U.S. Banks Report Strong Q4 Profits Amid Investment Banking Surge 
Oil Prices Dip Slightly Amid Focus on Russian Sanctions and U.S. Inflation Data 
European Stocks Rally on Chinese Growth and Mining Merger Speculation 
Urban studies: Doing research when every city is different 
UBS Projects Mixed Market Outlook for 2025 Amid Trump Policy Uncertainty 
Bank of America Posts Strong Q4 2024 Results, Shares Rise 
UBS Predicts Potential Fed Rate Cut Amid Strong US Economic Data 
Lithium Market Poised for Recovery Amid Supply Cuts and Rising Demand 
U.S. Treasury Yields Expected to Decline Amid Cooling Economic Pressures 
Geopolitical Shocks That Could Reshape Financial Markets in 2025 
China's Refining Industry Faces Major Shakeup Amid Challenges 
US Futures Rise as Investors Eye Earnings, Inflation Data, and Wildfire Impacts 
US Gas Market Poised for Supercycle: Bernstein Analysts 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Gold Prices Slide as Rate Cut Prospects Diminish; Copper Gains on China Stimulus Hopes 
Stock Futures Dip as Investors Await Key Payrolls Data 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Yesterday's South African inflation data for March showed an increase in inflation, but the data remained slightly below expectations. The overall rate climbed from 4.1% to 4.5% (consensus: 4.6%). The main drivers were higher oil prices, but fruit and vegetables were also significantly more expensive in both the previous month and the previous year. The core rate excluding energy and food prices remained stable at 4.4% for the fifth consecutive month.
In the wake of tax increases and rising administered electricity prices, the South African central bank expects the overall inflation rate to rise to 5.7% by the first quarter of 2020, before stabilizing at 4.5% at the end of 2021.
In its Monetary Policy Review, also published yesterday, it stated that it was too early to give the all-clear on the inflation front. We expect the SARB to keep its key interest rate stable until further notice.
The rand was unimpressed by the data, USDZAR remained above the 14 mark in an EM-friendly environment.
We now quickly run you through the EMEA FX GBI-EM Model portfolio. Medium weights in the region holding OW PLN vs UW CZK after moving MW RON (from UW) are advised. While we activate a bullish USDZAR put spread for a potential China/global growth stabilization. Courtesy: Commerzbank
Currency Strength Index: FxWirePro's hourly USD spot index has bearish index is creeping at 116 (bullish) while articulating (at 13:48 GMT).
For more details on the index, please refer below weblink: http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
