Greenback closed as one of the best performing major currencies last week. Fed Chair Yellen mentioned that “the case for an increase in the federal-funds rate has strengthened in recent months” during the Jackson Hole Symposium last Friday. A report shows that the probability of a Fed rate hike in September rose to 42% and a 65% chance of a rate hike this year. Keep an eye out for the US ADP employment on Wednesday, US ISM Manufacturing PMI on Thursday and highly anticipated non-farm payrolls report due out on Friday.
Currencies: BOJ Governor Kuroda said that central bank of Japan will insist to expand stimulus if needed. USD/JPY rose over 200 pips to 102.30 level since last Friday. The Jackson Hole meeting rhetoric undoubtedly gave the dollar bulls a much needed temporary boost after the greenback was hammered throughout the week. A good September read on Friday’s Non-Farm payroll numbers should make the September FOMC meeting a highly probable live meeting.
Stocks: Most Asian share markets tumbled on Monday while the U.S. dollar added to gains made after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen indicated a U.S. interest rate increase remains on the cards for this year. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 2.2 percent to 16,719.31 in early trading. Japanese stocks generally gain on a weak yen because the earnings of the nation’s giant exporters are boosted. U.S. shares fell Friday. The S&P 500 slipped 3.43 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,169.04. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 53.01 points, or 0.3 percent, to 18,395.40. The Nasdaq composite rose 6.71 points, or 0.1 percent, to 5,218.92.
Oil and Gold: Gold prices finished last week on the defensive as hawkish comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen fueled rate hike speculation, boosting the US Dollar. Crude oil prices followed suit, with a surging greenback putting selling pressure on WTI contracts. Yellen said “the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened in recent months”.
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