Market Sentiments Stays Fragile: Equity Traders Seek Direction as the USD Rallies

A rebound in the USD might trigger risk ventures in today’s Asia-Pacific markets. During the early hours of today, the US stock indexes traded with volatility when the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average surged after a very negative beginning.

However, the surge was but for a while, as the S&P 500 and DJI closed 0.20% and 0.14% lower, respectively, yet, the surge was quite impressive. The market has lost enthusiasm and sentiments about the Fed’s upcoming decision. The Federal Reserve’s Mary Daly, a dovish official, stated that more rate increases are needed.

Gold and silver prices fell again, the white metal feeling a heavy fall effect, falling around 0.5% and 2%, respectively. The gold and silver ratio was pushed back above the 82 levels and its 200-week Simple Moving Average (SMA). Copper prices were quite higher and were not affected by a stronger USD. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow Q3 forecast rose to 2.7% from 2.3%, showing improved odds for a soft landing, which bodes well for the industrial metal.

In Chicago, cotton prices closed at the lowest level since July 2021 after falling over 5% against the US Dollar, reducing export demand. Lean hog futures surged over 4%, bringing prices off a multi-month low earlier this week as traders start to price in thinning US herd numbers. Coffee prices rose for a second day, and palm oil prices gained over 3%.

NZD/USD surged around 0.5% in the EU and US trading session after the RBNZ’s hawkish hike, with the policy statement indicating that the bank considered a larger 75-bps hike stating: “The Committee considered whether to increase the OCR by 50 or 75 basis points at this meeting. Some members highlighted that a larger increase in the OCR now would reduce the likelihood of a higher peak in the OCR being required.” AUD/NZD is on the way to a third daily loss.