Trading news

OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong note that USD/CNH has traded higher as Iran-related geopolitical tensions support the Dollar. Beijing has been setting a stronger CNY fix, which has helped stabilise the Renminbi and partially offset broader Asian FX softness.

United Kingdom CFTC GBP NC Net Positions fell from previous £-57.1K to £-72.7K

United States CFTC S&P 500 NC Net Positions up to $-168.2K from previous $-193.5K

UOB Global Economics & Markets Research, through Associate Economist Jester Koh, judges that Singapore’s GDP exposure to the Middle East conflict is modest under a short-lived shock scenario.

Japan CFTC JPY NC Net Positions declined to ¥-16.6K from previous ¥11.5K

United States CFTC Gold NC Net Positions increased to $160.1K from previous $159.2K

United States CFTC Oil NC Net Positions: 172.2K vs previous 172.7K

Eurozone CFTC EUR NC Net Positions down to €136.5K from previous €156.9K

Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions rose from previous $52.6K to $67.8K

Australia CFTC AUD NC Net Positions up to $678K from previous $52.6K

United States Consumer Credit Change below expectations ($12B) in January: Actual ($8.05B)

BNY’s Head of Markets Macro Strategy Bob Savage notes a sharp divergence between CNY forwards and spot, suggesting hedge unwinding alongside asset outflows. CNY has outperformed peers, yet the bank questions its safe haven role as spot flows show large outflows tied to expatriation.

The USD/CHF retreats during the North American session, down 0.53% as the Greenback weakens following a dismal jobs report, and a break to four day low beneath the 0.7800 figure. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 0.7771, yet it remains to end the week with gains of more than 1%.

Beth Hammack, President of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Cleveland, said that inflation is too high, adding that inflationary pressures are broad-based at the the United States (US) Monetary Policy Forum in New York City on Friday.

OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong report that USD/MYR is consolidating near recent highs after an early-week run-up, supported by broader USD strength and soggy risk sentiment. Geopolitical headlines around Iran and energy markets are seen as key drivers.

Argentina Industrial Output n.s.a (YoY) up to -3.2% in January from previous -3.9%

The Middle East crisis has escalated into an all-out war after the US and Israel assassinated the Supreme Leader of Iran on February 28. Iran not only targeted Israel but also attacked United States (US) military bases around the Persian Gulf.

Silver (XAG/USD) trades modestly higher on Friday as the US Dollar and Treasury yields ease following softer-than-expected US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data. Despite the intraday bounce, the white metal remains on track for its first weekly decline in three weeks.

Susan Collins, President of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Boston, said that to cut interest rates again, the Fed needs to see clear evidence of inflation ebbing, adding that she sees no need to change the monetary policy stance urgently at a gathering in Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday.

WTI crude oil surged about 11% on Thursday, breaching above $87.00, its highest level since October 2023, in a session dominated by a single massive bullish candle that dwarfed every session of the past three months.