USD and Yen back in favor

The Euro rally which saw the common European currency reach a 1,3165 high, seems to have come to a definite halt this morning with Euro/USD trading at 1.2820. Manufacturing data from China and Japan weighed in on market sentiment after a weekend with mass demonstrations against austerity measures in Greece, Spain, Portugal and France. Uncertainty about Spain’s bailout saw MSCI index of Asia-Pacific fall 0,4 percent after similar drops on Dow Jones and Nasdaq in New York on Friday.   

Apple Inc (AAPL O) was the big mover on news it sold out its new iPhone 5 Smartphone. Apple announced more than five million smart phones sold in the three days since it hit stores. Apple fell, however, 2,1 percent to  USD 685 on analysts concern that the company was unable to produce the phone fast enough to meet demand. Japan’s Nikkei fell to its lowest level in three weeks after profit warnings from some of the Japanese heavy weights.

Commodities led by Nickel and Copper are down on a stronger dollar. Gold (1765) and silver (43,28) also drop along with oil. Brent crude is down one dollar after reaching USD 112,50 on Friday. The Euro lost its momentum against the USD after a disappointing survey on German business sentiment.  Spain and Greece further undermined the strength of the euro zone common currency. The German business sentiment is at its lowest level since early 2010. 

The weak sentiment in the European markets is playing into the hands of traditional “safe haven” currencies as USD and JPY. The European Central Bank, ECB, is meeting again this week.  It is expected that the interest rate would be kept at the same level and more details are going to be revealed on the bon buying scheme the ECB presented in August. 

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