Interior minister graces graduation ceremony at Naif Arab University for Security Sciences    Prophet's Mosque imam underscores Islam's core values at peace conference in India    Saudi, Indian foreign ministers co-chair Cooperation Committee meeting in New Delhi    198 new sites documented in the National Antiquities Register    Cityscape Global 2024: Saudi real estate sector booms with SR180 billion in new projects    PIF to sell 2% stake in stc via accelerated book-building    SAMA issues rules for opening electronic wallets    TGA suspends 2 passenger transport applications and an application for food delivery    South Korean actor Song Jae Lim found dead at 39    Trump names Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary pick    There is nowhere safe in Gaza, UNRWA director says    Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over Church abuse scandal    US says it will not limit arms transfers to Israel    Don't sit on the toilet for more than 10 minutes, doctors warn    Saudi Champion Saeed Al-Mouri scores notable feat in Radical World Championship in Abu Dhabi with support from Bin-Shihon Group    'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to dazzle audience in Tokyo on Nov. 22    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Equities slip, dollar gains post-FOMC minutes
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 08 - 2020

GENEVA — The S&P500 (-0.44%) came off from its record highs following the Federal Reserve's (Fed) reluctance to offer more guidance immediately.
The minutes of the FOMC's last meeting proved to be slightly less dovish than previously as policymakers noted that ‘providing greater clarity regarding the likely path of the target range for the federal funds rate would be appropriate at some point', but not ‘at upcoming meetings'.
With stalemate in fiscal talks and no sign of more monetary stimulus in horizon, investors probably felt alone on top of a mountain. The US dollar gained, and the treasury yields slipped.
Asian markets were moody as well. Stock markets in Sydney (-0.77%), Shanghai (-1.08%), Hong Kong (-2.05%) and Tokyo (-1.0%) followed up on the US session losses.
WTI crude retreated almost 1% to $42.50 per barrel as OPEC reckoned that the pace of the global recovery appeared to be slower than they anticipated, pointing at the growing risks of a prolonged wave of COVID-19, but didn't say much about production cuts, other than calling the laggards to compensate for their overproduction over the past months.
Meanwhile, the EIA data showed that the US oil inventories declined 1.9 million barrels last week, less than penciled in by analyst.
Worries of an increasingly swamped oil market due to solid supply and weakening demand prospects should keep the selling pressure tight near and above the actual levels. Inability to clear the $43 resistance should encourage a downside correction toward the $40 mark.
Activity on FTSE (-1.19%) and DAX futures (-1.33%) hint that the European equities are preparing for a dive on Thursday as a result of a global loss of risk appetite.
Oil and mining stocks will likely feel the pinch of global growth worries and softer oil and commodity prices. In the FX, the US dollar continues dictating the overall direction.
The EURUSD and the GBPUSD gave back their early-week gains on the back of a global rebound in the US dollar. Provided the overstretched advance in both pairs, a deeper downside correction would only be healthy at the current levels.
Due today, the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting minutes should reiterate the bank's dovish mindset but will unlikely hint at a further action in the immediate future. The 5y5y inflation swap rates show a significant uptick in inflation Euro area inflation expectations and more action is certainly not necessary right now.
The 1.35-trillion-euro worth of pandemic asset purchases program (PEPP) will continue giving the necessary support to the market until the end of 2020, and we expect the purchases to run through the first half of 2021.
The dovish minutes, already widely priced in, won't necessarily have an easing effect on the euro. The single currency should continue following the lead of the US dollar, and may react to the latest PMI figures due Friday.
Cable, on the other hand, should re-test the 1.30 support on the back of an improved US dollar appetite. Breaking below this level should not be an issue for the pair, given that the pandemic and Brexit worries mostly justify a sterling depreciation against the US dollar.
Elsewhere, the Central Bank of Turkey (CBT) is expected to maintain the one-week repo rate unchanged at 8.25% at Thursday's monetary policy meeting. But the actual interest rate levels are no longer suitable given the rising pressure on the Turkish lira and the mounting inflation expectations.
The CBT has been conducting alternative measures to ramp up the rates, but the latter won't be sufficient as investors ask a clear hawkish adjustment in policy rates in the near future.
Best possible outcome would be a surprise 50-75 basis point hike as an indication of compromise, or a clear message regarding a post-pandemic upside correction in the rates to sooth investors.
Otherwise, the USDTRY should continue seeing support at and below the 7.20 mark for a further advance above the 7.50 handle.
— The writer is senior analyst at Swissquote Bank


Clic here to read the story from its source.