Lower range for the JPY, GBP vulnerable

September 27, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The announcement of the Spanish 2013 budget, German jobs data, and the release of European confidence measures mean that attention will remain focussed on the Eurozone today and the news is unlikely to be good. The request for a Spanish bailout moves ever closer and could eventually provide some relief but prevarication continues to weigh on sentiment.

US data releases will not provide much solace for markets either, with weak durable goods orders and a revision lower to US Q2 GDP expected to be revealed. All in all, another tough session for markets is in store.

Meanwhile, currencies against the USD continue to look vulnerable, with EUR/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CHF in particular, close to breaching their 200 day moving average levels. USD/JPY has closed below the 78.00 level throughout this week suggesting that the currency pair may be moving into a new lower range. So far, there is little sign of potential FX intervention by the Japanese authorities.

Interestingly USD/JPY has dropped despite a general rebound in the USD, suggesting that it is very difficult for the Japanese authorities to blame the move on a weaker USD this time. Nor is the JPY particularly sensitive to risk aversion at present. For a change the move in the JPY cannot be blamed on a narrowing in US versus Japanese bond yield differentials too as the sensitivity of USD/JPY to yield differentials has dropped to an insignificant level while the US yield advantage has actually widened.

Net securities inflows into Japan have been strong recently however, suggesting either or both repatriation into Japanese fiscal half year end or renewed foreign interest in Japanese portfolio assets are helping the JPY. USD/JPY is expected to run into bids around the 77.10 level.

EUR/GBP has tracked the move lower in EUR/USD, while GBP/USD appears to be showing some resilience despite a generally firmer USD. Renewed Eurozone tensions are helping GBP as investors once again look for relative save havens although many would question whether GBP can really be considered as a safe haven.

With little on the data front in the UK today (only the third reading of Q2 GDP) GBP will be left to follow the travails of the EUR. Notably my models show that EUR/GBP divergence from its short term fair value estimate is growing, implying that the drop in the currency pair is unlikely to persist, with GBP resilience likely to give way over coming sessions. My estimate for short term EUR/GBP fair value is 0.8143. This is corroborated by my GBP/USD quantitative model, which also shows downside risks.

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EUR/CHF still clinging to 1.2000

May 31, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The job of the Swiss National Bank has become increasingly tougher over recent weeks. Speculation of a Greek exit or ‘Grexit’ and continued flight of capital from Greece as well as other peripheral countries mean that there is more prospect of upside for the CHF than downside versus EUR. The EUR/CHF 1.2000 floor has not deterred investors from parking such capital in CHF, much to the chagrin of the SNB, which has even warned about implementing capital restrictions.

Elevated risk aversion means that inflows of capital to Switzerland from the Eurozone periphery will persist. As a result, EUR/CHF looks set to trade around the 1.2000 floor for some time to come, with the risk that the SNB increasingly has to buy EUR to protect the floor. My forecasts reflect the view that any CHF weakness versus EUR will be extremely gradual in the months ahead as I expect any improvement in risk appetite to be similarly slow.

On the economic front the arguments for CHF weakness have actually lessened. Consumer confidence increased to its highest in a year in April. More importantly from the point of view of the SNB, Switzerland has registered positive CPI readings on a monthly basis for the past three months. Unfortunately, CPI is still negative on an annual basis, meaning that deflationary concerns continue to persist. On balance, the SNB’s fears over deflation will eventually lessen, suggesting in turn that worries about CHF strength will also be pared back.

Although the CHF has remained strong against the EUR it has weakened against the USD, but this is attributable to EUR weakness (due to the EUR/CHF floor) rather than inherent CHF weakness.
It will not be a one-way bet lower against the USD for both the EUR and CHF. The speculative market is highly short both currencies and they could rally in the event of any good news from Greece or the Eurozone. The CHF may also find itself weakening against the EUR if the news is sufficiently good to help stem outflows of capital from Greece and other parts of the Eurozone, but I believe this is unlikely. For the next few weeks at least, ahead of Greek elections, EUR/CHF is set to continue to cling to the 1.2000 floor, with the market set to test the SNB’s resolve.

Posted in Economics, FX, Switzerland. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Sell Euro into rallies

May 29, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

There was limited respite for markets in yesterday’s thin market trading, with any bounce in risk appetite sold into quickly. This is exactly the pattern of trading that is likely to take place over coming weeks as Greece remains in the spotlight while Spanish banking woes garner more attention.

Taken together with rising global growth worries (note the Baltic Dry Index is turning over again) suggests that it will be very difficult for markets to drag themselves out the quagmire. The lack of major data releases today, with only German inflation and US consumer confidence of note, suggests that there will be little for markets to take their minds off the Eurozone debt crisis.

EUR/USD hit a high around 1.2625 helped no doubt by the fact that positioning was at record short levels. However, the bounce was quickly sold into leaving the EUR vulnerable to a drop below 1.2500 today. A renewed sell off in Spanish debt as banking sector concerns intensify dented any positive impact from weekend polls in Greece showing more support for pro bailout parties.

There is little on the data front today aside from German CPI leaving markets to continue to ponder on peripheral country woes. “Grexit’ fears have by no means been quelled as the reduction in bank deposits continues to show. EUR/USD will struggle to make any headway against this background, with further probing below 1.2500 likely in coming days.

The job of the Swiss National Bank has become increasingly tougher. Speculation of a ‘Grexit’ and continued flight of capital from Greece as well as other peripheral countries means that there is more prospect of upside for the CHF than downside versus EUR. The EUR/CHF 1.2000 floor has not deterred investors from parking such capital in CHF much to the chagrin of the SNB which has even warned about implementing capital restrictions.

Elevated risk aversion means that inflows of capital to Switzerland from the Eurozone periphery will persist. As a result EUR/CHF looks set to trade around the 1.2000 floor for some time to come, with the risk that the SNB has to increasingly buy EUR to protect the floor.

Posted in eurozone, FX, Greece, Switzerland. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

AUD risks, CHF speculation, CAD upside

April 18, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

News that the IMF revised up its global growth forecasts, decent demand for a Spanish bill auction and a stronger than expected reading in the April German ZEW investor confidence survey helped to calm market nerves overnight. Some solid US Q1 earnings also supported equities too.

Weaker readings for US industrial production and housing starts were largely ignored. Hopes of an expansion of IMF funds were boosted by the news that Japan will be provide an extra $60 billion. High beta currencies rallied overnight but notably the EUR failed to register gains despite a narrowing in peripheral Eurozone bond yields.

AUD has undergone some major gyrations. The boost from by a strong jobs report last week was quickly undone by a relatively dovish set of RBA minutes, which appeared to confirm the view that a rate cut would take place in May. Of course, as the RBA pointed out the April 24 Q1 inflation report would be essential to provide the final clues to the rate decision.

As a rate cut is already priced in, an upside inflation surprise may actually result in a bounce in the AUD but any positive impetus will have to contend with a more fragile risk environment, yesterday’s risk rally not withstanding. AUD is one of the most highly sensitive currencies to risk aversion and bounced overnight as risk appetite improved but we suspect the risk rally will fade in the short term putting the AUD under renewed downward pressure.

EUR/CHF continues to track the 1.20 ‘line in the sand’ closely, but rumours of a shift in the floor continue to do the rounds. Swiss officials have not confirmed such speculation but have highlighted the impact of a strong CHF in fuelling deflation pressures. The case for a move higher in the CHF ceiling is therefore quite high, but the cost could also be high if speculators test the resolve of the Swiss authorities.

Although the Swiss economy continues to suffer it appears that the pain of a strong CHF is lessening slightly although not enough to ease concerns about the strength of the currency. The March KoF Swiss leading indicator revealed a second straight increase, albeit from a low level. Further gains may be limited however, given the ongoing downward pressure emanating from weaker growth in the Eurozone.

The Bank of Canada left policy rates unchanged at 1% but the accompanying statement appeared to pave the way for higher interest rates. Consequently expectations of rate hikes have been brought forward, with the CAD rallying due to its strong correlation with interest rate differentials. Firmer commodity prices also helped to boost CAD.

Our quantitative models show scope for further CAD gains over the short term, suggesting more gains ahead. Further direction will come from the BoC Monetary Policy Report today, with USD/CAD setting its sights on a test of technical support around 0.9766 in the near term.

Posted in Australia, Canada, FX, Switzerland. Tags: , , , , . 2 Comments »

JPY retracement, CHF pressure

March 20, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk assets rallied overnight, the USD weakened and US Treasury yields rose. There was little new in terms of economic news, with only NAHB March homebuilders confidence of note, which came in slightly weaker than expected. The bigger driver for markets was the news that Apple Inc. will pay around USD 45 billion in dividends and share buybacks over the next 3-years.

Today sees a crop of second tier releases including housing starts and building permits in the US and inflation data in the UK while there will also be attention on a speech by Fed Chairman Bernanke. Risk assets will remain supported but I continue to see consolidation for markets in the near term.

USD/JPY has retraced lower as warned last week. My quantitative models suggest scope for even more of a correction lower, with a drop below 83.00 on the cards in the short term. While the upward move in the currency pair was built on a widening in the US yield advantage over Japan, the move looks overdone. Nonetheless, any pullback will offer better levels to initiate long USD/JPY medium term positions.

Clearly the market believes that the JPY will weaken further given the build up in JPY short positions over recent weeks, with shorts at their highest since April 2011. February trade data to be released on Thursday will provide further fuel for JPY bears given the persistence of a trade deficit and weakness in exports.

Following the bounce in EUR/CHF last week the currency pair has dropped back into its recent tight range around the 1.2050-1.2070 area. Strong warnings by the Swiss National Bank at its policy meeting did not lead to any follow through on the CHF. I expect a gradual drift higher in EUR/CHF over coming weeks in line with the incremental change in sentiment for the Eurozone as Greece slips from the radar.

Official pressure for CHF weakness will remain intense given the deterioration in economic data as likely to be revealed in today’s release of Q4 industrial production. Nonetheless, the SNB will be wary of confronting the market in terms of FX intervention to weaken the CHF despite its verbal warnings. Meanwhile USD/CHF remains highly sensitive to gyrations in the USD index given its strong correlation, suggesting some consolidation in the short term as the USD pulls back.

Posted in FX, Japan, Switzerland. Tags: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »
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