Blogs

Latest data released by Markit/BME – 23 April 2020 – Prior 45.4 – Services PMI 15.9 vs 28.0 expected – Prior 31.7 – Composite PMI 17.1 vs 28.5 expected – Prior 35.0 See here for global coronavirus case data

Comments by German chancellor, Angela Merkel – We are not in the end phase of the pandemic – The question of the coronavirus will be with us for a long time in politics See here for global coronavirus case data

Latest data released by Markit – 23 April 2020 – Prior 27.4 – Manufacturing PMI 31.5 vs 37.0 expected – Prior 43.2 – Composite PMI 11.2 vs 24.5 expected – Prior 28.9 See here for global coronavirus case data

It is still early in the day See here for global coronavirus case data The aussie and kiwi are keeping modest gains to start the session while the dollar is a little more mixed after weakening earlier. Meanwhile, risk is holding up slightly better but nothing overly optimistic as we see the cash market open […]

Slight gains at the cash market open – Eurostoxx +0.5% – Germany DAX +0.3% – France CAC 40 +0.8% – UK FTSE +0.1% – Spain IBEX +0.7% The gains are decent but they aren't overly suggestive of any major risk-on sentiment in the market as we continue to navigate with a bit of caution for […]

Comments by French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire See here for global coronavirus case data

South Africa's debt financing is becoming more expensive It is an obvious problem. When income is high enough we can finance debt. However, when times are hard not only does income drop, but debt also becomes more expensive. Repayments go up because you are now a riskier borrower. It is the double edged sword of […]

Reuters reports, citing three sources on the matter China plans to add about 10 million tonnes of soybeans, 20 million tonnes of corn, and 1 million tonnes of cotton to its state reserves, with the bulk of the crops to be imported from the US, according to the sources.

Mild gains observed in early trades – German DAX futures +0.3% – French CAC 40 futures +0.2% – UK FTSE futures -0.2% This reflects the tone seen in US futures – near flat levels – for the most part, with UK futures a little lower as the pound is keeping slightly higher to start the […]

A positive day for Asian equities The Hang Seng is up by 0.5% while the Shanghai Composite is up by 0.2% currently. US futures pared earlier losses but are still keeping near flat levels for the moment. In the currencies space, the dollar is mildly weaker with AUD/USD near the highs still at 0.6342.