US CPI data was notably higher than expected with the headline rate at 31-year highs at 6.2%.
US and global inflation concerns intensified after the data with a sharp increase in volatility across asset classes. US bond yields strengthened after the data with the 10-year yield above 1.55%.
After initial hesitation, the dollar posted sharp gains to the highest level since July 2020. EUR/USD dipped to 15-month lows around 1.1470. Sterling edged lower with global moves dominating the UK currency and GBP/USD lows around 1.3400.
Commodity currencies lost out to the strong dollar and unease over central bank policy risks. The much weaker than expected domestic jobs data pushed the Australian dollar to 1-month lows.
Inflation fears triggered strong demand for precious metals, but gains were undermined by dollar strength.
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EUR/USD treads water just above 1.0400 post-US data
Another sign of the good health of the US economy came in response to firm flash US Manufacturing and Services PMIs, which in turn reinforced further the already strong performance of the US Dollar, relegating EUR/USD to the 1.0400 neighbourhood on Friday.
GBP/USD remains depressed near 1.2520 on stronger Dollar
Poor results from the UK docket kept the British pound on the back foot on Thursday, hovering around the low-1.2500s in a context of generalized weakness in the risk-linked galaxy vs. another outstanding day in the Greenback.
Gold keeps the bid bias unchanged near $2,700
Persistent safe haven demand continues to prop up the march north in Gold prices so far on Friday, hitting new two-week tops past the key $2,700 mark per troy ounce despite extra strength in the Greenback and mixed US yields.
Geopolitics back on the radar
Rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine caused renewed unease in the markets this week. Putin signed an amendment to Russian nuclear doctrine, which allows Russia to use nuclear weapons for retaliating against strikes carried out with conventional weapons.
Eurozone PMI sounds the alarm about growth once more
The composite PMI dropped from 50 to 48.1, once more stressing growth concerns for the eurozone. Hard data has actually come in better than expected recently – so ahead of the December meeting, the ECB has to figure out whether this is the PMI crying wolf or whether it should take this signal seriously. We think it’s the latter.
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