day, marking a significant increase and nearing the trading volumes of the British pound [1] - The yuan's share of global currency transactions has risen to 8.5% from 7.0% in 2022, indicating a growing international presence [1] - Despite being the fifth-most traded currency, the yuan is closing the gap with the British pound, which saw its share decline from 12.9% to 10.2% [1] Group 1 - Chinese officials have been actively working to enhance the global appeal of the yuan by easing capital controls to reduce the dominance of the US dollar [2] - The yuan's internationalization efforts are showing progress, although challenges such as restrictions on cross-border capital flows persist [3] - The yuan's share as a global payment currency has decreased to 2.9% in August from 4.7% in the same month last year, reflecting mixed signals regarding its international usage [4] Group 2 - The Swiss franc has also seen significant growth, with daily trading rising to $612 billion, surpassing both the Australian and Canadian dollars to become the sixth most-traded currency [5] - The Hong Kong dollar's share in global currency transactions has notably increased from 2.6% to 3.8% [5]