Risk sentiment remained buoyant, leading to a decline in the US dollar during a quiet trading session. Gains were driven primarily by risk-sensitive commodity currencies and the British pound, while the Japanese yen and Swiss franc underperformed.
Precious Metals Rally
Gold prices surpassed $2,350 per ounce, and silver surged by 4.5% to above $31 on Monday. This marked a significant rebound from the previous session's two-week low of $2,330 per ounce for gold. The rally was supported by safe-haven demand as markets continued to assess the Federal Reserve's policy outlook. Both metals are poised to maintain substantial gains for the month of May.
US Treasuries and Federal Reserve Insights
Following an extended weekend, cash trading for U.S. Treasuries reopened, with market participants eagerly anticipating insights from Federal Reserve officials. These insights could offer clues about the timing of the anticipated interest rate reductions. The yield on the 2-year U.S. Treasury note marginally declined by one basis point to 4.94%, while the yield on the 10-year note remained unchanged at 4.46%.
Upcoming Bond Auctions and Federal Reserve Speakers
Both Japan and Australia are preparing to conduct bond auctions in the near term. A lineup of Federal Reserve speakers is scheduled for today, including Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester and Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, who are set to address an audience at a Bank of Japan event.
News Highlights
- Oil Prices Rise: Oil prices increased by 1% ahead of upcoming inflation data after experiencing a downbeat week (Reuters).
- Japan's Net External Assets: Japan's net external assets hit a record high in 2023, maintaining its status as the world's top creditor (Reuters).
- Gold Recovery: Gold recouped from a two-week low as traders focused on U.S. inflation data (CNBC).
- US Stock Futures: U.S. stock futures edged higher in slim trade as Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data approaches (Investing).
- ECB Interest Rate Cut: European Central Bank’s Rehn suggested that the time is ripe to cut interest rates next week (CNBC).
In summary, the upbeat risk sentiment bolstered commodity currencies and precious metals, with gold and silver experiencing significant gains. Market participants are closely monitoring Federal Reserve statements and upcoming bond auctions, which are expected to provide further direction for the financial markets.