Market Update

The US Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) had voted to lift the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) target range to 0.25-0.50% from 0.00-0.25%, as expected. In the Fed’s updated statement on monetary policy, it signaled that further rate hikes would likely be appropriate, as …

Russia is spiraling closer to a historic debt default that could ripple throughout the global economy after the U.S. and its European allies hit the Kremlin with a slew of crippling financial sanctions. Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine nearly one month ago, the biggest attack on a European state in decades, …

The Canadian dollar advances some 0.30% vs. the greenback amid an increased risk appetite. Discussions between Russia-Ukraine would continue, though fighting remains. The USD/CAD pair slides for the second straight day in the week, ahead of the FOMC monetary policy decision amid a risk-on market mood, as geopolitical jitters around …

The USD/JPY pair continues to move higher and, just under 118.50, is on course for an eighth successive day in the green territory.The pair is eyeing a break above late-2016/early-2017 highs in the 118.60s. Markets are risk-on in the lead up to the Fed announcement amid signs of progress in …

Ukraine has reportedly rejected Russian claims that it was open to adopting a model of neutrality comparable to Sweden in peace talks, reported the Independent on Wednesday. Russian negotiators said that Kyiv had offered to become a de-militarised state, but Ukraine responded by saying that it needs “legally verified security …

Canadian inflation hit 5.7% YoY in February, according to Statistics Canada’s latest headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) release on Wednesday. That was above the expected rise to 5.5% from 5.1% in January. The MoM increase in the headline CPI in February was 1.0%, a little above the 0.9% expected and …

Canadian inflation hit 5.7% YoY in February, according to Statistics Canada’s latest headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) release on Wednesday. That was above the expected rise to 5.5% from 5.1% in January. The MoM increase in the headline CPI in February was 1.0%, a little above the 0.9% expected and …

The dollar index fell against the major currencies during Wednesday’s trading before the Federal Reserve’s decision, while the US currency traded near a 5-year high against the yen. The US central bank is expected to implement its first rate hike since 2018 later in the day amid uncertainty over the …

Retail Sales in the US rose by 0.3% on a monthly basis in February to $658.1 billion, the data published by the US Census Bureau showed on Wednesday. This reading fell short of the market expectation for an increase of 0.4%. On a positive note, January’s print got revised higher …

US Dow Jones futures rose more than 300 points as Wall Street attempts to rally for the second day in a row, despite the US Federal Reserve meeting tonight. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 359 points, or 1.1%, while S&P 500 futures rose 1.2%. Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 2%. …