Forex

ECB Keeps Policy Unchanged to Battle Economic Slowdown

Published

5 years ago

January 24, 2019

ECB Keeps Policy Unchanged to Battle Economic Slowdown

The European Central Bank pledged to keep interest rates at record lows at least through the summer after policy makers met amid rising concern about the region’s growth outlook.

The decision on Thursday came just hours after a report signaled the euro area’s economic slowdown is set to drag on, with the region beset by political strife and global risks such as mounting trade protectionism. Economists and investors have cut their forecasts, questioning the relative optimism President Mario Draghi expressed last month when he announced the end of bond purchases.

“The biggest risk right now is that we talk ourselves into a recession,” Natixis Chief Executive Officer Jean Raby said in a Bloomberg interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “The environment from the monetary-policy standpoint is likely to stay relatively stable and benign.”

The euro was little changed near a three-week low after the report. It traded at $1.1349 at 1:46 p.m. Frankfurt time, down 0.3 percent.

Draghi will hold a media briefing at 2:30 p.m. in Frankfurt, where the focus will be on the Governing Council’s assessment of the risks to growth. A survey of purchasing managers published earlier Thursday showed German manufacturing shrinking for the first time in four years, dragging the euro-area economy into its worst performance since 2013.

Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecast, blaming softening demand across Europe. Germany and Italy saw the biggest revisions after stricter emissions tests slashed car production in the region’s largest economy and a budget spat between Rome and Brussels boosted sovereign borrowing costs.

Economists predict the ECB will lower its outlook when projections are updated in March, and have extensively discussed in the run-up to Thursday’s meeting whether the recent spate of disappointing data will prompt policy makers to describe risks to growth as tilted to the downside.

To maintain ample monetary accommodation, the Frankfurt-based institution said it intends to reinvest proceeds from bonds maturing under its 2.6 trillion-euro ($3 trillion) bond-buying program for “an extended period of time past the date” of its first interest-rate increase. Its cautious approach is echoed around the world as the U.S. Federal Reserve stresses it’ll be patient with rate hikes to ease market turbulence and China seeks ways to to deal with its slowest expansion in almost three decades.

Draghi told European lawmakers earlier in January that the bloc isn’t heading into a recession. Acknowledging that continued uncertainty over economic prospects weighs on confidence, he said there’s also reason for optimism: Unemployment continues to fall across the region and wages are on the rise, giving the ECB reason to believe inflation will pick up gradually.

For some policy makers including Sabine Lautenschlaeger and Estonia’s Ardo Hansson, that means the economy is evolving as projected and a rate hike later is this year still in the cards.

Yet the window for the ECB to tighten policy is closing, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. They’ll be looking for any hints from Draghi on whether the central bank will offer new long-term loans to prevent a tightening of financial conditions. A suggestion was already made in December to “revisit the contribution” the previous round made to the policy stance. Most economist except an announcement in March.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Forex

Yen Hits 34-Year Low Against Dollar Despite Bank of Japan’s Inaction

Published

17 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Samed Olukoya

The Japanese yen plummeted to a 34-year low against the US dollar, sending shockwaves through global financial markets.

Despite mounting pressure and speculation, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) chose to maintain its key interest rate.

The yen’s relentless slide, extending to 0.7% to 156.66 against the dollar, underscores deep concerns about Japan’s economic stability and the efficacy of its monetary policies.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s remarks at a post-meeting news conference did little to assuage fears as he acknowledged the impact of foreign exchange dynamics on inflation but downplayed the yen’s influence on underlying prices.

Investors, already on edge due to the yen’s dismal performance this year, are now bracing for further volatility amid speculation of imminent intervention by Japanese authorities.

The absence of decisive action from the BOJ has heightened uncertainty, with concerns looming over the potential repercussions of a prolonged yen depreciation.

The implications of the yen’s decline extend far beyond Japan’s borders, reverberating across global markets. The currency’s status as the worst-performing among major currencies in the Group of Ten (G-10) underscores its significance in the international financial landscape.

Policymakers have issued repeated warnings against excessive depreciation, signaling a commitment to intervene if necessary to safeguard economic stability.

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki reiterated the government’s readiness to respond to foreign exchange fluctuations, emphasizing the need for vigilance in the face of market volatility.

However, the lack of concrete action from Japanese authorities has left investors grappling with uncertainty, unsure of the yen’s trajectory in the days to come.

Market analysts warn of the potential for further downside risk, particularly in light of upcoming economic data releases and the prospect of thin trading volumes due to public holidays in Japan.

The absence of coordinated intervention efforts and a clear policy stance only exacerbates concerns, fueling speculation about the yen’s future trajectory.

The yen’s current predicament evokes memories of past episodes of currency turmoil, prompting comparisons to Japan’s intervention in 2022 when the currency experienced a similar downward spiral.

The prospect of history repeating itself looms large, as market participants weigh the possibility of intervention against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile global economy.

As Japan grapples with the yen’s precipitous decline, the stakes have never been higher for policymakers tasked with restoring stability to the currency markets. With the world watching closely, the fate of the yen hangs in the balance, poised between intervention and inertia in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Naira

Dollar to Naira Black Market Today, April 25th, 2024

As of April 25th, 2024, the exchange rate for the US dollar to the Nigerian Naira stands at 1 USD to 1,300 NGN in the black market, also referred to as the parallel market or Aboki fx.

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Naira to Dollar Exchange- Investors King Rate - Investors King

As of April 25th, 2024, the exchange rate for the US dollar to the Nigerian Naira stands at 1 USD to 1,300 NGN in the black market, also referred to as the parallel market or Aboki fx.

For those engaging in currency transactions in the Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market), buyers purchase a dollar for N1,260 and sell it at N1,250 on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 based on information from Bureau De Change (BDC).

Meaning, the Naira exchange rate declined when compared to today’s rate below.

This black market rate signifies the value at which individuals can trade their dollars for Naira outside the official or regulated exchange channels.

Investors and participants closely monitor these parallel market rates for a more immediate reflection of currency dynamics.

How Much is Dollar to Naira Today in the Black Market?

Kindly be aware that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not acknowledge the existence of the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black market.

The CBN has advised individuals seeking to participate in Forex transactions to utilize official banking channels.

Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Buying Rate: N1,300
Selling Rate: N1,290

Naira

Dollar to Naira Black Market Today, April 24th, 2024

As of April 24th, 2024, the exchange rate for the US dollar to the Nigerian Naira stands at 1 USD to 1,260 NGN in the black market, also referred to as the parallel market or Aboki fx.

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Samed Olukoya

As of April 24th, 2024, the exchange rate for the US dollar to the Nigerian Naira stands at 1 USD to 1,260 NGN in the black market, also referred to as the parallel market or Aboki fx.

For those engaging in currency transactions in the Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market), buyers purchase a dollar for N1,250 and sell it at N1,240 on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024 based on information from Bureau De Change (BDC).

Meaning, the Naira exchange rate declined slightly when compared to today’s rate below.

This black market rate signifies the value at which individuals can trade their dollars for Naira outside the official or regulated exchange channels.

Investors and participants closely monitor these parallel market rates for a more immediate reflection of currency dynamics.

How Much is Dollar to Naira Today in the Black Market?

Kindly be aware that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not acknowledge the existence of the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black market.

The CBN has advised individuals seeking to participate in Forex transactions to utilize official banking channels.