Final hours! Save up to 55% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Marketmind: BOJ steps up, Boris bows out, Xi stays put

Published 10/24/2022, 01:05 AM
Updated 10/24/2022, 01:26 AM
© Reuters. Chinese President Xi Jinping waves after his speech as the new Politburo Standing Committee members meet the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2022. RE

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole.

Yen intervention, UK politics, China data dump

While tight lipped, Japanese policy makers clearly intervened again to support the yen on Monday, slamming the dollar down to as low as 145.28 from an early peak of 149.70.

Yet all the BOJ seems to have managed is to give yen bears better levels, and much-needed liquidity, to sell into and the dollar quickly rallied back to around 149.00.

While the BOJ is only acting under the directions of the MoF, selling dollars for yen sits at odds with its dogged commitment to uber-easy monetary policy and will add to pressure for a change of course at its policy meeting on Friday.

BOJ boss Kuroda has so far shown no sign of reversing course ahead of retirement next year and markets might have to wait for a new face to see the end of YCC.

A, sort of, new face is a step closer to being British PM after Boris Johnson bowed out of the leadership race, leaving former FinMin Rishi Sunak in pole position.

The news initially saw sterling jump almost a cent in Asia to $1.1402, but that could not be sustained and it edged back to around $1.1330.

Investors will worry the political uncertainty is far from over given Sunak is not exactly well loved by right wingers in the Tory party and fresh divisions could erupt at any time.

Beijing marked the rubber-stamping of Xi for a third term as leader by dumping a week of delayed data on markets, and a mixed bunch it was. Topping forecasts were GDP and industrial output, but retail sales disappointed and house prices kept falling in a warning sign for the stretched property sector.

Xi's choice of loyalists for top policy positions did not seem to cheers investors and blue chips fell over 1%, while the PBOC fixed the yuan lower - one way of stimulating the economy.

Key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Monday:

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A banknote of Japanese yen is seen in this illustration picture taken June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo

Race for UK PM could be essentially decided if no one but Sunak gets support of 100 MPs

U.S., European PMIs (October)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.