Gold Prices Slide as Rate Cut Prospects Diminish; Copper Gains on China Stimulus Hopes 
Federal Reserve Faces Subpoena Delay Amid Investigation Into Chair Jerome Powell 
China’s Growth Faces Structural Challenges Amid Doubts Over Data 
Lithium Market Poised for Recovery Amid Supply Cuts and Rising Demand 
Goldman Predicts 50% Odds of 10% U.S. Tariff on Copper by Q1 Close 
U.S. Banks Report Strong Q4 Profits Amid Investment Banking Surge 
US Futures Rise as Investors Eye Earnings, Inflation Data, and Wildfire Impacts 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
BOJ Rate Decision in Focus as Yen Weakness and Inflation Shape Market Outlook 
Geopolitical Shocks That Could Reshape Financial Markets in 2025 
China's Refining Industry Faces Major Shakeup Amid Challenges 
Indonesia Surprises Markets with Interest Rate Cut Amid Currency Pressure 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
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).
