The cautious trend continued in Asia this morning, despite the late rally in US markets on Friday. The news over the weekend was pessimistic in China (Car Sales release) and the Bavarian election result, but optimistic in the BREXIT negotiations at least; – well, until the markets opened! Shanghai hit levels not seen in four […]

  While the IMF chief Christine Lagarde has come out expressing her fear that not only a trade but also a currency war may emerge that could dampen the growth of the global economy, there are some serious issues that need to be addressed.  The problem with misunderstanding currency and its role in the floating […]

A much welcomed relief rally seen in Asia today, which was a refreshing surprise given how most opened. China did publish the best trade export numbers toi the US in sometime, but is being negated by the storey US firms maybe front-loading imports in fear of increasing trade tensions. Steady progress was made from the […]

COMMENT: The view of John McCain from outside the United States is completely opposite of how the American press portrays him. I even heard like Hillary, he too had a foundation that people had to donate to for him to sponsor certain bills. HJ REPLY: Oh yes, there is no question that the press outside […]

QUESTION: Hi Martin, I just read your blog on the new NAFTA. One important point that you missed is the control the new agreement gives to the US over Canada in it’s trade deals it makes with other countries, (China being the target) The US gets to review all deals before they are signed and give […]

Asian markets finished positive, but it was only when the US opened did the excitement begin for the day. Europe caught a lot of the declines into their close, so lets just concentrate on developments from there on, especially following growth concerns that the IMF have raised…. We did see PPI (Producer Price Index) release […]

  Some people have asked about the computer projections for a tremendous increase in civil violence. There is absolutely no resolution to the great divide that has unfolded politically. The Democrats advocate violence as Hillary clearly states. She says that civility can ONLY return when the Democrats take back the government. Clearly, this is throwing […]

Shanghai opened marginally weaker, but was either side of close for the balance of the day. Fortunately, the index did close with a positive a marginally positive print whilst the currency managed to behave itself. There is talk late in the European session that China was playing in the FX market – selling US Dollars, […]

The new Trade Agreement between Mexico and Canada (USMCA) and the United States over which Trump has been so criticized for was obviously necessary from a number of perspectives. The new USMCA is drafted as a new stand-alone trade agreement, rather than amendments to NAFTA. It includes transition provisions dealing with NAFTA, some modifications to those […]

  Asia was more concerned about the weakness of the core Chinese markets after last weeks holiday. The Peoples Bank of China cut (by 100bp) the reserve ratio for lenders on Sunday and that move spooked an already wobbly market. The Hang Seng had already responded to higher US rates last week and so closed […]