The Brazilian real continued to be influenced by bearish equities and commodities markets and did not manage to pare gains after falling during the most of the time last week.

Brazil is one of the main metallic commodity exporters in the world, and uncertainty brought by U.S. and Chinese statements regarding new financial regulations for loans in both countries still impacted market sentiment today, decreasing demand for raw materials and riskier assets globally, forcing the real to trade near the lowest price in 2010 reached last Friday.

USD/BRL closed today at 1.8240 from an opening rate of 1.8155.

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The Brazilian real touched the weakest level in a month as risk aversion remained predominant in today’s trading session globally, since equities and commodities markets continued to follow a bearish trajectory in most of the

key-economic regions around the world.

Brazil’s real suffered another impact today as China’s lending restrictions announced last week continue to influence risk levels in trading markets globally. Commodities, responsible for a good share of Brazil’s international trade continued to tumble in Asia and Europe, decreasing attractiveness for the real which lost sharply versus a more appealing U.S. dollar as traders searched for safety.

USD/BRL closed at 1.7895 today from an opening rate of 1.7715.

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After a week of losses versus most of the main traded currencies in

foreign-exchange markets, the Brazilian real advanced today fueled by a positive performance in commodities and equities markets.

The Brazilian real gained today versus the yen and the U.S. dollar as demand for commodities and optimism regarding the nation’s economy allowed the South American currency to revert a negative trend that lasted five consecutive days. A great sum of capital inflows to Brazilian stocks also influenced on the good performance of the real this Monday.

USD/BRL traded at 1.7661 as of 19:54 GMT from an opening rate of 1.7715.

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The U.K. currency profited today from an increase in the nation’s house prices, fueling even further speculations that the recession might be ending in Britain, attracting investors to purchase

pound-priced assets in a day of bullish equities markets in London.

In a day of predominant risk appetite as commodities and equities advanced in the U.K., the pound profited from an optimistic scenario in the country as Rightmove Plc, a leading British real estate website, indicated that house prices increased last month, adding evidences for speculations that Bank of England’s current asset purchase program may expire next month and not be extended further, which would certainly allow the pound to climb in foreign-exchange markets. The euro posted a slight decline versus the sterling as traders remained skeptical regarding Greece’s budget deficit and the European Central Bank’s capability of rescuing the Southern European nation from a financial collapse.

Several analysts believe that the pound may outperform multiple key-currencies in foreign-exchange markets this year, as the recession fades away and according to some speculations, the country’s currency would be undervalued. If positive data continues to be published the pound may experience a sharp rally, specially versus a less attractive euro in the following weeks.

EUR/GBP traded at 0.8803 as of 16:14 GMT from an opening rate of 0.8821 when markets opened yesterday. GBP/USD climbed to 1.6333 from 1.6258.

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The Canadian dollar started another week trading high versus its U.S. counterpart as markets that influence its rates rallied in the start of this week, specially energetic and metallic commodities, before tomorrow’s interest rate decision in the North American nation.

After a rather bearish past week for the crude oil which posted consecutive days of losses as risk aversion rose in Europe and China, the Canadian dollar benefited from a rebound in the oil rates today, as future contracts advanced for the first time in six days. Canada is also a metallic commodity exporter, and as the copper advanced together with stocks in Europe, the loonie advanced significantly versus the greenback in a rather calm trading session due to a bank holiday in the United States. Commodities and equities rates fueled by risk appetite are maintaining the Canadian currency among the best performers this year in foreign-exchange markets.

Analysts remain very confident that the rally in commodities will set the loonie to parity with its U.S. counterpart at some point this year, as the global economic recovery is likely to push the oil and metals up, as manufacturing sectors in Canada’s main trading partners are increasing demand for raw materials by the day.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0254 as of 14:49 GMT from a previous rate of 1.0293 when markets opened yesterday. CAD/JPY advanced to 88.44 from 88.07.

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The Canadian dollar declined versus its U.S. counterpart and

lower-yielding currencies as risk aversion rose impacting markets with extreme influence in the loonie rates, those of raw materials and equities, which dropped globally this Friday.

The loonie was impacted today as energetic and metallic commodities declined, specially the crude oil, as raw material exports account for more than half of the country’s international trade revenue, in a day of bearish markets in New York and Toronto. China’s new tightening lending policy declined appeal for high-yielding currencies, and despite U.S. mediocre data published in reports this Friday showing a slow down in the country’s inflation, the greenback advanced versus the loonie after touching a three-month low earlier this week.

The Canadian dollar has been fluctuated in almost perfect correlation with commodities in the beginning of 2010, despite the country’s fundamentals, which are also adding confidence for the loonie to gain in currency markets, according to analysts. As the crude oil retreated below $80 a barrel, the loonie’s rally was halted, but may continue if risk appetite returns during the next weeks.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0284 as of 16:38 GMT after touching 1.0219 yesterday. CAD/JPY declined to 88.27 from 88.85.

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Speculations that demand for commodities will continue to grow in the U.S. and globally are helping the Canadian dollar to benefit from this scenario as exportation of raw materials account for half of the country’s trading revenue.

The Canadian rose against almost all of the 16 main traded currencies as metallic and energetic commodities abundant in the country are experiencing a high demand as the global economic recovery spurs demand for raw materials. Canadian fundamentals are also stronger than most of its main trading partners, and the loonie rose versus the greenback today as U.S. retail sales declined, touching the highest level in three months versus its U.S. counterpart. The loonie also gained considerably versus the euro as several Eurozone member countries are struggling with deteriorating budget deficits.

Not only the demand for commodities but also the Canadian economy seems to perform better than the several wealthy nations as the U.S. and the U.K., this is bringing investors to the country, according to analysts. If the Bank of Canada doesn’t express concern, it is likely that the loonie will reach parity with the greenback at some point this year.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0252 as of 18:17 GMT from a previous rate of 1.0308 yesterday.

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The dollar had a mediocre performance today losing versus a considerable number of currencies after the nation’s central bank was not so optimistic regarding the U.S. economy recovery, declining appeal for the greenback.

The dollar posted a disappointing performance in a day were equities and commodities markets increased appeal for higher-yielding currencies. The British pound posted another advance versus the greenback as Bank of England’s policy markers signaled that interest rates in the U.K. are due to be hiked at some point this year. The Federal Reserve stated that a modest economic recovery is taking place in the U.S., fact which traders interpret as a delay in forecasts of interest rate raises, which is certainly declining the attractiveness that fueled a dollar rally versus most of the main traded currencies in December.

As speculations of immediate rate hikes fade away in the U.S., the greenback rates will be more determined by the pace of recovery in the country compared to other economic regions throughout the world, specially in Europe and Asia, where the main U.S. trading partners are located.

EUR/USD traded at 1.4506 as of 20:57 GMT from a previous intraday rate of 1.4480 yesterday, in a session of high volatility for the currency pair. GBP/USD trded at 1.6286 from 1.6171.

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The Australian dollar fell sharply versus

lower-yielding currencies today as a real estate report declined optimism regarding the South Pacific economy, in a day were commodities and equities markets which have a strong correlation with the Aussie, declined.

Basically everything worked against the Australian dollar today as a report in the country showed that new home loans decreased the most in more than a year, in a day were equities dropped and demand for commodities declined, after China imposed new lending requirements for banks.

AUD/USD declined to 0.9200 as of 19:38 GMT from a previous rate of 0.9310. AUD/JPY dropped to 83.64 from 85.64.

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After several days gaining versus the dollar and the euro, the Norwegian currency slid versus main traded currencies as a bearish day in equities markets and decreased demand for commodities shunned investors from assets in the Nordic country.

The Norwegian krone was affected today as the crude oil, the nation’s chief export, had a decline on its rates after China imposed new lending requirements for banks in the country, affecting markets’ sentiment, consequently impacting stock markets and demand for high-yielding currencies.

USD/NOK traded at 5.6518 as of 19:08 GMT from today’s opening rate of 5.6174.

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The Canadian dollar had its rally towards parity with its U.S. counterpart halted after a monthly trade deficit was posted today, raising doubts that the nation’s economy is not going as good as some analysts like to believe.

The loonie had a disappointing surprise today as Canada posted a trade deficit of more than $300 million while forecasts suggested a surplus of $500 million, surprising traders and affecting the outlook of one of the best performing currencies so far in the beginning of 2010. The Canadian dollar had profited so far this month from high risk aversion and an increasing demand for the nation’s commodities, which influenced the Canadian economic expectations, impacted today showing traders that Canada’s resilience is not as high as previously imagined.

Doubts regarding the overconfident Canadian economic outlook helped other currencies to pare losses versus the loonie, specially its U.S. counterpart, which jumped from the lowest rate almost 3 months versus Canada’s currency. Monthly reports can be deceiving thought, as seasonal adjustments may hide the actual economic scenario of a country, which is the case of Canada, is still above the average.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0362 as of 16:39 GMT from a previous rate of 1.0334. CAD/JPY tumbled to 87.59 from 89.09.

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In the first day of trading for Russian stocks in 2010, the national currency posted a sharp rise as equities in the country, extremely related to commodities, climbed with full force, as stock markets in the country were closed last week.

The ruble benefited today from a strong demand for oil in the Northern Hemisphere as this winter is being of the most intense during the past decade, forcing the crude beyond $83 a barrel, allowing Russian stocks to gain sharply and consequently providing support for the nation’s currency to post the sharpest advance in a decade today versus the greenback.

USD/RUB closed today at 29.30 today from an opening rate of 29.868, a decline of almost 2 percent.

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The Canadian currency started another week strong versus several main traded currencies, specially lower yielding options, as demand for commodities continues to bring capital to Canada, the biggest oil supplier for the United States.

The rising demand for energetic and metallic commodities is helping the loonie to remain as one of the best bets in foreign-exchange markets in the beginning of 2010, as commodities exports are responsible for around 50 percent of Canada’s international trading capital inflows. This Monday, the Canadian currency gave another step towards parity with its U.S. counterpart, despite retreating later, trading at the highest level in almost three months, as the global economic recovery is providing support for traders to take further risks raising equities rates, which also have a strong correlation with Canada’s currency price.

Analysts are very confident regarding the loonie’s strength as no fundamental or technical factor is so far being an obstacle for its advance. The Bank of Canada may, at some point, halt its currency rally, as it had already done it in late 2009, alleging that a strong currency may affect the country’s exports, and consequently, its recovery.

USD/CAD currently trades at 1.0306 as of 14:17 GMT after bottoming at 1.0250 two hours earlier, and from as high as 1.0372 last Friday.

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The United Kingdom has been showing itself as one of the least resilient nations among the wealthiest countries in the world, and its weak economic data combined with a ineffective monetary policy is likely to set the sterling further down in the first semester of 2010, specially versus

higher-yielding options

Bank of England policy makers insisted to extend its so far frustrated bond purchase strategy, injecting its remaining 200 billion pounds on the program, as interest rates remain at an all-time record low of 0.50 percent, maintaining the pound’s outlook negative, specially as the traders started the year with high levels of risk appetite. Commodities linked currencies like the Australian and the Canadian dollar are likely to rally further versus the pound this year, and demand for energy is likely to favor these oil producer’s currencies, specially for Canada’s currency, as the winter in the Northern Hemisphere has been one of severest in the past year, increasing demand for energy in the United States.

This week will be marked by a monthly manufacturing production report in the U.K., which has provided mixed data in the past months, but nevertheless, as analysts aren’t very optimistic regarding British economic growth in the first quarter of 2010, the pound has considerable odds to lose further versus the currencies above mentioned.

GBP/CAD started this week trading at 1.6495 from as high as 1.6850 one week ago.

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The Canadian dollar returned to gain today as its chief export, the crude oil, rallied as demand for energy increases, favoring currencies with a similar profile in

foreign-exchange markets as the Australian dollar, which is a main commodity supplier for China.

The loonie, as the Canadian dollar is often referred, had the fourth day of advances in this week as the crude oil returned to trade high in commodity markets closing future contracts near $ 83 a barrel, helping the Canadian dollar to rally specially versus its U.S. counterpart as frustrating employment data declined attractiveness for the greenback during most of today’s session in North America. Commodity’s strength are pushing a new rally for the loonie which may eventually climb towards parity with the U.S. dollar, as long as this market scenario remains the same.

The Canadian dollar has being one of the most attractive currencies in the beginning of 2010 as its correlation to commodities and equities markets has been fueled the loonie’s rally since last December. The loonie may touch parity with the U.S. dollar in the following weeks if the Bank of Canada doesn’t intervene on its rally with statements or actual measures.

USD/CAD closed today at 1.0293 from a previous intraday rate of 1.0348. CAD/JPY remained neutral after high volatility at 89.94.

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The single currency reached a 14-month high of 1.4874 against the greenback yesterday, advancing over a cent, as investors refocused on the outlook for US interest rates.

• In early trading, the single currency suffered a setback as the German ZEW Economic Sentiment index dropped to 56.0 from 57.7 in September, its first fall in three months.
• However, the dip provided a good buying opportunity for a market that remains broadly bearish on the dollar, allowing the euro to push higher.
• Analysts also noted that the weakness of the dollar was due in part to comments from a Japanese Ministry of Finance official, which reiterated the recent stance to accept the onging strength of the yen.
• In addition, the dollar was trading lower on the back of a surge in commodities, with gold rising to post an all time high of $1,065/oz, extending its rally from $984/oz on October 2nd .
• The single currency has continued to advance this morning, briefly posting as high as 1.49, though trading today could be light ahead of the FOMC minutes released today at 19:00BST.