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.

Macroeconomics

US Equities recovered and the USD is generally firmer.&nbsp; However, US retail sector equities recovered less than half of their sharp loss on Friday, and question-marks must remain over the strength of USA retail sales.&nbsp; US rates are still off their peak on Wednesday&nbsp;last week.&nbsp; EUR is weaker as prospects for ECB easing build, probably enhanced by the terrible events in Paris last week. As such, we continue to see downside risk for EUR/JPY.&nbsp; Copper prices fell sharply to new lows since 2009, iron ore prices are scrapping the lows since July again, while Chinese steel prices continue a gradual slide.&nbsp;&nbsp; The market is not paying enough heed to the downside risk to Australian growth.

US Equities recovered and the USD is generally firmer.&nbsp; However, US retail sector equities recovered less than half of their sharp loss on Friday, and question-marks must remain over the strength of USA retail sales.&nbsp; US rates are still off their peak on Wednesday&nbsp;last week.&nbsp; EUR is weaker as prospects for ECB easing build, probably enhanced by the terrible events in Paris last week. As such, we continue to see downside risk for EUR/JPY.&nbsp; Copper prices fell sharply to new lows since 2009, iron ore prices are scrapping the lows since July again, while Chinese steel prices continue a gradual slide.&nbsp;&nbsp; The market is not paying enough heed to the downside risk to Australian growth.

AmpGFX - Dr Copper Prognosis Is Negative

Little changed to support the rebound in EUR and weakness in the USD on Thursday.&nbsp; In fact dovish ECB comments and on-message statements from senior Fed members suggest the policy divergence is likely to intensify next month.&nbsp; Eurozone industrial production showed a flat trend in recent quarters and US labour data were firm.&nbsp; Eurozone GDP and US retail sales today in focus. A comparison of CAD and AUD reveal much in common, we see downside pressure persisting for both.&nbsp; Weaker oil prices an immediate threat for CAD.&nbsp; Bank of Canada speech tonight in focus.&nbsp; Australian RBA minutes and wage data next week pose downside risk for the AUD.

Little changed to support the rebound in EUR and weakness in the USD on Thursday.&nbsp; In fact dovish ECB comments and on-message statements from senior Fed members suggest the policy divergence is likely to intensify next month.&nbsp; Eurozone industrial production showed a flat trend in recent quarters and US labour data were firm.&nbsp; Eurozone GDP and US retail sales today in focus. A comparison of CAD and AUD reveal much in common, we see downside pressure persisting for both.&nbsp; Weaker oil prices an immediate threat for CAD.&nbsp; Bank of Canada speech tonight in focus.&nbsp; Australian RBA minutes and wage data next week pose downside risk for the AUD.

The AUD is being pulled harder in opposite directions with the labour data suggesting the non-mining sector is coming to life, but weaker commodity demand in China and weak energy prices are dragging harder from below; best to stay on the side-lines for now.&nbsp; Oil prices appear to be responding to concerns over too much supply.&nbsp; The ECB has said low oil prices are a contributing factor to its assessment that more policy easing may be required. We stick to our weaker EUR view, as other major CBs are more prepared to look through the dis-inflation risk.

The AUD is being pulled harder in opposite directions with the labour data suggesting the non-mining sector is coming to life, but weaker commodity demand in China and weak energy prices are dragging harder from below; best to stay on the side-lines for now.&nbsp; Oil prices appear to be responding to concerns over too much supply.&nbsp; The ECB has said low oil prices are a contributing factor to its assessment that more policy easing may be required. We stick to our weaker EUR view, as other major CBs are more prepared to look through the dis-inflation risk.

AmpGFX - AUD pulled harder in opposite directions

The Chinese trade and industrial activity data are consistent with weaker steel sector assets and commodity prices and this may contribute to further medium term weakness in the AUD.&nbsp; However, the Australian employment data represents a short term upside risk for the currency with recent activity indicators solid and scope for this data to significantly surprise on the topside.

The Chinese trade and industrial activity data are consistent with weaker steel sector assets and commodity prices and this may contribute to further medium term weakness in the AUD.&nbsp; However, the Australian employment data represents a short term upside risk for the currency with recent activity indicators solid and scope for this data to significantly surprise on the topside.

AmpGFX - Australian employment data present upside risk for the AUD

The US labour data were strong enough along with faster wage growth to generate discussion of rate hikes beyond the now very probable December hike.&nbsp; This has pushed two-year US rates to a new cyclical high, widening the USD yield advantage in particular against the EUR and JPY to new cyclical wides.&nbsp; The US economy is showing resilience to weaker emerging markets and a weaker energy sector and should continue to support the USD into next year.&nbsp; The Chinese trade data continues to show pressures on external and internal demand.&nbsp; Iron ore import volume was weaker and combined with a steady decline in Chinese steel prices and production, point to a weaker outlook for the AUD.&nbsp; The RBA has downgraded its view on China in recent months acknowledging that heavy industrial sectors may be weaker than the official industrial production data suggest, and worrying that Chinese government efforts to support fixed asset investment in the last year have failed to arrest the decline.&nbsp; The Australian employment and Chinese activity data will be key for near term direction in the AUD.

The US labour data were strong enough along with faster wage growth to generate discussion of rate hikes beyond the now very probable December hike.&nbsp; This has pushed two-year US rates to a new cyclical high, widening the USD yield advantage in particular against the EUR and JPY to new cyclical wides.&nbsp; The US economy is showing resilience to weaker emerging markets and a weaker energy sector and should continue to support the USD into next year.&nbsp; The Chinese trade data continues to show pressures on external and internal demand.&nbsp; Iron ore import volume was weaker and combined with a steady decline in Chinese steel prices and production, point to a weaker outlook for the AUD.&nbsp; The RBA has downgraded its view on China in recent months acknowledging that heavy industrial sectors may be weaker than the official industrial production data suggest, and worrying that Chinese government efforts to support fixed asset investment in the last year have failed to arrest the decline.&nbsp; The Australian employment and Chinese activity data will be key for near term direction in the AUD.

AmpGFX - RBA more nervous over China outlook

Australia

iShares MSCI Australia ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF tracks the performance of the MSCI Australia Index. The ETF holds predominantly large-cap stocks from Australian companies. The ETF weights the holdings using a market capitalization methodology and rebalances quarterly.

iShares MSCI Australia (EWA US)

AmpGFX - Dr Copper Prognosis Is Negative

US Equities recovered and the USD is generally firmer. However, US retail sector equities recovered less than half of their sharp loss on Friday,...

Greg Gibbs

AmpGFX - CAD and AUD in the hot-seat

Little changed to support the rebound in EUR and weakness in the USD on Thursday. In fact dovish ECB comments and on-message statements from...

Greg Gibbs

AmpGFX - AUD pulled harder in opposite directions

The AUD is being pulled harder in opposite directions with the labour data suggesting the non-mining sector is coming to life, but weaker commodity...

Greg Gibbs

AmpGFX - Australian employment data present upside risk for the AUD

The Chinese trade and industrial activity data are consistent with weaker steel sector assets and commodity prices and this may contribute to...

Greg Gibbs

AmpGFX - RBA more nervous over China outlook

The US labour data were strong enough along with faster wage growth to generate discussion of rate hikes beyond the now very probable December...

Greg Gibbs