Iran stated, 'There are currently no negotiations taking place between Iran and the U.S.,' while Trump remarked that he is 'handling it quietly.'
Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that there are currently “no negotiations whatsoever” between Iran and the United States, with both sides communicating only through intermediaries. Meanwhile, Trump said he is “keeping a low profile” on the Iran issue, noting that the U.S. is engaged in “semi-negotiations” and prefers economic pressure over military escalation. Negotiations between Iran and Oman on a temporary shipping corridor have entered their final stage, but Tehran emphasized that this is unrelated to the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which remains contingent upon the U.S. meeting a series of stringent conditions, including troop withdrawal, compensation, and sanctions relief.
U.S. Treasury Secretary deploys 'three-pronged approach' to stabilize U.S. Treasuries: coordinated intervention in yen markets, adjusted debt issuance rhetoric, and strong endorsement of Warsh—Wall Street senses rising anxiety
Wall Street has picked up a clear signal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s flurry of actions over the past week—that he is deploying every available tool to prevent long-term interest rates from rising further.
Surprise! U.S. nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly declined by 23,000 in July, with previous two months' figures revised down by a total of 103,000, dampening expectations for further rate hikes.
Expected to rise by 80,000 but plunged by 23,000 instead! The latest U.S. nonfarm payroll data unexpectedly cooled significantly—has a September rate hike become nothing more than wishful thinking?
The U.S. nonfarm payrolls report is set for release tonight at 20:30! Could weak data fuel rising expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut?
The U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for July will be released this Friday, with markets expecting an increase of 83,000 jobs and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.2%. ② Recent leading indicators have been weak, and multiple institutions anticipate that July’s nonfarm payrolls will fall short of expectations; the current pattern of “low hiring, low layoffs” is significantly impacting young job seekers. ③ If labor market weakness persists, the Federal Reserve’s policy trade-off calculus could shift later this year.
Nonfarm payrolls arrive tonight at 20:30! Wall Street forecasts diverge: 18,000 or 80,000? Markets brace for high volatility.
The U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for July is set to be released tonight, with Wall Street forecasts ranging widely from 18,000 to 83,000, signaling imminent market volatility. With the Federal Reserve's policy path still uncertain and risks of Japanese yen intervention looming, the cost of dollar options has quietly risen to a recent high, as investors brace for potential surprises.
USD/ZAR Has Been Silently But Steadily Declining-And the Outlook Favours the Rand
After Trump threatened a 'fierce strike,' Iran stated that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened immediately.
Iran stated that its talks with Oman concerned only coordination on vessel passage and were unrelated to the United States, adding that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz still hinges on the U.S. rectifying its 'violations.' Earlier, Trump claimed the strait would be opened 'very soon,' warning that Iran would otherwise face 'fierce strikes.'
U.S. Treasury Secretary Backs Waller: No Need to Raise Rates Now; Reduced Forward Guidance Requires a 'Detox Period'!
① U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that interest rate hikes are unnecessary and defended Fed Chair Volcker, saying it was prudent for him to avoid offering forward guidance; ② Volcker did not outline a specific path to achieving the 2% inflation target, leading markets to question the credibility of his commitment, with rising long-term U.S. Treasury yields signaling diminished confidence in the Federal Reserve.
U.S.-Japan Joint Intervention: A New 'Plaza Accord,' the Dawn of Bretton Woods II, and the End of the Yen Carry Trade Era
The United States and Japan have launched an unprecedented joint intervention in the foreign exchange market to support the yen, driving the yen’s exchange rate up sharply from a near 40-year low to 157.40 within two days. As Japan is forced to sell U.S. Treasury securities to defend its currency, and as major technology firms shift from being providers of savings to consumers of credit, the decades-old yen carry trade logic underpinning the global financial system is collapsing—ushering in a transformative realignment of the global macroeconomic architecture.
U.S. June PCE monthly rate unexpectedly turned negative! Q2 GDP growth slowed—but is there more than meets the eye?
On the surface, the annualized growth rate of U.S. GDP in the second quarter slowed to 1.5%, but the reality beneath is quite different. Additionally, the U.S. PCE price index recorded its first monthly decline since 2020 in June...
The Federal Reserve's decision arrives tonight at 2:00 a.m.! Wall Street is closely watching these four key points...
① Will there be a rate hike tonight? ② How many votes will favor a rate hike? ③ How will the Fed’s statement be revised? ④ What will Waller say?
The most uncertain one in years! Will the Federal Reserve deliver a 'scare' at 2:00 a.m. tonight?
The Federal Reserve is highly likely to hold rates steady tonight, but this could be the most turbulent 'pause' in recent years. Money markets are pricing in a 32% probability of a rate hike, and UBS Group economists have explicitly stated that uncertainty is at its highest level in two decades. Internal hawkish divisions are widening, Kevin Warsh's policy stance remains enigmatic, and institutions such as Citadel have already taken clear positions betting on a surprise rate increase. JPMorgan estimates that if the Fed raises rates by 25 basis points, the S&P 500 could plunge by more than 2%—tonight, even 'no change' itself could trigger market turbulence.
Bank of America: August Could Mark the Start of the 'Most Challenging Three Months' for U.S. Equities, Creating Opportunities for the U.S. Dollar and Gold
According to a Bank of America report, historical data indicates that August through October is historically the weakest period for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 posting an average return close to zero; defensive assets such as the U.S. dollar, U.S. Treasuries, and gold typically perform strongly during this window, while energy assets may also gain strength against the broader market trend. Although the risk of a late-summer pullback intensifies, it is expected to pave the way for a robust rally beginning in November.
The Federal Reserve's decision-making process has shifted from 'chair-led guidance' to 'committee deliberation,' significantly increasing the difficulty of reaching consensus.
The U.S. Treasury market is sending a clear signal to Federal Reserve Chair Waller: tough rhetoric alone may not be sufficient to stabilize market expectations on inflation.
South African Rand Falls in Aftermath of Rate Decision -- Market Talk
‘The Fed’s Whisperer’: The July FOMC meeting is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent years.
Resurgent oil prices, heightened risks from U.S. tariff policies, and some officials shifting toward supporting rate hikes are challenging the consensus to hold interest rates steady.
Probability of a rate hike rises above 30%! With one week to go until the Fed’s decision, is the market completely baffled?
① The Federal Reserve, led by Kevin Warsh, has already begun leaving its mark on financial markets—just days ahead of the Fed’s next meeting, traders remain divided over whether the central bank will raise interest rates... ② Data from the interest rate swaps market shows that traders now estimate a roughly 31% probability that the Fed will hike its benchmark rate by 25 basis points at next week’s policy meeting, and a 69% chance it will hold rates steady.
European Central Bank policy rate announcement, Canadian retail sales, Eurozone consumer confidence index, etc. (23rd)
Note: Figures represent market consensus and previous values. -------------------------------------------------------------------- July 23 (Thu) Domestic 10:10 JGB purchase operations (remaining maturity: 1–3 years, 5–10 years, 10–25 years) (Bank of Japan) 11:00 Tokyo Kantei releases used condominium price index (June) Overseas 08:00 Korea GDP (Q2 Apr–Jun): 3.6% (consensus: 3.8%)
Halftime: Financing Boom vs. Tight Liquidity
Following the mid-point, market performance is expected to broaden within the upper arm of a K-shaped recovery driven by safety and investment themes. In addition to AI hardware, sectors such as AI applications, industrials, and commodities are also poised to enter their next phase of growth.
Brent crude surges above $90! Risk of uncontrolled U.S.-Iran conflict escalates sharply, with three U.S. military personnel killed in two days—Trump faces a critical test.
Trump previously warned Iran that it would face a stronger response if it killed U.S. military personnel. Now, with consecutive U.S. military deaths and escalating attacks between both sides, tensions in the Middle East are once again approaching a dangerous tipping point.