With the Federal Reserve confirming its outlook by maintaining it will remain “data dependent” and wait for inflation expectations to be firmly anchored before raising rates, weakening economic fundamentals are raising the stakes for the Central Bank. Poor fourth quarter GDP performance and mixed housing data failed to dent the rebound in the US dollar with strong employment data leading the charge. Equities were mostly unmoved by the worse than expected GDP numbers and revision lower in first quarter expectations, with the bigger move felt in precious metals and energy. Boosted by a weak dollar earlier in the week, gold fell below the key $1200 level while crude retreated back below $50 per barrel despite threats of a ground invasion of Yemen. So far, Saudi Arabia has stuck Houthi forces loyal to Iran with airstrikes in conjunction with Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Dollar Bounce Survives Weak GDP Print
Daily Analysis - 30/03/2015