China

Crude Oil Week Ahead: After OPEC’s fifth downward revision for 2024 oil forecasts and additional cuts for 2025, crude oil prices stabilized near their 4-year support zone, buoyed by China’s stimulus commitments and significant Middle East reforms. Will it hold on FOMC week?

Crude Oil, Gold Forecast: Following China’s commitment to a moderately loose monetary policy in 2025, demand sentiment for Chinese oil and gold has surged, pushing crude oil above $70 and gold above $2,700. Middle East tensions continue to reinforce support levels for these commodities as drastic regional developments unfold.

Gold prices have shown a 6% growth since November, reaching the $2,700 per troy ounce level once again.

China's stock markets were given a nice bump on Monday after the Politburo announced an easing of policy stance. This allowed AUD/JPY and USD/JPY to deliver strong bounce from key support levels, as the yen weakened during a risk-on session for FX and commodities.

Crude Oil Forecast: The December 2021 support level remains a key factor amid shifting data on US inventories, Middle East conflicts and ceasefire hopes, economic indicators, and supply quotas. Will it hold through 2024?

Crude Oil Week Ahead: Crude oil wrapped up the third week of October with a sharp 9% loss, driven by weaker Chinese economic data and reduced concerns about oil supply disruptions. Looking ahead, key events between Chinese policies, BRICS, and PMIs are expected to influence crude oil’s trajectory in the coming week.

Crude Oil Forecast: Crude oil is currently hovering around the $70 mark, caught between bearish momentum driven by a declining demand outlook and supply disruption risks, particularly in the Middle East.

China’s A50 index is mirroring the 2014-2015 surge, the last time policymakers enacted coordinated fiscal/monetary/macroprudential stimulus measures - what does that mean moving forward?

Japan’s Nikki 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng have been like chalk and cheese coming out of the pandemic. As one surged, the other floundered. But the tide looks to be turning, and fast.

With the influence of the Chinese yuan stet to increase further, this primer looks at the PBOC's USD/CNY daily ‘fix’, an event every trader should become familiar with given its importance to currency markets.

Iron ore futures are in an increasingly ugly bear market, spiraling lower since the beginning of the year after defying bears for what seemed to be an eternity in 2023. With the price catching up to what fundamentals had been warning for months, traders are wondering how far the move can extend?

The bear market in Chinese equities may be coming a state-endorsed end with A50 futures breaking the downtrend dating back to early 2021 earlier this week. The 200-day moving average may be the next bearish indicator to give way, bolstering the view that the lows may have already been seen.

China’s state-endorsed equity market recovery continues to go from strength to strength, building upon a lengthy and growing list of measures being rolled out by policymakers designed to coerce traders into buying. Perhaps the broader bear market trend may be coming to an end?

A bearish reversal pattern has formed on USD/CNH which implies a move down to 7.10. And if the yuan continues to strengthen, it could see the yen follow and scupper USD/JPY attempt at breaking 152.

Hang Seng futures don’t look like they’re about to embark on a face-ripping rally, no matter how cheap valuations are and no matter how much government encouragement is doled out.

China’s “National Team”, the nickname given to state-backed entities tasked with rescuing markets, are doubling their efforts, upping purchases of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) while restricting certain undesirable activities detrimental to stock prices. So far, indices such as the A50 are rallying.

There is a real confidence problem right now towards China. And while the underlying reasons are complex, the easiest way to change the prevailing bearish narrative is for the price action to turnaround. Price leads narrative.