Australian dollar improved its positions against U.S. dollar and Japanese yen today after the very successful Asian/Australian stock markets session and some promising report on the country’s economy.
Pound sterling is experiencing a continuous downfall that started more than a month ago in earlier November. GBP/USD has lost more 5.8% since November 9 - when it reached its maximum value in many years.
After two other European central banks decided to hold their current interest rates, Czech and Polish banks chose to follow the same way and didn’t change their reference interest rates despite the fact that they both raised the rates at the end of November.
Swedish central bank left the main interest rate unchanged at 4.00% during the meeting of the Executive Board on 18 December.
The United States Treasury International Capital report showed that China has been selling its Treasuries for a third month in a row in October 2007, which may signal for the start of the funds diversification.
The Japanese yen fell against majority of the world currencies on the rising risk appetites of the global and Japanese investors along with the extremely low probability for the rate hike by the central bank of Japan.
Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Hungarian Central Bank) decided today during the Monetary Council’s meeting to hold the main refinancing interest rate at the same level - 7.50%, after the last cut made from 7.75% by MNB on September 25.
Canadian dollar declined to its 3-month lowest value against U.S. dollar this week continuing the correction, which began on November 7. USD/CAD gained about 1.3 percent this week going up from 1.0040 to 1.0170 making it sixth bullish week in a row - first such bullish sequence since February-March of this year.
Yesterday Chilean central bank increased its interest rate by 0.25 basis points up to 6.0%. It was the first rate hike in Chile since September 13 this year.
Swiss National Bank chose to keep the national three-month Libor (interest rate) unchanged at 2.75% after it was increased by 0.25% back in September 2007. After this announcement Swiss franc gained a little against all other major currencies except the Japanese yen.