SGM-FX insights

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter:   After a busy day on currency markets yesterday, the biggest mover ahead of today was the Euro, followed closely by the Pound. Heightened volatility was unsurprising given the central bank monetary policy decisions that occurred in the underlying economies of the respective currencies. Monetary policy decisions from the […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter:   Yesterday afternoon, the US Dollar only continued its unrelenting advance. Since the beginning of De­cember, the Dollar has gained almost 1.5% against its shared currency counterpart, the Euro. The EUR USD cross now threatens 1.17. The most notable event of today will be an interest rate decision by […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter: After a somewhat subdued morning and afternoon yesterday, markets kicked to life. An abrupt claim from the Telegraph suggested that the UK and the EU had reached an agreement on the so-called Brexit ‘divorce’ bill. The news supported the Pound strongly, raising Sterling against the US Dollar by as […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter:   The US Dollar looked in a weak position throughout yesterday morning and into the early afternoon. However, the market open within the US saw a retraction from questionable Dollar weakness and move further away from a significant 1.20 against the Euro. Little changed yesterday to reverse the Dollar’s […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter: Many market commentators are attributing last week’s bullish Euro, 1.17s to mid-1.19s against the Dollar, to a reduction in political risk within Germany and Ireland. This view appears unfounded both in terms of pricing action and sentiment. In a moment of madness, analysts have managed to convince themselves that […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter: The Pound Sterling, the Euro and, just about, the Dollar have all received a boost this morning. Climbing over their international counterparts, the Pound is being supported by optimism ahead of December’s EU Council summit. Following strong Eurozone soft data, released yesterday morning, the Euro has similarly received a […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter: Yesterday evening, at 19:00BST, the minutes from November’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting were released. A December rate hike in the US is already heavily priced in by the market and widely taken for granted. Yesterday’s release affirmed this sentiment, confirming the members’ commitment to raising the target […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter:   Sterling markets have opened weaker this morning following a budget that was overshadowed by pessimistic growth forecasts. Sterling markets reacted ambivalently to the second reading of third quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Measuring economic growth, the statistics release showed no change. Currency markets are showing a mixed message […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter: Today’s budget was delivered to the House of Commons with considerable showmanship and bluff. The Chancellor’s hand contained little more than off-suit low cards – 1.5 and 1.3 to be precise. However, the chancellor managed to find a concealed rabbit within the deck, admirably silencing the qualms of critics […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter:   As markets open this morning, it is apparent that the value of the US Dollar was harmed by Janet Yellen’s remarks during a public conversation with Sir Mervyn King, former Bank of England Governor, last night. Speaking at the NYU Stern School of Business, Yellen painted an opaque […]

Discussion and Analysis by Grace Gliksten   It has been reported that Prime Minister Theresa May won ministerial support to increase the Brexit offer from €20bn to €40bn yesterday. May is hoping that the increase will unlock stalled negotiations, but has been warned by Eurosceptic colleagues that this is conditional upon securing good transition and […]

Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter: Sterling markets once again look more robust at market open this morning. While the outcome of yesterday’s 10-strong ’inner’ cabinet meeting has not been made public, and is not expected to become so within the next few weeks, reports coming from media and privileged cabinet ministers are positive. Dominating […]