Market Pulse - Currencies
Lula da Silva is not a threat to Brazil's financial stability, party chief says
The leader of Brazil's Workers’ Party argued in an interview that former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is anything but radical and does not pose a threat to Brazilian financial stability.
Asia close: Hang Seng tops 2007 highs
Equities in the Asia Pacific region raced ahead on Wednesday, led by gains in Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index, which topped its pre-crisis highs.
SPD Berlin chapter votes against grand coalition, polls more optimistic
German lawmakers' attempts to forge a grand coalition were a dealt a blow overnight after the Berlin chapter of the country's Socialist party, the SPD, voted against entering another power-sharing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU/CSU.
FX round-up: US dollar slides to fresh 52-week low
The US dollar spot index continued to give back ground at the start of the week amid what analysts at UniCredit Research described as a "symphony of factors" conspiring to the advantage of the single currency.
Eurozone trade surplus widens in November
The single currency area's foreign trade surplus with the rest of the world rose again in November, led by an improvement in Germany.
FX round-up: Pound, euro take out their 2017 highs
Sterling shot higher at the end of the week, with traders referencing a report that the Spanish and Dutch finance ministers were hoping to promote a soft Brexit as the main trigger behind the move.
Euro rallies to three-year high versus dollar after German coalition breakthrough
The euro rose to a three-year high against the dollar on Friday as investors welcomed a breakthrough in German coalition talks.
Pound jumps on news Spain and Holland to push for 'soft' Brexit
Sterling rose to its best level since the Brexit vote on Friday on news that Spain and Holland's finance ministers have reached an agreement that would see the two work together to lock down a Brexit deal that would keep the UK as close to the EU as possible.
Blockchain company Ripple inks strategic deal with MoneyGram
Blockchain company Ripple announced on Thursday that it had finalised an agreement with Texan funds transfer giant MoneyGram that would see Ripple's digital currency XRP, which had soared in value since the beginning of December despite questions regarding its practical uses, be used to provide liquidity to financial institutions.
Bitcoin dives double-digits as South Korea plans cryptocurrency ban
Bitcoin's value dived 13. 5% on Thursday after South Korean officials revealed the nation was planning to ban trading of the cryptocurrency.
Reports say China may slow US Treasury purchases, trade tensions cited
Longer-term US Treasury yields jumped to near their 2017-highs following a report that Beijing might be looking to slow or stop its purchases of American government debt.
Asia close: Stocks rise amid heightened risk appetite
Asian stocks were mostly higher at the start of the week, even as traders and analysts continued to ponder aloud about the underpinnings of recent equity market gains.
National Bank of Romania hikes interest rates by surprise
Romania's central bank surprised most forecasters on Monday, hiking its main policy rate at the turn of the year in a bid to dampen above-target inflation.
US tax cuts may unleash a lot of investment, Fed's Bullard says
A top US central banker and one of the foremost 'doves' in policy-making circles in the States said the recently enacted tax cuts should not force the monetary authority to tighten policy more quickly.
Citi tells clients to overweight emerging market and European stocks
Citi predicts another positive year for stocks around the world on the back of rising corporate earnings.
North Korea agrees to talks after the South and US postpone military drills
North Korea has agreed to hold the first official talks in more than two years with its neighbour to the South after Seoul and Washington postponed their annual large-scale military exercises until after the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Trump proposes massive expansion of offshore drilling
The Trump administration is planning a massive expansion of offshore drilling by opening up protected areas in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Trump's lawyers hit Steve Bannon with cease-and-desist over tell-all book
Lawyers representing Donald Trump have issued former chief strategist Steve Bannon a cease-and-desist notice, accusing him of having violated a non-disclosure agreement when speaking to author Michael Wolff.