Author: admin
Standard Chartered’s Senior Economist Tommy Wu raises Taiwan’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 8.0% from 3.8%, citing strong Q4-2025 expansion and robust global semiconductor demand. The bank expects economic momentum to stay firm through 2026, supported by booming ICT and electronics exports and a recent US trade deal, while growth remains uneven and income disparity may widen.AI-driven export boom lifts outlook”We raise our 2026 GDP growth forecast to 8.0% (from 3.8%) following strong Q4-2025 growth of 12.7% y/y and 2025 growth of 8.7%. The forecast upgrade in part reflects Q4’s strong q/q growth momentum (at 5.4%). While we expect some…
USD/CAD trades in a tight range on Friday, as the US Dollar (USD) holds firm despite softer-than-expected US inflation data. At the time of writing, USD/CAD is hovering near 1.3625, holding modest gains and remaining on the front foot for a third consecutive day.US inflation data released earlier showed a softer headline print, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could resume its rate-cutting cycle later this year.The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% MoM in January, easing from 0.3% in December and undershooting market expectations of 0.3%. On an annual basis, headline CPI slowed to 2.4% YoY from 2.7%,…
ING’s Francesco Pesole highlights that the Norwegian Krone has rallied on a sharp CPI surprise and markets pricing out Norges Bank cuts for 2026. He views this as premature, expecting a return of inflation towards 3.0% and renewed rate-cut expectations by summer. For now, fair EUR/NOK valuation and attractive domestic rates support NOK, especially if risk sentiment stabilises.Krone supported by rates and valuation”The Norwegian krone had a very strong week before the equity selloff caused a partial correction yesterday. The big jump in Norwegian CPI (January data, released on Tuesday) has prompted markets to price out any rate cut by…
The rupee consolidated in a narrow range and settled for the day 3 paise lower at 90.64 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, tracking the strength of the American currency in the overseas market and a negative trend in domestic equities. Forex traders said the rupee traded in a narrow range with a weakening bias as a firm dollar limited the upside for emerging market currencies, including the rupee.At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.69 against the US dollar, and touched an intraday high of 90.60 and a low of 90.79 during the day..At the…
The Indian rupee was little changed on Friday as pressure from weak local stocks and elevated interbank dollar demand met likely central bank intervention to defend the currency, traders said.The rupee closed at 90.6350 per dollar, down marginally from its close at 90.59 in the previous session. The currency was little changed week-on-week.Maturity of positions in the non-deliverable forwards market added to the strain on the rupee on Friday, alongside a risk-off mood in global equities weighed by lingering concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence and shrinking tech sector margins.MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares fell more than 1%…
Danske Research Team expects the second estimate of Euro area Q4 2025 GDP to confirm modest employment growth. National data show strong job gains in Spain but slight declines in France and Germany, leading the bank to project Euro area employment up 0.1% quarter-on-quarter. They see continued job growth as positive but indicative of a cooling labour market.Employment growth slows as economy cools”In the euro area, the second estimate of GDP growth in 2025Q4 will also reveal how much employment changed in the final quarter of last year.””National data show that employment rose sharply in Spain while declined marginally in…
The rupee depreciated 8 paise to 90.69 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, pressured by the strengthening of the American currency and a negative trend in domestic equities. Forex traders said a firm dollar limited the upside for emerging-market currencies including the rupee. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.69 against the US dollar, registering a fall of 8 paise over its previous close. On Thursday, the rupee appreciated 17 paise to settle at 90.61 against the US dollar. The American currency strengthened on reports that Russia may consider returning to the dollar…
Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday that markets have stabilized after the initial shock from plans to cut consumption tax on food. Katayama further stated that the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio is expected to drop further. Key quotesFinancial Services Agency to support brokerage firms test launch of using blockchain for securities trading.Markets have stabilized after initial shock from plans to cut consumption tax on food. The Debt-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio is expected to drop further. Believe that overseas financial chiefs have understood our policy. Previous budgets have not considered rising prices and labor costs, when asked about Takaichi’s comments on excessive austerity in the past. Market…
The yen was set for its best week in almost 15 months on Friday, having climbed steadily after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s historic election win allayed investor worries about the nation’s fiscal health.A resurgent yen has been the main focus for the foreign exchange market this week, particularly as its rise confounded initial expectations that a selloff in the currency could gather pace if Takaichi secured a strong mandate.It was last steady at 152.86 per dollar, but was set to gain nearly 3% for the week, which would mark its largest advance since November 2024.Against the euro, the yen…
The EUR/USD pair trades on a flat note near 1.1870 during the early Asian session on Friday. The major pair steadies amid mixed signals from the latest release of US economic indicators. Traders await the preliminary reading of the Eurozone Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the fourth quarter (Q4) and US inflation data, which are published later on Friday. Earlier this week, data showed that US Retail Sales were unexpectedly unchanged in December, indicating underlying weakness. The reading followed an unrevised 0.6% increase in November, worse than the expectation of 0.4%. However, the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data came in…