Markets Waiting For Next Catalysts

This week started in slow motion, and the US dollar ended the day mixed across the board. The American currency managed to add some ground against its European rival currencies, although EUR/USD held above 1.1400, while GBP/USD settled at around 1.3530.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde poured cold water on rate hikes bets. Speaking before the EU Parliament she said that there is no sign that inflation will measurably exceed the bank’s 2% target in the medium term.

Commodity-linked currencies, on the other hand, managed to advance with AUD/USD trading at around 0.7120 and USD/CAD accelerating its slide at the end of the day to trade in the 1.2660 price zone.

Gold maintained its bullish stance throughout the day, ending the American session at $1,820 a troy ounce. Crude oil prices, however, retreated from their multi-year highs and WTI settled at $91.20 a barrel

Equities traded mixed, unable to find a clear direction. Wall Street is poised to close mixed with the major indexes trading around their opening levels.

US Treasury yields were sharply up ahead of the opening, holding on to gains, but pulling back from intraday highs.

Generally speaking, the week will be light in terms of macroeconomic releases, although the US will publish January Inflation next Thursday.