Headlines:

Markets:

  • GBP leads, NZD lags on the day
  • European equities lower; S&P 500 futures down 0.4%
  • US 10-year yields up 6.2 bps to 3.549%
  • Gold down 0.4% to $1,668.43
  • WTI crude up 0.1% to $85.80
  • Bitcoin down 1.7% to $19,200

The push and pull ahead of the Fed continues as we see the dollar keep a firmer hand on the day while equities saw a decent start vanquished and bond yields continued to push higher in the run up to the central bank bonanza this week.

In terms of data, German producer prices saw a record monthly and yearly increase in August as surging cost pressures continue to build in Europe's largest economy. That won't provide much comfort with July's current account coming in at a major deficit - the widest since the global financial crisis more than a decade ago.

But trading sentiment continues to revolve around the countdown to the FOMC meeting tomorrow with the greenback firming slightly as EUR/USD nudged lower from 1.0030 to 0.9995, though keeping close to parity with a host of large option expiries at the figure level in the coming days.

USD/JPY maintained a slight advance around 143.50-70 levels as bond yields continue to push higher across the board. Meanwhile, the pound is somewhat steady, trading little changed around 1.1430 on the day.

As equities retreated after a bright start, commodity currencies are also dragged lower with USD/CAD inching up towards 1.3300 and AUD/USD running into support near 0.6700 once again. The kiwi is bearing the brunt of the declines with NZD/USD sliding by nearly 1% on the day now close to 0.5900.

Putting it all together, it looks like markets are still unable to find a clear path as we await the Fed decision tomorrow to really provide traders and investors with much more conviction for the second-half of the week.