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USDBRL should reflect Brazil's GDP, employment and services in the US, and data for China

Bullish factors The contraction of the Brazilian GDP in Q3 is expected to reduce the attractiveness of Brazilian assets and reinforce the need to cut the basic interest rate (SELIC), which could decrease foreign investments in the country and weaken the BRL. Bearish factors Slightly positive data for the American economy can reinforce the perception that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates further and contribute to the global weakening of the USD. Disclosure of data for the Chinese economy can reinforce the perception of a faster rebound, favoring currencies' performance from commodity-exporting countries like Brazil.

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Yesterday 09:10 PM
Research

Bitcoin hits 18-month high, other markets take a breather

Bitcoin has risen 20% in the past four weeks, hitting an 18-month high, boosted by speculation that interest rates have peaked and hopes for a major Bitcoin ETF launch. Other than bargain hunting in the Russell 2000, up 1.0%, US equities were down on profit-taking. Gold took a pause and stepped from recent all-time highs. The oil price continued its downward move despite last week’s announced OPEC+ production cuts.

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New all-time highs for the Dow and gold

The Dow Jones made another all-time high of 36,265 in morning trade, despite Fed chair Powell trying and failing to talk down hopes that interest rates will be cut in the spring. Gold rose 1.6% to a new all-time high of $2,089 per ounce. Paradoxically, weaker manufacturing data, and the belief that interest rates have thus peaked is the best explanation.

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Dow makes all-time high in hopes of spring rate cuts

The Dow Jones achieved an all-time high of 35,802 in afternoon trade, signifying the equity market’s bullish tone spurred by hoped-for interest rate cuts. Traders are placing a 40% probability of a March rate cut in the Fed Funds rate. The Fed’s favored inflation measure cooled to 3.5% annual growth, welcome but still above its 2.0% target.

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Shein IPO: Everything you need to know about Shein

Chinese retailer Shein has privately filed for an IPO after slating plans to go public in 2022. Take a look at everything we know about the fast-fashion brand.

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November 30, 2023 05:10 PM
Research

Gold approaches all-time high, oil rally continues

Gold stood out again, rallying within a few dollars of its August 2020 all-time high of $2,075, with supporters arguing that a peak in nominal and real interest rates would underpin a continuing bull market. Oil prices also continued to recover despite no news on next year’s production quota from OPEC. The Vix fear index continues to trade near multi-year lows, reflecting growing confidence that the economy can have a soft landing in 2024, with the Fed expected to cut rates by mid-year, even though it continues to insist that will not be the case.

Gold nuggets

Gold needs plenty to go right to maintain its bullish momentum

Gold is knocking on the door of record highs heading into what has recently been an extremely strong period for bullion prices. But having rallied so hard since early October, it comes across as being priced for perfection near-term.

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November 29, 2023 02:25 AM
Research

Oil and Gold rally, stocks largely unmoved

Gold continued to impress, up 1.4% to $2,040 (versus a one-year high of $2,085). Oil spiked 2.2% to $76.5 per barrel. Today’s consumer sentiment and holiday spending data were very strong. Two Fed governors indicated different opinions on official interest rates: Michelle Bowman thinks the Fed will have to raise rates further to bring inflation down, but Christopher Waller said he believes current rates are about right. Stocks again made little progress, with the economically sensitive Russell 2000 off 0.6%.

Brazil Flag

USDBRL should reflect US data, IPCA-15, and the economic agenda in Congress.

Bullish factors November IPCA-15 may slightly accelerate versus October, bringing some points of concern regarding inflation dynamics for the upcoming months and potentially weakening the real. Bearish factors The possibility of advancing important economic agendas for the government in the National Congress could reduce the perception of fiscal risks for Brazilian assets and strengthen the real. Data for the American economy can reinforce the perception that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates further and contribute to the global weakening of the USD.

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Nasdaq 100 overcooked, USD/JPY underdone given the shift in US yields

After a near 15% rally in under a month, the high-flying Nasdaq 100 looks tired on the charts, struggling to add to gains despite a continued pullback in US bond yields. In contrast, USD/JPY gives the impression it’s only starting the process of adjusting to the more placid US yield environment.

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November 27, 2023 11:59 PM
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Small Gold ETP buying in China with interesting scope

The gold price is looking a little prematurely to the peak of the interest rate cycle. Seasonal December strength is historic, but do the fundamentals back it up this year? Technical considerations remain mixed but are supportive on balance. Gold and silver prices have been up 2.7% and 6.6%, respectively, since the start of last week – both are overbought in the short term.

Research

Gold glistens, oil halts slide

Gold was the standout asset today, rising 0.5% to $2,013 per ounce (its peak was $2,050 earlier this year), while the slide in oil prices was halted at $75 per barrel. Bond and equity markets in quiet trading. This post-holiday week sees important data on inflation, consumer sentiment, and the publication of the Fed’s often persuasive Beige Book guide to economic conditions.

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Hang Seng, USD/CNH provide conflicting signals towards China’s economic outlook

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and the USD/CNH are providing conflicting signals on the outlook for Chinese markets, providing a reminder for traders not to become too attached to a particular position, be it bearish or bullish.

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November 27, 2023 04:33 AM
Research

Oil price falls on OPEC disarray, VIX falls again

Today's market highlight is oil off 2% on a simmering OPEC+ row. The Russell 2000 rose 0.7%, but stocks were stagnant in this holiday-shortened trading session today. The VIX made a new low below 13 for its current move, reflecting calm on Wall Street as traders watched shoppers flock to stores for Black Friday while another record was set for people traveling across this country for the holiday.

Energy

Crude oil steadies ahead of OPEC, US inflation in focus: The Week Ahead

Thanksgiving in the US has made for a very quiet second half to the week for traders, but with a key US inflation report and an OPEC meeting on tap then volatility is expected to return next week. Also note that Australia releases inflation figures which could be the deciding factor as to whether the RBA hold or hike at their final meeting of the year.

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November 24, 2023 01:16 AM
Research

OPEC wrangling leads to oil price volatility, Sterling rallies on UK Budget

Oil prices were volatile as news emerged of wrangling between Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ members, with the growing suspicion that the Kingdom wants higher prices to be achieved through further production cuts. Sterling continued its recent rally after a growth-inclined budget statement and a worsening inflation outlook, pointing to higher UK interest rates for longer.

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ASX 200: Downside risks build on hawkish RBA, unconvincing price action

The prospect of another rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), a crackdown of speculative forces in iron ore futures markets and failure to clear a stubborn resistance level has Australia’s ASX 200 facing the prospect of renewed downside.

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November 23, 2023 05:28 AM

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New Vix low suggests investors are relaxed, Russell 2000 and Nasdaq rally

Equity markets acknowledge little risk in coming months, judged by the Vix, Wall Street’s fear index, which dipped to a decade low of 12.9. Whether this is bullish, bearish, or has no real message is unclear. Elsewhere, the Russell 2000 and Nasdaq were up 0.7%, the dollar rallied, and Gold held above the $2,000 mark. Oil prices fell 1.0% despite the likelihood that OPEC+ will extend supply cuts.

Research

Rate cut hopes dashed, Russell 2000 and Nasdaq end recent rally

Fed minutes of its last meeting dampened hopes of early interest rate cuts after lunch, with the cyclical and small-cap Russell 2000 off 1.1% and Nasdaq off 0.6% despite some AI-linked stocks rallying. Elsewhere, gold passed the 2K mark for the first time since May, but the rally in Oil wasn’t sustained. Sterling was firmer against the dollar on the eve of the UK Budget.

Research

Nasdaq leads the rally and Oil joins on supply cut hopes

Nasdaq stepped back into its role as a market leader, up 1.2% in morning trade, even though the senior team at OpenAI jumping ship to join Microsoft was the only headline from the sector. Bonds rallied modestly on further talk about early interest rate cuts on last week’s inflation-friendly data run. Oil’s resurgence was the big story, up 2.7%, on expectations of more OPEC+ production cut following recent sharp price losses.

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Gold is consolidating, the Fed is attracting attention, and Diwali is vibrant.

Gold has traded in a $61 range over the past fortnight and now holds around $1,970. Silver has been more positive; after dropping towards $22, it rallied hard to more than $24 before easing. While gold’s range was 3.2% (as a percentage of the low) over the week, silver’s was 10.3%, more significant than the average 2.0-2.5 beta, and much of the silver move looks like short covering.

Brazil Flag

USDBRL should reflect fiscal fears in Brazil, FOMC minutes, and elections in Argentina

Bullish factors Uncertainty about the viability of budget targets in 2024 may increase risk premium requirements by investors for Brazilian assets and diminish foreign investments, weakening the real. Argentine elections can increase the perception of risks for other countries in the region and temporarily decrease managed money for Brazil, weakening the real. Bearish factors Disclosure of the minutes of the FOMC decision can reinforce the perception that American interest rates have already peaked and contributed to weakening the dollar.

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Gold struggling despite softer US dollar ahead of key long-bond auction

Gold faces an interesting start to the week with the US dollar falling to fresh two-month lows ahead of a key US Treasury auction, the latter providing an obvious catalyst that could dictate whether we see a retest of resistance above $2000.

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November 20, 2023 03:32 AM