Europe

US Dollar Rally May Find Added Fuel in Global Slowdown Fears

Most of the major currency pairs continue to show significant correlations with the MSCI World Stock Index, suggesting that broad-based risk appetite trends remain dominant as drivers of price action. This puts thematic macro-level concerns – specifically, the durability of the US recovery and its ability to offset headwinds from Europe and China facing global growth – squarely at the forefront. The US economic calendar is relatively quiet, with headline event risk clustered at the end of the week as PPI and UofM Consumer Confidence readings cross the wires on Friday. This puts the onus on evaluating the extent of downward pressure.

Euro

The ongoing political turmoil in Europe continues to shake the markets, with the inability for Greece to form a government now fueling speculation that the country might soon exit the Eurozone. Although an exit by Greece would have only a minimal impact on the broader economy, given the country’s size, fears of contagion seem to be the bigger problem right now, as investors start to price in the impact this will have on larger economies like Spain and Italy.

EUR Bearish Pattern Continues To Take Shape, GBP Correction In Focus

Euro: French, Greek Elections Raises Risk For Breakup – 1.3000 Crucial British Pound: Correction In Focus, BoE To Discuss Exit Strategy Euro: French, Greek Elections Raises Risk For Breakup – 1.3000 Crucial The Euro tumbled to a fresh monthly low of 1.2954 as French President Francois Hollande overtook Nicolas Sarkozy as the president of France, while the two main parties in Greece failed to obtain a joint majority, and the

USD Threatens Bearish Channel- Index Eyes 9950 as Techs Point Higher

The greenback is markedly higher in North American trade with the Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index (Ticker: USDOLLAR) advancing 0.28% on the session after moving nearly 76% of its daily average true range. April non-farm payrolls disappointed today with a print of just 115K, missing forecast estimates for a read of 160K. While the unemployment rate surprisingly declined to 8.1% from 8.2%, it’s important to note that the decline can

Euro

– Market optimism fades and suggests more USD strength – Widespread calls for a break lower in Eur/Usd – Key economic data and political risk ahead – Focus for now on monthly US employment data Although we have seen no clear breakouts in most of the major currencies, and although the Euro still remains locked in a very well defined 1.3000-1.3500 consolidation (that has defined trade for much of 2012),

Lower Eurozone Producer Prices Fail to Stimulate Euro Volatility

THE TAKEAWAY: PPI numbers come in lower than expected -> high energy prices continue to affect producers -> Euro trades within tight range Producer price inflation in the 17-nation Eurozone increased less than expected in March, representing the sixth consecutive monthly drop in the gauge. The month-on-month number came in at 0.6% vs. the 0.5% predicted by economists, while the yearly number was 3.3% versus the expected 3.4%. The numbers

U.S. Stock Market

Futures Ahead of the Open S&P fair value: +0.20 NASDAQ fair value: +1.00 Europe volume will be limited with May Day holiday, however, the UK’s FTSE will be open for trading. Currently up 0.39%. UK Manufacturing PMI fell to 50.5 on a downwardly revised 51.9 for the prior month.