• September 20, 2024

F/X trades while central banks adjust policy: Portfolio manager

The Japanese yen (JPY=X) weakened against the US dollar on Friday after the Bank of Japan left its interest rates unchanged. The central bank signaled that it can take its time when deciding to hike rates again as its economy remains on track compared to the uncertainty in the US. Lauren van Biljon, Allspring Global Investments portfolio manager and head of rates & FX for the global fixed income team, joins Seana Smith and Madison Mills on Catalysts to dive into how investors can play the currency market in the current environment. "You've really got to control your position sizing and keep your sort of stops both to the upside and the downside," van Biljon says, adding, " I think a good way to play it right now is, is on a more regional basis." Van Biljon recommends the Norwegian krone (NOK=X) as an attractive option given the global divergence in policy decisions. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Cheyenne Reid.

  • September 19, 2024

It's Not Just the Fed. This Week Is a Central-Bank Bonanza

A swath of central banks followed the Federal Reserve in issuing interest-rate decisions, though most held policy steady: + The **Bank of England** held rates at 5%, as expected. Like the European Central Bank and some others, it started easing ahead of the Fed, cutting in August for the first time in four years. + The **South African Reserve Bank** became the first central bank to cut in the Fed's wake.