FX Strategist

Greg Gibbs

Fundamental analysis of topical themes in FX

Amplifying Global FX Capital

Amplifying Global FX Capital was founded in 2015 and is fully owned by Greg Gibbs. It is a registered company both in Australia and Colorado, USA and is a licensed in Australia to provide financial services.

We are producing a regular trading view orientated macroeconomic analysis of topical themes in global financial markets, with a particular focus on foreign exchange. We invite you to view an “executive summary” of these reports in “AmpGFX Reports” under our “Research” menu.

These reports are drawn from the analysis of Greg Gibbs and inform the capital management he undertakes on behalf of the company. The trading performance is posted periodically on our website. We aim to build our company into both a research and capital management business. We are currently in the planning phase for managing capital for wholesale customers.

Greg Gibbs has spent his working life of more than 26 years in financial markets, beginning in 1989 at the Reserve Bank of Australia, after completing a Bachelor of Economics Degree (Honours) at the Australian National University. He has been a CFA Charterholder since 2005. He has worked in Sydney, Singapore, New York and London for major global banks and presented on foreign exchange markets to major financial institutions and companies around the world, and maintained a high profile in the financial media.

Before Amplifying Global FX Capital, Greg was the Head of Asia Pacific Market Strategy at the Royal Bank of Scotland based Singapore. He now resides in Breckenridge Colorado.

FX & Rates

The USD is weaker as the US election takes on deeply disturbing characteristics that may have long-lived implications for political stability and leadership.  There may be a modest relief rally on a Clinton victory, but fears that her opponents will seek to have her impeached throughout her term in office will keep confidence in check. The USA economy has been growing modestly and lacks clear momentum.  It remains to be seen if it can shake off the political malaise and drive the case for higher interest rates. Outside of the USA, there have been signs of improvement in economic growth in several large emerging economies and Europe.  Industrial and agricultural commodity prices, with the exception of oil, also appear to support the notion of a more favorable supply and demand balance and rising inflation pressure.  This improves the outlook for emerging market and commodity currencies, the EUR and GBP.  The outlook for the USD is less clear, and JPY may weaken as yields tend to rise in other countries.  However, uncertainty remains high on several fronts including, Brexit, oil prices, USA election, and Chinese financial stability.

The USD is weaker as the US election takes on deeply disturbing characteristics that may have long-lived implications for political stability and leadership.  There may be a modest relief rally on a Clinton victory, but fears that her opponents will seek to have her impeached throughout her term in office will keep confidence in check. The USA economy has been growing modestly and lacks clear momentum.  It remains to be seen if it can shake off the political malaise and drive the case for higher interest rates. Outside of the USA, there have been signs of improvement in economic growth in several large emerging economies and Europe.  Industrial and agricultural commodity prices, with the exception of oil, also appear to support the notion of a more favorable supply and demand balance and rising inflation pressure.  This improves the outlook for emerging market and commodity currencies, the EUR and GBP.  The outlook for the USD is less clear, and JPY may weaken as yields tend to rise in other countries.  However, uncertainty remains high on several fronts including, Brexit, oil prices, USA election, and Chinese financial stability.

Improving Growth Outside the USA and Political Instability Inside

The hopes of a clean outcome in the dirtiest USA election in recent memory is dampening investor confidence, undermining US assets and the US dollar.  It’s not just the possibility of a Trump victory undermining confidence, it is the risk that a narrow Clinton victory is undermined by questions of legitimacy, national division, and a partisan Congress.  However, there is more encouraging evidence in global manufacturing surveys and rising commodity prices outside of oil.  These suggest that there is an improvement in the USA and global economy.  Currency markets have for the most part slipped back into choppy patterns with election uncertainty unraveling some promising trends towards a weaker JPY and EUR.  Stronger commodity markets may support AUD and NZD, but they are unlikely to rise much as US election uncertainty rises.

The hopes of a clean outcome in the dirtiest USA election in recent memory is dampening investor confidence, undermining US assets and the US dollar.  It’s not just the possibility of a Trump victory undermining confidence, it is the risk that a narrow Clinton victory is undermined by questions of legitimacy, national division, and a partisan Congress.  However, there is more encouraging evidence in global manufacturing surveys and rising commodity prices outside of oil.  These suggest that there is an improvement in the USA and global economy.  Currency markets have for the most part slipped back into choppy patterns with election uncertainty unraveling some promising trends towards a weaker JPY and EUR.  Stronger commodity markets may support AUD and NZD, but they are unlikely to rise much as US election uncertainty rises.

A Depressing USA Election, Stronger Commodity Prices

German bund yields have tended to lead global bond yields higher over recent months.  UK gilt yields have also risen sharply as a risk premium for a weaker and more volatile GBP is established and the government moves towards an easier fiscal policy, further contributing to higher global yields.  Recent economic activity and inflation indicators (headline CPI and long-term break-evens) in the UK and Eurozone support the rising trend in their yields.  The market continues to expect an extension of QE in the Eurozone and appears more sensitive to any hint that the extension may be limited or the pace of purchases tapered.  The case for higher yields is less clear in the US with mixed economic reports, but activity appears stable and the outlook may improve post-election.  Japanese yields have been much more stable since the BoJ implemented Yield Curve Control.  If the rising trend in global yields persists, we expect Japanese yields to remain more stable, creating higher yield support for other currencies against the JPY.

German bund yields have tended to lead global bond yields higher over recent months.  UK gilt yields have also risen sharply as a risk premium for a weaker and more volatile GBP is established and the government moves towards an easier fiscal policy, further contributing to higher global yields.  Recent economic activity and inflation indicators (headline CPI and long-term break-evens) in the UK and Eurozone support the rising trend in their yields.  The market continues to expect an extension of QE in the Eurozone and appears more sensitive to any hint that the extension may be limited or the pace of purchases tapered.  The case for higher yields is less clear in the US with mixed economic reports, but activity appears stable and the outlook may improve post-election.  Japanese yields have been much more stable since the BoJ implemented Yield Curve Control.  If the rising trend in global yields persists, we expect Japanese yields to remain more stable, creating higher yield support for other currencies against the JPY.

Bund Yields Leading Global Yields Higher, Lifting EUR/JPY Yield Support

The CNY is still one of the least volatile currencies in Asia, but it has become more volatile and is the weakest in Asia this year.  Since the beginning of the year, The Chinese government has moved to emphasize management of its exchange rate against a basket of other currencies.  Their official basket includes significant components for EUR, JPY, and GBP.  As such, even though the CNY has depreciated significantly against the USD, it has been stable against its basket since July.  Nevertheless, China did allow the CNY to depreciate steadily against its basket in the first half of the year, and it appears to be pursuing a weaker exchange rate policy.  Chinese citizens and company capital outflow has persistent at a moderate pace this year, kept under control by capital flow restrictions.  However, in recent months it has picked up to a high since January when adding inflows from onshore to offshore RMB. These flows do not appear be causing severe liquidity problems for Chinese capital markets or wider global risk aversion, but they do point to underlying weakness in Chinese economic confidence and may be contributing to strength in the USD against other currencies.

The CNY is still one of the least volatile currencies in Asia, but it has become more volatile and is the weakest in Asia this year.  Since the beginning of the year, The Chinese government has moved to emphasize management of its exchange rate against a basket of other currencies.  Their official basket includes significant components for EUR, JPY, and GBP.  As such, even though the CNY has depreciated significantly against the USD, it has been stable against its basket since July.  Nevertheless, China did allow the CNY to depreciate steadily against its basket in the first half of the year, and it appears to be pursuing a weaker exchange rate policy.  Chinese citizens and company capital outflow has persistent at a moderate pace this year, kept under control by capital flow restrictions.  However, in recent months it has picked up to a high since January when adding inflows from onshore to offshore RMB. These flows do not appear be causing severe liquidity problems for Chinese capital markets or wider global risk aversion, but they do point to underlying weakness in Chinese economic confidence and may be contributing to strength in the USD against other currencies.

Weaker CNY Inducing More China Capital Outflow and Reinforcing USD Strength

Looking over the map, recent USD gains are less about renewed strength in the US economy and more about weaker trends in JPY, GBP and EUR spilling over to several emerging markets through direct links to their currencies or via currency basket regimes.  Commodity currencies and some emerging market currencies that are less influenced by these weaker major currencies, with more stable political environments, have performed solidly against the USD. We may continue to see weakness in non-dollar major currencies, provided the US economy and rates outlook remains stable. And we may see more spillover to some EM currencies in coming weeks.  Both EUR and JPY appear to be developing more sustained weaker trends and they may have some way to unwind excess gains in the first half of the year as vicious cycles turn to virtuous ones (related to rising global bond yields).  In essence, their currencies may weaken in response to their negative interest rates, improving inflation expectations, and a sense that their easy monetary policies are succeeding in holding down real yields. This may tend to perpetuate the recent trend towards a weaker EUR and JPY and relatively strong, if not outright strength, in commodity currencies. However, higher global bond yields may also tend to undermine currencies that have relied on flows into their bond market from investors seeking higher yield in an, until recent weeks, diminishing global yield environment.

Looking over the map, recent USD gains are less about renewed strength in the US economy and more about weaker trends in JPY, GBP and EUR spilling over to several emerging markets through direct links to their currencies or via currency basket regimes.  Commodity currencies and some emerging market currencies that are less influenced by these weaker major currencies, with more stable political environments, have performed solidly against the USD. We may continue to see weakness in non-dollar major currencies, provided the US economy and rates outlook remains stable. And we may see more spillover to some EM currencies in coming weeks.  Both EUR and JPY appear to be developing more sustained weaker trends and they may have some way to unwind excess gains in the first half of the year as vicious cycles turn to virtuous ones (related to rising global bond yields).  In essence, their currencies may weaken in response to their negative interest rates, improving inflation expectations, and a sense that their easy monetary policies are succeeding in holding down real yields. This may tend to perpetuate the recent trend towards a weaker EUR and JPY and relatively strong, if not outright strength, in commodity currencies. However, higher global bond yields may also tend to undermine currencies that have relied on flows into their bond market from investors seeking higher yield in an, until recent weeks, diminishing global yield environment. 

Weaker EUR & JPY, Stronger Commodity Currencies

United States

The euro is the official currency of the European Economic & Monetary Union.  The US dollar is the official currency of the United States of America.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

EURO/US DOLLAR (EURUSD CURNCY)

Improving Growth Outside the USA and Political Instability Inside

The USD is weaker as the US election takes on deeply disturbing characteristics that may have long-lived implications for political stability and...

Greg Gibbs

A Depressing USA Election, Stronger Commodity Prices

The hopes of a clean outcome in the dirtiest USA election in recent memory is dampening investor confidence, undermining US assets and the US...

Greg Gibbs

Bund Yields Leading Global Yields Higher, Lifting EUR/JPY Yield Support

German bund yields have tended to lead global bond yields higher over recent months. UK gilt yields have also risen sharply as a risk premium for...

Greg Gibbs

Weaker CNY Inducing More China Capital Outflow and Reinforcing USD Strength

The CNY is still one of the least volatile currencies in Asia, but it has become more volatile and is the weakest in Asia this year. Since the...

Greg Gibbs

Weaker EUR & JPY, Stronger Commodity Currencies

Looking over the map, recent USD gains are less about renewed strength in the US economy and more about weaker trends in JPY, GBP and EUR spilling...

Greg Gibbs

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)