EUR and GBP slipping, JPY lower

January 10, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Slightly better market sentiment allowed equity markets in the US to close higher in the wake of earnings helped too boost sentiment but overall direction remains limited ahead of a plethora of earnings releases over coming days and more immediately the European Central Bank and Bank of England meetings today.

Fed speakers will also be watched closely, while bond auctions in Spain and Italy will be another key influence for Eurozone markets. Meanwhile, the VIX ‘fear gauge’ rebounded slightly but remains at a low level while the USD index continued its ascent and is likely to continue to remain firm.

The ECB and BoE are set to leave policy unchanged today but this will not prevent both EUR and GBP from losing ground against the USD. The principle risk to GBP revolves around the UK economy. Weaker data releases have restrained GBP both against the USD and EUR.

Given the likelihood that growth will not recover quickly this will continue to act as a weight on GBP in the months ahead. Only the fact that the Eurozone economy will look even weaker will allow GBP to appreciate versus EUR while relative US economic outperformance will ensure a relatively softer GBP versus USD.

The breach of GBP/USD’s 100 day moving average level around 1.6061 is a trigger for a steeper decline. Conversely EUR/GBP may register some further short term upside but technical indicators suggest a relatively flat picture for the currency pair over coming weeks.

It is clear that the Japanese authorities have a fresh determinism to weaken the JPY as reflected by the news that Japan purchased bonds issued by the European Stability Mechanism. Additionally pressure on the Bank of Japan to implement a 2% inflation target has not eased, with Prime Minister Abe continuing to highlight the prospects of a joint accord between the government and BoJ.

Reflecting these factors and the higher starting point for USD/JPY I have revised my forecast and now look for the currency pair to end 2013 at 92.00 versus 85.00 previously. It will not be a one way bet for the JPY, however. Its drop against the USD looks excessive especially as it has largely been driven by expectations rather than actual policy change. There is scope for disappointment should policy be less aggressive than hoped for.

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JPY retracement, AUD restrained

January 8, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Equity markets looked more restrained overnight as the sharp rally so far this year stalled ahead of the US Q4 earnings season which kicks off with Alcoa earnings after the close today. The looming budget battle in the US has also prompted some hesitancy to buy risk assets.

Direction will remain limited given the notable absence of first tier data releases today, with only Eurozone economic sentiment gauges, German factory orders, US small business confidence and consumer credit on tap. The bulk of releases are due in the later part of the week including rate decisions from the ECB and BoE.

For a currency that spent most of last year trapped in a relatively tight the JPY has lost an incredible amount of ground (12.7%) versus USD since the beginning of October 2012. The historically strong relationship between bond yield differentials and USD/JPY has broken down (albeit temporarily in my view), and cannot be used to explain the jump in USD/JPY.

Expectations of more aggressive monetary policy action have pushed USD/JPY higher especially as Prime Minister Abe continues to highlight his desire for a 2% inflation target. Nonetheless, as wires report today there may be no deadline for achieving this target a factor which may help USD/JPY to push lower in the short term. USD/JPY is likely to find some support around 86.54 (Jan 2 low). Speculative positioning in JPY has become increasingly short but notably is a long way from the all time low, suggesting scope remains for an eventual increase in JPY shorts.

AUD/USD has made an impressive recovery from its lows around 1.0344 at the end of last year. Risk appetite and the USD index both register a limited and insignificant correlation with AUD/USD suggesting that the currency will not be influenced by either over coming weeks. Yield differentials however, remain important and the widening of Australia 2 year yield differentials with Treasuries has provided important support for AUD.

Further upside in the currency will require Australian yields to move higher and this may in turn depend on the outcome of November retail sales data tomorrow but 2 year yields have hit trend line resistance suggesting that the AUD will struggle to move higher from current levels. AUD/USD 1.0585 will offer strong resistance, while my quantitative model suggests AUD/USD short term fair value around 1.0557.

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Euro falls, yen rises as risk aversion picks up

December 20, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The USD index is quickly slipping back to its mid September lows, although downside momentum has been restrained by an overnight jump in risk aversion. The USD had been undermined by a continued improvement in risk appetite as markets expect (hope) that a deal to avert the fiscal cliff can be averted although recent developments have not been encouraging on this front. Additionally, given the relative strong performance of US equities this year there may be an element of profits repatriation out of the US weighing on the USD. A likely upward revision to US Q3 GDP, rise in the Philly Fed survey manufacturing, and existing home sales, will if anything imply firmer risk appetite and consequent USD weakness.

EUR/USD is trading close to multi month highs but dropped from a high of 1.3309 overnight despite a firmer than expected reading for the December German IFO survey on renewed caution over a deal to avert the fiscal cliff. News flow has provided some impetus to the EUR over recent weeks following recent agreements by European leaders on issues such as banking supervision and a positive Greek debt buyback. Such progress has set the background for a firm end to the year for the currency. Nonetheless, as reflected in its drop overnight any increase in risk aversion will limit the ability of the EUR to move higher. Additionally the EUR will be restrained by caution expressed by the Greek finance minister in the FT over the country’s future highlighting that Greece is not out of the woods yet.

The JPY’s slide has continued unabated ahead of today’s BoJ policy decision. Markets have already priced in further easing in the form of an increase in asset purchases and any outcome that reveals anything less than JPY 10 trilion in asset purchases will provoke JPY buying in a market that is heavily short. However, the LDP’s strong showing in elections implies that markets will need to take seriously threats of more aggressive policy action over coming months, especially with regard to JPY strength. Indeed, weak export data revealed yesterday, while not solely attributable to JPY strength, will nonetheless, fuel more pressure for a weaker currency. Therefore, any pull back in USD/JPY will prove short lived as investors once again eye the JPY as the favoured short leg of carry trades.

Please note this will be my last blog post for 2012. Thank you for reading econometer.

Seasons Greetings and best wishes for the new year to all econometer.org readers.

ps. if you haven’t checked it out please click on the link below to order my new book, Chronology of a Crisis.

http://www.searchingfinance.com/products/books-econ-politics-finance/chronology-of-a-crisis.html

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USD and JPY on the back foot

December 17, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Running into the end of the year it is clear that the USD is turning into the biggest loser. In part this reflects year end flows but also the dovish Fed stance and uncertainty about a resolution of the fiscal cliff. Indeed, with the Fed FOMC meeting out of the way the lack of progress on averting the fiscal cliff is quite disconcerting. Market confidence of an agreement appears to be slipping judging by the weakness in risk assets at the end of the week.

The USD is unlikely to make up much ground in the days ahead despite some likely positive data releases including yet more data showing housing market recovery, gradually improving manufacturing confidence gauges as well as a revision higher to Q3 GDP.

The EUR is on the verge of ending the year in strong form (too strong for Eurozone economies) as news of agreements on Greece’s loan tranche and banking supervision have given the currency even more support. Much of the rally in the EUR is likely to come from position adjustment into year end and could reverse quickly into new year, however.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt that receding tail risk due in large part due to continued support from expected eventual ECB asset purchases (OMT) activation will limit any downside in the EUR. In the near term the EUR may still take some direction from the German IFO survey on Wednesday but assuming that this survey continues its stabilisation, EUR/USD will likely maintain gains above technical support around 1.2880.

Japan faces a new reality following elections following Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Demoractic Part (LDP) victory in lower house elections. In particular, pressure for more aggressive policy will be sustained given the two thirds majority obtained. Nonetheless, it is not obvious that coalition parties will be as welcoming while some of the rhetoric from LDP leader Abe has already softened.

As the deterioration in the Tankan survey revealed the economic picture is clearly worryingly weak. Trade data over the coming week will be scrutinised to determine the lingering impact of frictions with China as well as the strength of the JPY. On this note, a further increase in asset purchases by the BoJ this week will mean that the JPY is unlikely to retrace its losses very quickly. Nonetheless, USD/JPY will face strong resistance around 84.60.

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Edging away from the cliff

November 20, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk appetite was decidedly firmer overnight as hopes of a US budget deal grew. Talks between President Obama and Congressional leaders have been labelled as ‘constructive’ implying some sign of compromise although there is a long way to go before a deal is likely. Sentiment was boosted further by encouraging housing news out the US, with home builders’ confidence and existing home sales beating expectations. Unfortunately housing starts data today will not be as upbeat.

News that France’s credit ratings were cut by Moody’s dampened the mood, ahead of a meeting by Eurozone officials to decide on the fate of Greece’s EUR 31.5 billion loan tranche. The French downgrade may cast a shadow over markets this morning but hopes of progress towards a solution to the fiscal cliff will keep markets buoyed.

Data releases in the Eurozone will do little to help the EUR given expectations of weak purchasing managers’ indices and a yet another drop in the German IFO business confidence survey over coming days. News on the Greek front might be a little better if the country’s loan tranche is approved today. However, any boost to EUR sentiment will be short lived as discussions about Greece’s sustainability and disagreements among its creditors hog the limelight.

My quantitative models suggest little directional bias, with EUR/USD close to its short term fair value. While all of this suggests that the EUR will fail to find much momentum its worth highlighting that EUR short speculative positioning is at its highest since 11 September and a great deal of bad news is already priced in.

While the Bank of Japan is set to deliver more easing over coming months today’s meeting will likely mark a pause in policy. I do not expect any surprises from the Bank of Japan today but the JPY remains on the back foot in the wake of calls for “unlimited easing” by the opposition LDP party. However, the outcome of elections is by no means clear cut and although the LDP will likely garner the lion’s share of the vote its policies may be constrained by coalition partners.

I remain cautious of calling the JPY higher from current levels, especially given that USD/JPY will be undermined somewhat by the drop in US bond yields. Moreover, my quantitative model shows a sell signal for USD/JPY. Technical resistance around 87.78 will likely cap any up move in the currency in the neat term.

Posted in Bank of Japan, Greece, Japan, US administration. Tags: , , , . 2 Comments »
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