Goody Traders
2023-12-14, the SNB keeps its key interest rate at 1.75%.
2023-12-14, the BoE keeps its key interest rate at 5.25%.
2023-12-14, the ECB keeps its key interest rate at 4.75%.
Mr. Martin Schlegel, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, together with Thomas Jordan, President of the Board of Directors of the Swiss National Bank, announced the Swiss key interest rate at a press conference. Thomas Moser was also on the podium at the ‚media talk‘. He had to answer a question about investments in US fracking oil to what extent this was compatible with the SNB’s investment criterias. One questioner wanted to know how in detail the foreign exchange market operations mentioned take place. Jordan noted that they did not want to continue selling the franc, but instead wanted to initiate gentle easing with a higher limit and lower factor (Peaking out Tightening).
Me, calling the latter easing, because increased inflation – the Covid pandemic, supply chain shortages – is probably off the table for the cantons. However, inflation is still not contained in other Swiss countries, which could cause external inflation to swap over into Swiss via imports. Despite all optimism, negative growth (GDP) cannot be completely ruled out.
Overall, I assume (at least 75% probability), given the information delivered, relaxed feel’n’touch about the given answers , that the rate hike cycle in Switzerland has been completed.
But the really big thing was the announcement by Dr. M. Schlegel said that Switzerland’s digital central bank money has now become a reality, with all the advantages of a token system. Transactions in seconds, cashless payments as usual, easy implementation of smart contract solutions, security of a legal means of payment, availability of cash continues, quick, easy, cheap, rugged, safe.
This was nothing short of a historic moment in financial history!
The Bank of England also maintained its key interest rate, but London decided not to hold a press conference hereabout. There was already a corresponding question-and-answer session at Christmas on December 6, 2023, when the Financial Stability Report was announced. We see the British pound bottoming out across the FX board, with London still in good hands. London 100 Stock Exchage Support S@6.800 and Resistant R@8.400.
Bailey’s comments on algorithmic trading come across as somewhat behind of the curve. He tries to distinguish between vague security concerns and an inadequate risk picture with regard to AI-supported trading. In the reality of automated trading, however, AI-supported optimizations have been standard for decades. Here, trading strategies written in programming language are optimized using historical market data while altering changeable variables (mathematical approximation function).
Being able to do something pioneer seems to remain something “punishable”. Never mind to thank the programmers. No matter how much offshore the BoE can hide. There are countless most questionable flows of money for which BoE count responsibility for but don’t give a damn. Bailey needs a sacrificial cathode to distract from the fragile pound. What the farmer does not know, he does not eat…(German proverb)
Despite recovering from a Covid infection, C. Lagarde bites into the lectern; but only for selfish reasons. Trivializeing and advocating actions against modern societies by the ‚unter mensch‘ moslem, which ones are even glorified as “freedom fighteing heros” by Ankara. Who if not the undependend one Christine Lagarde (she doesn’t depend on voters sympathy) should shout out loud against those kind of fellows?
Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine and the tragic conflict in the Middle East are key sources of geopolitical risk.
Russia is waging an unjustified war against Ukraine, while the Israelis, she believes, are merely want to get rid of a „banal“ conflict (not tired of babaric terror from the Scharia-neighbors all the way down until WW1 ?!).
Not a word against Geert Wilders and the rise of his right wing in the Netherlands. No comment on the undermined maritime law by the nationalists of Italy, represented by Miss Meloni. A shallow, spineless blueprint at the top of the ECB? I’m not sure…
At least there is (finally) movement around the development of a digital central bank money (Central Bank Digital Currency, CBDC). Our Euro-System will combine all the advantages of blockchain network technology with the stability of a central bank currency.
Lagarde should have spoken out more vehemently against cryptocurrencies. Instead, she readies the nest for the rebels and terrorists, proceeds making everyone happy, but in a lovely manner. A true soul in high finance, but also objection Mrs. Lagarde, a courageous and convinced capitalist speaks differently!
More details and my outlook on the FX Exchange as always for Premium Members.
Sincerely Yours, Ben
Gleich geht’s weiter.
