The US dollar was mostly flat today, erasing gains and losses it posted against its rivals earlier during the trading session, as markets were somewhat directionless today. While optimism about the upcoming US-China trade talks was affecting markets, it was slowly eroding after comments made by both Chinese and US officials.
The Canadian dollar is strengthening midweek as wholesalers recorded their fastest two-month gain in about four years and crude oil prices continued their bullish ways. The loonie’s gains were capped on the accelerating diplomatic and economic fallout between Canada and China.
The Chinese yuan is falling against several major currency rivals to start the trading week, despite positive economic data that should lift the yuan. The central bank confirmed that small business lending surged in May, leading bankers to be optimistic on the world’s second-largest economy as the second quarter comes to an end. With the US-China trade war still lingering in the background, can Beijing finally turn a corner?
The Chinese yuan is strengthening against several major currencies on Tuesday, supported by solid housing prices and retail sales in May. Although industrial output and fixed asset investment figures came in lower than expected, they were still commendable at a time when the world’s second-largest economy is engaged in a bitter trade war with the US.
The Chinese yuan is weakening against major currency rivals on Thursday after new data painted a grim picture of the world’s second-largest economy. The trade war, which appears to be at a standstill, is seeping to a whole host of areas in Beijing, impacting economic growth and causing officials to hit the panic button. In the backdrop of the chaos is the yuan nearing toward the 7 threshold against the buck.
The Australian dollar continued to demonstrate weakness as risk appetite was slowly coming off markets. Domestic macroeconomic data was weighing on the currency further as the consumer sentiment deteriorated sharply. And while China’s consumer inflation was accelerating, painting a positive picture of the economic health of Australia’s biggest trading partner, that led to concerns that Beijing may withdraw stimulus if prices continue to rise at a fast pace.
The Chinese yuan is weakening to kick off the trading week as the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and exports unexpectedly rose in May. With the balance of trade numbers being higher than what the market had anticipated, it might play a role in the US-China trade war, which is dragging out and could linger into the holiday season.
The Chinese yuan is mixed midweek on poor economic data. But the biggest development for the yuan is that it is nearing the 7 mark against the US dollar. The federal government has hinted that it will take action to prevent the yuan from reaching that threshold. The last time the yuan crossed 7 was in December 2016.
The Chinese yuan is weakening against major currency rivals at the end of the trading week, driven mainly by disappointing economic data, as well as the lingering trade war with the Americans. The yuan has had a rough second quarter against the US dollar, but it has mostly gained against the euro so far this year. China has had a mix of highs and lows this year – both on data and trade.
The Swiss franc gained on its most-traded peers today as the trade war between the United States and China continued to make investors nervous, driving them towards safer currencies. Wednesday’s negative domestic macroeconomic data did not hurt the Swissie much.
