The bears were certainly back in town for the Euro, news out of Europe has been mixed. German macro data has been disappointing, showing that the overall euro area is entering a period of weaker growth. Also this past week, some European peripheral countries, and especially Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Greece, saw a rise to record levels in their 10-year bond and CDS spreads.
The Commitment of Traders Report is created by the CFTC – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is published weekly every Friday. This body gathers and publishes the open futures positions on all publicly traded US futures contracts as well as the corresponding options. The data consists of 3 main categories.
Commercial Traders – These are the bigger players in the markets, the smart money and consist of large firms that actually use the commodity being traded, includes companies like…BP in the Oil and Gas Market, Nestle in the Cocoa and Sugar market. The main function of these traders is to hedge the price of the commodity that they trade in.
We often hear figures about the 90% (or even more) that lose money on a consist basis. It’s a ‘fact’ often quoted by gurus and a common belief held by traders. The question for professional traders then becomes how do we benefit from this landslide of people on the wrong side of a trade?
Markets in a Flash
· As an appetite for risk has appeared in Europe on this Monday morning investors have been selling the safety of the greenback and making it look weak today.
· Prior to the open of the US equity markets the equity futures markets are higher this suggests that the European uptrend will be followed at the opening bell.
· Oil and Gold are moving higher today. Oil is just below $74.50.
Markets in a Flash
· As European markets opened and fell this morning and a correlating fall has been seen in the EUR/USD currency pair after comments by ECB council member Axel Weber suggested that that the ECB will support the region’s banks for longer than some investors expected.
· The USD/CAD saw a strong jump north breaking the 1.0500 level as Canadian Core CPI data came in less than expected.
· The GBP looks weak today along with the EUR as European equity markets fell. The JPY and USD seem to be strong against the two.
Markets in a Flash
· The Pound strengthened suddenly this morning when UK data came in better than expected. The EUR/GBP is moving back towards its monthly lows
· The USD/JPY has started trending down towards its lows in the past few hours.
· US equity futures are higher this morning suggesting a continuation in the rise in equity markets from yesterday’s session.
Markets in a Flash
· The Dollar has started to weaken in the past few hours against other major currencies. China continues to shift the world’s largest FX reserves out of Dollars.
· The USD/JPY is trading very close to its lows, further weakness in the USD may see the pair making new ground.
Markets in a Flash
· The EUR is starting to push higher this morning and is gaining against the USD, JPY and GBP.
· US equity futures are higher this morning following the European advance and indicating a rise in equity prices at the bell.
· Oil is trading over +1% higher this morning and is above $86.00. Gold is continuing to rise slowly and is at around $1230.00.
Markets in a Flash
· The USD is looking weak this morning as China see’s problems with US recovery.
· The JPY has started to look slightly stronger in the past few hours and is gaining against the USD and the EUR.
· US equity futures are lower today suggesting the selloff will continue when the markets open.
Markets in a Flash
· The USD is starting to look stronger this morning. It is gaining as investors seek less risk.
· The EUR/JPY appears to be trading very close to its monthly lows.
· US equity futures are lower today suggesting the selloff will continue when the markets open.
Markets in a Flash
· The USD is starting to look stronger today. Against the JPY it is pulling back some of its losses.
· The EUR/JPY appears to be pushing to new monthly lows today. It is trading around the 110.000 level.
· US equity futures are lower today suggesting the selloff will continue when the markets open.
Markets in a Flash
· The JPY continues to look strong today. The JPY/USD continues its trend and is making new highs.
· The EUR/USD is trading just above the 1.3000 level. It has bounced of the resistance today and may possible go through as people abandon risk for the greenback.
· US equity futures are lower by over -1.0% this morning following the fall in worldwide markets.
• Strength in the USD across the board today, most notable against the GBP which is off over 1% after the RICS report data.
• The UK housing market is showing signs of weakness, with the first drop in prices in a year according to the RICS report. Fears of a housing led double dip recession have been heightened.
• Over 14 million people are likely to be effected by the floods in Pakistan which many experts say will have a more devastating human cost than the Haiti earthquake and the 2004 Asian Tsunami
Traders often talk about trade entry, trade management, indicators, fear, greed and a host of tools that are designed to aid traders. It’s very seldom that traders discuss the most valuable tool a trader has…your body! This series of articles, will explore the effect trading as a vocation and lifestyle has on your body and what every trader can do to maintain the health of this most vital tool.
