Risk assets rallying on trust and hope

May 16, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

The rally in risk assets continues unabated, with equity markets continuing to post record highs. The fact that this is occurring in spite of weaker data from both the US and in particular Europe, highlights the trust and hope that is being placed on central banks to continue to deliver monetary stimulus in the months ahead. While many will question the dichotomy between equity markets, bond yields and economic data, there is little sign of this changing any time soon.

Spurred by a rise in US Treasury bond yields which in turn has been fuelled by better than expected US economic data the USD index has been driven higher. Disappointing data overnight in the form of the May Empire manufacturing survey, US Treasury TIC capital flows, and April industrial production led to a pull back in US bond yields.

Going forward much in terms of USD direction will depend on upcoming data and Federal Reserve speeches, with a relatively full calendar today including April CPI, housing starts and the May Philly Fed manufacturing confidence survey. Additionally there are no less than five Fed speakers on tap today, with any clues on a tapering off of asset purchases sought. The USD index is set to test its 2012 high of 84.10 but is likely to consolidate in the near term given the pull back in yields.

EUR continues to remain under pressure as it edges towards its 2013 lows around 1.2745, with a test of this level expected soon. Weaker than expected Q1 GDP readings from France, Germany, Italy and the over Eurozone dampened any ability of the currency to reverse losses.

The Eurozone has registered six straight quarters of contraction and any recovery is likely to be limited in the months ahead. Pressure on the European Central Bank to provide more monetary policy accommodation will only be reinforced by today’s release of the April CPI data (likely to be confirmed at 1.2%) leaving the EUR under further pressure. Near term technical support for EUR/USD is seen around 1.2772.

The JPY is facing a perfect storm of negative factors including a widening in US Treasury / Japanese JGB yield differentials, improving risk appetite and portfolio capital outflows from Japan. I expect capital outflows from Japan to intensify. Japanese life insurers have accounted for more than 20% of the net foreign securities purchases since 2011, and recent indications show that they are planning to increase their foreign bond buying.

Additionally the Japanese Government Pension Investment Fund has already begun to increase its proportion of foreign asset holdings. Portfolio data released this morning revealed that Japanese investors continued to channel money overseas. Near term resistance for USD/JPY is seen around 103.50.

Posted in Bank of Japan, ECB, Economics, Federal Reserve. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

GBP facing resistance, CHF pressured

May 9, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

The Bank of England is unlikely to provide much influence for GBP unless there is a change in monetary policy settings. I think this is unlikely and if anything GBP is set to take a slightly weaker bias against both EUR and USD although I still look for GBP to make headway against CHF. GBP bulls appear to be taking profits in frustration at the inability of GBP to push higher over recent sessions although the large extent of short speculative market positioning suggests that downside risks are limited. The IMF’s annual health check of the UK economy beginning today will provoke some interest especially given the IMF’s recent criticism over the extent of UK austerity measures but I don’t expect it to provoke much GBP reaction.

FX intervention by New Zealand’s central bank shook up the kiwi. The threat of more intervention to weaken the NZD will result in some caution among bulls, but the RBNZ is smoothing the currency rather than attempting to halt its gains. Nonetheless, I would caution against playing long NZD/USD positions given the intervention risk prefer to go long AUD/NZD. Although the cross pulled back following the strong NZ jobs report overnight this was matched by a similarly strong Aussie jobs report.

EUR/CHF has risen over recent days and looks set to break above the 25 April high around 1.23495. The ongoing reversal in safe haven flows as Eurozone peripheral bonds continue to heal is helping to weaken the CHF. Additionally, the weaker than expected reading for April CPI highlights the persistent deflationary pressures inherent in the economy, something that may reverse if the CHF weakens. Additionally interest rate differentials continue to point to a higher EUR/CHF, with the differential widening in favour of the EUR over recent weeks.

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Contrasting Fed and BoE stance

February 21, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

A contrasting stance in the minutes of the Fed and Bank of England impacted FX markets. Firstly the Fed minutes revealed some unease among officials about maintaining current quantitative easing settings as the economic outlook improved. In contrast the BoE minutes revealed a more dovish than anticipated 6-3 vote in favour of further easing. Consequently GBP/USD dropped sharply while the USD made broad gains. It will take a move higher in US bond yields to reinforce USD strength and notably 10 year Treasury yields have yet to break the 2.0634 high reached on 14 February.

While the JPY is likely to continue to weaken over coming months I maintain the view that the bulk of its cyclical decline has already taken place, with the risks much more balanced. My models continue to show that the magnitude of JPY weakness is not justified by its usual drivers. Risks of a short term JPY correction higher notwithstanding I expect any further weakness to be much more gradual in the months ahead.

Consistent with my model output, the feeling on the ground in Japan is that the currency has indeed fallen too far, too quickly, while there is plenty of scepticism about the fact that so far there has actually been little in terms of actual policy measures to justify the drop in the JPY. In the meantime the new central bank governor will be scrutinised to determine whether he will be sufficiently aggressive to warrant the drop in the JPY. A decision may take place very soon. Whatever the decision USD/JPY looks set to struggle to break above 94.00 in the short term.

Markets will be very data-dependent in terms of determining AUD direction in the weeks ahead. A further batch of soft data will reinforce expectations of further RBA rate cuts and undermine the AUD further. I do not expect this to occur, with some stabilisation in economic data likely, an outcome which ought to restrain AUD bears. My quantitative model suggests that AUD/USD is now looking relatively cheap, with the regression estimate at around 1.07.

AUD’s drop against NZD has been particularly sharp. I do not believe the drop is justified and yesterday’s jump in AUD/NZD based in large part on comments by RBNZ governor Wheeler warning about FX intervention to weaken the kiwi in my view marks a shift in the fortunes of the currency pair. Such comments should not be surprising given the failure of the G20 to chastise Japan on its FX stance. Expect more FX jawboning in the weeks ahead from other central banks.

Posted in Australia, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Economics, Federal Reserve, New Zealand. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Chronology of a Crisis

December 10, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Chronology of a Crisis
by Mitul Kotecha

Not many would have thought that the global financial crisis stemming from the sub-prime debacle in the US would have spawned such a massive degree of global contagion, the impact of which is being felt to this day. Indeed, it is evident that global markets have had to face crisis after crisis since the sub-prime saga began. It is equally evident that the chances of returning to the definition of normality that we knew prior to the crisis are extremely slim.

Fast forward to late 2012 and one could be forgiven for thinking that markets are still in the midst of crisis. The stark reality is that, despite the massive amount of fiscal and monetary stimulus enacted since 2008, the world economy remains very fragile and while the financial system is arguably in better shape, policy makers have far less ammunition in their pockets than they did at the beginning of the financial crisis. All is not so bad, however, with signs over recent months that the global economy is finally emerging from its quagmire. Even the crisis in the Eurozone is increasingly moving painstakingly towards some form of resolution.

In this book I give a month-by-month analysis of the period following the escalation of the financial crisis, attempting where possible to determine where and how things could have been handled differently. In assessing the market impact, particularly in relation to currency markets, the analysis will hopefully provide some insight into what can be learnt from the crisis and what to expect should a similar situation arise in the future.

Posted in Economics, Financial crisis. Leave a Comment »

USD buffeted, JPY firming, AUD risks receding

October 9, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

A lacklustre day for equity markets yesterday saw many indices close lower and risk aversion edge higher, with the VIX ‘fear gauge’ being a prime mover, Some encouraging signs for global activity continue to emerge from the rise in the Baltic Dry Index but market growth fears remain high. Attention remains firmly focussed on events in Europe, with the Ecofin meeting today likely to see further discussions on a wide range of issues. As yet there is no breakthrough regarding a Spanish bailout or next tranche of Greek loan disbursement, with the latter only likely to be confirmed in November. A visit by German Chancellor Merkel to Athens today is unlikely to result in any breakthroughs. US corporate earnings will also garner greater attention as the week goes on, with Alcoa set to begin the earnings season tomorrow.

The USD is being buffeted by conflicting factors at present. QE3 is likely to cap any gains in the currency but the expansion of balance sheets by other central banks suggests that a weaker USD outlook is by no means a foregone conclusion. Moreover, from a growth perspective the USD comes out on top. Even though US recovery is a weak one by historical standards the economic outlook still looks better than in Europe, notwithstanding the looming US fiscal cliff. Further evidence of recovery will be gauged from the release of the September small business optimism survey today. A likely third straight gain will provide encouraging news although the survey still remains lower than levels it was at earlier in the year. Over coming days I expect the USD to edge higher as it capitalizes on the various strands of uncertainty in the Eurozone.

As Japan returns from an extended weekend USD/JPY has reversed its recent break higher and is verging on another test of 78.00. There seems little in terms of directional influences to give any major impetus to the currency pair especially as many JPY correlations have broken down lately. JPY speculative long positions remain relatively high suggesting scope for some reduction and JPY selling but I suspect that USD/JPY will remain stuck in its current 77.77 – 79.00 range for some time to come. Nonetheless, JPY bears may be encouraged by recent signs of strong bond outflows adding to data showing equity outflows over recent weeks. Indeed, in the week to 28 September 2012 Japan registered its biggest net equity and bond outflows since early May.

AUD has been a major underperformer this month, with pressure intensifying following last week’s surprise RBA rate cut. Although a further sharp drop appears unlikely hefty long speculative positioning suggests that upside traction will be limited. Nonetheless, my quantitative models show that the AUD is looking increasingly oversold against the USD. The market is already pricing in another RBA rate cut by the end of the year suggesting that the reaction to upcoming data will be asymmetric. In other words the AUD will rally more in the wake of positive data than it will weaken in the wake of soft data. Business and consumer confidence indicators will provide further direction over coming days, but the main driver will come from the September jobs report on Thursday where a further drop in employment is expected. I continue to look for strong support for AUD/USD around the 1.0100 level, with 1.0285 a barrier to any upside break.

Posted in Australia, Economics, eurozone, Greece, Spain, US. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »
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