Forex Trading

European markets initially had an altogether much more buoyant tone today, however as the afternoon has progressed they have slid back from their intraday highs, as buying interest has slowly melted away. The FTSE 100 has lagged all day despite both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England keeping their respective monetary...
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European markets were distinctly under whelming today as a risk adverse tone was adopted in light of what was a relatively quiet economic calendar day. Germany’s GDP came in as expected showing a 3% increase in 2011. However, the contraction of 0.25% in Q4 on the back of a cooling demand for exports is of...
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European spread trading markets have taken the bull by the horns today posting strong gains after Chinese trade data saw a much higher surplus for November. Consequently, this raises expectations that the People Bank of China would look at further easing of fiscal policy after last month’s cut in bank reserve requirements. The biggest gainers...
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Although forex spread trading investors were no better disposed to the euro, during the fortnight surrounding Christmas and New Year celebrations they were less inclined to do anything about it. Contrary to the more pessimistic expectations of some, the single European currency was able to see out the year intact and that coherence could...
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The Aussie was one of a handful of commodity-oriented currencies that found the going tougher than usual last week. Behind their difficulties was a re-emergence of concerns for global economic growth. Economists are becoming steadily more certain that the Eurozone economy will go into reverse. Growth in China appears to be slowing too. Whilst...
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It was an eventful week for the euro, one which it was lucky to survive with its hide intact. But survive it did; not in grand style (it lost ground to all but the New Zealand dollar and the rand), but at least it avoided placing last. The euro’s two big challenges were the European...
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Last month we looked ahead to the Cannes summit, and the likelihood of a plan to deal with the crisis in Europe. We also looked at the possibility of a rate cut from the ECB, which did come to pass, as well as the likelihood of a failure to agree in the US on...
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European markets have struggled for direction today ahead of tomorrow’s EU summit. Investors who were hoping for a more decisive steer from the European Central Bank were left disappointed despite a rate cut of 25bps. The refusal of the ECB to commit to buying unlimited sovereign bonds, as well as closing the door to...
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A bit of a Jekyll and Hyde day today, after opening with a fairly positive bias, European markets slid back in the afternoon session, as policymaker statements started to down-play expectations ahead of this week’s EU summit. Talk that a bigger financial bazooka was being prepared gave markets an early boost, however comments from...
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If the Euroland ship under Captain Merkel can be said to be rudderless, the captain of the American equivalent has apparently gone AWOL. Not that the lack of command and control is doing the US dollar spreads any harm. The dollar has been the best performer in the last seven days, despite the failure...
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