New Name, New Year, New WarNew Name, New Year, New War: Venezuelan invasion coming soon?
The Trump administration has made its intentions toward Nicolás Maduro clear. Removing the Venezuelan president is a stated goal, but the path the administration is willing to take remains uncertain.
A former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela has described the deployment of American ground troops as a “last option”, but anything is possible with Trump and his newly named Department of War.
Washington has already seized a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude and is preparing to intercept additional shipments. Also, the U.S. has carried out more than twenty strikes on vessels it claims were involved in drug-smuggling operations. Each step raises the risk of a broader confrontation.
Metal markets might rally on escalation. Silver remains in a strong vertical trend. The move above 63 pushed price into fresh record territory before a modest pullback. Gold has broken through the recent range and printed a new swing high near $4,285 before pulling back.
Any significant development in Venezuela, such as a new seizure or a military operation, could trigger a higher open in metals when markets resume.
Bitcoin: A case of confidence and patience | FX ResearchAs we continue to emphasize, any bouts of weakness in the crypto market still look like pullbacks within a broader and constructive medium and longer term uptrend. In our view, any tone of negative sentiment appears misplaced when viewed against price action that continues to reward investors who treat these pullbacks as opportunities rather than threats.
We have highlighted the 50-week simple moving average as the first meaningful support for Bitcoin. Since breaking above this level in 2023, the market has not closed a week below it. The pattern repeated itself this past week, and we’re seeing similar price action again. From here, we’re looking for the next important higher low, with the outlook strengthened by another weekly close above the 50-week simple moving average.
We are also watching this week’s high in Bitcoin, just under 107,500. A break above that level would set the foundation for a broader rebound across the crypto complex. Seasonality also works in crypto’s favour despite a slow start to Q4. Historically, Q4 has delivered strong performance, and this year’s backdrop of accelerating adoption, regulatory progress, and continued institutional development reinforces the potential for a strong finish to the year.
Macro conditions are becoming more supportive as Fed rate expectations tilt back toward the dovish side, while the US government shutdown comes to an end. Risk appetite has also been buoyed by renewed buying interest in US equities, adding another supportive factor for crypto.
Ultimately, it comes down to confidence and patience. The stage remains set for a robust run into year end, one that could take Bitcoin and ETH to fresh record highs. Even if this outlook proves unreliable and Bitcoin continues to break down, we struggle to see weakness extending much below 90,000, with the market likely to build long exposure at what many would view as highly attractive levels.
Exclusive FX research from LMAX Group Market Strategist, Joel Kruger Inflation Countdown: BTC and ETH at Key Levels Ahead of CPI Market focus is quickly turning to the US CPI report coming up this week. A higher-than-expected figure might weigh on risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, keeping the former in rangebound mode and the latter fighting for a handle above $4,000.
Ethereum is consolidating just above the $4,150 level after a sharp rally. The recent higher highs and higher lows keep the short-term bias bullish, but a sustained move below $4,100 could indicate shifting momentum.
Bitcoin is testing resistance at $119,000 after a solid recovery from below $113,000. The price remains inside a broader range between $116,000 and $123,000, with repeated upper wicks signalling sellers defending the top of the range. False Bitcoin rumors revealing real market sentiment False Bitcoin rumors revealing real market sentiment
Fake news sent Bitcoin up about 10% on Monday, surging from $27,900 to over $30,000 after Crypto news site Cointelegraph posted on X that the Securities and Exchange Commission had approved BlackRock’s spot bitcoin ETF application.
In response to the rumor, BlackRock had to clarify that no decision had been made regarding their ETF application. Even though the rumor has now been debunked, Bitcoin is still up more than 5%, at $28,600, with some movement suggesting that buyers are still willing to prob for more gains.
The 10% upside move has perhaps provided us with a preview of what might happen when/ if the SEC eventually approves or rejects BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF application. It could also be argued that we are also getting a glimpse into what could happen if the SEC rejects the application, with targets set at the pre-rumor price of $27,900 the first port of call. Gold or Nasdaq: What to Short this Week? Gold or Nasdaq: What to Short this Week?
For Gold (XAU/USD), the 4-hour chart suggests a neutral-to-bearish stance. While the pair is currently above its moving averages, the 50-day moving average is closely trailing its price. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is dropping towards a neutral level, indicating a potential pause in buyer activity. If Gold drops below $1,945, there is a risk of prices descending further and retesting their previous lows or the 200-Day Simple Moving Average (SMA) around $1,941.
The deciding factor for Gold this week will likely be the US jobs data. The Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) report on Friday is a significant event, and the precursor jobs data (JOLTS Job report on Tuesday) could also sway traders. The market expects the NFP to show 190K jobs added, more than double the natural US growth rate. A strong jobs figure could influence traders' anticipation of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and impact the downside outlook for Gold.
On the other hand, Nasdaq and other major US indices are expected to end July with gains. The Dow Jones has particularly shown impressive growth over the past two weeks. The outperformance of the Dow Jones suggests a possible shift by investors from growth stocks (such as Nasdaq stocks) to value stocks.
Looking at the daily chart, the Nasdaq Composite is now targeting a key resistance level at 14,649. However, there is a possibility of aggressive seller response at that level. On the 4-hour chart, a divergence with the MACD indicates weakening momentum, which is often followed by pullbacks.
Earnings reports from major tech companies, Apple and Amazon, will be crucial for Nasdaq this week. These two giants represent 11.6% of the entire Nasdaq index measured by market cap. Better-than-expected US earnings could potentially prolong the bull run in the market. 32,600 Jobs Added! Aussie Dollar Skyrockets!32,600 Jobs Added! Aussie Dollar Skyrockets!
The Australian dollar has surged, driven by an impressive employment report that far exceeded expectations. In the month of June, Australia's net employment rose by a staggering 32,600 compared to the previous month, surpassing estimates by more than double.
This development propelled the Aussie currency up by over 0.9%, reaching an intra-day high of $0.6834. The New Zealand dollar also rode the wave, gaining 0.57% to reach $0.6299. Both Antipodean currencies are now poised to reverse the losses incurred over four consecutive trading sessions.
The current market sentiment favors the bulls, with both short and long-term momentum in their favor. Price action is trading above the 50 and 200-day moving averages, reinforcing the positive outlook for the Australian dollar.
Elsewhere in the currency market, the sterling is doing its best to counter deep losses following a sharp fall in the previous session. The decline was prompted by Britain's inflation data, which fell short of market expectations.
The British pound managed a modest recovery, trading 0.15% higher at $1.2958 in the latest session.
Inflation Cools, Gold Heats Up Inflation Cools, Gold Heats Up
In June, the United States inflation fell to 3%, which is the lowest since March 2021. This was slightly below the market's expectations of 3.1% and a significant decline from May's rate of 4%. Additionally, the core inflation rate unexpectedly dropped to 4.8%, marking its lowest level since October 2021.
The implication of this deceleration is that it could prompt the Federal Reserve to scale back its plans for interest rate hikes. With inflation showing signs of cooling, the central bank may now be inclined to raise rates only once more throughout the remainder of the year.
In the wake of the inflation report gold prices shot up, soaring by more than 1.3%. The metal breached the $1,940 resistance level but fell just short of clearing the $1,960 overhead barrier. If further upward momentum materializes, it could pave the way for a potential retest of $1,975 and $1,980.
At the same time, the US dollar faced a steep decline, sinking to its lowest point in over 14 months. Against the Swiss franc, it tumbled to depths not witnessed since early 2015, settling at 0.8673 francs, down 1.4%. Earlier in the session, it even touched 0.8660, marking its weakest position since the Swiss National Bank abandoned the Swiss currency peg back in January 2015. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar hits a six-week low of 138.47 yen, witnessing a 1.4% decline. Additionally, the US dollar weakens by more than 1.5% against the New Zealand and Australian dollars. Conversely, the euro surges to its highest level since March last year, reaching $1.1125. The Euro trades up 1.2% at $1.113. USDJPY – What's the intervention threshold? USDJPY – What's the intervention threshold?
In September of last year, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) made a move in the market to strengthen its currency when it reached 145 against the USD, marking the first such intervention since 1998. This action was taken following the BOJ's decision to maintain an extremely accommodative policy (a policy that is yet to change still). The BOJ intervened once more in October when the yen further plummeted to its lowest level in 32 years, reaching 151.94 against the dollar.
At present, investors hold a substantial short position in the yen, valued at $9.793 billion, representing the largest such position in the USDJPY since May 2022. This value has nearly doubled in just the past three months. Notably, former Japanese Vice Finance Minister Eisuke Sakakibara has suggested that the USDJPY could reach 160 before the BOJ intervenes once again.
However, the USDJPY has recently built a bit of a buffer between itself and whatever the intervention threshold is for the BoJ. Over the past two trading days, the US dollar has weakened, largely due to remarks made by Federal Reserve officials. These statements have strengthened the belief that the US central bank is nearing the end of its tightening phase.
It is widely anticipated that Fed policymakers will implement a rate increase during their upcoming meeting this month, which would set the policy rate range at 5.25% to 5.50%. However, the timing of any subsequent rate hikes remains uncertain. There are questions whether they will raise rates again in September, delay until November, or maintain the current stance and allow inflation to naturally subside over time.
Consequently, the US dollar has experienced a decline against the yen, reaching a low of 141.32 yen, the lowest level observed since June 21. Currently, it is down 0.5% at 141.328. This drop follows a decrease of nearly 1.3% seen last Friday when the US nonfarm payrolls for June fell short of market expectations at 209,000. Who's Right? Hawk Economists vs. Dove Traders - RBA meets Today Who's Right? Hawk Economists vs. Dove Traders - RBA meets Today
Yesterday, the AUD/USD experienced its third consecutive day of growth. However, the upward trend is expected to face obstacles during Tuesday's trading session due to the impending Reserve Bank of Australia meeting.
Despite some analysts adopting a more hawkish stance and predicting a rate hike as the most likely outcome of today's meeting, money market traders have reduced their forecast to a one-in-three chance of an increase, down from 40 percent on Friday afternoon.
Although inflation numbers in Australia have slowed down, the Consumer Price Index remains above the target range, while the key interest rate stands at 4.1 percent, below the CPI. Furthermore, recent remarks from RBA Governor Lowe have maintained a hawkish tone, leaving the possibility of further rate hikes open, even after two unexpected increases.
As US markets remain closed in observance of Independence Day, the AUD/USD has been consolidating at 0.66700 prior to the RBA decision. With conflicting views from economists and traders, the meeting's outcome has the potential to inject some volatility into the pair.
In terms of potential resistance levels, the initial zone to watch out for is around 0.66900, followed by 0.67200. However, it is important to note that considering the RSI's decline below the 60.00 level, the upward momentum has weakened. Nevertheless, the overall inclination remains biased towards the upside. Therefore, exploring higher levels may not be immediately feasible. Powell hints at 2 more hikes, sends gold lower Powell hints at 2 more hikes, sends gold lower
The US dollar rose on Wednesday after the gathering of central bank leaders worldwide, which included Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. During the meeting, Powell left open the possibility of the Federal Reserve implementing two more rate hikes this year. Furthermore, Powell stated that he does not anticipate inflation reaching the Federal Reserve's target of 2% until the year 2025.
However, investors might be hanging onto the words of Powell a little too tightly considering his central bank counterparts in the ECB and BoE presented more hawkish remarks (natural for the stickiness of inflation that these regions are facing). Christine Lagarde emphasized that the European Central Bank (ECB) remains unconvinced by the available evidence inflation is falling in the Euro Area. A revision by investors might be in order.
With the rise in the USD, we are also seeing selling pressure in the XAU/USD for a third straight day.
Currently, gold is hovering around $1,909 and maintaining a bearish outlook, with the potential to breach the $1,900 level. The daily chart reveals that the precious metal has dropped further below both the 20 and 100 Simple Moving Averages, which are currently converging at $1,943.
Among the current levels, $1,875 perhaps stands out as the most significant support level. Despite previously acting as a resistance point, it has served as a pivot on multiple occasions. Mutiny Sends Ruble to Lowest in 15 Months Mutiny Sends Ruble to Lowest in 15 Months
In one of the most turbulent trading sessions this year, the Russian ruble reached its lowest point against the US dollar in nearly 15 months on Monday. This decline followed the failed mutiny attempt by The Wagner group’s armed mercenaries over the weekend, which caused significant concern among traders. Initially catapulting to approximately 87 rubles per US dollar, the ruble later recovered some of its losses, settling at around 84.40, down 0.90% against the greenback.
The Wagner group, led by troops loyal to their leader, made an unexpected advancement toward Moscow, covering hundreds of miles before eventually reversing course. In a deal struck with the Kremlin, it is reported that the group's leader, Prigozhin, will go into exile in Belarus. This incident is regarded as the most significant challenge to Vladimir Putin's rule and could weaken his leadership.
The armed uprising also caused volatility in other markets. The international benchmark, Brent crude, rose by 0.8% to approximately $74 per barrel. The trading volume between the Russian ruble and Tether's USDT nearly quadrupled from $4 million on Saturday to $15 million on Sunday.
In other developments, the Japanese yen strengthened by 0.11% against the US dollar, trading at 143.50 per dollar. Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs, Masato Kanda, stated that Japan was not ruling out intervening in the currency markets again. He expressed concerns about the yen's rapid and one-sided depreciation against the dollar. Japan previously intervened in the foreign exchange markets in September and October of the previous year when the yen hit a 32-year low of nearly 152 per dollar. Resistance at 1.267: Key Level to Watch After BoE Rate Decision
The UK continues to struggle with high inflation, as demonstrated once again this morning when headline inflation exceeded expectations at 8.7%, surpassing the projected 8.4%. Core inflation also outperformed, registering a 7.1% figure compared to the expected 6.8%. This divergence emphasizes the contrast between the UK and its counterparts in the US and Europe.
Tomorrow, the Bank of England is set to announce its interest rate decision, and there are expectations of further tightening from the central bank. Given the elevated level of inflation, the bank may have little choice but to maintain a hawkish stance.
Last week, the GBPUSD initially tested the support level at the previous resistance of 1.250. However, that brief decline was followed by four consecutive days of significant gains, ultimately reaching a new high for the year.
There was a temporary resistance encountered at a critical level of 1.267. Following tomorrow's rate decision, this level could potentially act as a support area, particularly considering the slight pullback observed in recent days and the elevated RSI (Relative Strength Index).
On the other side of the trade, we have Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments on the central bank's ongoing battle against inflation falling short of the market's more hawkish expectations.
During his testimony to lawmakers, Powell acknowledged that inflation remains significantly above the Fed's target and indicated that raising rates could still be a sensible course of action, albeit at a more moderate pace. Traders particularly took note of the term "moderate," which Powell used to qualify the potential rate increases. We still have one more day of testimony from Powell.
EURGBP Expectations: UK Inflation and BoE's Decision this Week EURGBP Expectations: UK Inflation and BoE's Decision this Week
On Monday, the pound reached its highest level against the euro in 10 months, at 85.25 pence, as investors await the British inflation data and the upcoming Bank of England decision. However, the currency pair quickly rebounded to the support level of the previous week, at 85.42 pence, but is perhaps now tracking down again.
In recent weeks, the sterling has experienced a rallied against the EUR and USD (particularly against the USD, marking its largest weekly gain since December 2022). This surge can be attributed to economic data suggesting that inflation in Britain is more persistent compared to the United States and Europe. As a result, traders have started factoring in more interest rate hikes from the Bank of England, leading to increased yields on British government bonds and bolstering the pound. Additionally, investors' expectations have been heightened by recent data showing a faster-than-anticipated growth in British wages.
Currently, the pound is down 0.26% against the dollar, trading at $1.278. However, it remains close to the 14-month high of $1.285 reached on Friday.
British inflation data is scheduled to be released on Wednesday. Economists predict that the headline Consumer Price Index will have slightly cooled to 8.5% year-on-year, down from 8.7% in April. However, they anticipate that the core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, will remain steady at 6.8%. If these figures align with expectations, the pound could strengthen further due to the anticipation of additional interest rate increases by the Bank of England. Nevertheless, any unexpected results could introduce volatility into the market, and perhaps validate the recent rebound in the EUR.
On Thursday, the Bank of England will announce its decision on interest rates, with investors and economists expecting a 25 basis point hike to 4.75%. There is little uncertainty surrounding this decision, so traders will closely examine the bank's forward guidance. Indications of future interest rate hikes are likely to bolster the GBP. Market Reactions to Fed’s “Hawkish Pause” Market Reactions to Fed’s “Hawkish Pause”
Today the Federal Reserve chose not to proceed with an 11th consecutive interest rate hike, opting instead to assess the effects of the previous 10 hikes. However, the Fed announced that it anticipates implementing two additional quarter percentage point increases before the year concludes. While the pause was largely expected, the fact that policy makers see rates at 5.6% at year-end was what caught the market off-guard.
The combination of the pause with the suggestion of two more 25 basis points hikes has been dubbed the “hawkish pause”.
Following the decision, stock market closing results were mixed. The Dow Jones closed more than 230 points lower, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq experienced gains of 0.1% and 0.4% respectively. The Nasdaq Composite was primarily bolstered by the gains made in AI-adjacent stocks of Nvidia and AMD.
The day began with Bitcoin surpassing $26,000. However, it has since retraced to a 24-hour low of $25,791. Some analysts are predicting an inevitable drop to $25,000 based on recent cryptocurrency news that is dominated by discussions on regulation.
Meanwhile, gold prices initially rose to touch $1959 per ounce in the session but later trimmed gains, trading around $1945.
The dollar has weakened across the board, with the DXY down 0.32%. The NZD is the biggest mover, rising by more than one percent to a 3-week high of $0.6211. Gains in EUR and GBP were more modest, at +0.39% each. Challenges Ahead for USD/CAD Bulls Last night, the Bank of Canada decided to raise its interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to 4.75%. This move came after a pause in the tightening campaign during the two previous meetings. As a result, borrowing costs reached a level not seen in 22 years. Because most of the market, approximately 60%, expected interest rates to remain unchanged, the Canadian dollar (CAD) strengthened against the US dollar (USD) following the news.
The USD experienced a decrease of 0.23% against the CAD. The initial reaction in the USD/CAD exchange rate showed an 80-pip drop, bottoming out at 1.3320. However, the possibility of an additional rate increase by the Federal Reserve in July likely limited the losses. The upcoming release of US inflation data next week, coinciding with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, may provide limited insights into the validity of this possibility.
If there are any further upward movements, reaching the area around 1.3400 could present a challenge for those expecting gains. This is because the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages (MAs) on the 30-minute chart are all moving in their own lanes, indicating that the short-term price won't be fighting the long-term downtrend just yet. The April 14 low of 1.3300 and the aforementioned 1.3320 could be key if the pairs move lower. NFP report: How Will it Shape the Gold Trend?NFP report: How Will it Shape the Gold Trend?
Gold prices experienced a rise on Tuesday and Thursday (sideways on Wednesday), driven by traders' expectations of another interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve. But is the medium-term downtrend really over?
One fundamental indicator that can help answer this question is the nonfarm payrolls, due to be released this Friday (US time). Any unexpected outcomes could lead to heightened volatility in rate-sensitive assets such as gold.
Market projections indicate that the upcoming nonfarm payrolls report for May will show a slowdown in job additions to the economy, with 190,000 jobs compared to the 253,000 jobs added in April. Interestingly, the forecast for the previous month was also around 190,000 jobs.
The nonfarm payroll data serves as the final key indicator ahead of the release of inflation data on June 14 and the concurrent interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve.
Market sentiment currently suggests a 60% probability of a 25 basis-point interest rate hike during the Federal Reserve's upcoming June meeting, compared to a 26% chance observed a week earlier. If implemented, this would mark the central bank's 11th consecutive rate increase.
Gold was trading around $1,932, reaching its lowest level since March 17 before its incline began on Tuesday. While Thursday was a positive day for the metal, it still retraced about half of its gains on the day and now trades at approximately $1,960. It peaked at $1,974, which is the most immediate resistance level but without much historical precedence. Considering the NFP is still two days away, this level might become irrelevant.
$1,985 is a level with more medium-term precedence but will have to wait until closer to the release of the data to tell if this level is something that needs to be watched. If gold turns to the downside, it might pay to keep an eye on $1,938 as a support level. 5 Key Factors Shaping US Dollar Trading This Week5 Key Factors Shaping US Dollar Trading This Week
The US dollar is in the midst of a week filled with pivotal events. Together, these fundamental drivers hold the key to understanding the potential shifts in the US dollar's performance throughout the week:
- US President Joe Biden announced that a bipartisan agreement has been reached to raise the US debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion, aiming to avoid a default. He has now called on Congress to pass the deal asap. Fitch ratings will remove the “negative watch” rating on the United States when the deal passes or looks likely to pass congress.
- The debt ceiling agreement has potentially weakened the safe-haven appeal of the US dollar, leading to an increase in risk appetite in global markets.
- The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's favored inflation measure, rose by 4.4% in April compared to the previous year, up from the 4.2% increase observed in March. This development has raised the probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in June.
- Due to the Memorial Day weekend in the US, as well as bank holidays in Europe and the UK, Monday will experience reduced market liquidity. Additionally, institutions are preparing for month-end trading on Wednesday, which could introduce more volatility.
- The US payrolls report for May will be released on June 2nd. Recent months have consistently shown better-than-expected job figures. It is anticipated that this week's job numbers will indicate an addition of 180,000 jobs, with a slight increase in the unemployment rate to 3.5%. A tighter job market will reinforce the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance, with strong wage data also providing support if the actual figures surpass estimates. USDCAD Reacts to CPI & Debt Ceiling WoesUSDCAD Reacts to CPI & Debt Ceiling Woes
Two big events affecting the USD/CAD pair include the CPI reading from Canada this week as well as the ongoing debt ceiling crisis in the US.
In April, the monthly Canadian headline CPI surged by 0.7%, resulting in an annual rate of 4.4% compared to the previous 4.3%. This increase exceeded the consensus estimates by three-tenths of a percent in both instances. Consequently, the USD/CAD experienced a 0.4% decrease, reaching 1.3404, before rebounding to a high of 1.3535 USD/CAD has now also breached its 200-day simple moving average on the downside, closing below it to reinforce the bearish signal.
Strengthening this assertion is that the Bank of Canada had recently put a halt to its tightening campaign, having raised interest rates by 425 basis points since March 2022. However, they indicated that this pause was dependent on the inflation outlook aligning with the forecasted trajectory. It is unlikely that this week's CPI data meets this requirement.
Offsetting the positive news for the Canadian dollar is the prevailing optimism in the United States regarding the government's ability to avoid defaulting on its debt.
Following emergency discussions at the White House, President Joe Biden and Republican leaders cautiously expressed hope for a potential agreement to raise the US debt ceiling. The agreement must be reached and approved by both houses of Congress before the federal government exhausts its funds to cover expenses, which could occur as soon as June 1 (only two weeks away). Despite House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy stating that the two parties remain considerably apart, he believes that a deal could be achieved by the end of the current week.
Why the Mexican Peso Surged Against the USD?Why the Mexican Peso Surged Against the USD?
On Wednesday, the US dollar decreased in value against other major currencies, including the Mexican peso, by over 1%, due to reports of slower than expected US inflation. This suggests that the Federal Reserve may pause its interest rate hikes. According to data from the US Labor Department, inflation in April decreased to 4.9%, which is the lowest year-over-year increase in two years and lower than market forecasts of 5%. The slower inflation was attributed to slower growth in food prices and a further decrease in energy costs.
However, core inflation remained high at 5.5%, indicating that interest rates may need to stay high for some time to control it. Fed funds futures traders are anticipating a pause before expected rate cuts in September, which might be a little optimistic, as the Fed's target range remains at 5% to 5.25%.
The Mexican peso gained strength to 17.544, its highest value since July 2017, as the difference between US and Mexican monetary policies became more pronounced. The RSI on the USDMXN suggests it is in an extreme oversold condition, so a pullback may be necessary. Resistance levels from 2017 for the pair may no longer be relevant, but the strongest value the peso reached in 2017 was $17.430, while the peak in 2016 was $17.050.
For fundamental context, Banxico increased rates to an all-time high of 11.25% in March, despite a decrease in annual headline inflation that was greater than expected. Mexico's proximity to the US has also made it an attractive location for foreign companies to open factories targeting the American market and diversifying production from China. Additionally, the US economy's robust state has led to a rise in remittances to Mexico from expats.
