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Dear Client,

Please find our updated Trading schedule and general information related to the UK Summer Bank Holiday on Monday, 26 August, 2024.

Liquidity over the holidays is expected to be particularly thin so please take the necessary precaution to ensure that you are not affected by increased volatility, spreads and intermittent pricing.

All times mentioned below are Platform time (GMT +3).

Kind regards,

IC Markets Global.

The post UK Summer Bank Holiday Schedule – 2024 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

Dear Client,

Please find our updated Trading schedule and general information related to the Assumption Day on Thursday, 15 August, 2024.

Liquidity over the holidays is expected to be particularly thin so please take the necessary precaution to ensure that you are not affected by increased volatility, spreads and intermittent pricing.

All times mentioned below are Platform time (GMT +3).

Kind regards,

IC Markets Global.

The post Assumption Day Trading Schedule 2024 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

Dear Client,

Please find our updated Trading schedule and general information related to the South Africa National Women’s Day on Friday, 9 August, 2024.

Liquidity over the holidays is expected to be particularly thin so please take the necessary precaution to ensure that you are not affected by increased volatility, spreads and intermittent pricing.

All times mentioned below are Platform time (GMT +3).

Kind regards,

IC Markets Global.

The post South Africa National Women’s Day Holiday Trading Schedule 2024 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

Dear Client,

Please find our updated Trading schedule and general information related to the Canadian Civic Holiday on Monday, 5 August, 2024.

Liquidity over the holidays is expected to be particularly thin so please take the necessary precaution to ensure that you are not affected by increased volatility, spreads and intermittent pricing.

All times mentioned below are Platform time (GMT +3).

Kind regards,

IC Markets Global.

The post Canadian Civic Holiday Trading Schedule 2024 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

Dear Client,

Please find our updated Trading schedule and general information related to the Swiss National Day on Thursday, 1 August, 2024.

Liquidity over the holidays is expected to be particularly thin so please take the necessary precaution to ensure that you are not affected by increased volatility, spreads and intermittent pricing.

All times mentioned below are Platform time (GMT +3).

Kind regards,

IC Markets Global.

The post Swiss National Day Holiday Trading Schedule 2024 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

Australian building approvals for June 2024 come in at -6.5% m/m

• expected -1.5%, prior +5.7%

For the y/y, comes in at -3.7%

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

Quiet Markets Ahead of Data Surge – Dow Off 0.1%

As expected, most global markets experienced a relatively calm trading day yesterday as traders looked ahead to a busy financial event schedule later in the week. The major US indices closed close to flat, with the Dow losing 0.12%, while the S&P and Nasdaq added just 0.08% and 0.07%, respectively. US Treasury yields edged lower in anticipation that the Federal Reserve will signal a rate cut in September later this week. The 2-year yield closed marginally lower at 3.38%, and the 10-year yield dropped 3.3 basis points to 4.167%. Oil saw one of the larger moves, falling as hopes increased for a ceasefire in the Middle East. Brent was down 1.7% to $79.78, and WTI lost 1.8%, dropping to $75.81. Gold also pulled back from resistance levels, losing 0.3% to trade at $2,378 by the New York close.

US Jobs Data in Focus This Week

In a packed event schedule this week, investors will closely monitor the US jobs market, with four separate updates culminating in the key non-farm payroll data on Friday. The Federal Reserve has made it clear that a declining jobs environment is part of the inflation equation, and another round of weaker data would further solidify the anticipated rate cut for September. The updates begin tonight with the JOLTS Job Openings data, with market expectations set at 8.02 million jobs. A lower print here would set the ball rolling; however, if we see stronger numbers and a tighter job market, sharp market corrections could occur over the next few days. The ADP non-farm employment report, Employment Cost Index, and weekly unemployment claims numbers are also due out this week and will all impact the market ahead of Friday’s key updates.

Event Calendar Picks Up for Traders Today

The macroeconomic event calendar starts to pick up today, and investors are expecting market volatility to follow. There is little in the way of tier-1 data scheduled for release in the Asian time zone, but activity should increase once Europe opens with key local inflation numbers due out. The key German CPI data set is due, with individual German states set to release their numbers throughout the morning. Spanish Flash CPI numbers are also set to hit the market early in the day. The New York session sees the first of many tier-1 data releases in the US this week, with the CB Consumer Confidence data and the JOLTS Job Openings numbers. Traders will look for weakening data to confirm a dovish outlook from the Federal Reserve later in the week.

The post General Market Analysis 30/07/2024 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence Index

ANZ comment on the result:

• The fact that consumer confidence held onto most of last week’s sizeable 5.9pt gain suggests households may be seeing the benefits of the Stage 3 tax cut

Yes, tax cuts

and an expected further boost yet to come from various ‘cost of living’ support measures are supporting consumer sentiment.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

Japan data for June 2024

Unemployment rate 2.5%

• expected 2.6%, prior 2.6%

Job-To-Applicant Ratio 1.23

• vs. expected 1.24, prior 1.24

Plenty of jobs. Need higher wages though.

That’s what the BoJ want to see, higher wages to fuel higher spending and to keep inflation stably and sustainably around 2%.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

The news from Maccas was … good news for shareholders!

Anyway, this isn’t a hindsight post.

The news on Monday:

• Global comp sales were down 1% in Q2 compared to +0.5% expected by analysts. US sales fell 0.7% in Q2.

Why could this be good news? Well, its all about ‘inferior goods’.

No judgement! … Inferior goods are not necessarily of lower quality; the term simply refers to the negative relationship between income and demand.

An inferior good is a type of good for which demand decreases as consumer income rises, and conversely, demand increases as consumer income falls. This behaviour is contrary to that of normal goods, where demand typically increases with rising incomes.

The classic examples of inferior goods include:

1. Instant noodles: As people’s incomes increase, they tend to buy fewer instant noodles and instead purchase more expensive or healthier food options.
2. Public transportation: As income increases, individuals may prefer to buy cars instead of relying on public transport.
3. Generic or off-brand products: Consumers might switch to brand-name products as their disposable income increases.

And … 4 … Maccas?

—

OK, you got me. This is a bit of a tongue in cheek post. Still, food (sry, not sry) for thought.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

Temasek is a global investment company headquartered in Singapore.

Newswires splashing the headlines on the firm’s investment intentions:

• Singapore’s state-owned Temasek plans to invest $30 billion in the US over the next five years
• The firm remains cautious on putting money into China

This caution on China is increasing as China appears to be incrementally closing in on itself, not opening up. This from earlier:

• China further obscuring information about overseas funds going in & out of its stock mrkt

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.

This comes via a Bloomberg report (gated):

• Beijing says it will stop publishing daily flows data.
• The decision follows a move in May to end data on intraday flows through trading links with Hong Kong.
• Investors will lose the ability to calculate net flows at the end of each trading day from August 18.
• The only daily data published by the exchanges from that date onward will be the total turnover and the number of trades made in stocks and exchange-traded funds via the Hong Kong links, as well as the turnover of the 10 most active securities.

This is not inspiring confidence in Chinese stock markets.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.