EUR/JPY set to slip further

January 9, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The EUR looks set to plumb lower over coming weeks but how quickly will it fall given that market positioning is already at record low levels? The absence of official investors such as central banks who are normally strong buyers of EUR on dips, helped to pull the rug from under the EUR, resulting in a fairly sharp lunge lower. While it is easy to jump on the bandwagon expecting a further sharp fall this week, it may be worth taking some caution given the extent of short market positioning.

Admittedly officials in Europe are not too worried, and quite rightly so, given that the currency remains overvalued and still far too strong. Moreover, FX options market have also not reacted too much to the move, suggesting that for most, the decline in the EUR is not something to be too excited about. The underperformance of European data releases relative to the US over recent weeks adds further ammunition to those calling for a weaker EUR and assuming this divergence in data performance continues, the EUR will find it difficult to sustain much of a recovery.

Meanwhile the JPY continues to remain firm despite the generally firm USD tone this year. The JPY did give up some ground at the end of last week but shows little inclination to head back above the 78.0 level. Japanese official worries about JPY strength were evident in comments from Finance Minister Azumi who rolled out the usual mantra that they were watching FX market closely. He also expressed growing concerns about the drop in the EUR, highlighting concerns about the impact on Japanese exports as EUR/JPY drops to multi year lows.

Unfortunately for Japanese officials it appears that the EUR will get weaker and at least over the short term, the JPY stronger. EUR/JPY looks set to drop to its October 2000 low around 89.00 over coming weeks against the background of continued pressure in the Eurozone and elevated risk aversion.

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Renewed Eurozone Tensions

January 5, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The USD has so far failed to build on the strong momentum seen at the end of last year. Its early days yet however, and given the ongoing tensions in the Eurozone the USD is hardly likely to lose much ground in the weeks ahead. US data continues to impress relative to elsewhere as revealed in the December ISM manufacturing survey data and overnight news that sales at auto makers and retailers were firmer in December. This economic outperformance may however, feed into a tone of improved risk appetite which could play negatively for the USD.

The USD will face a test from the release of the December payrolls data tomorrow, with forecasts currently looking for the gradual improvement in job market conditions to continue. As usual the December ADP private sector jobs released today will be instrumental in finalising the forecasts for payrolls. Overall, the USD will continue to benefit from the travails in the Eurozone, keeping the USD index well supported around 80.00.

EUR/USD has failed to sustain gains above 1.3000 so far this week and has continued to come under pressure on the crosses. While the potential for short covering may limit its losses sentiment continues to be downbeat. Better than forecast December service sector PMI data have helped to allay the worse fears about the Eurozone economy but this will be of little help to the EUR as further deterioration is likely in the months ahead.

Meanwhile yield differentials continue to have some bearing on EUR/USD. The fact that German 2-year yields have dropped further below US 2-year yields therefore ought to spell bad news for the EUR and will likely act as a cap to any rally in the currency. The news flow in the Eurozone will continue to weigh on the EUR too, with speculation that Spain will need an European Union (EU) / International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan intensifying and press reports that Spain will need to increase its provisions for bad property assets by up to EUR 50 billion. Attention today will turn to a EUR 8 billion bond auction in France.

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The Devil is in the details

December 12, 2011 — Mitul Kotecha

The “partial solution” delivered by European Union (EU) leaders last week has failed to match the high hopes ahead of the EU Summit. Nonetheless, the deliverance of a “fiscal compact”, acceleration of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to July 2012 , no forced private sector participation in debt restructuring (outside Greece), and possible boost to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of up to EUR 200 billion, are steps in the right direction. The fact that UK Prime Minister Cameron threw a spanner in the works to veto a joint proposal to revise the EU Treaty should not detract from the progress made.

Nonetheless, the measures may not be sufficient to allay market concerns, with disappointment at the lack of European Central Bank (ECB) action in terms of stepping up to the plate as lender of the last resort still weighing on sentiment. Data will add to the disappointment this week as “flash” Eurozone purchasing managers indices (PMI) drop further in December.

This week events in the US will garner more attention, including the Federal Reserve FOMC meeting, November inflation and retail sales data plus manufacturing confidence gauges as well as November industrial production on tap. The Fed will not shift its policy stance at this meeting but may sound a little more upbeat on the economy following recent firmer data. Inflation will likely remain subdued while the other data will continue to show gradual recovery.

Overall, the market is likely to thin further as the week progresses and holidays approach, with ranges likely to dominate against the background of little directional impetus. Our call to sell risk assets on rallies remains in place, however. The EUR will likely struggle to make much headway in the current environment, especially given that many details of the EU agreement still need to be ironed out and once again the risk to market confidence lies in implementation or lack of it. A range of EUR/USD 1.3260-1.3550 is likely to hold over the short term.

Posted in ECB, Economics, Economy, Europe, eurozone, Federal Reserve, Fiscal/Budget, FX, Monetary Policy, UK, US. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

All Eyes On Europe

December 8, 2011 — Mitul Kotecha

EUR looks range bound ahead of key events including the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting, European Union Summit and release of bank stress test results. A senior German official poured cold water over expectations of a concrete outcome from the EU Summit, dampening EUR sentiment as a result.

There will be plenty of attention on the ECB to determine whether they will give a little more ground and provide further assistance to the Eurozone periphery. While a refi policy rate cut is highly likely as well as additional liquidity measures I do not expect any move in the direction of more aggressive action to support peripheral bonds in terms of becoming “lender of the last resort’.

If however, the ECB hints at intensifying its securities market purchases of Eurozone bonds this will likely bode well for the EUR. Indeed, reports overnight suggest that the ECB will announce a set of measures to stimulate bank lending including easing collateral requirements for banks.

More weak UK data in the form a bigger than consensus drop in manufacturing and industrial production in October add to the soft BRC retail sales and house price data, in putting pressure on the Bank of England (BoE) to increase its quantitative easing at today’s policy meeting. While the BoE is set to keep policy unchanged it is only a matter of time before additional asset purchases are announced.

Despite the weaker IP data GBP has held up relatively well against the USD although downside risks appear to be intensifying. If I am correct in the view of no change by the BoE today we expect little change in GBP although there could be a risk of a push higher in EUR/GBP if the ECB delivers some positive news, with resistance seen around 0.8665.

The RBNZ unsurprisingly left policy rates unchanged at 2.5%, sounded less hawkish than the previous meeting and also lowered growth forecasts. The NZD was left unmoved by the rate decision and looks well supported at current levels perhaps due to relief that the statement was not more dovish. The kiwi has been an underperformer over the year but unlike the AUD it has not been particularly influenced by gyrations in risk aversion.

Interest rate futures differentials have seen a renewed widening versus the US over recent weeks. This is significant given that the NZ-US interest rate differentials have a very strong correlation with the performance of NZD/USD. If this widening is sustained it will point to upside potential for the Kiwi.

Posted in Currencies, ECB, Economics, Economy, Europe, eurozone, Fiscal/Budget, FX, Interest rates, Monetary Policy, New Zealand, UK. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

High Hopes for the EU Summit

December 7, 2011 — Mitul Kotecha

Following the knock to the EUR from the S&P ratings news on Eurozone countries yesterday the currency has managed to regain a semblance of stability ahead of the European Union Summit beginning tomorrow. Expectations that the Franco-German deal announced late Monday (Fiscal compact etc) will be rubber stamped at the summit are high and the warning shot by S&P suggests that the stakes are even higher should there be no further progress this week.

Aside from putting the ratings of 15 Eurozone countries on negative watch S&P stated overnight that the EFSF bailout fund could be downgraded too. The EUR however, looks supported ahead of the summit and European Central Bank (ECB) meeting tomorrow, with news of discussions to beef up the bailout fund to two separate entities likely to further underpin the currency. EUR/USD short term support is seen around 1.3330.

The cut in the Reserve Bank Australia (RBA) cash rate piled on the pressure on the AUD, especially as a rate cut was not fully priced in although its weakness was limited by the relatively neutral RBA policy statement. The statement did not support expectations of more significant easing in the months ahead and data this morning in the form of a much stronger than expected Q3 GDP reading reinforced our view that markets are too dovish on Australian interest rate expectations.

Next it’s the turn of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) but unlike the RBA we do not expect an interest rate cut. The room for policy easing in New Zealand is limited, especially given that inflation is above the Bank’s 1-3% target band. Both the AUD and NZD are highly correlated with interest rate differentials and therefore any shift in rate expectations will have an important bearing. AUD and NZD have benefitted from a widening in yield differentials with the US and are likely to find garner some resilience from this fact over coming sessions.

EUR/GBP has continued to grind lower over recent months while GBP/USD appears to have settled into a range. GBP sentiment has clearly worsened over recent weeks as reflected in the deterioration in speculative positioning in the currency, with the market becoming increasingly short. Data releases have not been particularly helpful, with data yesterday revealing that UK house prices fell in November and retail sales dropped more than expected.

There will be more disappointment, with October industrial production likely to drop today. Our forecast of a 0.8% monthly highlights the downside risks to consensus expectations and in turn to GBP today. The data releases will if anything add to pressure on the Bank of England to embark on more quantitative easing, which will be another factor that restrains GBP over coming weeks. We continue to look for more GBP strength versus EUR but weakness against the USD over the short term. A move to support around GBP/USD 1.5469 is on the cards over the near term.

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