Risk currencies rally

August 6, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Following the disappointment from the lack of US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB) action last week, the US July jobs report provided a fillip for markets. The stronger than expected jump in payrolls (163k) dampened worries about the pace of jobs recovery while the increase in the unemployment rate (to 8.3%) kept alive hopes of more Fed quantitative easing.

Indeed, even the ECB’s decision and statement last week have been interpreted as merely delaying the inevitable, with stronger action expected from the central bank over coming weeks. Against this backdrop, markets will begin the week in positive tone and risk assets are likely to extend gains early in the week.

The highlights on the data calendar this week include two central bank meetings, Bank of Japan (BoJ) and Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), and the Bannk of England (BoE) Quarterly Inflation Report (QIR). Major policy changes from the former two central banks are unlikely although the BoJ may decide to abolish the 0.1% minimum bidding rate on JGB operations.

As for the BoE QIR a dovish reading is likely which will help to support expectations of further policy action in the UK, which in turn will mean that GBP will underperform. Data releases are fairly thin on the ground, with US trade data, Q2 non farm productivity, German factory orders and industrial production releases across Europe. Overall, we see little to detract from the positive tone to asset markets.

Risk currencies begin the week on the front foot. The EUR/USD reaction to the US jobs data was particularly interesting, hitting a high of 1.2444 as stop losses were triggered on the upside. Further EUR gains will be difficult to achieve, however. Speculative market positioning reveals that EUR short positions have dropped to their lowest level in several weeks, suggesting less scope for further short covering.

The lack of major data releases over coming days within the Eurozone mean that direction will come from Spain and whether the country formally asks for financial support from the EFSF. In the meantime, EUR/USD is likely to edge back to around technical support around 1.2218.

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

Bernanke eyed for QE clues

July 17, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Range trading is likely to dominate. However, the news flow remains negative, with disappointing retail sales data in the US combined with more the decision by the German constitutional court to delay its decision on the ESM bailout fund until September 12, highlighting the lack of potential for any rally in risk assets in the near term.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided markets with a further dose of caution, with its warning that risks to global growth “loom large” as it cut its forecasts for global growth. Pressure on policy makers to provide more stimulus will grow, but the room for and efficacy of such stimulus is questionable.

The weaker than expected June US retail sales report released yesterday has resulted in fuelling expectations that Fed Chairman Bernanke will announce a shift towards more quantitative easing later today. Consequently the USD has come under pressure losing ground so far this week.

While the USD is set to be restrained ahead of Bernanke’s speech to the Senate we do not believe he will announce a change in stance. Therefore, any USD weakness is likely to prove temporary in the short term. The inability of risk appetite to improve further and the ongoing uncertainties in the Eurozone reinforce the view that the USD’s downside will be limited.

Today’s US releases are likely to reveal gains in June industrial production, and a likely strengthening in long term capital flows in May, factors that will help to provide the USD with further support.

Although the EUR has bounced this week data today will only serve to reinforce its overall downward trajectory. The July German ZEW survey is set to decline further. The range of forecasts for this volatile survey is wide between -10 to -30, with our forecast towards the lower end.

The plethora of negative news in terms of policy progress continues to dampen sentiment and hamper the EUR’s ability to recover. Whether its persistent downgrades of economic growth across Eurozone countries, stalling of reforms and austerity plans, or delays in implementing agreed upon measures, the news is unambiguously bad.

Dashed hopes of progress towards finding and implementing solutions have led to a renewed deterioration in speculative appetite for EUR. Although the potential for short covering remains high, the trigger for any short covering is decidedly absent. We maintain the view that EUR/USD will test 1.2000 over coming weeks.

Posted in eurozone, Federal Reserve, US. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Bernanke and Eurogroup awaited

July 16, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Two main events will garner most attention this week. These are Fed Chairman Bernanke’s Monetary Policy Report to Congress on Wednesday and the Eurogroup meeting on Friday. Ahead of these events trading is likely to be restrained. While a solid close to US and European equity markets at the end of last week suggest at least a firm start to the week for risk assets the many and varied uncertainties afflicting markets suggest that positive momentum will be very limited. US data should generally outperform compared to Europe this week with June retail sales, July Empire manufacturing, May industrial production and June housing starts are set to post gains. In contrast, the German July ZEW survey is set to decline further.

Wide ranging uncertainties in Europe including the inability to seal the deal on the main elements of the recent EU Summit, downgrade of Italy’s sovereign ratings by Moody’s, uncertainty of Greece’s austerity programme, delay in the German Constitutional Court’s verdict on the ESM bailout fund, the hard line stance of German Chancellor Merkel towards banking supervision, disagreement within France’s majority government on how to ratify the Fiscal Pact as well as objections from the Netherlands and Finland on the use of the rescue funds, highlight just some of the difficulties remaining in turning around confidence in Europe. All of this suggests that the EUR will remain under downward pressure while Eurozone peripheral bond spreads will see limited compression.

Aside from a relatively weak EUR which we expect to push lower initially to support around 1.2151 versus USD and then towards the psychologically important 1.200 other risk / high beta currencies will remain relatively resilient. Asian currencies will likely begin the week in positive mood helped by expectation of more stimulus from China but unless risk appetite improves significantly any upward bias will be limited. Although there may be some disappointment from a lack of progress in Europe on resolving its crisis and also from Bernanke’s testimony in which he is unlikely to indicate a greater bias towards more quantitative easing, risk appetite is unlikely to sour too much, especially given thin summer trading conditions and hopes of more policy stimulus out of China.

Posted in eurozone, Federal Reserve, France, Germany, Greece, Italy. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Fed disappoints, NZD jumps on firm GDP

June 21, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

The decision by the Fed to extend its maturity extension program through year end by USD 267 billion left markets with a taste of disappointment. Although the Fed noted that it was “prepared to take further action” it was clear that FOMC members were resistant to such action at this point in time. Nonetheless, any downside to risk assets was limited by the potential for more quantitative easing (QE) somewhere down the line.

Indeed, while equity markets took a softer tone it was notable that the VIX ‘fear gauge’ continued to drop reflecting an improvement in risk sentiment. The VIX has dropped by 35% from its high at the beginning of the month. Commodity prices remained under downward pressure, however. The lack of further Fed balance expansion capped gold prices too. The outcome is likely to play positively for the USD given that the Fed is not going to debase the currency any further for now.

Following the Fed decision clearly pressure is on other central banks to act. The European Central Bank’s Coeure hinted at the prospects a press interview while the Bank of England minutes were surprisingly dovish, indicating a strong likelihood of further UK QE at the next MPC meeting.

EUR/USD dropped to around 1.2638 following the FOMC outcome but rebounded probably helped by the fact that the Fed left open the door for further balance sheet expansion. EUR/USD 1.2750 remains a major barrier to the currency pair but if breached there is plenty of upside potential.

Flash Eurozone purchasing managers indices (PMI) releases today will likely restrain the EUR, with a further slight declines in manufacturing confidence expected, consistent with further contraction in activity. The data will put further pressure on the ECB to cut interest rates. EUR direction today will also come from Spanish and French bond auctions today.

It’s worth highlighting the surprisingly robust New Zealand Q1 GDP data released this morning. The data revealed a strong 1.1% quarterly increase compared to consensus expectations of a 0.4% increase. The data boosted NZD which rallied to a high of 0.8018 versus the USD and remains well supported. NZD/USD 200 day moving average around 0.7952 will provide decent support for the currency especially given the sharp move hawkish move in NZ interest rate markets.

Posted in eurozone, Federal Reserve, New Zealand, US. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Spain moves to the epicentre

May 30, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk appetite has continued to firm but caution prevails. Rumours overnight of a Eurozone bank rescue fund (later denied) helped sentiment, but the ECB’s rejection of plans to recapitalise Bankia in Spain via an injection of EUR 19 billion of sovereign bonds and a downgrade of Spain’s credit ratings, once again brought a dose of reality back to markets. Additionally a Xinhau news agency report that China has no plans to introduce a major stimulus package will also dampen sentiment. Against this background it is difficult to see any rally in risk being sustained.

Admittedly equity valuations look more compelling, with the price / earnings ratio on the S&P 500 below its long term average, but that does not mean that now is the time to buy stocks or risk assets in general. The USD remains the winner on the FX front and will continue to edge higher over coming days and weeks, with the currency interestingly verging on a close above its 100 month moving average.

Once again the EUR has failed to hold onto gains, with the currency making lower highs and lows, dropping below 1.2500 overnight. Even a firmer tone to equity markets and slightly better risk appetite has failed to provide any support to EUR as Greece passes the baton to Spain as the new epicentre of market attention. A new poll showing increased support for pro bailout parties in Greece has helped to alleviate Greece concerns slightly there.

Today’s data slate in Europe will come as little relief to the EUR. A further deterioration in economic confidence surveys in May will only serve to highlight the growing growth disparity between the Eurozone and US although the surprisingly large drop in May US consumer confidence was hardly encouraging. The data will leave the EUR vulnerable to further slippage and follow through below 1.2500, with a test of technical support around 1.2300 on the cards.

Like most other currencies the sensitivity of USD/SEK to risk aversion has increased over recent weeks. According to my calculations it has been one of the most highly correlated currency pairs with Risk Aversion over the past 3-months. This has been reflected in the drop in SEK against the USD which accelerated during May. However, USD/SEK has stabilised lately while EUR/SEK has dropped sharply.

A further drop to around 8.95 (trend line from beginning April) is on the cards in the near term but further SEK gains are unlikely unless risk aversion improves. On the positive side, Swedish economic data is at least perking up as reflected in the bigger than expected jump in May consumer confidence yesterday. GDP data today ought to confirm that the drop in growth in Q4 will not be sustained, which will to provide short term relief to the SEK.

Posted in eurozone, FX, Greece, Spain, Sweden. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »
« Older posts
Newer posts »