currencies

It is apparent that adoption of a foreign currency is equivalent to running a very tight fixed exchange rate regime. It provides the least policy space of any exchange rate regime. This does not necessarily mean that it is a bad policy. But…

The US dollar is beginning the week on a softer note, but well within recent ranges. Most of this week's key events lie ahead. The day earlier than planned and somewhat larger Italian austerity plan coupled with talk of ECB purchases has…

The dollar is trading on an easier footing as risk improves ahead of payrolls and hope of EZ action. US private payrolls expected to come in at 150k; strong report likely to be supportive of sentiment. Merkel calls for treaty changes in…

The major currencies are consolidating in yesterday's broad trading ranges, but the "real" action is in the European bond markets, with acceptable auctions in Spain and France, helping support of a bond market rally that was already…

There have been several developments and they have imparted conflicting impulses into the market. The S&P downgrade of a number of large banks based on a new methodology that has been unfolding over the past couple of years comes at a…

Foreign financial news for 29 November 2011

The euro zone finance ministers meet today and tomorrow. Approval of the next tranche of aid to Greece and an agreement on EFSF leveraging is sought. Yet the real deal is still a week away and that is EU summit. A year ago, we…

A French press report warned that S&P could put France on negative credit watch within a couple of weeks. Moody's warned that all 27 EU countries are at risk from the euro zone debt crisis. Moody's also placed subordinated debt,…

Editor’s note: the IMF musings would be difficult politically, especially in the US. And any deal for Italy would also have to involve Spain too. However, Perhaps most important, operationally, the ECB lending to the IMF, which then lends…

While the usual assumption is that current account deficits lead more-or-less directly to currency depreciation, the evidence for this effect is not clear-cut. Implications of this depend on the currency regime. According to the well-known…