Market News

China’s problems continue to mount and each day brings news of additional changes from within the world’s second largest economy.

Last Friday’s release of private sector labor data from the US fell slightly short of expectations. However, those figures were still high enough to reinforce speculation that the Federal Reserve Bank is on track to raise lending rates, possibly as soon as next month.

Economies across the globe seem to be recovering albeit slowly. Japan as well is moving along moderately with financial numbers rising beyond expectations at the end of the 2nd quarter.

This is probably going to be an extremely quiet week, for two main reasons: we are approaching the middle of August, when the market is typically pretty dead, and there is also no central bank data due this week anywhere.

August is rolling along and the question of a September interest hike still looms ahead. The numbers continue to point to a Fed hike as a real possibility.

Nothing holds one’s attention like a British thriller and when the plot takes an unexpected turn, it is even more intriguing.

The Kiwi Dollar was the currency space’s largest single mover during the European trading session, pulling away from a 6-year trough with a half percent gain. The Aussie Dollar came under pressure after disappointing unemployment data was released.

The Bank of England is scheduled to report on its monthly update on industrial activity for Britain at 11:00 GMT.

The Euro and other higher-risk currencies came under pressure versus the US Dollar after one Federal Reserve Bank voting member suggested that a rate hike was likely by September.

It looks like a Fed interest rate hike in September is a real possibility. After months of uncertainty and speculation, a senior Fed official came out in support of the rate increase sending the dollar upwards, primarily at the expense of the Swiss Franc and Canadian Dollar.

As is well known, the government of Japan has been embarking on a scheme, which included both monetary and fiscal policy, which would hopefully result in economic growth. To that end, the Bank of Japan has made numerous attempts to ensure that the Japanese Yen is weak enough to promote growth through trade.

Looks like there’s trouble in paradise. If economists have it right, Australia’s current property boom which has zoomed 11% so far this year, could be coming to an end.

The U.S. Dollar is just beginning to gain some positive momentum in the trading week. Earlier, it had been broadly after Friday’s U.S. employment costs report seems to have clouded the outlook for the Federal Reserve Bank.

Greece seems to be walking on egg shells on its way to recovery. After months of heady negotiations that saw the country on the verge of bankruptcy and a near “Grexit,” Athens is making its moves cautiously.

This can be expected to be a busier week than recent weeks, with a lot more going on and more volatility. It will be an especially important week for the USD, the AUD, and the GBP, with key central bank input also due regarding the JPY.