EUR upside limited, JPY bears frustrated, AUD capped

April 30, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk assets continue to rally spurred by hopes / expectations of ongoing (Federal Reserve) and additional (European Central Bank) monetary stimulus, the formation of a new government in Italy (however unstable it may turn out to be) and a better than expected outcome for US March pending home sales, bucking the trend of disappointing US data over recent weeks.

Consequently commodity prices have rallied helped by industrial and precious metals while the USD has come under sustained selling pressure. Ahead of the major events over coming days (ECB and Fed meetings, non farm payrolls) the positive risk tone is unlikely to change although US consumer and business confidence measures will be scrutinised to determine whether how sentiment is holding post sequester.

Market relief following the formation of a new government in Italy was evident in the positive reception to Italy’s bond auction yesterday. Although this was no big surprise, it highlights the ongoing power of the ECB’s OMT threat and the calming influence it is has had on peripheral bonds and the EUR.

Even so, a likely policy rate cut by the ECB and potential hints at future non conventional easing will be sufficient to prevent the EUR from capitalizing much on the generally softer USD tone this week. Additionally as revealed in the weaker than expected Eurozone April sentiment indicators yesterday the fundamental argument for both lower policy rates and a weaker EUR remains compelling. In the near term EUR/USD will remain supported above 1.2985, but renewed downward momentum is not far off.

Lower relative US yields continue to undermine USD/JPY. Until the yield differential (in particular 10 year US Treasury vs. Japanese JGBs) widens it is difficult to see USD/JPY regaining sufficient momentum to break the 100 level. The speculative market is clearly geared up for a weaker JPY as reflected in the CFTC IMM positioning data revealing a hefty short JPY position, but if anything this may frustrate any move lower in JPY in the near term.

Nonetheless, the rebound in the JPY recently is likely to prove temporary. Although last week’s unchanged policy decision from the Bank of Japan was largely expected, the gap between current CPI and the BoJ’s 2% target is widening, implying further easing and in turn JPY weakness in the pipeline.

AUD has managed a firm early week bounce but can it be sustained? There is a limited and second tier flow of Australian data over coming days and some caution ahead of China’s official April purchasing manager’s index which may limit the ability of the AUD to make much headway over coming days. Nonetheless, market positioning in AUD looks much healthier (ie less room to cut longs) while the drop in the USD index bodes well for AUD. AUD/USD will be capped around 1.0409 in the near term, with strong support around 1.0221.

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EUR momentum fading, JPY fails 100, AUD bearish

April 23, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

EUR/USD is losing some upside momentum, with the currency pair likely to be more constrained in the days ahead. Weak April Eurozone purchasing managers’ indices (PMI) set to be revealed today taken together with an expected decline in the German IFO business survey suggest no support for the EUR on the data front especially as the data will point to lower policy rates.

Additionally although the latest CFTC IMM data shows that the speculative market is still short EUR, the magnitude of short positioning is at its lowest in several weeks implying less scope for short covering. Yield differentials point to more downside risks for EUR/USD too especially given the widening in US Treasury / German bund yield differentials over the last week (ie US Treasuries offer a relatively more attractive yield). A test of EUR/USD 1.3001 support is on the cards in the very near term.

After sliding close to 30% from mid September last year the JPY appears to be having a little difficulty cracking the psychologically important 100 barrier despite the green light to do so in the wake of the G20 meeting. In anticipation of the move short speculative JPY positions have increased to their highest in several weeks.

However, domestic investors have yet to pour money overseas, with weekly portfolio data revealing that since the start of the year any Japanese outflows have been more than compensated by portfolio inflows; net inflows have totalled JPY 13.3 trillion. Once Japanese investors increase overseas investments the move in USD/JPY will accelerate but for now expect to see a much more gradual move higher.

AUD has lost a lot of ground over recent days damaged both by a plunge in commodity prices and also by weaker Chinese and domestic data including a recent in the unemployment rate and a budget which remains in deficit. AUD took another hit from a weaker than expected reading in the private sector reading of Chinese PMI today. March quarter CPI inflation data tomorrow in particular will help to determine whether the RBA cuts policy interest rates on May.

The data is unlikely to prove supportive of a rate cut with an increase in the annual rate of inflation set to be revealed. While this may help to alleviate some downward pressure on AUD/USD the technical picture remains bearish, with a test of support around 1.0202 likely, which if broken would open the door for a test of the 2013 low around 1.0116.

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Growth fears intensify

April 16, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

A bad day for risk assets yesterday threatens to extend further. Weaker than forecast data releases in China and the US weighed heavily on market sentiment supporting the theory that the global economy is repeating the pattern of Q1 strength followed by weakness over the remainder of the year. Growth worries helped to exacerbate the fall in gold prices with the precious metal dropping by 15.5% this month alone while dragging down other commodity prices.

There are plenty of data releases today including CPI inflation in the US, Eurozone and UK as well as the German ZEW investor confidence survey, US industrial production and housing starts. Given market sensitivity to weak data any disappointment will reinforce the risk off tone but this seems unlikely as the data in general is likely to be somewhat better.

AUD was thumped by weaker Chinese data releases and a deterioration in risk appetite. Although the drop has been steep over recent days AUD is unlikely to fall much further, with plenty of appetite for the currency around 1.0300. Nonetheless, AUD/USD has dropped below its 100 day moving average level 1.0414 a breach of which threatens to mark a stronger down move.

For those investors wanting to re-enter long AUD positions I prefer to play the currency on the crosses, especially versus NZD which has also suffered recently. My quantitative model of AUD/NZD suggests some upside scope in the currency pair, with short term fair value seen around 1.24.

USD/JPY’s pull back has extended further as Bank of Japan governor Kuroda’s policy announcement effect has faded and risk aversion has picked up. I look for any slippage in USD/JPY to be limited however, with my quantitative model suggesting that short term fair value for USD/JPY is around 95.68. The currency pair has been undermined by the drop in US Treasury yields over recent weeks resulting in a reduced US yield advantage over Japan.

Moreover, the upcoming G20 meeting this week has also provoked some hesitancy among JPY bears given expected comments aimed at Japan not to engineer a competitive devaluation of its currency. Technical indicators suggest that the primary trend remains higher for USD/JPY, with a break below 96.07 required to signal a change in short term trend.

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JPY selling momentum slows

February 19, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Markets have few leads to trade off following yesterday’s President’s Day holiday in the US. Nonetheless, caution appears to be settling in ahead of this weekend’s Italian elections, especially in Europe.

European Central Bank President Draghi’s address to the EU parliament did little to stir markets as he didn’t elaborate much on his post ECB press conference in February. The most notable comment was that he urged the G20 to have very “strong verbal discipline” on talking about currency movements.

Despite the Italian election caution most risk measures appear to be well behaved. Equity volatility has continued to drop and gold prices have stabilised following the recent sharp decline. The highlight of the data calendar today is a likely gain in the February German ZEW survey.

Currency markets are rangebound but it is notable that USD/JPY has struggled to sustain gains above the 94.00 level, with upward momentum in the currency pair appearing to fade. Comments by Japan’s Finance Minister Aso that the government was not considering changing the central bank law at present or buying foreign bonds helped to dampen USD/JPY.

Although the G20 meeting effectively gave the green light for further JPY declines, a lot is in the price in terms of policy expectations and any further JPY weakness is likely to be much more gradual. USD/JPY 94.46 will offer strong resistance to further upside.

Asian currencies continue to deliver a mixed performance, with JPY sensitive currencies including SGD, KRW and TWD remaining on the back foot. The SGD is the most highly correlated Asian currency with JPY, with a high and significant correlation between the two. Any further drop in JPY will clearly bode badly for SGD but the inability of the JPY to weaken further may help to moderate pressure on the SGD in the near term.

Although the KRW has rebounded over recent days one risk to the currency is continued outflows of equity portfolio capital. South Korea is one of the only countries in Asia to have recorded outflows (around USD 1.2 billion year to date). However, this month the outflow appears to have reversed, with around USD 500 million in inflows registered month to date. In part the outflows of equity capital from South Korea in January reflected concerns about North Korea. Such concerns have receded but the risks remain of more sabre rattling and/or more nuclear tests from the North.

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JPY and GBP to slip further

January 29, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Market gyrations were relatively limited overnight, with a rise in the VIX fear gauge and rise in Chinese equities the most notable market moves overnight. US data was mixed, with enthusiasm over a solid gain in December durable goods orders tempered by a drop in pending home sales. Notably the Baltic Dry Index has extended its decline over recent days, suggesting that the risk rally is losing some steam.

Nonetheless, core debt yields continue to test important psychological levels, with the 2% barrier in sight for 10 year US Treasuries. Data and events today include a US consumer confidence, for which we expect a slight decline in January, and various European Central Bank speakers. Additionally, the ECB’s main refinancing operation (MRO) will be scrutinised to determine bank’s health following last week’s LTRO payback. Overall, direction looks limited ahead of this week’s Fed FOMC decision and US jobs report.

The JPY’s drop has proven to be relentless. Despite being blamed for instigating a currency war Japanese officials are showing little let up in their push for JPY weakness. Although there has been some widening in the US Treasury and German bunds yield advantage over Japanese JGBs it does not fully account for the sharp JPY move. Interestingly speculative JPY short positions have actually lessened, implying that the drop in the JPY is attributable to other investor classes.

Additionally Japan has registered net portfolio inflows over recent weeks and so cannot explain the JPY’s drop. One factor that is weighing on the JPY is the improvement in risk appetite; USD/JPY is the most correlated currency with our risk barometer over the past 3 months. As risk and yield appetite has picked up JPY has effectively regained its mantle as funding currency. USD/JPY will face some tough resistance levels from around the 91.48 level, but so far the currency pair has made short work of breaking through resistance.

In one respect GBP’s drop against the USD and EUR reflects a reversal of safe haven flows similar to JPY. Notably however, GBP has not been correlated with the JPY. Its decline is more associated with renewed UK economic worries and in turn expectations of further Bank of England asset purchases, especially under the helm of a new governor. Moreover, speculation of a credit ratings downgrade has not been helpful to GBP. The net result is a reduction in speculative interest and further selling pressure.

Fortunately for the UK economy a weaker currency is no bad thing unless it provokes growing inflationary pressures. Given the dovish noises from incoming BoE Governor Carney, it looks as though there is little concern on this front. Manufacturing confidence data at the end of this week is unlikely to dispel economic concerns, leaving GBP vulnerable to further slippage.

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