Risks of further easing from Riksbank in the short-term remain high: Barclays

Mar 18, 2015 17:24 pm UTC| Commentary

The Riksbank decided to ease policy further intra-meeting, by cutting its repo rate to -0.25% and announcing an increase in its sovereign bond purchase programme (SEK30bn with maturities up to 25 years).Barclays quotes in...

Closing of Greece’s output gap unlikely to solve its debt problems

Mar 18, 2015 17:13 pm UTC| Commentary

One potential source of comfort for Greece is the fact that, after contracting by over 25% in the last five years, Greeces economy has a very large degree of spare capacity. OECD estimates the Greek "output gap" at around...

Recent strength of the krona key prompt behind Riksbank repo cut

Mar 18, 2015 16:59 pm UTC| Commentary

The Swedish Riksbank has followed up its recent hints of more policy action by cutting its repo rate from the -0.1% rate it was reduced to only last month to -0.25%. It also expanded its government bond purchase programme...

USD review: Western Union

Mar 18, 2015 16:51 pm UTC| Commentary

The dollar was largely steady ahead of a day that could prove explosive and highly volatile for currency markets. Its Decision Day for the Fed and what the bank suggests about the outlook and timing of a U.S. interest rate...

CAD review: Western Union

Mar 18, 2015 16:50 pm UTC| Commentary

The loonie seesawed around the key C$1.28 level, the weakest terrain in six years. A focus on the Fed has helped the Canadian currency hold up reasonably well despite renewed weakness in oil markets which is ordinarily a...

JPY review: Western Union

Mar 18, 2015 16:50 pm UTC| Commentary

The downward drift in U.S. Treasury yields helped the low-yielding yen hold above recent eight-year lows against the greenback. The yen also found marginal support in news that Japan logged a markedly smaller trade...

EUR review: Western Union

Mar 18, 2015 16:49 pm UTC| Commentary

The euro steadied against the greenback and exploded higher against the broadly weaker U.K. currency. A market inclination to cut back on long dollar, short euro positions ahead of the Fed helped the single currency keep...