Archive for January 2nd, 2012

The roller coaster ride for Asian currencies, which saw only the yen and the renminbi post significant gains for the year against the dollar, is set to continue in 2012. While Japan actively sought to stem the yens rise drawing U.S. criticism last week China intervened to ensure tha… read full news Published: Tue, 03… »

The manufacturing sector nudged positive territory in December with the latest Australian Industry Group PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) rising by 2.4 points to 50.2 (readings above 50 indicate an expansion in activity). The strongest expansions in December w… read full news Published: Tue, 03 Jan 2012… »

Gold and silver prices changed direction and sharply fell during most of December. Gold price ended the month 10.5% below its initial level, and silver price declined by 14.9%. What were the main factors that may have caused the sharp drop in gold and silver prices during December? Part of it might… read full news… »

This time last year, traders had pushed the FTSE 100 through the 6,000 level but I warned readers to don tin hats rather than party hats and prepare for another “lurch downwards” for much of the year. However I was unable to resist a note of optimism by predicting a rally towards the end of… »

Time for my annual economic forecast, which readers may recall, is something I do with my Magic 8-Ball, made in China by Mattel. In last year’s forecast, published Jan. 2, 2011, this cheap, plastic oracle beat out most economists. Let’s see what it says about 2012. Q: The Mayan calendar p… read full news Published:… »

Top Chinese officials have recently made public comments on the direction of monetary policy in China for 2012. China’s President, Hu Jintao, said in his New Year speech: “We will continue to properly deal with the relationship among maintaining a stable and relatively fast economic growth,… read full news Published: Tue, 03 Jan 2012… »

The chairman of Greece’s largest lender, National Bank, said Monday the country’s future in the euro zone will be determined in the next three months, and called on political figures to back government efforts aimed at remaining in the European single currency group. “I hope that our political sy… read full news Published: Tue, 03… »

As US markets remain in hibernation for a few more hours, Goldman picks out the five critical questions that need to be considered in the context of 2012′s economic outlook. Jan Hatzius and his team ask and answer a veritable chart-fest of crucial items from whether US growth will pick up to above… read full… »

Happy New year to all! Markets have been moving a bit in the lightened holiday trade and the most interesting price action has come from the Yen, with the currency rallying to result in some multi-year lows below critical psychological barriers at 100.00 in EUR/JPY. The Yen has found some renewed… read full news Published:… »

EURJPY-Having violated its key supports at the 100.00/99.87 levels, its psycho level/July2010 lows, EURJPY continues to face further downside momentum. In such a case, its psycho levels at the 99.00 level and the 98.00 level will be targeted with a cut through those levels allowing for further… read full news Published: Tue, 03 Jan 2012… »