BOJ Holds Interest Rates at 0.75% as Policymakers Signal Growing Inflation Concerns 
Bank of Korea Signals Potential Interest Rate Hikes as Inflation Remains Elevated 
China's Refining Industry Faces Major Shakeup Amid Challenges 
Urban studies: Doing research when every city is different 
Eurozone Recession Risks Rise as Middle East Conflict Threatens Growth, ECB Official Warns 
ECB Rate Outlook: Ceasefire Eases Pressure but Hikes Still Expected in 2026 
UBS Predicts Potential Fed Rate Cut Amid Strong US Economic Data 
Stock Futures Dip as Investors Await Key Payrolls Data 
Bank of Japan's Ueda Flags Low Real Interest Rates as Key Factor in Rate Hike Timing 
Goldman Predicts 50% Odds of 10% U.S. Tariff on Copper by Q1 Close 
Geopolitical Shocks That Could Reshape Financial Markets in 2025 
Moody's Upgrades Argentina's Credit Rating Amid Economic Reforms 
OTC Updates:
Please be informed that the implied volatilities of EURCHF ATM contracts of all expiries have been the least among G10 currency segment.
While, the 25-delta risk of reversal of EURCHF has also not been indicating any dramatic shoot up nor any slumps, but seems to be one of the pairs to be hedged for downside risks as it indicates puts have been relatively costlier.
What drives bullish CHF:
The SNB continues to taper but at a faster pace.
The excess net private sector demand for CHF stands at 10% of GDP, which would likely cause the franc to appreciate by 5-10%in the absence of countervailing FX intervention.
The US Treasury cites Switzerland as a currency manipulator.
French elections - President Le Pen, CHF forecasts are predicted on Le Pen losing the French election and would need to be upgraded by at least 5% should she triumph (we attach a 15% probability to this scenario).
Data Events:
In Switzerland, the GDP has disappointed the streets, Switzerland's economy expanded 0.1 pct in the December quarter of 2016, the same pace as an upwardly revised figure in the third quarter and missing markets estimates of a 0.5 pct growth. The GDP growth rate remained at its lowest figure since the June quarter 2015. Year-on-year, the economy grew by 0.6 pct, slowing sharply from an upwardly revised 1.4 pct expansion in the September quarter and below consensus of a 1.3 pct growth. It was the weakest expansion since the fourth quarter 2015.
While retail sales data has managed to print the better than expected number, Retail sales in Switzerland shrank 1.4 pct year-on-year in January of 2017, following an upwardly revised 4.1 pct fall in the previous month and compared to market expectations of a 2 pct decline.
The US unemployment claims at around 13:30 GMT.
We advocate below both spot as well as option trades ahead of above data events:
Trade Recommendation:
Stay short a 3m strangle in EURCHF (sell a 1.0850 call and a 1.03 put).
Alternatively, stay short EURCHF in cash (first entered 1.0720 in December).
