Forex Fundamental Analysis

The US economy produced 138000 new jobs last month (May), considerably fewer than the 180000 positions that analysts had been anticipating.

Last week was the final trading session for May from the perspective of these summaries. It was a positive affair for the world’s major markets with only the FTSE standing still.

Those with a good memory will recall that both the Irish and Spanish financial crises had an over-heating property market at the eye of the storm.

There has been increased volatility in the value of Sterling against other major currencies with a general trend towards lower values this week.

The Nuffield Trust, engaging their crystal ball, estimates that were the tens of thousands of expat retirees to return to the UK post Brexit that the cost for their care would double to £1 billion.

The initial reading of US Q1 growth, which is always presented on an annualised basis, came in at 0.7%.

Last week was the final trading session for May 2017 from the perspective of these summaries. It was a largely positive affair for the world’s major markets with only the Dax losing ground.

The initial reading of UK first quarter economic activity suggested a sharp decline in the rate of expansion of the economy from the previous quarter.

Credit ratings agencies can be thought of as “bookies” to the financial investment community.

Donald Trump won the US election by taking the populist path, blaming “elites” and vested interests in the Washington “swamp” for all the ills that afflict the American economy and, perhaps, the American psyche.

Portugal was the third nation to need an IMF/Eurozone bailout loan during the worst of the Global Financial Crisis after Greece and Ireland.

Last week was a negative affair for the world’s major markets with only the FTSE gaining ground.

The above notwithstanding, the Japanese economy grew by 0.5% in Q1, giving an annualised growth rate of 2.2% which is the best growth seen for a year. To highlight the above (in part, at least), the current period of growth now represent the best sustained growth that Japan has experienced in over a decade.

Despite Mrs May’s protests during her electioneering yesterday that the Pound was falling before Brexit (depends on the time window that you consider, of course), the decision that the UK would be leaving the EU put a strong downwards momentum on Sterling.

A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters where the GDP of a nation falls. By this definition, the Greek economy fell back into recession in Q1 2017.