GBP well supported ahead of GDP data

January 28, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

UK Q4 GDP today is likely to offer some further encouraging news on the economy. Indeed, the risk of an upside surprise compared to the consensus expectation of 0.7% QoQ suggests that GBP will also benefit.

After hitting a high around 1.6669 on 24 January GBP/USD slipped slightly but is showing little sign of reversing its gains and has jumped strongly this morning. A break of GBP/USD 1.6669 will open the door to a test of 1.6747

The fact that speculative sentiment for GBP is by no means excessive, suggests scope for even more gains in the weeks ahead. In particular, given the view that EUR/USD is set to decline further, I would suggest on capitalizing on further GBP appreciation prospects by playing the currency versus EUR too.

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Markets remain skittish as caution prevails

January 28, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

There has been a slight easing in tensions overnight as reflected in the small decline in my risk barometer and the VIX ‘fear gauge’. However, markets remain skittish and the mood is somewhat cautious as the focus remains on emerging market travails.

Additionally a sharp fall in Apple shares in after hours trading may also dampen equity markets today. Although specific country specific factors may have provoked the current bout of pressure contagion has spread quickly, reminiscent of the onset of previous crises.

The current bout of pressure may yet be contained but there is still some way to go before market stress is alleviated. Consequently correlations between asset classes have strengthened, in particular for currencies. Indeed most emerging market currencies have depreciated especially those of the “fragile 5”.

Overnight US yields rose while US and European equities continued to sell off and gold prices dipped following recent gains. The USD index held gained slightly following the rise in US yields.

Aside from emerging markets attention will focus on the US, with President Obama’s State of the Union address, December durable goods orders and January consumer confidence on tap most attention will quickly shift to tomorrow’s Fed FOMC policy decision. UK Q4 GDP will also garner some attention.

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AUD oversold, GBP running into resistance

January 21, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

AUD/USD has faced a significant bout of pressure since testing a high of around 0.9087. A dismal jobs report in December piled on more pressure on the currency and since then it has failed to recover. Consequently short speculative positioning has increased as sentiment has deteriorated. Yesterday’s slate of Chinese data failed to dent the AUD however, with the currency encouragingly showing some resilience.

Attention will now turn to tomorrow’s CPI inflation data. The release of the TD Securities inflation gauge which printed higher than consensus, highlights upside risks to the release of Q4 CPI and in this respect I believe market expectations of any RBA policy rate cuts look overdone. My quantitative model estimate for AUD/USD suggests that the currency is oversold, with short term fair value seen at around 0.9226.

GBP/USD is edging back up to its year highs around 1.6526 recorded at the turn of the year, a level that is likely to prove to be a tough resistance level. In spite of softer data including manufacturing and service sector confidence readings as well as industrial production the currency was buoyed by a strong December retail sales report at the end of last week.

Jobs data and the Bank of England MPC minutes will be on tap on Wednesday providing more direction for the currency. The minutes are likely to reveal few surprises but there is no doubt that the Bank is moving towards some sort of change in language on its forward guidance. GBP will find little further support over coming days, with consolidation likely. However, market positioning does not appear to be particularly stretched, suggesting limited downside risks.

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What will the Fed do?

December 18, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Any market action today will be both tentative in terms of risk taking and limited in terms of direction, ahead of the Fed FOMC decision. Equities pulled back overnight while US Treasuries rose as markets tried to second guess what the Fed will do at its policy meeting. The USD meanwhile appears to have benefitted from some, albeit limited pre FOMC short covering amid thinning year end liquidity. Firmer data, especially in the US jobs market over recent weeks and the recent budget deal have raised the odds of tapering being announced tonight although a move in January still looks more likely.

Whether the Fed takes its foot off the QE pedal tonight or in January is probably a moot point however, as the bottom line is that tapering is very much going to happen and markets will need to adjust sooner rather than later. Ahead of the Fed decision there are some useful data releases on tap which may at least provide some direction including the December German IFO survey which is set to improve slightly, UK jobs data and the Bank of England MPC minutes. No change is likely to be revealed in terms of voting in the MPC minutes.

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Gyrating expectations for Fed tapering

November 18, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Gyrating expectations for Fed tapering have left FX markets in somewhat of a limbo. Just as markets had shifted expectations for Fed tapering to next month or January 2014 Fed Chairman nominee Yellen managed to add a dovish spin on things by indicating strong support for ongoing Fed quantitative easing. The USD hasn’t been harmed too much as policy expectations in Japan and the Eurozone has also taken a more dovish slant leaving the EUR and JPY exposed to downside pressure. In contrast, GBP has benefitted from the Bank of England’s revisions to growth and employment expectations.

Yellen’s comments last week and some likely softer economic data releases this week including subdued CPI inflation, declines in retail sales and existing home sales, will likely cap US Treasury bond yields and the USD. Fed FOMC meeting minutes will have some bearing on market direction. Nonetheless, as noted above any pressure on the USD is set to be limited given the relatively dovish policy stances in other countries. Indeed, weak Eurozone and Japan Q3 GDP released last week have led to expectations of more monetary policy action from both the Eurozone Central Bank and Bank of Japan. Consequently EUR/USD will struggle to sustain any recovery above 1.3500 and USD/JPY will find a stronger footing above 100.

GBP/USD has retained a degree of composure but GBP bulls are better taking a long position against EUR where further GBP gains are likely given revelations in the BoE quarterly inflation report that the unemployment threshold will be hit sooner than expected, indicating higher policy rates earlier than forecast. Although the EUR may find some solace from better data this week in the form of flash manufacturing surveys and increases in the German ZEW investor confidence and IFO business confidence surveys any EUR upside will likely remain limited given expectations of further monetary easing by the ECB in the wake of very subdued inflation pressures.

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