A historical pattern linking U.S. dollar breakouts to Bitcoin market tops has pitted cyclical believers against institutional accumulators, leaving investors divided over Bitcoin’s short- to medium-term future. As a result, investors are torn over what Bitcoin’s short to medium-term future holds. On the one hand, Bitcoin OGs and whales, who believe in the crypto market’s four-year cycle, have resorted to selling their holdings and shorting. Institutions, on the other hand, continue to accumulate Bitcoin ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The narrative sounded perfect: gold soaring past records, Bitcoin rallying, stocks climbing relentlessly—all signs that investors were fleeing the dollar in a panic over U.S. currency debasement. But if you check what’s actually happening in the bond and foreign exchange markets, that story falls apart fast. While precious metals have indeed surged impressively this year—gold jumping 50%, with silver and p ...

By Amanda Cooper LONDON (Reuters) -Global stocks bounced on Monday, while safe-haven gold and bonds retreated, as signs of cooling trade tensions between China and the U.S. encouraged investors, marking a strong start to a week dominated by central bank meetings and megacap earnings. Top Chinese and U.S. economic officials on Sunday hashed out the framework of a trade deal for U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to decide on later this week at a meeting in South Korea. A t ...

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 Points - The recent announcement of a 10% tariff on Canadian goods by President Trump was triggered by an Ontario ad campaign featuring Ronald Reagan, which Trump labeled as a "hostile act" [1][2] - The Canadian dollar experienced a slight depreciation against the U.S. dollar, but the overall market response was muted, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index showing resilience [3][4] - Specific sectors in Canada, particularly auto, steel, aluminum, and lumber, are more vulnerable to tariff impacts, with potential costs to American consumers estimated at $50 billion [5][6] Market Reactions - The Canadian dollar (CAD) saw a slight depreciation, with the USD/CAD exchange rate approaching 1.3980, reflecting a 50-pip spike post-announcement [3] - U.S. equity futures were mixed, but major indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 reached record highs on the same day as the tariff announcement, attributed to softer inflation data [4] - Analysts view the tariff announcement as typical political maneuvering rather than a serious threat to trade relationships, indicating a level of desensitization among investors [6][10] Sector-Specific Impacts - Industries with significant cross-border trade exposure, such as automotive and energy, are on high alert due to the potential for increased costs and market volatility [5][6] - The Canadian Chamber of Commerce emphasized that tariffs are ultimately a tax on American consumers and competitiveness [7] Broader Trade Context - The tariff announcement occurs amid ongoing trade tensions, including investigations into China's compliance with trade agreements and threats of new tariffs on Chinese goods [9] - The frequency and rhetoric of trade policy announcements have led to a market environment where investors are increasingly able to filter out noise and focus on other economic indicators [10][11]

Core Viewpoint - The election of hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as Japan's prime minister has led to a decline in the yen, with traders speculating on potential changes in interest rate outlook and increased fiscal spending [1][2]. Currency Market Impact - The yen fell 0.76% to 151.895 per dollar, marking its lowest level since October 14, and experienced its largest single-day decline in two weeks [2]. - The yen also faced challenges against the euro and sterling, indicating broader currency market pressures [2]. Government Appointments and Economic Policy - Takaichi plans to appoint Satsuki Katayama as finance minister, who has previously expressed a preference for a stronger yen, potentially influencing market perceptions regarding yen depreciation [3]. - Analysts suggest that inflation and household purchasing power will be critical issues for the new government, which may lead to a reluctance to support further yen depreciation [4]. Monetary Policy Considerations - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) faces challenges in navigating monetary policy, as Takaichi's support for fiscal stimulus complicates the path for potential interest rate increases [4][5]. - There are indications that monetary tightening may be delayed until fiscal easing takes effect, creating a complex environment for the BOJ [5]. Broader Market Context - The dollar index rose to a six-day high, supported by the weaker yen, amidst a generally positive market sentiment following optimistic trade deal discussions between the U.S. and China [6][7]. - Concerns regarding U.S. dollar funding and its implications for euro zone banks were highlighted, reflecting the interconnectedness of global financial markets [7].

Group 1 - Investors are optimistic about a potential resolution to the U.S. government shutdown [1] - Easing concerns regarding U.S. credit conditions have contributed to the strengthening of the dollar [1]

Economic and Currency Trends - The U.S. dollar is experiencing a decline, marking a third consecutive session of losses against major currencies such as the euro, yen, and Swiss franc, influenced by U.S.-China tensions and Federal Reserve remarks [1][2] - The dollar weakened by 0.49% to 0.793 against the Swiss franc, reflecting ongoing trade tensions and market uncertainty [2] - The dollar index fell by 0.33% to 98.35, with U.S. Treasury yields near multi-week lows, indicating pressure on the dollar amid a potential prolonged U.S. government shutdown [4] Federal Reserve Insights - Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller supports another interest rate cut at the upcoming policy meeting due to mixed job market signals [3] - The Fed's Beige Book indicates emerging economic weakness, including rising layoffs and reduced spending among middle and lower-income households, which may influence future rate decisions [4] U.S.-China Trade Relations - The dominant narrative remains U.S.-China trade tensions, with China increasing pressure ahead of a meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, raising questions about potential negotiation strategies [2] European Economic Developments - French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes, allowing him to deliver a budget and temporarily suspending controversial pension reforms, which positively impacted the euro, pushing it to a one-week high at $1.1688 [6]

By Yoruk Bahceli LONDON (Reuters) -Reserve managers tend to buy the dollar when it weakens and sell when it rises, suggesting they might play a lesser role in driving the greenback than private investors, Standard Chartered said in a note on Thursday. Demand from central banks managing trillions of dollars worth of currency reserves is seen as crucial to the dollar's position as the world's top safe-haven currency. But U.S. President Donald Trump's confrontations with longstanding allies over trade and ...

Currency Market Insights - The U.S. dollar is experiencing a third consecutive daily loss against the euro, while it is slightly increasing against the yen due to ongoing U.S.-China tensions and dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials [1] - The dollar index is down 0.05% at 98.64, indicating a potential weekly decline of around 0.3% [2] - U.S. Treasury yields are near multi-week lows, with the benchmark 10-year yield just above 4%, which is putting pressure on the dollar amid concerns over a prolonged U.S. government shutdown [3] Rare Earths and Trade Relations - Investors are closely monitoring China's recent expansion of rare earth export controls, which has been criticized by U.S. officials for potentially disrupting global supply chains [5] - There is speculation that China's export controls may be a bargaining tactic to gain concessions from the U.S. [5] - The escalation in Sino-U.S. trade tensions is prompting reactions from European governments, highlighting the potential impact on global supply chains and European output [6] European Political Developments - The euro reached a one-week high, increasing by 0.09% to $1.1651, following the survival of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu in a no-confidence vote [7]