NZD Strongest and GBP Weakest as North American Session Begins

<p>The NZD is the strongest currency and the GBP is the weakest as the North American session begins. The USD is mixed/mostly higher with gains vs the EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF and AUD and declines vs the CAD and NZD. </p><p>The USDJPY after waffling up and down in the Asian and early European session is back above the 151.00 level. Recall that was the level that the pair was trading at just prior to the FOMC decision back on November 1 before moving down to 149.18. Those declines have been totally reversed with the price currently at 151.10 to start the NY session. True to the technicals, the low today did stall vs the 150.74 area. </p><p>…more</p><p>A snapshot of the markets as the NA session gets underway shows:</p><ul><li>Crude oil is trading up $0.65 at $75.98 after yesterday's sharp fall. At this time yesterday the price was trading at $76.04</li><li>Spot gold is trading down $-4.08 or -0.22% at $1945.52. At this time the price was trading at $1964.51</li><li>Spot silver is trading down $0.01 or -0.04% at $22.51. At this time yesterday the price was trading higher at $22.49</li><li>Bitcoin is trading sharply higher at $36,890. That is the highest level since it May 4th This time yesterday the price was trading at $35,458</li></ul><p>In the US stock market, the major indices are trading modestly higher. The NASDAQ has been up 9 consecutive days. The S&amp;P has been up for 8 consecutive days. Yesterday the Dow industrial average snapped its seven-day win streak</p><ul><li>Dow Industrial Average futures are implying a gain of 55 points. Yesterday the index fell -40.33 points or -0.12%.</li><li>S&amp;P index futures are implying a gain of 6.5 points. Yesterday the index rose rose 4.42 points or 0.10%.</li><li>NASDAQ futures are implying a gain of 2.5 points. Yesterday the index rose 10.56 points or 0.08%</li></ul><p>In the European equity markets, the major indices are trading marginally higher</p><ul><li>German DAX, +0.55%</li><li>France's CAC, +0.89%</li><li>UK's FTSE 100, +0.49%</li><li>Spain's Ibex, +1.02%</li><li>Italy's FTSE MIB, +0.57% (10 minute delay)</li></ul><p>In the Asia Pacific market, major indices closed mostly lower:</p><ul><li>Japan's Nikkei index, 1.49%. On Wednesday the index -0.33%</li><li>China's Shanghai Composite Index, 0.03%. On Wednesday the index -0.16%</li><li>Hong Kong's Hang Seng index, -0.33%. On Wednesday the index -0.58%</li><li>Australia's S&amp;P/ASX index, +0.28%. On Wednesday the index -0.26%</li></ul><p>In the US debt market, yields are higher. Today the US treasury will auction off 30-year bonds at 1 PM ET completing the coupon auctions for the week. The 3 and tenure auctions were met with average demand.</p><ul><li>US 2Y T-NOTE: 4.952% +1.7 basis points. At this time yesterday, the yield was at 4.934%</li><li>US 5Y T-NOTE: 4.551% +3.0 basis points. At this time yesterday, the yield was at 4.548%</li><li>US 10Y T-NOTE: 4.545% +3.7 basis points. At this time yesterday, the yield was at 4.562%</li><li>US 30Y BOND: 4.685% +2.9 basis points. At this time yesterday, the others at 4.696%</li><li>2 – 10-year spread is at -41.2 basis points. This time yesterday, the spread was at -37.1 basis points</li><li>2 – 30 year spread is at -26.9 basis points. This time yesterday, the spread was at -23.5 basis points</li></ul><p>The yield spreads are continued their reversal back into negative territory. The 2-30 year spread moved briefly into positive territory recently, and the 2 – 10 year spread reached -11.4 basis point at its recent high</p><p>In the European debt market, benchmark 10-year yields are mostly higher:</p>

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.