Forexlive Americas FX news wrap 13 Mar: Forex rates muddle along ahead of PPI/retail sales

The US trading day was void of economic releases. The Fed is in a blackout period ahead of the rate decision next Wednesday.

There was oil inventory data released, and it showed a surprise drawdown of -1.536M when the market was expecting a build of 1.338M. That kept oil prices supported/higher. Crude oil rose to high of $79.90 just short of the natural resistance at $80.00, before rotating back to $79.54 currently. Nevertheless, the price is still up close to $2 on the day or 2.60%.

IN the forex, the low to high ranges did extend in the US session (from very narrow ranges at the US open – see post here) but looking at all the major currency pairs vs the US, the low to high trading ranges were all less than the 22-day averages. The GBPUSD range was only 55% of the average. The USDCAD was 46%,and the NZDUSD was 54% of the month-long average.

Tomorrow, US PPI and retail sales have the potential to kick the market outside of it’s doldrums this week.

A look at the strongest to the weakest the AUD is ending the day as the strongest (it was the strongest at the start of the US session). The CHF surpassed the JPY as the weakest. The USD – which was mixed and near unchanged at the start of the day – is still mixed but lower from start of session levels.

The strongest to weakest of major currencies

In the US that market today, yields are ending higher despite a strong 30-year bond auction:

2-year yield, 4.636%, +3.8 basis points
5-year yield 4.196%, +4.2 basis points
10-year yield 4.189%, +3.5 basis points
30-year yield 4.341% +3.0 basis points

As mentioned crude oil is ending the day higher. Gold is also higher by $16.75 or 0.78% at $2174.50. Bitcoin is up around $1700 at $73,242.

US stocks saw the broader S&P and NASDAQ indices move lower:

Dow industrial average rose 37.81 points or 0.10% at 39043.31
S&P index fell -9.98 points or -0.19% at 5165.30
NASDAQ index fell; -87.88 points or -0.54% at 16177.76

The small-cap Russell 2000 rose despite higher yields and recorded a gain of 6.233 points or 0.30% at 2071.71.

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