The attractiveness of cash in a multi-asset portfolio (%)
Source: SG, TME
China Gold Premium to the rest of the world hit a new record of $120 an ounce as Beijing defends yuan
Gold in China is trading at a record premium to international prices, a sign of Beijing’s escalating battle to defend its currency. Bullion on the Shanghai Gold Exchange traded at a premium of more than $120 an ounce on Thursday, according to calculations by Bloomberg. That’s the highest since the exchange was founded over two decades ago, as a weak yuan drove up prices in recent weeks. Source: Bloomberg
EURUSD pair continues a bearish trend after ECB hike
EURUSD stays on a rather bearish EUR bullish USD trend which wasn’t helped by today’s ECB decision to increase rates by another 25bps. Shortly after the ECB’s announcement, US PPI came out slightly higher than expected which led the pair to reach a low of 1.0656 before stabilizing around 1.0675.
Support: 1.0650, 1.0605, 1.0560
Resistance: 1.0720, 1.0770, 1.0810
Source: Bloomberg
China Budges in Fight With Bears, Sending Yuan Toward Record Low – Bloomberg
The offshore yuan weakened toward its lowest on record against the dollar, as a cut to the daily reference rate for the managed currency stoked bets China is comfortable with a gradual depreciation. China’s currency declined to about 7.36 per dollar in overseas trading, beyond the psychologically important level of 7.35 and close to the weakest since the creation of the offshore yuan market in 2010. The move came after the People’s Bank of China set its so-called fixing at a two-month low on Friday.
Bloomberg's Dollar Spot Index is on track for its 8th consecutive green week, its longest winning streak in history (with data going back to 2005)
Source: Barchart, Bloomberg
China Uses Another Tool to Aid Yuan in String of Market Support – Bloomberg
China moved to support the yuan by increasing the supply of foreign currency in its local market, part of a multi-pronged effort by Beijing to restore confidence amid sluggish growth. Financial institutions will need to hold just 4% of their foreign-exchange deposits in reserve starting Sept. 15, the People’s Bank of China said Friday, compared to the current level of 6%. The greater availability of overseas currency relative to the yuan effectively boosts the allure of the latter. The so-called FX RRR cut came on the heels of Thursday’s reduction in down payments for mortgages to help the country’s under-pressure residential property market and after policymakers lowered stamp duty for stock trading over the weekend. The combination of supportive measures is a sign that Beijing is growing uncomfortable with increasing pessimism in its financial markets.
Hong Kong Dollar is on track for its biggest monthly loss against the US Dollar in 38 years
source: Bloomberg, Barchart
Lira Rallies as Turkey stuns with biggest rate hike in years
The central bank raises benchmark rate by 750 basis points. Turkish currency surges more than 5% against the dollar. The Monetary Policy Committee, under Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, raised the benchmark one-week repo rate to 25% from 17.5%, the sharpest increase since 2018. Most economists polled by Bloomberg predicted a hike to 20%. It’s the latest indication that Turkey’s new administration is prepared to move away from the unorthodox policies — including ultra-loose borrowing costs — that were championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but caused foreign traders to flee the country’s bond and stock markets en masse. Source: Bloomberg
