Market News

Two of the world’s major central banks are poised to announce their monetary policy decisions later today and investors are wary of the respective currencies’ movement in the moments which will follow the news.

The Japanese Yen edged lower against its main rival, the U.S. Dollar as investors await a monetary policy decision from the Bank of Japan which could result in the further weakening of the Japanese currency.

US stocks fell on Monday on fears that decreased manufacturing activity will show an overall slowdown of the nation’s economy in the coming quarter, if not longer.

As the second quarter of the year began, the pressure on the common currency Euro continues with the EUR/USD pair holding close to a recently struck 4-month low on growing worries that the bailout terms for Cyprus have set a dangerous precedent for the other troubled Eurozone nations which might decide to consider similar terms for future bailouts.

In light trading due to the Good Friday holiday, the Euro once again held close to a multi-month low against the greenback as investors consider the potential risks to the Eurozone banking system as a result of the controversial bailout terms for Cyprus and the growing uncertainty stemming from Italy’s political deadlock.

A new election may be called in Italy, which may impact the markets in more ways than one.

The Euro held close to a 4-month trough against the greenback after investors fears were ratcheted up a notch in the wake of the Cypriot bailout deal. The concern is that future bailout terms for other highly indebted Eurozone nations might include such onerous conditions as those currently seen in Cyprus which includes taxes on bank deposits.

Investors became worried that the Cypriot bailout plan would set a dangerous precedent for other fiscally troubled Euro-zone nations and sold off their holdings in the Euro which sent the common currency to a 4-month low against its main rival, the U.S. Dollar.

The Euro surged higher against the U.S. Dollar and Japanese Yen during Monday’s Asian trading session following the news that Cyprus had met the E.U.-imposed deadline and was able to hammer out details for a desperately needed bailout loan which could prevent a financial breakdown.

Surprising market players, the new governor of the Bank of Japan did not move to hold an emergency meeting of the policy setting committee as had been widely expected, which resulted in the steadying of the Japanese currency during the Asian trading session.

The Japanese Yen edged higher against its rivals during the Asian trading session but analysts say that gains are sure to be limited until there are clear signs from the new Bank of Japan governor as to how aggressive and loose their monetary policy is likely to be.

The Euro held close to a 4-month low versus the greenback as investors assess the likelihood that Cyprus may be compelled to leave the Eurozone now that its parliament rejected recently proposed terms of a new bailout package.

The Euro continues to hold close to a 3-month low against its main rival, the U.S. Dollar, as investors fail to derive any comfort from further details of the Cyprus bailout plan.

The Euro took a nosedive during Monday’s Asian trading session on the news that the bailout plan for Cyprus is to include a tax on bank deposits which was seen by investors as a high-risk precedent which might eventually trigger a run on other Eurozone area banks.

The greenback’s recent rally paused during Friday’s trading session in Asia, though analysts expect that the U.S. Dollar’s upward track is likely to resume given the stronger fundamentals and improved outlook in the U.S. economy.