ISRAEL: PMO Demands Release Of All Hostages Before Gaza Ceasefire
Channel 12 reports comments from the prime minister's office regarding the Hamas response to the latest ceasefire proposal. Says that the Israeli requirements to end the conflict have always been clear, and that is the release of all 50 hostages (20 of whom are believed to still be alive) held by Hamas. On 18 August, Hamas indicated to mediators Qatar and Egypt that it would be willing to accept the newest proposal on ending the war in Gaza. However, these comments, combined with reports that PM Benjamin Netanyahu is 'dismissive' towards the proposal, may not bode well for a ceasefire in the near future.
- Qatari foreign ministry spox Majed al-Ansari, claimed that "Our Prime Minister is in contact with the American envoy, there is a positive atmosphere. The proposal received by Hamas is in line with what Israel agreed to. We hope for a quick and positive response. The current proposal is the best option on the table". The spox said the proposal agreed to by Hamas was "almost identical" to that put forward previously by White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. This included a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for half of the living hostages. During this period, talks on a permanent ceasefire would take place.
- Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official said, "We are ready to implement the partial deal immediately; the ball is now in Netanyahu's court".
- The Netanyahu gov't is under pressure domestically to end the war to bring the hostages home, with mass protests erupting over the weekend.
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JGB TECHS: (U5) Returns Toward Lows
- RES 3: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)
- RES 2: 146.53 - High Aug 6
- RES 1: 141.48/142.95 - High May 2 / High Apr 7
- PRICE: 138.08 @ 16:31 GMT Jul 18
- SUP 1: 137.70 - Low Jul 16
- SUP 2: 136.57 - 1.382 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
- SUP 3: 134.89 - 2.000 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
JGBs hold above recent lows, however a bearish theme remains intact following the reversal posted off the mid-June highs. A continuation lower would signal scope for an extension towards 136.57, a Fibonacci projection. On the upside, the first important resistance to watch is 141.48, the May 2 high. A break of this level would be viewed as an early bullish signal.
CANADA: July BOC Cut Pricing: From Distinct Possibility To Negligible This Week
The implied probability of a July BOC rate cut has gone from a distinct possibility to negligible this week, following Tuesday's firmer-than-expected core inflation data.
- The accompanying chart shows implied pricing (in percentage points) for July's BOC decision - it dropped from around 30% implied (7+bp) prior to the labour market report last Friday, to under 20% going into CPI (4+bp), reducing after that to under 10% (<2bp).
- For the year as a whole, markets have priced out about 15bp of cuts through those two data points - now seeing about 15bp of easing through December. As such, it's very much in question whether the BOC's easing cycle is already at an end.
- Apart from the ongoing US-Canada trade negotiations, next week's scheduled highlight will be the BOC's Business Outlook Survey out Monday, followed by May Retail Sales out Thursday which will be the final major input into the macro puzzle for the BOC going into its decision on July 30.
| Meeting | Current | Last week's close (Jul 09) | Change since then | Cumulative Change From Current Rate (bp) |
| Jul 30 2025 | 2.74 | 2.68 | 5.6 | -1.9 |
| Sep 17 2025 | 2.69 | 2.60 | 9.3 | -6.0 |
| Oct 29 2025 | 2.65 | 2.53 | 12.1 | -10.5 |
| Dec 10 2025 | 2.61 | 2.45 | 15.7 | -14.6 |
USDCAD TECHS: Has Pierced The 50-Day EMA
- RES 4: 1.3920 High May 21
- RES 3: 1.3862 High May 29
- RES 2: 1.3798 High Jun 23
- RES 1: 1.3747/74 50-day EMA / High Jul 17
- PRICE: 1.3715 @ 16:56 BST Jul 18
- SUP 1: 1.3639/3557 Low Jul 08 / 03
- SUP 2: 1.3540 Low Jun 16 and the bear trigger
- SUP 3: 1.3503 1.618 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
- SUP 4: 1.3473 Low Oct 2 2024
USDCAD is trading closer to its recent highs. Attention is on resistance at 1.3747, the 50-day EMA. It has been pierced. A clear break of it is required to highlight a possible stronger short-term reversal. This would open 1.3798, the Jun 23 high. For now, a bear trend remains firmly in place. A resumption of weakness would refocus attention on key support at 1.3540, the Jun 16 low. Clearance of this level would confirm a resumption of the downtrend.
