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The end of the tightening cycle is nighThe decline in the US inflation rate to more than a two-year low, marks a major step towards the end of the Fed’s historic monetary tightening cycle1. We believe key deflationary forces are in play – (1) weaker commodity prices (2) improvement in global supply chains (3) moderation in demand (4) lower inflation expectations. Therefore, the June decline in inflation is just the start of a series of decreases. Softer than expected inflation report As highlighted in the chart below, the details for June were also better than expected with key measures of underlying inflation coming in below forecasts. The inflation report suggests that some of the stickier components of inflation such as used cars and airline fares are also moderating. It’s important to note that most of the rise in the June CPI can be attributed to housing, however because of the way it is calculated it tends to lag current conditions. The S&P Case Shiller Home Price Index which tends to lead CPI shelter by roughly a year, is already flat which highlights US inflation is likely headed lower. Inflation for labour intensive services such as restaurants, recreation and personal care remained higher in June reflecting the pass -through of higher wages and robust services demand2. Potential further softening in the labour market could bring these categories back to target consistent levels. Softening in the labour market was evident in June’s employment report (nonfarm payrolls rose by 209k versus consensus 230k) which was weaker than expected for the first time in 15 months3. US Producer Prices confirmed a similar deflationary theme. The US Producer Price Index (PPI) inflation for June was softer than expected with headline and core PPI advancing 0.1% over the prior month4. Business surveys are also pointing to weakening pricing power, such as the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) services index which ties in with a lower inflation backdrop. US inflation can’t prevent the July rate hike While expectations for the July rate hike of 25Bps remain firmly in place, the market has scaled back expectations for a second hike – with 21bps / 3bps / 3bps of hikes priced for the July / September / November FOMC meetings5. The disinflation trend increases our belief that the Fed is close to, or will be, at the end of the current rate hike cycle. Earnings take centre stage for the next leg of the rally The key question now remains whether the market continues to trade off expectations of an easing narrative. Central bank policy has been the biggest drag for equities last year. The timing of the easing narrative comes at the heels of a volatile Q2 2023 earnings season. The S&P 500 Index earnings in the Q2 2023 are expected to decline 6.8% y/y, worse than the decline of 3.9% in the Q1 20233. This would be the largest earnings decline since the pandemic-fuelled 31.6% y/y decline in the Q2 2020. Earnings will be the key deciding factor for an extension in the current rally. Investors will be keen to hear from management whether they are looking to adopt a leaner cost structure and ways they are looking to remove excess capacity. Investors will be looking for guidance on productivity and efficiency gains rather than the financial engineering we have witnessed over the past decade. This material is prepared by WisdomTree and its affiliates and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of the date of production and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by WisdomTree, nor any affiliate, nor any of their officers, employees or agents. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
FRED:DFF
by aneekaguptaWTE
1
The Powell meme bomb & pivotThe fed and Powell have tried everything to dismiss inflation . First ignoring it then saying transitory then changing the perimeters as to how it's calculated. Even Sleepy Joe then chimed in at one point by saying hotdogs are actually cheaper for your red white and blue lies. How about awards... Let's give Ben Bernanke the noble economics prize during this all of this insanity! How about an Oscar to a president? (Sean Penn to Zelensky) yeah why not?? Giving Bernanke an award like "Noble Economics" is like calling Dahmer chef of the year! What the heck is going on? People are so broke they can't even pay attention! Has reality become the twilight zone? or was it always? Who are these people that rule us? Can they really be this incompetent? If so why is there no accountability? Now to Powell and gang. Last year they were caught for insider trading, what was their punishment? They were forced to sell their stock, at record gains mind you. Really... that's a punishment now? No one even batted an eye. The west has become a bunch of zombie filled degenerate nations with it's citizens consuming filth at record pace even Usain Bolt would be envious of. For this charade to keep going, you need to print more zombie snacks (dollars) there is no other way. I do believe the market is pricing in an inevitable Fed pivot at the moment which could turn out to be a sell the news moment next year at some point (not Financial advice). Psychological warfare. The Psy-op being played has been ramped up to new levels the past couple years and it is being reflected in the market due to technology with access to investing now easier than ever with a device sitting in your pocket, just add a little emotion with degenerative news and voila. The Pivot will eventually come, but will be the long term effects of it? Anyone can assume but simple 101 Noble Bernanke economics will tell you it ain't good. Anyway, this is my rant for the day. Actually, I have a question. What effect do SEC (crypto) rulings have past American borders? Here is my opinion, (crypto specifically) They have no jurisdiction past American borders so the effect is limited if any. In my opinion these negative rulings will only stifle any American innovation and growth of the sector. It actually just opens doors for other countries to take advantage of it as crypto is global. Please give me your thoughts on this down bellow. Special Guest Appearance George Carlin Thanks WeAreSat0shi Stay Blessed!
TVC:DXYEducation
by WeAreSat0shi
2
Dollar Weakens After FED AnnouncementsAs of now, the FED interest rate decision has been announced and the FED has kept the interest rate constant. In addition to keeping it steady, Powell still made harsh and hawkish statements. Personally, I have question marks in my mind about how full these explanations are. Because now the job is not just to reduce inflation and most business sectors have started to break. I don't think it can go on like this. If we are talking about interest rates, the only factor we need to look at is the dollar index. The dollar index has technically formed a descending triangle. The level to be seen in a down break will be $ 98.
TVC:DXY
by YavuzAkbay
2
AUD/USD remains red hot and is trading at 3-week highThe Australian dollar continues to sizzle and has climbed 1.04% on Thursday, after rising 1.56% a day earlier. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6857, close to a 3-week high. Inflation remains the Reserve Bank of Australia's number one priority and Thursday's inflation expectations release vindicated the RBA's concern that inflation expectations are well anchored. The Melbourne Institute Inflation Expectations for July were unchanged at 5.2% and a notch higher than the consensus estimate of 5.1%. High inflation expectations can translate into inflation rising, which would force the RBA to continue raising interest rates. RBA Governor Lowe spoke on Wednesday. The speech dealt with RBA policy but any investors looking for insights into rate policy walked away disappointed. Lowe said that the full effects of high rates were yet to be felt and it remained to be seen if more hikes would be required. US inflation dropped lower than the estimate and that sent the US dollar broadly lower on Wednesday. Headline inflation fell from 4.0% y/y to 3.0%, and critically, the core rate dropped to 4.8%, down from 5.3%. Both readings were lower than the forecast and point to inflation continuing to move in the right direction. The inflation numbers were good, but likely not good enough to convince the Fed to pause at the July 27th meeting. The Fed is widely expected to raise rates at the July meeting but the positive inflation data has also raised the likelihood of a pause at the September meeting. There is a possibility that the Fed's rate-tightening cycle is finally over, but that will depend on economic data, particularly employment and inflation reports in the coming months. AUD/USD put pressure on resistance at 0.6878 earlier. This is followed by resistance at 0.6944 0.6772 and 0.6682 are providing support
by OANDA
DXY D1 - Long Signal (relief rally)The US Inflation data came in with another surprise lower, declining faster than expected. The Core CPI YoY slowed down to 4.8% in June, down from 5.3% in May. This is the lowest core inflation print since October 2021. This is also the biggest drop since January 2021. On the other hand, the US CPI YoY dropped to 3.0% down from 4% during the same period, posting the lowest reading since March 2021 and the biggest drop since May 2020. The data was enough to shift market expectations significantly. Prior to the data, markets were pricing in the possibility of 3 more rate hikes before the end of the year, now markets are pricing in only one more rate hike in July’s meeting. The US dollar index declined sharply right after the inflation data announcement, breaking multiple key support areas, reaching as low as 100.40 by NYSE closing bell, which is the lowest daily close since April 2022. In addition, the index posted the biggest daily decline since November 2022. With this daily close, it’s safe to say that the downside trend has resumed. Since expectations shifted significantly, the index is now pricing in one more rate hike before the next easing cycle. The next support area stands at 100.0 psychological support, which should be watched carefully, as buyers are likely to appear.
TVC:DXYLong
by Trade_Simple_FX
1
USD/CAD slips after BoC rate hikeThe Canadian dollar has posted strong gains in Wednesday's North American session. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3146, down 0.63%. On the economic calendar, it has been a busy day, with the Bank of Canada raising interest rates and US inflation falling lower than expected. The Bank of Canada raised rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, bringing the cash rate to 5.0%. The BoC has delivered 475 basis points in hikes since March 2022 and the aggressive tightening has sent inflation lower. Still, the BoC's rate statement noted that it remains concerned that progress towards the 2% target could stall and that it does not expect to hit the target before mid-2025. This can be considered a hawkish hike and the Canadian dollar has responded with strong gains on Wednesday. Wednesday's US inflation report should please the Federal Reserve, which has circled high inflation has enemy number one. The June release showed headline inflation falling to 3.0%, down from 4.0% in May. This beat the consensus estimate of 3.1% and was the lowest level since March 2021. Even more importantly, the core rate fell from 5.3% to 4.8%, below the consensus estimate of 5.0%. On a monthly basis, both the headline and core rate came in at 0.2%, below the consensus estimate. The inflation release was excellent news, but isn't expected to change the Fed's plans to raise rates at the July 27th meeting. The inflation data didn't change market pricing for the July meeting (92% chance of a hike), but did raise the chances of a September hike from 72% prior to the inflation release to 80% after the release. Although the jobs report on Friday showed nonfarm payrolls declining considerably, wage growth was higher than expected and likely convinced the Fed to raise rates at the July meeting before taking a pause. There is resistance at 1.3191 and 1.3289 1.3105 and 1.3049 are providing support
by OANDA
30Y: Housing Cost Jumps Amid Falling Headline InflationCBOT: 30-Year Micro Yield Futures ( CBOT_MINI:30Y1! ), Treasury Bond Futures ( CBOT:ZB1! ) As a result of runaway inflation and rising interest rates, US home buyers are confronted by high home prices, high down payments, and high monthly mortgage payments. A sneak peek into official housing market data between 2021 and 2023: • Median sales price of houses sold in the US ( FRED:MSPUS ) was $436,800 in the first quarter of 2023, per Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED); • The median home price was $433,100 in Q1 2022 and $369,800 in Q1 2021. In the span of merely two years, home price jumped 18.1%; • Thirty-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.81% on July 6th ( FRED:MORTGAGE30US ); • The same mortgage was quoted at 5.30% a year ago and only 2.90% in July 2021. A typical family of four living in the State of Illinois earned a median income of $113,649 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s survey data. The example cited below illustrates the dramatic rise in housing cost from a family perspective: • If a 30-year-fixed mortgage is taken with a 20% down payment, the upfront cost is $87,360 (20% of FRED:MSPUS at $436,800), which is up $13,400 or 18.1% from two years ago; • Assuming the family’s take-home pay is 75% of gross income, their after-tax income would be $85,237 per year, or $7,103 per month; • Down payment already exceeded annual income. Adding in closing fees, moving cost, appliances and new furniture, upfront home investment could be well over $100K; • Using a mortgage calculator, we find that monthly mortgage payments were $1,724 if the home was bought two years ago; this equates to 24.3% of take-home pay; • New monthly payments would be $2,682, up sharply by 55.6%; mortgage expense now takes up 40.3% of the family’s after-tax income! This shows that an average US family these days can’t afford a median-price new home. A Tale of Two Cities The sharp increase in housing cost flies in the face of official US inflation data. June CPI report will be released on Wednesday. Economists forecast headline inflation to fall to 3.0% from 4.0% and core CPI to be lowered to 5.0% from 5.3% in May. The subset of inflation data shows Shelter cost growing at 8.0% annual rate in May. This doubles the headline CPI but is still a vast understatement for the soaring housing cost. So, where is the disconnection? Here is my theory. High mortgage rates have a bigger impact on mortgage payments than home price appreciation. Based on my calculation, each 1% increase in interest rate would translate into 9% more in monthly mortgage payments. In our example, mortgage rate grew about 4% from 2021 to 2023, and a mortgage is taken on a home priced at 18% higher. The resulting monthly payments jumped 55.6%. The compounding effect of higher prices and higher rates is fatal. I do not foresee either dropping in a meaningful way by next year. Therefore, do not expect the lower inflation to provide immediate relief to home buyers. Housing Market is not likely to crash US new home sales ( ECONOMICS:USNHS ) peaked at 1 million units in October 2021. Since then, it has nosedived and almost cut in half to 550K units by September 2022. Existing home sales ( ECONOMICS:USEHS ) followed a similar trend. It topped out at 6.6 million units in August 2020, and dropped to 4.0 million units in January 2023. Despite the hurdles facing home buyers, the US housing market appears to have recovered. New home sales reached 763K units in May, up nearly 12% from April. Existing home sales were 4.3 million units, up 300K from the beginning of the year. How could the housing market hold up? Isn’t homeownership already beyond reach? According to the National Association of Realtors, 65.5% of US families are homeowners. We could say that those with a “lock-in” rate are insulated from rising housing costs. Homeowners are “trapped” in their home in a rising interest rate environment. If they sell their houses and buy new ones, they will forfeit their 3% mortgage. This explains why existing home sales recovers at a much slower pace than new home sales. Low inventory and fewer sellers relative to buyers, together keep the housing market going strong. Prospective home buyers are not so lucky. But they have options. First is to lower their expectation and buy a smaller home; Second is to downgrade from single family home to townhouse or condominium. Finally, postpone home purchases and continue to rent. Several Economists predicting a housing market crash as big as the 2008 Subprime crisis. I think the Big Shorts would be disappointed this time. Prior to 2008, up to one third of homeowners had adjustable-rate mortgages. They survived rate-reset only because their house value went up. When it didn’t, they couldn’t refinance and defaulted on their loan. These days, adjustable-rate accounts for just 5% of all mortgages. The housing market is healthier now. FRED data shows the mortgage delinquency rate at 1.73% in Q1 2023, and the rate has been declining consistently for seven quarters. How Is This Relevant for Trading? I hold the view that the US housing market is very resilient. As long as the job market does not deteriorate, it could weather significant challenges including higher interest rates, indicating that the demand for home mortgages would stay strong. Whether you buy a new home or an existing one, a single-family home, a townhouse, a condo, or a trailer home, chances are you need a mortgage. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is the most popular type of home loans in the US. Hence, this is where we should find solutions to manage interest rate risk. Interest rate data shows that the 30-year fixed rate is not closely correlated to the Fed’s interest rate decisions. In the past 12 months, the Fed Funds rate gained 130%, while the 30-year Fixed only moved up 28%. Since last November, the Fed raised interest rates five times, but the 30-year Fixed stayed relatively unchanged. My theory is that the decline in home sales countered the effect of rising funding cost, putting the mortgage rates in sideway moves. Now that the housing market recovers, 30-year Fixed could be on the way up. The July FOMC meeting could provide a boost if the Fed raises 25 bp as the market predicts. There is no liquid financial instrument on the 30-year fixed rate mortgage. However, it is closely correlated to the 30-year Treasury yield. The mortgage rate currently is priced at 2.8% above the Treasury yield. The spread appears to be stable over time. If we are bullish on the 30-year fixed mortgage rate, we could consider the following: One, to set up a short position on CBOT Treasury Bond Futures ( $ZB ). Remember that bond price and yield are inversely related. Rising yield would cause the bond to lose value. Each Treasury Bond futures contract has a face value of $100,000. The price quotation is based on $100 par value. The minimum tick is 1/32 of one point (0.03125), or 1,000/32 = $31.25. SEP contract (ZBU3) is quoted $123 and 22/32 on Monday July 10th. Two, to set up a long position on CBOT 30-Year Micro Yield Futures ( $30Y ). On July 10th, the August contract is quoted 4.029%. Each 30Y contract has a notional value of interest rate times 1000 index points. A move by a minimum tick of 0.001 index point would result in a gain or loss of $1 per contract. What’s the difference between these two? Treasury bond futures are very liquid. It traded 387,170 contracts and had an Open Interest of 1.25 million on July 7th. Micro Yield Futures are more intuitive. If yield goes up, futures price goes up too. The contract is catered to individual investors. Its margin requirement is $290, compared to $4,200 for the bond futures. Happy Trading. Disclaimers *Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
CBOT_MINI:30Y1!Long
by JimHuangChicago
Canadian dollar on a roll ahead of US and Canada job reportsThe Canadian dollar is drifting in the European session, trading at 1.3378. It has been a good week for the Canadian currency, which is up about 1% against its US cousin. We can expect some significant movement from USD/CAD in the North American session, as both Canada and the US release the June employment reports. The US labour market has been surprisingly resilient in the wake of relentless tightening by the Fed. After 500 basis points of hikes, the labour market remains strong and has been a driver of inflation, interfering with the Fed's efforts to curb inflation. The ADP employment report usually doesn't get much attention, as it is not considered a reliable precursor to nonfarm payrolls, which follows a day or two after the ADP release. The June ADP reading was an exception, as the massive upturn couldn't be ignored. ADP showed a gain of some 497,000 new jobs, crushing the consensus estimate of 267,000 and the May reading of 228,000. The nonfarm payrolls report is expected to ease to 225,000 in June, down from 339,000 in May, but investors are nervous that nonfarm payrolls could follow the ADP release and head higher. If nonfarm payrolls defies the consensus estimate and climbs higher, the US dollar should respond with gains. The Fed, which is very much hoping that the labour market weakens, would be forced to consider more tightening than it had anticipated. The money markets are widely expecting a rate hike on July 27th but have priced in a September pause at 67%, according to the CME FedWatch tool. If nonfarm payrolls jump higher, all bets are off and I would expect the probability of a September pause to fall. Canada releases the June report later on Friday, which is usually overshadowed by US nonfarm payrolls. As in the US, the Canadian labour market has been strong - the economy added jobs for nine consecutive months until the May report. Canada is expected to add 20,000 new jobs in June, while the unemployment rate is projected to inch higher to 5.3% in June, up from 5.2% in May. USD/CAD is testing resistance at 1.3318. Next, there is resistance at 1.3386 1.3217 and 1.3149 are providing support
by OANDA
Daily Market Analysis - THURSDAY JULY 06, 2023Key News: USA - ADP Nonfarm Employment Change (Jun) USA - Initial Jobless Claims USA - Services PMI (Jun) USA - ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Jun) USA - JOLTs Job Openings (May) USA - Crude Oil Inventories During Wednesday's trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average concluded the day with a decline, driven by the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes for June. The minutes indicated a growing interest among policymakers in resuming interest rate hikes. However, in the tech sector, major players showcased mostly positive performance. Notably, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) soared to a 52-week high as anticipation mounted for its upcoming Twitter competitor. Specifically, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a decrease of 0.38%, translating to a decline of 129 points. Similarly, both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 experienced a modest 0.2% decrease during the trading session. Dow Jones Industrial Average Index daily chart The release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes from June, which occurred on Wednesday, shed light on the members' sentiment regarding future rate hikes. The minutes revealed that a significant majority of the members, described as "almost all," expressed support for the notion of resuming rate hikes. This position was motivated by concerns about persistently high inflation levels, which were deemed "unacceptably high." Furthermore, the minutes indicated a hawkish stance among some members, with a preference for raising rates rather than pausing during the June meeting. These members highlighted their worries about a tight labor market, recognizing that such conditions could potentially drive up wages and inflation even further. However, while the discussion expressed a general inclination towards resuming rate hikes, the decision to implement such actions in July will largely depend on upcoming data. Pantheon Macroeconomics suggests that the forthcoming data expected to be released this week and next will play a crucial role in shaping the Fed's decision-making process. It is worth noting that approximately 90% of traders, as indicated by the Fed Rate Monitor Tool, anticipate that the Federal Reserve will indeed resume rate hikes in July. Effective Fed Funds Rate Investor concerns regarding a potential global economic slowdown were heightened due to underwhelming services data from China. However, the impact of these concerns on the broader market was somewhat mitigated by the strong performance of prominent technology companies. Notably, Meta (previously known as Facebook) experienced a significant surge of over 3%, reaching 52-week highs. This impressive performance came ahead of the launch of Meta's rival Twitter app, Threads, scheduled for Thursday. It is noteworthy that Twitter had recently announced its decision to temporarily restrict the number of posts users can read on its platform. Meta Platforms stocks daily chart Despite Apple's 0.6% decline, the company's market capitalization remains above $3 trillion, demonstrating its significant value in the market. In contrast, Microsoft experienced a slight increase in its stock price. Wedbush, a prominent research firm, predicts that Microsoft will also join the exclusive $3 trillion club alongside Apple by early 2024. This projection is based on the belief that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will be a major driver of Microsoft's growth and valuation. Wedbush noted in a statement on Wednesday that, considering the potential of AI and through a sum-of-the-parts valuation, Microsoft's overall value should propel it to the esteemed $3 trillion club within the next few years. Microsoft stock daily chart During the US Independence Day holiday, major currencies displayed a noticeable trend of trading within narrow ranges in relation to the US dollar. Among the G10 currencies, the New Zealand dollar (NZD) emerged as the top performer. This could be attributed to the unwinding of long positions in the Australian dollar/New Zealand dollar (AUD/NZD) pair, which likely contributed to the NZD's relative strength in the market. AUD/NZD daily chart Throughout this week, European markets have faced consistent declines, with yesterday's losses being notably significant. The downward trend in the markets is expected to persist today. The market weakness witnessed yesterday was primarily fueled by concerns surrounding disappointing services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data from both China and Europe. These underwhelming data releases have heightened worries about a potential global economic slowdown. Furthermore, the increasing risks related to interest rates have contributed to weakness in sectors such as basic resources, energy, and financials, amplifying the overall market downturn. These negative sentiments have had a spill-over effect on Asian markets as well, reflecting the widespread concerns about the global economic landscape. Employed Usually Works Full time Chart US Employed Persons status Today's highly anticipated release of the ADP payrolls report is expected to show a robust figure of 225,000, slightly lower than the previous month's 278,000. Despite this slight decrease, it is important to note that the current level of job vacancies suggests that we are unlikely to see a weak jobs report in the upcoming months. Consequently, it is less probable that the labor market will serve as the catalyst for the Federal Reserve to signal a pause in its policies in the near future. US Purchasing Managers Index (ISM) The Federal Reserve has expressed concerns regarding the persistence of services inflation, highlighting its potential impact on the economy. Today's ISM services report is anticipated to reveal a modest uptick in headline activity, reaching around 51.3. However, special attention will be given to the prices paid component, which experienced a decline to 56.2 in May, marking a three-year low. This data will provide insights into the pricing pressures faced by service providers. As for Independence Day, please note that trading hours may be affected due to the holiday in the United States. The Unemployment Rate is a key economic indicator that measures the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. It provides insights into the health of the labor market and is closely monitored by economists, policymakers, and market participants.
by FOREXN1
15
GOLD XAUUSD SHORT DUE TO RISING OIL PRICEDear Ziilllaatraders, Production Costs: Oil is a key input in many industries, particularly transportation, manufacturing, and energy production. When oil prices rise, the cost of raw materials, transportation, and energy used in the production process also increases. These increased costs are often passed on to consumers through higher prices for goods and services. This is known as cost-push inflation, where the increase in production costs leads to higher prices for final products. Transportation Costs: Higher oil prices directly affect transportation costs, including fuel costs for shipping goods. As the cost of transporting goods increases, businesses may pass on these additional expenses to consumers through higher prices. This can lead to an overall increase in the prices of various goods and services in the economy. Inflation Expectations: Expectations of future price increases can play a significant role in driving inflation. When oil prices rise, it can create a perception that overall prices will continue to increase. This can lead to higher inflation expectations among consumers, businesses, and investors. In turn, these expectations can influence wage negotiations and pricing decisions, contributing to a self-perpetuating cycle of inflationary pressures. Thats why I think on 12 July inflation is going to get higher due to the measurements to calculate inflation. This will cause the FED to tighten policy and raise interest rates which will in turn again increase the value of the dollar as explained in my last post. What do you guys think? Make sure to share your opinion and idea? Greetings, Ziilllaatrades
FOREXCOM:XAUUSDShort
by ZILATRADES
GBPUSD: 4HR Death Cross, LH and LL formation downtrendMaintaining my shorts on this pair with validation coming from the 50EMA (turquoise) crossing the 100EMA (white) which forms a death cross in the 4hr time frame. GBPUSD has failed to make a new higher high and so I'm expecting a push down to the recent low, we may break this immediately, or retrace back to the descending trendline that's now formed. We're making lower highs and lower lows which indicates a down-trend. Ultimately I'm expecting this pair to fall to below 1.22 in the coming weeks. Big FOMC release tomorrow, if the notes support Powell's recent hawkish stance then this will be bad for cable, then there is NFP on Friday which is a bit unknown. Fundamentally for GBP, recent data suggests inflation may be coming down, which suggests that the BoE may become less hawkish. Powell suggested a couple more hikes, which could mean Fed interest rates remain higher for longer. I'm also expecting a push up for DXY based on it's chart patterns. I'm staying short.
Short
by Finchcliffe
14
EUR/USD eyes eurozone and German services PMIsEUR/USD is drifting downward on Tuesday. In the North American session, the euro is trading at 1.0898, down 0.15%. The US markets are closed for the July Fourth holiday, and we can expect limited movement from EUR/USD for the remainder of the day. After disappointing German and eurozone Manufacturing PMIs on Monday, it's the turn of Services PMIs on Wednesday.  Although the Service PMIs are expected to weaken, both are expected to point to expansion, with readings above the 50.0 level. The eurozone PMI is expected to dip to 52.4, down from 55.1, while the German PMI is projected to slow from 57.2 to 54.1. The euro didn't show much of a reaction to the Manufacturing PMIs, as the prolonged decline in manufacturing was not a surprise. I don't expect the Service PMIs to weigh on the euro unless the releases are below expectations. The markets will be keeping a close on the Fed minutes from the June meeting, which will be released on Wednesday. The Fed delivered a 0.25% hike at the June meeting and the markets are widely expecting a repeat in July, which would bring the cash rate to a range of 5.25%-5.50%. The markets have fallen into line with the Fed's aggressive stance, and investors are no longer expecting a rate hike or two before the end of the year. Fed Chair Powell has hinted at one more rate hike after July before the end of the year and there are growing concerns that if the Fed continues to increase rates the economy will tip into a recession. The spread between 2-year and 10-year Treasury note yields hit its widest level since 1981 on Monday, raising fears of a recession. A yield curve inversion is considered a reliable indication of a recession and the current inversion has been in place since July, stoking concern about the direction of the US economy. EUR/USD is testing support at 1.0908. This is followed by support at 1.0838 1.0980 and 1.1050 are the next resistance lines
by OANDA
SOFR: Farewell to LIBORCME: SOFR ( CME:SR31! ) On June 30th, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler posted a 3-minute short video on Twitter. In this educational piece titled RIP LIBOR, he explains what the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is, and why its passing away is actually a good thing for consumers. As CFTC Chairman in 2009-2014 and SEC Chairman since 2021, Mr. Gensler oversaw the investigation of the 2012 LIBOR scandal and its replacement by the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) in 2021 as the benchmark interest rate for US dollar. Eurodollar and LIBOR Offshore Dollar, the US currency deposited in banks outside of the United States, is commonly known as Eurodollar. Traditionally, offshore dollars were traded mainly among European banks. The name sticks to these days and applies to funds in non-European banks as well. A key advantage of trading Eurodollar is the fact that it is subject to fewer regulations by the Fed, being outside of the US jurisdiction. London is the largest trading hub for Eurodollar. The London Interbank Offered Rate came into being in the 1970s as a reference interest rate in the Eurodollar markets. By 1986, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) began publishing the US Dollar LIBOR daily. The BBA Libor was calculated based on interest rates reported by 17 member banks who together represented the bulk of Eurodollar transactions. Libor has been widely used as a reference rate for many financial instruments, including: • Forward rate agreements • Interest rate futures, e.g., CME Eurodollar futures • Interest rate swaps and swaptions • Interest rate options, Interest rate cap and floor • Floating rate notes and Floating rate certificates of deposit • Syndicated loans • Variable rate mortgages and Term loans • Range accrual notes and Step-up callable notes • Target redemption notes and Hybrid perpetual notes • Collateralized mortgage obligations and Collateralized debt obligations How important was Libor? It is a reference rate in the documentation by private trade association International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), which sets global market standard for OTC derivative transactions. In 2008, 60% of prime adjustable-rate mortgages and nearly all subprime mortgages were indexed to the USD Libor in the US. Furthermore, American cities borrowed 75% of their money through financial products that were linked to the Libor. Libor has been the indispensable global benchmark for pricing everything from credit card debt to mortgages, auto loans, corporate loans, and complex derivatives. CME Eurodollar Futures In 1981, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange launched Eurodollar futures, the first ever cash-settled futures contract. It quickly became the most liquid contract by CME. At its peak, over 1,500 traders and clerks worked at the Eurodollar pit on CME trading floor. Not to be confused with the Euro currency, Eurodollar futures contracts are derivatives on the interest rate paid on a notional or "face value" of $1,000,000 time deposit at a bank outside of the United. It uses the 3-month USD Libor rate as its settlement index. The late Fred D. Arditti, CME economist, is credited as the brain behind Eurodollar futures. Eurodollar futures are priced as a Money Market instrument. The CME IMM index is used to convert a coupon-bearing instrument such as bank deposit, into a discounted instrument that does not make regular interest payments. For instance, a futures price of 95.00 implies an interest rate of 100.00 - 95.00, or 5%. The settlement price of a Eurodollar futures contract is defined to be 100.00 minus the official BBA fixing of 3-month Libor on the day the contract is settled. The 2012 LIBOR Scandal The LIBOR Scandal was a highly publicized scheme in which bankers at major financial institutions colluded with each other to manipulate the Libor rate. As the scandal came to light in 2012, investigators found that the banks had been submitting false information about their borrowing costs to manipulate the Libor rate. This allowed the banks to profit from trades based on the artificially low or high rates. A dozen big banks were implicated in the scandal. It led to lawsuits and regulatory actions. After the rate-fixing scandal, LIBOR's validity as a credible benchmark was over. As a result, regulators decided that Libor would be phased out and replaced. If you want to learn more about the LIBOR scandal, feel free to check out the 2017 bestseller by David Enrich: “The Spider Network: The Wild Story of a Math Genius, a Gang of Backstabbing Bankers, and One of the Greatest Scams in Financial History”. What is the SOFR In 2017, the Federal Reserve assembled the Alternative Reference Rate Committee to select a Libor replacement. The committee chose the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as the new benchmark for dollar-denominated contracts. The daily SOFR is based on transactions in the Treasury repurchase market, where firms offer overnight or short-term loans to banks collateralized by their bond assets ,similar to pawn shops. Unlike LIBOR, there’s extensive trading in the Treasury repo market, estimated at $4.8 trillion in June 2023. This theoretically makes it a more accurate indicator of borrowing costs. Moreover, SOFR is based on data from observable transactions rather than on estimated borrowing rates, as was the case with LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing the SOFR in April 2018. By 2021, SOFR has replaced most of the LIBOR-linked contracts. The LIBOR committee officially folded up on June 30, 2023. Chairman Gensler apparently chose this day to post his RIP LIBOR video to mark the end of an era. The difference between Fed Funds Rate and SOFR Fed Funds Rate is set by the Fed’s FOMC meeting, and SOFR is published by the NY Fed. However, they are very different. • Fed Funds Rate is considered a risk-free interest rate, and only member banks have access to this ultra-low rate through the Fed’s discount window. • SOFR is a commercial interest rate where banks charge each other. The NY Fed publishes the rate based on transactions in the US Treasury repurchase market. SOFR is similar to LIBOR because they are both commercial interest rate benchmarks. On the other hand, Fed Funds Rate is a policy rate set by the US central bank. CME SOFR Futures and Options CME Group launched the 3-month SOFR futures and options contracts in May 2018. The contracts were based on the SOFR Index, published daily by the New York Fed. SOFR futures contracts are notional at $2,500 x contract-grade International Monetary Market (IMM) Index, where the IMM Index = 100 minus SOFR. At a 5.215 IMM, for example, each contract has a notional value of $13,037.50. CME requires a $550 margin per contract. An interest rate move by a minimum tick of 0.25 basis point would result in a gain or loss of $6.25. At the beginning, SOFR contracts traded side-by-side with the Eurodollar contracts. By 2021, Eurodollar liquidity has transitioned to SOFR contracts. By April 2023, All Eurodollar contracts were delisted, and the transition was completed. For all intended purposes, you could think of the SOFR futures as the same as the legacy Eurodollar contracts, with the only notable exception being the settlement index switched from LIBOR to SOFR. On June 30th, the daily trading volume and Open Interest of SOFR contracts were 4,443,245 and 9,310,433 contracts, respectively. On the same date, CME Group total volume and OI were 23,769,103 and 104,221,083, respectively. On the latest trade day, SOFR accounts for 18.7% of CME Group’s trade volume and 8.9% of its total open interest. Indeed, SOFR has successfully replaced Eurodollar as new No. 1 contract at CME and is arguably the most liquid derivatives contract in the world. Where We Are at the SOFR Market On June 30th, the JUN SOFR contract (SR3M3) expired and settled at 94.785. This translates to the JUN SOFR rate of 5.215 (100-94.785). SEP 2023 (SR3U3) is now the new lead contract. It settled at 94.595 and implied a forward SOFR rate at 5.405 (100-94.595). This shows that the futures market expects a rate increase in the next Fed meeting. Like Eurodollar futures, rising futures price will confer to declining SOFR rate, as rate is equal to 100 minus futures price. Similarly, a decline in futures price equates to a rising SOFR rate. Happy Trading. Disclaimers *Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
CME:SR31!Education
by JimHuangChicago
9
Gold Hits Lowest Level In Three Months, Threatens $1,900 SupportGold prices dropped for a second day in a row on Wednesday as recent (but not new) hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell boosted the US dollar weighing on the yellow metal. At the time of writing, spot gold price, XAU/USD, is trading at $1,912 an ounce, just below its opening price, after hitting a three-and-a-half-month low of $1,902 earlier on the day. Speaking at the European Central Bank (ECB) Forum on Central Banking, Fed's Powell noted that while the United States is vulnerable to a recession, the chances are slim. Regarding interest rates, Powell said that he would not rule out back-to-back rate hikes. "Although policy is restrictive it may not be restrictive enough and it has not been restrictive for long enough," he added. Hawkish comments from Powell reignited USD strength, pressuring the yellow metal that struck its lowest level since mid-March before trimming losses. From a technical perspective, the XAU/USD pair holds a mildly bearish short-term bias, although it has managed to keep above the critical $1,900 area. While the RSI and the MACD indicators are in negative territory, the 20- and 100-day simple moving averages (SMAs) are completing a bearish cross. The metal would need to recover above $1,943 (SMAs crossover level) to ease the immediate pressure and target a steeper bounce to the $1,970 area. On the other hand, the loss of the $1,900 mark would add further pressure on the price, with the following significant support seen at the 200-day SMA at the $1,855 zone.
OANDA:XAUUSD
by Alex_Boltyan_FXAnalyst
1
Price Waiting for News Releases | Tech/Fundamental Analysis Traders, today we have those news releases for Wed, 28 Jun 2023.. Buyside liquidity then sellside liquidity.. Use these news as your trigger and most importantly, confirm your entry.. This view is linked to my previous view, please review it.. Price may reprice higher than H2 FVG and into my "sell area" marked in my previous idea.. Those are areas of "possible" reversal points, and entry should be confirmed in the proper time.. I'll keep you updated ✅
Short
by MST_Trader
WTI: Crude Oil May Have Bottomed OutNYMEX: WTI Crude Oil ( NYMEX:CL1! ), Micro Crude Oil ( NYMEX:MCL1! ) The talk of inflation deceleration created a wishful misperception. Does a CPI read from 9.1% to 4.0% mean price relief for consumer? Certainly not. Something costed $1 last year will go up to $1.04 this year on average. What really comes down is the rate and the pace of price increase, but the absolute price level has forever gone up. This makes the real decline in energy prices more extraordinary: • On June 23rd, WTI crude oil ( NYSE:CL ) August futures settled at $69.16 a barrel. This is 44% below last June’s high of $123.70; • At $2.44 a gallon, RBOB gasoline futures ( SIX:RB ) declined 34% year-over-year; • At $2.37 a gallon, ULSD diesel futures ( EURONEXT:HO ) price dropped 45% YoY. • At the retail level, the American Automobile Association reports the national average regular gasoline price at $3.57 a gallon on June 25th, down 27% YoY; • The AAA diesel price is now $3.89/gallon, falling 33% YoY. However, the era of low energy prices may be coming to an end. I am convinced that the market dynamic has changed. Elevated geopolitical tension, higher demand and a weak dollar could help pull crude oil out of the bottom, and onto an upward trajectory. Global Tension Forms Solid Price Support A week after the start of Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Crude oil futures shot up 30% from below $90 to $115. WTI peaked at $121 in June as the fighting continued. Since then, high inflation and rate hikes raised the risk of global recession. As the demand outlook dimmed, oil price lost support and trended down in the past year. Geopolitical tension may have been placed on the back burner, but it never went away. Last Saturday, the Russian private army Wagner Group mounted a short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin. What this means to the Ukraine conflict and the stability of Russia itself remain to be seen. Geopolitical crisis could cause supply shock and raise the price of crude oil. My observation is that global tension will be at an elevated level throughout 2023 and 2024. Oil Demand is Expected to Recover Last July, I called the peak of gas price in this report. I discovered that record $5 gas had caused demand to fumble. AAA gas price surprisingly declined at the start of the traditional summer driving season. Things look different now. Retail gas price creeped up 50 cents (+13%) since December. Many stations popped up gas price ahead of the July 4th holiday. With a still strong job market and inflation in check, consumers are taking their summer vacations. A second key demand factor comes from the US government. The Biden Administration has drawn down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to fight high oil price in the last two years. The Energy Information Agency data shows that the SPR holds 350 million barrels of crude oil as of June 16th. This is 285 million barrels less than the level on January 24th, 2020, the week when President Biden first took office. SPR is now at a critical four-decade low level. The Department of Energy has begun replenishing the SPR. It announced buying up to 3 million barrels in May, and recently planned additional purchase of 6 million in August. Thirdly, the risk of global economic recession is now lower than what we previously feared. This is my most important reason for raising the outlook of future oil demand. • The Federal Reserve implemented ten consecutive interest rate increases since March 2022. US inflation rate has declined from the peak of 9.1% to 4.0% in May. Lowering inflation may have averted the US economy from falling on a hard landing. • The banking failures, from Silicon Valley Bank to Signature Bank, First Republic, and Credit Suisse, have met with swift government rescue efforts. We have so far managed to contain these from spreading to systemic risk. • The resolution of US debt ceiling crisis helped avoid a US default and a likely global financial crisis it may trigger. According to the USDebtClock.org, the US national debt is now $32.1 trillion, which is $700 billion more than the previous debt limit. • The Biden-McCarthy deal in federal spending limits ensures that government budget will not be cut. The federal government accounts for one quarter of the US economy. As bad as it may sound, government spending spree with borrowed money does contribute to near-term economic growth. We just kick the can forward and leave the debt burden to future generations. A Weak Dollar Supports Higher Oil Price Last year, the main investment theme of global commodities market was “Strong Dollar, Weak Commodities” and “High Rate, Low Price”. We are now in a reverse course. The US dollar index peaked at 114 in last September. While the Fed raised rates aggressively, other countries were slow in response, resulting in widening interest rate spreads between the US dollar and major foreign currencies. Since then, the Fed reduced the size of rate hikes from 75 bp to 50 and then 25, while UK and ECB caught up with bigger rate increases. The dollar index has fallen to 100 by April. The Fed paused rate increase in its June meeting. Although it emphasizes in fighting inflation, there is no question that the monetary tightening cycle is now in its last stretch. NYMEX WTI Crude Oil Futures With the key factors discussed above, plus the OPEC having incentive to cut output, I could see WTI going back to the $80-$90 range. December WTI (CLZ3) currently quotes $69.1 a barrel. Each contract has a notional value of 1,000 barrels. Margin requirement is $5,000 to place one contract. Hypothetically, if Dec futures goes up to $80, one long contract would gain $10,900 (=10.9*1000). Theoretical return would be +118% (=10,900/5,000-1), excluding transaction fees. The risk of long WTI is falling oil price. If CLZ3 falls to $65, a long position would lose $4,100. This would result in a Margin Call, with the Exchange requiring the trader to deposit fund and bring the account balance back to $5,000. Alternatively, we could consider the Micro Crude Oil Futures ( CSE:MCL ). Contract size is one tenth of the standard CL contract. And so is the margin requirement. Everything else works the same. Happy Trading. Disclaimers *Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
NYMEX:CL1!Long
by JimHuangChicago
22
DXY: Will the rising dynamic trendline hold?Tough times for the USD; the market didn't buy Powell's hawkish attempt, ECB went as expected and Dixie has plummeted today. I do think the USD crosses will get a breather retracement tomorrow, so we could see a bounce off the rising trendline on HTF's. If we break the wedge to the upside then this could lead to a higher low and could signal a reversal with a higher high. If the trendline is broken, and we then go on to make a new low then I think the USD will continue to struggle, what with the ECB and BOE continuing to hike, and showing some good data. Watching and waiting...
TVC:DXY
by Finchcliffe
EUR/USD Pulls Back From Six-Week Highs As Powell TestifiesThe EUR/USD pair retreated on Thursday after hitting six-week highs during the European session amid a broad-based dollar pullback. However, the US currency bounced at the beginning of the New York session after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's second-day testimony before the US Congress. At the time of writing, the EUR/USD pair is trading at the 1.0965 zone, 0.2% below its opening price, having struck its highest level since May 8 at 1.1013. During his testimony before the Banking, House and Urban Affairs Committee in the US Senate, Powell reiterated that the central bank still has a long way to go and reassured that monetary policy is not becoming less effective in combating inflation. He also backed what the dot plot showed last week, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) broadly feels "it will be appropriate to raise rates again this year and perhaps two more times." His hawkish remarks boosted US yields and helped the greenback to make a U-turn and reverse daily losses. From a technical perspective, the EUR/USD pair holds a short-term positive bias according to indicators on the daily chart, while the 20- and 100-day simple moving averages (SMAs) are close to completing a bullish cross. On the upside, the 1.1000-10 zone stands as the immediate resistance level, followed by 1.1070 and the 1.1100 level. On the downside, the 1.0900 area stands as immediate support, followed by the critical short-term level given by the convergence of the 20- and 100-day SMA at the 1.0810 zone.
by Alex_Boltyan_FXAnalyst
GBPUSD: My 4 scenarios for this weekThese are just my ideas, what I’m expecting, and why, with this week’s the big fundamentals. Overview Big market-moving news this week with Wednesday’s UK CPI, Thursday’s BoE Interest Rate Decision and Forecast, there is also FED Powell’s testimony in between the UK events on Wednesday. Several things could play out with the UK news, which is what my scenarios are based on. I’m expecting Powell to be hawkish because even though it’s clear that the US is on top of inflation, they are still double their target and thanks to their economic performance they have room to keep tightening and can still avoid recession, imho. The BoE on the other hand have a massive predicament. Inflation is out of control, far worse than the other G7 economies. Interest rate rises are squeezing the economy, UK mortgage rates are now hitting 6%. In my opinion another 1.25% interest rates will cause recession. The BoE moved too slow and are behind inflation, they have to keep hiking to do anything about it, but there will be a tipping point where the market sees this as a negative for the GBP. UK Inflation / Interest Rates BoE have consistently under-estimated inflation through this period. This time their forecast is higher than the previous month forecast (8.5% compared to 8.3% previous, inflation fell to 8.7% last time so I think they’ve been more realistic with their prediction this time). If inflation is coming down (I think it is), then we could see a better than forecast reduction (red), which could be bad for GBPUSD. If it comes in lower (red) then it’s ‘more’ likely there’ll be a 0.25% rate hike, this is priced in, and I think this will cause GU to fall. If BoE are brave enough to go with the 0.5% outside prediction, then this could cause GU to rise. If Wednesday’s CPI number shows inflation is above predication (green) (and likely to be rising as it was 8,.7% last time and the predication this time is 8.5%), then this further demonstrates that the BoE have been way off the mark in controlling it compared to the rest of the G7, which is not good. I do think short term this will be positive for GU, but only for banks making money, it’s terrible for the UK economy and the BoE. If it is green and BoE only raise rates by 0.25% then I think this may send GU down as it’s a further demonstration of their ineptitude. If they do go with the 0.5% hike in this scenario, then this could send sterling higher in the short term. Either way and in each scenario, I think GU will struggle to get beyond 1.29 in this visit based on long term dynamic trendline, overall down-trend, a bubble of a credit based economy, better performing US economy and the US being the global currency (and expecting China performance below expectations), etc etc, and breathe…. Also, in technical news, I’m also seeing some divergence on the RSI, and GU is overbought. My Scenarios Here’s my scenarios on the chart, end of today I’m expecting to be around the 1.27 level on the chart based on retracement from Friday’s high and DXY having some room to move up to resistance (around 1.03), but let’s see what happens today and I'll review this again this evening. 1. Red CPI / 0.25% Hike This is an inflation figure that comes in below the 8.5% prediction and the BoE raising rates by 0.25%. This is what I think will happen and it will mean reversal. 2. Red CPI / 0.5% Hike This is an inflation figure that comes in below the 8.5% prediction and the BoE raising rates by 0.5%. This is what should happen if the BoE are brave enough, but I think it will worry markets about recession. 3. Green CPI / 0.25% Hike This is an inflation figure that comes in above the 8.5% prediction and the BoE raising rates by 0.25%. This is a terrible situation, inflation going up and the BoE still not having the balls to make up for lost time and tackle it head on. 4. Green CPI / 0.5% Hike This is an inflation figure that comes in above the 8.5% prediction and the BoE raising rates by 0.5%. In this scenario this is what I believe the BoE should do, it will likely cause GU to go up, but as I’ve said I personally think topside is limited by the prevailing downtrend. In this scenario there will be growing fears of a recession, change of government will be pretty much a given, so overall I still think this will be bad for GU in the medium term. These are just my thoughts as we go into the next few days. Interested to hear your comments so I can keep learning and adjusting my thinking!
by Finchcliffe
29
gold to make a reverse movement above 1951#XAUUSD the price have created a two double pattern which will now make a reverse to hold first on 1943 limit because its has drop below 1920-1918 yesterday which is a bearish confirmation price decline, but now the price is trying to make an hold above two sideways which first target will be 1936 for a short bullish confirmation then a possible 1943 limit will hit. if possible gold makes a retest back to 1921 in H2 then we can see a drop below 1913 limit but our possible today high target is 1951 depending on the confirmation we have
FOREXCOM:XAUUSDLong
by newbeginneracademy
2
The Gold Standard and the Global Monetary SystemI. Introduction The history of international monetary systems has been a story of constant evolution. Of the many systems that have been used over the centuries, the Gold Standard stands out for its longevity and its critical role in shaping the world's economic landscape. This essay will first discuss the Gold Standard, then delve into President Richard Nixon's monumental decision to sever the tie between the U.S. dollar and gold, known as the 'Nixon Shock.' This discussion will segue into the subsequent transformation of the global monetary system, culminating in an analysis of our present-day monetary era. II. The Gold Standard Era The Gold Standard, which flourished between the late 19th century and the early 20th century, was a monetary system where the value of a country's currency was directly linked to gold. Each country promised to convert its currency into a fixed amount of gold upon demand. This system provided a stability that fostered international trade and investment, as it offered predictability of exchange rates and a constraint on inflation. However, it also meant that national monetary policies were subordinated to the need to maintain gold parity, thereby constraining a government's ability to respond to domestic economic conditions. III. Nixon's Depreciation and the End of the Gold Standard In 1971, amidst growing economic pressures, President Richard Nixon declared that the United States would no longer exchange gold for U.S. dollars held in foreign reserves, effectively ending the Gold Standard. This move was initially designed as a temporary measure to protect U.S. gold reserves, which were dwindling due to persistent trade deficits. However, the 'Nixon Shock' proved to be a permanent shift in international monetary policy. Nixon's move unshackled the U.S. dollar (and other global currencies) from the constraints of gold, allowing for more flexible monetary policies. This change allowed governments to respond more efficiently to economic downturns by manipulating the money supply. Yet, it also introduced a new era of exchange rate volatility and inflation risk, challenges that economies continue to grapple with today. IV. The Transformation of the Global Monetary System The end of the Gold Standard marked the transition to the era of fiat money—currency that is backed by the full faith and trust in the government that issues it, rather than a physical commodity like gold. Fiat money systems have provided governments with greater flexibility to manage economic conditions through monetary policy, as they can adjust the money supply to influence interest rates, manage inflation, stimulate growth, or address economic crises. However, the reliance on faith and trust in the government has also led to episodes of hyperinflation and economic crises in countries where that faith was misplaced or abused. V. The Present-day Monetary Era In the current monetary era, central banks, like the Federal Reserve in the U.S., use open market operations and other monetary policy tools to control the money supply and influence economic conditions. Decoupling from gold has also facilitated the rise of digital currencies and novel monetary ideas like cryptocurrency, reshaping our understanding of money and value. However, this freedom has its downsides; the absence of a physical constraint like gold can lead to fears about runaway inflation, especially in times of significant increases in the money supply, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. VI. Conclusion The Gold Standard, Nixon's Shock, and the transformation of the global monetary system offer key insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different monetary systems. While the Gold Standard provided a stability that fostered international trade, it limited the ability of governments to respond to domestic economic conditions. The Nixon Shock and the transition to a fiat money system have provided greater flexibility, but also introduced new challenges in terms of inflation risk and exchange rate volatility. As we navigate our present-day monetary era, it is essential to remember the lessons of the past while staying open to new innovations and ideas in our ongoing quest to develop a monetary system that best serves the needs of society.
FX_IDC:XAUUSDEducation
by financialflagship