The big news will be the G-7. If the markets get a sense that there's somebody out there who will do something to prevent the dollar from falling further, I think people will be relieved.
There wasn't all that much of a surprise there. Clearly the risk is still there for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
As far as the Fed goes, it really isn't inflation on the ground that's a concern, it's inflation down the road. For a very long time, they've offset that with global concerns, but there doesn't appear to be any more world crises to worry about.
People are infatuated with candles, they're using them more than ever.
I'd thought they wouldn't want to sort of venture there again, given that all is not perfect on the commodity price front.
That's certainly going to be the critical number. A number indicating employment growth, particularly increases in wages, could prompt the Fed to move by the end of this month.
But against the backdrop of improvements in commodity prices, the fact the Canadian dollar has been rallying and the long end of the market had already priced it in, they thought, 'Listen, our rates should be below U.S. rates. Our inflation is lower and we're well behind in the economic cycle.'
The dollar-yen relationship is still the forefront issue in most people's minds. There's a fear for both stocks and bonds that if the depreciation continues there will be less appeal for U.S. dollar-denominated assets.
The market is concerned about not if, but how much over the course of the year the Fed will move. There's been a lot of discussion about more than one rate increase, which is what's concerning the markets.
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