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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US dollar Fed debasement begins

September 17, 2012 — Mitul Kotecha

Unsurprisingly risk appetite improved sharply in the wake of European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve actions as well as the many other events that have passed without incident. Indeed, the long list of events including German constitutional court decision on the ESM bailout fund, and Dutch elections, did not result in any obstruction to sentiment. Instead markets have been left to digest the impact of monetary policy actions.

The Fed did not disappoint in this respect and the $40 billion per month of Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) purchases will and already has gone a long way to spurring risk assets, combined with the impact of the ECB bond buying programme. Although there are still plenty of doubts, especially as both Spain and Italy have yet to request a formal bailout, which would enable the ECB’s bond purchases to actually begin, the market tone will be ‘risk on’ over the short term. Indeed, our risk aversion barometer has shifted decisively into risk loving territory.

Data and events this week are unlikely to change this perspective although the risk of profit taking has grown given the pace and magnitude of recent moves. Although Eurozone flash purchasing managers indices (PMI) are likely to remain in contraction territory, the German ZEW investor confidence survey is set to bounce as it reacts to recent events. US housing market data will also look encouraging revealing further signs of recovery, although US manufacturing surveys in the form of the Philly Fed and Empire surveys for September will remain weak.

There will be plenty of scrutiny on the Bank of Japan which will be under a lot pressure for more aggressive policy action to reach the 1% inflation goal, especially following the steps taken by the Fed and ECB. Nonetheless, further easing by the BoJ looks unlikely this week. Meanwhile, in the UK softer inflation data and weaker retail sales will keep the door open to further Bank of England quantitative easing.

The USD will remain on the back foot in the wake of more Fed QE, but the USD index will find some support around the beginning of May low around 78.603. Notably USD short positioning has already increased sharply over recent weeks, suggesting that at least some of the Fed’s QE is in the price. Conversely EUR short positions have been cut sharply and while the momentum in EUR/USD is still to the upside, it will face resistance around the 1.3180. As long as there is not a sharp correction higher in peripheral bond yields, the EUR should remain supported.

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

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.

Posted in Economics, Japan, Sweden, UK. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

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

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

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.

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