EUR/CHF still clinging to 1.2000

May 31, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The job of the Swiss National Bank has become increasingly tougher over recent weeks. Speculation of a Greek exit or ‘Grexit’ and continued flight of capital from Greece as well as other peripheral countries mean that there is more prospect of upside for the CHF than downside versus EUR. The EUR/CHF 1.2000 floor has not deterred investors from parking such capital in CHF, much to the chagrin of the SNB, which has even warned about implementing capital restrictions.

Elevated risk aversion means that inflows of capital to Switzerland from the Eurozone periphery will persist. As a result, EUR/CHF looks set to trade around the 1.2000 floor for some time to come, with the risk that the SNB increasingly has to buy EUR to protect the floor. My forecasts reflect the view that any CHF weakness versus EUR will be extremely gradual in the months ahead as I expect any improvement in risk appetite to be similarly slow.

On the economic front the arguments for CHF weakness have actually lessened. Consumer confidence increased to its highest in a year in April. More importantly from the point of view of the SNB, Switzerland has registered positive CPI readings on a monthly basis for the past three months. Unfortunately, CPI is still negative on an annual basis, meaning that deflationary concerns continue to persist. On balance, the SNB’s fears over deflation will eventually lessen, suggesting in turn that worries about CHF strength will also be pared back.

Although the CHF has remained strong against the EUR it has weakened against the USD, but this is attributable to EUR weakness (due to the EUR/CHF floor) rather than inherent CHF weakness.
It will not be a one-way bet lower against the USD for both the EUR and CHF. The speculative market is highly short both currencies and they could rally in the event of any good news from Greece or the Eurozone. The CHF may also find itself weakening against the EUR if the news is sufficiently good to help stem outflows of capital from Greece and other parts of the Eurozone, but I believe this is unlikely. For the next few weeks at least, ahead of Greek elections, EUR/CHF is set to continue to cling to the 1.2000 floor, with the market set to test the SNB’s resolve.

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Spain moves to the epicentre

May 30, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk appetite has continued to firm but caution prevails. Rumours overnight of a Eurozone bank rescue fund (later denied) helped sentiment, but the ECB’s rejection of plans to recapitalise Bankia in Spain via an injection of EUR 19 billion of sovereign bonds and a downgrade of Spain’s credit ratings, once again brought a dose of reality back to markets. Additionally a Xinhau news agency report that China has no plans to introduce a major stimulus package will also dampen sentiment. Against this background it is difficult to see any rally in risk being sustained.

Admittedly equity valuations look more compelling, with the price / earnings ratio on the S&P 500 below its long term average, but that does not mean that now is the time to buy stocks or risk assets in general. The USD remains the winner on the FX front and will continue to edge higher over coming days and weeks, with the currency interestingly verging on a close above its 100 month moving average.

Once again the EUR has failed to hold onto gains, with the currency making lower highs and lows, dropping below 1.2500 overnight. Even a firmer tone to equity markets and slightly better risk appetite has failed to provide any support to EUR as Greece passes the baton to Spain as the new epicentre of market attention. A new poll showing increased support for pro bailout parties in Greece has helped to alleviate Greece concerns slightly there.

Today’s data slate in Europe will come as little relief to the EUR. A further deterioration in economic confidence surveys in May will only serve to highlight the growing growth disparity between the Eurozone and US although the surprisingly large drop in May US consumer confidence was hardly encouraging. The data will leave the EUR vulnerable to further slippage and follow through below 1.2500, with a test of technical support around 1.2300 on the cards.

Like most other currencies the sensitivity of USD/SEK to risk aversion has increased over recent weeks. According to my calculations it has been one of the most highly correlated currency pairs with Risk Aversion over the past 3-months. This has been reflected in the drop in SEK against the USD which accelerated during May. However, USD/SEK has stabilised lately while EUR/SEK has dropped sharply.

A further drop to around 8.95 (trend line from beginning April) is on the cards in the near term but further SEK gains are unlikely unless risk aversion improves. On the positive side, Swedish economic data is at least perking up as reflected in the bigger than expected jump in May consumer confidence yesterday. GDP data today ought to confirm that the drop in growth in Q4 will not be sustained, which will to provide short term relief to the SEK.

Posted in eurozone, FX, Greece, Spain, Sweden. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Sell Euro into rallies

May 29, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

There was limited respite for markets in yesterday’s thin market trading, with any bounce in risk appetite sold into quickly. This is exactly the pattern of trading that is likely to take place over coming weeks as Greece remains in the spotlight while Spanish banking woes garner more attention.

Taken together with rising global growth worries (note the Baltic Dry Index is turning over again) suggests that it will be very difficult for markets to drag themselves out the quagmire. The lack of major data releases today, with only German inflation and US consumer confidence of note, suggests that there will be little for markets to take their minds off the Eurozone debt crisis.

EUR/USD hit a high around 1.2625 helped no doubt by the fact that positioning was at record short levels. However, the bounce was quickly sold into leaving the EUR vulnerable to a drop below 1.2500 today. A renewed sell off in Spanish debt as banking sector concerns intensify dented any positive impact from weekend polls in Greece showing more support for pro bailout parties.

There is little on the data front today aside from German CPI leaving markets to continue to ponder on peripheral country woes. “Grexit’ fears have by no means been quelled as the reduction in bank deposits continues to show. EUR/USD will struggle to make any headway against this background, with further probing below 1.2500 likely in coming days.

The job of the Swiss National Bank has become increasingly tougher. Speculation of a ‘Grexit’ and continued flight of capital from Greece as well as other peripheral countries means that there is more prospect of upside for the CHF than downside versus EUR. The EUR/CHF 1.2000 floor has not deterred investors from parking such capital in CHF much to the chagrin of the SNB which has even warned about implementing capital restrictions.

Elevated risk aversion means that inflows of capital to Switzerland from the Eurozone periphery will persist. As a result EUR/CHF looks set to trade around the 1.2000 floor for some time to come, with the risk that the SNB has to increasingly buy EUR to protect the floor.

Posted in eurozone, FX, Greece, Switzerland. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Is Greece Ready To Leave The Euro?

May 28, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

I was recently interviewed by Sital Ruparelia for his website dedicated to “Managing Careers In The Modern Economy“ on my view on Greece, its potential exit from the Euro and its maket and economic implications.

Sital is a regular guest on BBC Radio offering career advice and job search tips to listeners. Being a regular contributor and specialist for several leading on line resources including eFinancial Careers and Career Hub (voted number 1 blog by ‘HR World’), Sital’s career advice has also been featured in BusinessWeek online.

Please see below to read the article

Sital: Mitul, so why is the election and change of government in Greece such a big issue?

Mitul: It’s a big issue because the outcome will decide whether Greece renegotiates its bailout, defaults on its debt and/or stays within the Eurozone or not. Greece has suffered from austerity and some political parties have benefited from the backlash against austerity leading to growing expectations of an eventual exit from the euro.

Sital: And why have the markets been falling globally over the last week?

Click here to read the rest…

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Calm start to the week

May 28, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

There will be some relief reverberating through markets at the news this weekend that Greek opinion polls show growing support for pro-bailout parties. While the Greek election is still some weeks off suggesting that uncertainty will not ease quickly this news will allay fears of a quick ‘Grexit”. The week will begin quietly, with holidays in the US, keeping market trading largely thin and within ranges.

However, there are plenty of data releases and events which will result in increased nervousness as the week goes on. Data this week will reveal further contrasts between the US and Eurozone, with sentiment gauges in the latter set to deteriorate further while consumer confidence in the former will improve. In turn, Eurozone asset underperformance including EUR weakness will remain in place.

The contrast in the outlook for the US and Eurozone has been reflected in a significant shift in speculative positioning. CFTC IMM data reveals an all time high in speculative US positioning but in contrast an all time low in EUR positioning. The USD is winning by being a less ugly currency than the EUR and for now the markets are content to ignore US problems. This is set to continue over coming weeks.

Key data and events this week include the Irish referendum on the fiscal pact on Thursday and the US May jobs report on Friday. Ahead of these there is some periphery supply, with Italy coming to the primary market today. Polls point to a ‘yes’ vote in the Irish referendum, perhaps unsurprising given the risks of losing access to funding if voters vote ‘no’.

In the US markets look for a 150k increase in payrolls though its worth noting that there are less clues this month given the early release date. This slow but steady improvement in jobs will not be particularly exciting but at the same time it will no do the USD much damage either.

Posted in eurozone, FX, Greece, US. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »
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