Currencies Social Media and Updates

EU Parliament Approves Digital Euro for All Transactions
SocialFeb 18, 2026

EU Parliament Approves Digital Euro for All Transactions

EU Parliament Backs Digital Euro for Both Online and Offline Use - Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH https://t.co/mgf2DlIs9B

By Oliver Bussmann
Dollar Holds Firm Despite Weak Conviction and Recent Lows
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Dollar Holds Firm Despite Weak Conviction and Recent Lows

US Dollar is Mostly Firmer, amid Weak Conviction: The US dollar was sold to new session lows against several currency pairs late in the North American afternoon yesterday, but there has been little follow-through today. The greenback is firmer against…...

By Marc Chandler
China Quietly Amasses Dollar Reserves Despite Official Narrative
SocialFeb 18, 2026

China Quietly Amasses Dollar Reserves Despite Official Narrative

Anyone who trusts official Chinese reserve data is a fool. The blind spot in the official narrative about China "dropping the dollar" is China's continued SHADOW dollar reserve accumulation, which looks like the below chart👇 The big January increase in state banks'...

By Izabella Kaminska
USD Rebounds but Short‑term Conviction Remains Weak
SocialFeb 18, 2026

USD Rebounds but Short‑term Conviction Remains Weak

$USD recovered from the late sell-off in North America yesterday. It is trading firmer against most G10 currencies, but short-term participants seem to lack much conviction. Key US data and SCOTUS still lie ahead. See https://t.co/Ax3iZrTLT7 https://t.co/01M5ylxWt7

By Marc Chandler
Markets Surge Higher After V‑Shape Recovery—Implications Ahead
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Markets Surge Higher After V‑Shape Recovery—Implications Ahead

The markets are extending higher after yesterday's V-shaped recovery - here's what it means 👇

By Kathy Lien
ECB Yield Caps Mask Fiscal Fragility, Exit Bond Markets
SocialFeb 18, 2026

ECB Yield Caps Mask Fiscal Fragility, Exit Bond Markets

ECB yield caps give the illusion of fiscal sustainability, but it's just an illusion. A real shock like Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows high-debt countries have no money to help Ukraine. For the sake of Europe, the ECB needs to...

By Robin Brooks
Aging Populations Strain Southern Europe; ECB Must Relinquish Yield Caps
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Aging Populations Strain Southern Europe; ECB Must Relinquish Yield Caps

Once you reach 60, your conditional life expectancy is another 20+ years. Problem in Southern Europe is that relatively few people work, so population aging becomes very expensive for the state. That only gets fixed if the ECB steps back...

By Robin Brooks
Egypt's M3 Surge Drives Inflation Beyond Target
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Egypt's M3 Surge Drives Inflation Beyond Target

Egypt's inflation rate is 11.9%/yr. Egypt's money supply (M3) is growing at 22.7%, ABOVE Hanke's Golden Growth Rate range from 13.1%/yr-17.1%/yr, consistent with hitting its inflation target range of 5%/yr-9%/yr. THE INFLATION STORY = A MONEY SUPPLY STORY. https://t.co/V2EApGpMCY

By Steve Hanke
Markets May Slip as Fed Delays Rate Cuts
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Markets May Slip as Fed Delays Rate Cuts

Will stock markets tip over amid worries about the Fed dragging its feet on rate cuts? FOMC meeting minutes are in focus. #stockmarkets #fed #fomc #dollar #macro #trading https://t.co/yYSQfOx27L

By Ilya Spivak
Trade Breakouts with One Candle Close, No Indicators
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Trade Breakouts with One Candle Close, No Indicators

How to trade it: → Candle closes above prior session high — look long on the first pullback to that level. Old resistance becomes new support. → Candle closes below prior session low — look short on the retest. Old support becomes...

By Boris Schlossberg
Only Close-Beyond Prior High/Low Candle Signals True Breakout
SocialFeb 18, 2026

Only Close-Beyond Prior High/Low Candle Signals True Breakout

Stop watching every candle. Only ONE matters... Not the first candle. Not the biggest candle. The candle that CLOSES above or below the prior session high or low. That's the candle that changes everything. Here's why most traders get this wrong: They see price...

By Boris Schlossberg
Iranian Rial Crashes as US‑Iran Nuclear Talks Begin
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Iranian Rial Crashes as US‑Iran Nuclear Talks Begin

Today, US-Iran nuclear talks began in Geneva. As the talks start, the Iranian rial is in the tank. It has depreciated by over 43% against the dollar in the past year, making it THE SECOND WORST CURRENCY IN THE WORLD. https://t.co/PORIO6lGtc

By Steve Hanke
Fed Says AI Boom Won’t Prompt Rate Cuts
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Fed Says AI Boom Won’t Prompt Rate Cuts

Fed governor Michael Barr's latest speech contains 1) A short part on the current policy outlook. The key guidance: "Based on current conditions and the data in hand, it will likely be appropriate to hold rates steady for some time." 2) A...

By Nick Timiraos
Weekly Technical Outlook: DXY, GBP/USD, Gold, Bitcoin
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Weekly Technical Outlook: DXY, GBP/USD, Gold, Bitcoin

DXY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, Gold, Bitcoin, Oil Weekly Technical Outlook (webinar archive) https://t.co/nitfuFDsGb Asset Chaptered on YouTube: https://t.co/yidtEBNR4M

By Michael Boutros
Business Inflation Expectations Return to Pre‑Pandemic Levels
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Business Inflation Expectations Return to Pre‑Pandemic Levels

Two different measures of business inflation expectations have essentially returned to pre-pandemic levels. The Atlanta Fed survey (dark line), which asks businesses how much they expect their own unit costs to change, is back at 2%—right where it was in 2019....

By Nick Timiraos
Chinese State Banks Boost FX Securities by $90B Monthly
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Chinese State Banks Boost FX Securities by $90B Monthly

Notable acceleration in the fx securities book of the Chinese state banks (And their reverse repo/ other funding of global financial institutions) in January -- consistent with the $90b monthly increase in the reported fx balance sheet https://t.co/PNDncW2w2s

By Brad Setser
Dollar Up Shows Unchanged Signal Amid Correlation Risk
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Dollar Up Shows Unchanged Signal Amid Correlation Risk

If there was something else to "dig into", I would have. Dollar Up has its implied Correlation Risk today. I'll do what the signal does. It didn't change.

By Keith McCullough
Nowcast IQ Predicts US Growth Despite Market Pessimism
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Nowcast IQ Predicts US Growth Despite Market Pessimism

A few of our weekly inputs have come in for US growth. We continue to rebound hard cyclically. EURUSD down, US assets (soon) up, and ISM PMI towards 60 by summer. Our Nowcast IQ is telling a VERY contrarian story to...

By Andreas Steno Larsen
EURUSD Retreats to Fib Level as Longs Surge
SocialFeb 17, 2026

EURUSD Retreats to Fib Level as Longs Surge

$EURUSD has pulled back from its failed run on 1.20 a few weeks back - aligned to a 38.2% Fib of the 2008 to 2022 bear wave. Meanwhile, net speculative futures positioning has jumped this past week to its heaviest net-long...

By John Kicklighter
Dalio Warns CBDCs Erase Privacy, Enable Political Control
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Dalio Warns CBDCs Erase Privacy, Enable Political Control

As @RayDalio, founder of the world's LARGEST hedge fund told @TuckerCarlson on central bank digital currencies: "There will be no privacy... all transactions will be known... and if you're politically disfavored, you could be shut off." https://t.co/3H4Lcz4ysb

By Steve Hanke
North Korean Won Plummets, Ranks Third Worst Globally
SocialFeb 17, 2026

North Korean Won Plummets, Ranks Third Worst Globally

On this week's Hanke's #CurrencyWatchlist, the North Korean won ranks as the WORLD'S 3RD WORST currency. The won has depreciated by 41% against the USD over the past year. PLIGHT OF THE WON = ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST UNREPORTED STORIES. https://t.co/7leiebPd5D

By Steve Hanke
ECB Favors High-Debt Nations, Sidelining Low-Debt Germany
SocialFeb 17, 2026

ECB Favors High-Debt Nations, Sidelining Low-Debt Germany

Low-debt countries like Germany are hopelessly outnumbered at the ECB. That's why ECB policy is inexorably drifting to help high-debt countries at the expense of low debt ones. So no surprise BuBa President Nagel supports Eurobonds. Going with the flow......

By Robin Brooks
UK Unemployment Surge Drives Sterling Lower Amid Pay Stagnation
SocialFeb 17, 2026

UK Unemployment Surge Drives Sterling Lower Amid Pay Stagnation

UK Unemployment Rises and Private Pay Increases Slow to Five-Year Lows, Pulling Sterling Lower: The US dollar is mixed against the G10 currencies. A healthy reception to Japan’s five-year bond auction helped extend the rally in JGBs, and despite the…...

By Marc Chandler
Global Fiat Fears Boost Gold and USD Stablecoins
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Global Fiat Fears Boost Gold and USD Stablecoins

Wrong. Vast majority of gold buyers have been non Americans that are more worried that their own fiat currencies will lose value than they are about the USD losing value. And while foreign CBs purchased around $100B of gold...

By Brent Johnson
Weak UK Data, German Outlook Boost USD, Lift JPY
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Weak UK Data, German Outlook Boost USD, Lift JPY

Disappointing UK jobs data and German ZEW expectations is helping the $USD extend its gains today. Robust reception to Japan's 5yr bond sales helped ignite JGB rally and lifted the $JPY. Softer US rates and heavier equities after US holiday....

By Marc Chandler
38% Expect Warsh Chair to Push Yields Higher, Dollar Lower
SocialFeb 17, 2026

38% Expect Warsh Chair to Push Yields Higher, Dollar Lower

"38% of FMS investors believe that, all else equal, the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair will likely lead to higher US Treasury yields and a lower US dollar." - BofA Global Fund Manager Survey https://t.co/5m0L3ZjRg1

By Sam Ro
Quad3 Dynamics Active on Dollar up, Gold Down
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Quad3 Dynamics Active on Dollar up, Gold Down

Correlation Math #Quad3 Dynamics very much in play on a Dollar Up (Gold Down) morning https://t.co/QACdjs8zu2

By Keith McCullough
China Shifts Reserves to State Banks, Boosts Returns
SocialFeb 17, 2026

China Shifts Reserves to State Banks, Boosts Returns

Beijing really just outsourced its reserves to its state banks, and shifted out of US custodians High return on investment tho. Tons of folks swallow the fall in reported Treasury holdings hook, line and sinker https://t.co/MKw3EJlSuR

By Brad Setser
China's Hidden Bank Interventions Hit $800B Annual Record
SocialFeb 17, 2026

China's Hidden Bank Interventions Hit $800B Annual Record

The annualized measures of Chinese intervention over the last 3ms that capture backdoor intervention by the state banks are at all time highs in dollar terms -- over $200b a quarter/ over $800b annualized https://t.co/7vlh3tf4CX

By Brad Setser
Iranian Rial Plummets, Becomes World's Second Worst Currency
SocialFeb 17, 2026

Iranian Rial Plummets, Becomes World's Second Worst Currency

On this week's Hanke's #CurrencyWatchlist, the Iranian rial ranks as the WORLD'S 2ND WORST currency. The rial has depreciated by 44% against the USD over the past year. RIAL = THE GREAT DESTABILIZER. https://t.co/06OiclsaSq

By Steve Hanke
Venezuelan Bolivar Plummets 87%, Becomes World’s Worst Currency
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Venezuelan Bolivar Plummets 87%, Becomes World’s Worst Currency

On this week's Hanke's #CurrencyWatchlist, the Venezuelan bolivar ranks as the WORLD'S WORST currency. The bolivar has depreciated by over 87% against the USD in the past year. IT’S TIME TO DUMP THE BOLIVAR AND REPLACE IT WITH THE US DOLLAR. https://t.co/dHtPzNew81

By Steve Hanke
Gold Overtakes Major Currencies as Dollar Reserve Share Plummets
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Gold Overtakes Major Currencies as Dollar Reserve Share Plummets

⚠️The US Dollar's role in global reserves is FALLING: USD share in global currency reserves dropped to ~40%, the lowest in at least 25 years. This is down from ~58% a decade ago. During the same period, gold’s share has risen from 16%...

By Global Markets Investor (newsletter author)
Eurogroup Sets 2026 Priorities, Boosts Euro’s Global Role
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Eurogroup Sets 2026 Priorities, Boosts Euro’s Global Role

Back in Brussels today for the #Eurogroup meeting, where we discussed: 🔹 euro area policy priorities for 2026
🔹 the international role of the euro https://t.co/FAa7OvZiMt

By Christine Lagarde
China's Surplus Doesn't Directly Boost US Treasury Holdings
SocialFeb 16, 2026

China's Surplus Doesn't Directly Boost US Treasury Holdings

Two things are simultaneously true -- a) China's surplus doesn't automatically flow into its fx reserves and then into Treasuries and Agencies b) China's large ongoing surplus (+ the increase in fx assets of the state banks) cautions against using the...

By Brad Setser
Foreign Central Banks Sell USTs Even as Dollar Weakens
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Foreign Central Banks Sell USTs Even as Dollar Weakens

One of a number of potentially important macro divergences that occurred in 2H25 is shown below. For the prior 10+ years, foreign Central Banks sold USTs when the USD rose and bought USTs when the USD fell. In 2H25, foreign CB’s sold...

By Luke Gromen
Trading Week Signals Fed Cut Outlook for 2026
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Trading Week Signals Fed Cut Outlook for 2026

New trading week = big clues for rates 👀 Futures up, gold down, dollar strong… what is the market betting on for Fed cuts in 2026? Fed speakers, FOMC minutes, global data & a surprise risk event ahead Watch the video before you...

By Kathy Lien
Euro's Neglect Highlights Geopolitical Weakness
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Euro's Neglect Highlights Geopolitical Weakness

We live in a beggar-thy-neighbor world. Everyone is trying to get their currencies down except for the Euro zone, another symptom of geopolitical weakness. While everyone else is managing their currencies down, the Euro is suffering from benign neglect... https://t.co/QpUo91Xcq2 https://t.co/7qByDtUMFN

By Robin Brooks
Dollar Gains Strength Over G10 Amid Low FX Turnover
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Dollar Gains Strength Over G10 Amid Low FX Turnover

In subdued foreign exchange turnover, the dollar enjoys a firmer bias against most G10 currencies amid on broadly consolidative tone. https://t.co/cyTShaySWO

By Marc Chandler
Euro Holds 1.1850 Amid 1.3bn Options Expiry
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Euro Holds 1.1850 Amid 1.3bn Options Expiry

Note that there are 1.3 bln euro options at $1.1850 that expire today. The $euro just tested the strike and it held.

By Marc Chandler
Prepare Today, Win This Week's Trades
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Prepare Today, Win This Week's Trades

Markets closed today… which means PERFECT time to prepare and talk about the week ahead The traders who win this week are already preparing today. ⏰ Join us LIVE at 8:45AM ET Learn. Prepare. Trade. Because the market rewards the prepared 👇 https://t.co/m6ZWYcjupv

By Kathy Lien
FX Steadies as JPY Slips on Weak Data
SocialFeb 16, 2026

FX Steadies as JPY Slips on Weak Data

US and China's mainland markets are closed today. The FX market is calmer and most G10 currencies are little changed. $JPY is the notable exception as disappointing data weighs on it. See https://t.co/cyTShaySWO https://t.co/ZB9uMP7xUC

By Marc Chandler
Volatility Rises, Liquidity Dips, US Premium Deflates
SocialFeb 15, 2026

Volatility Rises, Liquidity Dips, US Premium Deflates

What's on tap for the week ahead? An increased frequency of volatility meets a holiday liquidity gap, while a run of event risk weighs in on the steadily deflating US premium. https://t.co/17IH2lFIn0 https://t.co/AlKhX25xxn

By John Kicklighter
Presidents Day Market Closure; Join Tuesday Technical Outlook Webinar
SocialFeb 15, 2026

Presidents Day Market Closure; Join Tuesday Technical Outlook Webinar

**Reminder: Markets Closed tomorrow in observance of Presidents Day Weekly Technical Outlook Webinar will be on Tuesday at 8:30am ET Interactive Session: https://t.co/EpyXNC6zVR Live Stream on YouTube: https://t.co/iiptWpNEz9

By Michael Boutros
U.S. Economy Near Soft Landing Amid Multiple Risks
SocialFeb 15, 2026

U.S. Economy Near Soft Landing Amid Multiple Risks

This isn’t a victory lap, and it isn’t a doom story. The U.S. economy is closer to a soft landing than it’s been in some time, and there are real risks that could undo it from multiple directions. I try...

By Nick Timiraos
ECB Rate Hike Expected to Strengthen Euro, Says Capital Group
SocialFeb 15, 2026

ECB Rate Hike Expected to Strengthen Euro, Says Capital Group

The ECB will raise interest rates at least once this year, significantly boosting the euro against the dollar, according to Capital Group, the $3.3 trillion asset manager https://t.co/CFxgbQlz0Q via @Sujata_markets https://t.co/6EBSHD6SYI

By Zöe Schneeweiss
Core Services Inflation Stays Tame, No Overheating Signs
SocialFeb 15, 2026

Core Services Inflation Stays Tame, No Overheating Signs

There's lots of commentary that US inflation will overheat, but there's no sign of that. My proxy for core services inflation was very well behaved in all of 2025 (purple) and the Jan. '26 data point (pink) was much more...

By Robin Brooks
China's Foreign Exchange Reserves: Key Trends Unveiled
SocialFeb 14, 2026

China's Foreign Exchange Reserves: Key Trends Unveiled

Deep dive into Chinese Foreign Exchange Reserves in today's version of the Chartbook Top Links. https://t.co/Yc09wNGpPK

By Adam Tooze
Buffett’s Japanese Bond Move: Short Yen, Long Equities
SocialFeb 14, 2026

Buffett’s Japanese Bond Move: Short Yen, Long Equities

The best macro trade of the past 5 years was Warren buffet’s Japanese bond issuance imo. Got him short the currency, short rates all while he was long the equities (trading houses).

By Citrini7 (pseudonymous)
RUB Strengthens as Oil Stabilizes, Gold Surges
SocialFeb 14, 2026

RUB Strengthens as Oil Stabilizes, Gold Surges

Macro: MOEX flat as oil steadies and gold spikes; RUB strengthens (USD/RUB 76.65). Key drivers: commodity moves, stable RVI (24.9). Risks: commodity volatility, sanctions. Trade: buy selective energy exporters on RUB resilience. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov

By Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA