JPY, SEK and GBP view

August 30, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

USD/JPY remains stuck within a tight range having reversed its recent break higher towards the 80.00 level, once again settling back below 79.00. Once again the main determinant of the exchange rate appears to be yield differentials and notably the JPY has had a very low sensitivity to gyrations in risk over recent months.

For JPY bears it it’s worth noting that US 2-year bond yields have began to edge higher this week, suggesting some upward pressure on USD/JPY. The speculative market remains net long JPY suggesting scope for a drop in JPY speculative appetite too, but any upside is set to be gradual, with a technical hurdle at around 79.37 likely to be tough level to break above.

EUR/SEK has edged higher over recent days following its dramatic multi month drop. Why has the currency pair turned now? One of the key factors appears to be an increased sensitivity to risk which is playing negatively now that risk aversion is rising again. Indeed my risk barometer has been moving higher since around the middle of the month, in turn dragging SEK lower.

My quantitative model estimate based on interest rate differentials, relative equity performance and risk aversion, suggests that the SEK has further to weaken especially against the EUR. Based on the results of the model I suggest playing for such a move, targeting 8.7252, with a stop loss at 8.1616.

Another currency for which I am bearish on versus EUR is GBP. Although the move higher in EUR/GBP has been a slow grind, I continue to see value in this trade. Indeed, my models show that there is still much upside potential left for EUR/GBP based on the current levels of yield differentials and risk aversion.

As for cable (GBP/USD) it appears to be stuck to the coattails of EUR/USD but I expect it to lag any move higher in EUR/USD going forward. Moreover, if as I expect EUR/USD loses momentum into next week, this will leave GBP/USD rather exposed to downside risks.

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ECB risks, more JPY jawboning, Asian FX supported

July 31, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk assets have given back some of their Draghi inspired gains but expectations of European Central Bank action on Thursday continues to provide a solid underpinning for markets. Although European equities closed higher US equities slipped while the VIX ‘fear gauge’ rose. Ahead of the ECB policy decision attention will be on whether German resistance to a more aggressive ECB stance eases. Given that markets have priced in a positive outcome the risks are asymmetric in the days ahead, with a bigger sell off in risk assets should policy makers disappoint.

One indicator worth highlighting is the Baltic Dry Index which has dropped by over 20% from its high on 9 July and continues to head south, indicating rising global growth risks. Economic data releases including the Eurozone ‘flash’ July Eurozone inflation data, and US July consumer confidence will offer some direction for markets but we suspect that a tone of consolidation will continue ahead of the ECB and Fed meetings and the July US jobs report at the end of the week.

Japan continues to jawbone about the strength of the JPY, with Finance Minister Azumi delivering a further threat of FX intervention. Azumi notes that the advance of the JPY has been one sided, does not reflect fundamentals and that no measures will be ruled out when it comes too FX action when needed. He also hints that any intervention may be supported by other countries. It is doubtful that Azumi is setting the scene for actual intervention although a sustained drop below 78.00 will sharply raise the odds of Japanese official JPY selling.

EUR/USD looks supported above 1.2118 but a drift lower is likely ahead of the ECB meeting. Reports in Der Spiegel that Draghi’s pledge of action has created discord within the ECB while Germany continues to resist action to restart the ECB’s securities market purchase programme. The risk is that Draghi has set the ECB and risk assets up for a fall if agreement cannot be reached ahead of the ECB policy meeting.

Asian currencies look supported going in the near term and its worth noting that equity portfolio flows to the region have pocked up over recent days led by South Korea. The USD will be restrained ahead of the Fed meeting allowing Asian currencies to grind higher. We favour KRW and IDR although gains are likely to be limited ahead of the key central bank policy decisions this week. On that note, a likely unchanged decision from the RBI in India today, may act as further disappointment for the INR.

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USD and JPY remaining firm

June 27, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The USD has rebounded since 19 June in the wake of growing uncertainties and potential disappointment emanating from the EU Summit. As I previously highlighted a rally in the USD was to be expected in the wake of an extension of Operation Twist.

Looking ahead, as Bernanke and Co. also left open the option of more quantitative easing the USD is not out of the woods yet. The USD’s path will not only depend on risk but also on upcoming data releases. A further run of weak data will once again raise the spectre of more QE potentially leading to a softer USD.

Today’s US releases are unlikely to lend support to QE expectations, however. A bounce in May durable goods orders is expected while pending home sales are likely to recoup some of the sharp drop registered in April. However, markets will have to wait until next week for the release of the most important indicator, the June jobs report, before a clearer USD direction emerges.

USD/JPY remains well and truly constrained below the 80.00 level. Elevated risk aversion and a decline in the US yield advantage over Japan are acting as a restraint to any upside move in USD/JPY. Moreover, I do not expect any impact on the JPY from the passage of a bill to raise the consumption tax. Evidence that the Japanese economy is recovering may explain the lack of official enthusiasm to weaken the JPY but this assessment is prone to disappointment.

Increasingly, JPY bears are becoming frustrated by the lack of JPY downside traction. This has been reflected in the turnaround in speculative sentiment which turned positive for the first time in 15 weeks. Going forward, it will be difficult for USD/JPY to rise much unless US yields move higher. Eventually I think this will happen and look for USD/JPY to end the year around 83.00

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Caution ahead of EU Summit

June 25, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk appetite has continued to firm over the last few weeks although notably risk is still elevated compared to the the levels seen in May, suggesting that there is some way to go before risk appetite normalises. Improving risk appetite perhaps reflects rising expectations of a credible set of solutions to the Eurozone crisis but various summits and official meetings including the G20 meeting have failed to deliver anything of this nature.

Attention will turn to the EU Summit on 28-29 June where various issues ranging from debt mutualisation to fiscal and banking union as well as a potential renegotiation of Greece’s bailout terms, will be discussed. Markets are likely to remain relatively range bound ahead of the Summit.

There are also plenty of data releases to contend with over coming days including new home sales, consumer confidence and durable goods orders in the US as well as flash CPI inflation estimates, economic confidence gauges and Italian debt auctions in the Eurozone. Japan will release inflation data too and industrial production data.

On balance US data will continue to outperform although consumer confidence is likely to slip in June. In Europe, confidence indices will reveal some further deterioration in June, while in Japan weak industrial production and a drop in monthly inflation will maintain the pressure on policymakers to act in the country.

The USD will continue to find support from the fact that the Fed did not implement more quantitative easing but firmer risk appetite will cap the ability of the USD to strengthen much from current levels. It is notable that the USD long positions dropped sharply according to IMM data ahead of the Fed meeting but it is likely that Fed QE inaction will result in some rebuilding of USD longs.

In any case, given the uncertainty ahead of the EU Summit it is unlikely that the EUR will break out of its current ranges. Notably there was a major bout of EUR short covering last week, with EUR/USD shorts dropping sharply according to the IMM data. Hopes ahead of the EU Summit may encourage more short covering but as usual scope for disagreement and disappointment on many fronts, suggests that investors should not become overly bullish. EUR/USD will find some initial resistance around 1.2583 to any upside.

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Euro eyes ECB, Yen intervention risks rise

June 6, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Following an onslaught of disappointing economic news globally the outcome of the US May ISM non-manufacturing index came as a relief, with the index rising to 53.7 from 53.5. Taken together with reports of a credit line to Spain from Europe’s bailout fund, it left markets in perkier mood overnight.

As per usual form, the emergency G7 conference call on the Eurozone turned out to be a non event while Fed speakers including Bullard and Fisher downplayed May’s soft jobs report. Much in terms of market direction today will hinge on the outcome of the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting and press conference, with positive sentiment likely to trickle through into trading until then.

The ECB will be under considerable pressure to cut interest rates today and a 25bps rate cut could be delivered. While the outcome is by no means clear cut and not pre-warned by the ECB a rate cut would at least help to alleviate a little of the pain in Europe. The fact that EUR/USD has a reasonably strong correlation with interest rate differentials over the past 3-months suggests that the EUR will actually come under pressure in the wake of such a move.

Even the reaction is not obvious, however. Arguably a rate cut could also be good news for the EUR as it would help to underpin growth. Moreover, a policy rate cut is largely priced in so the impact on the EUR will not be as potent as it could have been had it not been discounted. The accompanying statement will also be of interest. If the ECB indicates that it will cut rates further it will put even further more pressure on the EUR. Near term downside EUR/USD support is seen around 1.2375.

USD/JPY shows little sign of breaking its downtrend. A combination of further yield compression (2 year US bond yield advantage over Japanese yields continues to narrow) and elevated risk aversion has led to a firmer JPY much to the frustration of Japanese officials. Against this background it was perhaps unsurprising that Japanese finance minister Azumi pushed for the G7 to reaffirm its policy stance that excess volatility and disorderly FX movements are undesired. He faced no opposition in his request, paving the way for Japanese FX intervention to weaken the JPY.

The problem for Japan is that the impact of any intervention will be short lived against the factors mentioned above. Nonetheless, intervention fears will at least engineer a degree of two way risk into markets. Technical support for USD/JPY will be seen around 77.95.

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