It was a steady start to the week yesterday with most markets remaining in familiar ranges, Equities had experienced a mixed day until the US session when they spiked along with investor confidence as US and Canadian representatives at last announced a trade deal to replace Nafta, now to be known as the US Mexico Canada Agreement. The loonie continued its recent drive to the topside with the USD/CAD hitting fresh levels under 1.2800, the best level for the CAD in over four months against the greenback and expectations moved even higher for a rate hike from the BOC this month. Also helping with the bid tone to the CAD was another surge higher in the oil price with WTI topping $75/b and Brent nearly up to $85/b.
Asian stock markets are set to open on the front foot after the rally in the US and investors will be watching closely to see if there is another move to the topside in risk appetite. With China on holiday for the week, the markets will be looking closely at the Australian and Japanese opens for a continuation of the trend. Australian markets were closed yesterday for the Labour Day holiday but the focus for most investors will stay down under after the open as the latest RBA rate announcement is due this afternoon. Once again markets are not expecting any rate change from the bank and analysts will be looking closely at the statement for any changes in sentiment, especially with regard to housing data with fears starting to grow of a real correction in that sector. Anything along those lines would push rate hike expectations even further down the track and put pressure on the Aussie dollar.
It’s quiet in terms of fundamental data releases for the rest of Asian day and the focus will swing to the UK for the latest Construction PMI data at the start of the London day. Moving into the US session and we’re due to hear from both FOMC member Randle Quarles and Fed Chair Jerome Powell today which could have some significant market impact whilst kiwi traders in particular will be watching the latest GDT Price Index data release.