Market News

The Swiss Franc has jumped explosively in value during trading today following the Swiss National Bank's announcement that it would no longer intervene to prevent its currency from appreciating any further against the Euro.

Global markets turned chaotic on Thursday when in a shock move, the Swiss National Bank (SNBN) scrapped its minimum exchange rate, abandoning a tool policy makers said just days ago was necessary to ward off deflation.

Earlier today, the Swiss National Bank surprised FX markets by dropping its 3-year long cap against the Euro, resulting in a 30% surge in the Swiss Franc’s value.

Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan cut interest rates in an unscheduled review in order to revive growth in Asia’s third-largest economy after inflation eased. Stocks, bonds and the rupee surged on the news.

The common currency Euro, for the first time since 1999, fell below its launch price versus the U.S. Dollar after Pedro Cruz Villalon, a high ranking court official for the European Court of Justice, said that the European Central Bank’s bond purchasing program was legal and valid under specific conditions.

Deteriorating risk sentiment as a result of falling oil prices sent FX investors flocking to the safe haven currencies as those oil price worries trigger fresh concerns about global growth.

Asian stocks fell yesterday as oil at a 5 1/2 year low weighed on energy companies and a stronger yen and declines in U.S. equities dragged down Japanese shares as the market opened after a holiday.

Last week’s data release from the U.S. showed an improvement in new jobs created and a lowering of the unemployment rate.

The dollar fell for a second day after an unexpected drop in U.S. wages clouded the outlook for interest rates, and crude oil resumed declines.

Gold rose on Friday ahead of a closely watched U.S. jobs report and the metal was set to post its first gain in four weeks thanks to safe-haven bids amid political uncertainty in Greece plus robust Chinese demand.

The Euro continues to push further into the loss category, now extending losses against the U.S. Dollar and striking a 9-year trough in European trade, as speculation increases that the European Central Bank will need to embark on a massive easing program in order to stave off deflation.

Gold eased on Wednesday, ending a three-day winning streak, as the dollar and equities strengthened and minutes from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting in December showed the U.S. central bank maintaining the status quo on interest rates.

The Euro remains under pressure and is trading close to its recently struck 9-year trough versus the U.S. Dollar as oil prices continue to fall and the threat of deflation looms large.

Oil prices remained near five-and-a-half year lows in early Asian trading on Wednesday after prices saw yet more heavy falls in the previous session and analysts said a supply glut meant that more falls were likely before a rebound.

A sharp fall in the price of crude oil sent FX traders flocking to the safe haven currencies which sent the Japanese Yen surging.