Weekend:

USD/JPY was a mover once again, from early lows around 142.00 to as high as around 143.00 before retracing a touch. News and data flow was quiet. Yen doesn’t need much of either to carry on its volatility as speculation continues to swirl of Fed rate cuts and BoJ rate hikes and liquidity providers remain nervous. We did get comments from Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Hayashi and also data revising Q2 GDP growth a touch slower.

Oil prices rose, bouncing a little from the reopening of futures trade for the week. Narratives pointed to a potential developing hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Given the downtrend in oil I wouldn’t be surprised if this is shrugged off soon (assuming its actually been shrugged on).

From China today we had disappointing CPI data and cratering PPI data. The CPI missed estimates by a touch but did record a seventh consecutive month of rising. PPI, factory-gate prices, meanwhile, fell for a 23rd straight month of contraction, at a much faster than expected pace. USD/CNH rose on the session. At the margin the weaker inflation figures is a negative for the yuan.

wti crude oil 09 September 2024 wrap 2