Fed pulls the trigger

December 19, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

The guessing game is finally over as the US Federal Reserve took a major step away from the extremely easy policy conditions implemented since the financial crisis by tapering its asset purchases by USD 10 billion, split equally by reduced Treasury and mortgage backed securities purchases. Indeed the Fed finally put markets out of their misery but successfully massaged the market reaction.

The Fed is set to gradually reduce asset purchases over coming months, likely ending its QE program by late 2014. The decision was supported by most Fed officials but to soften the blow the Fed strengthened its forward guidance, helping equity markets to rally while encouraging the short end of the curve.

Conversely Treasuries came under pressure and yields rose, giving a boost to the USD. Markets are likely to digest the news well in the Asian session following the lead from US markets. Nonetheless, while the Fed decision was predicated on stronger growth, the decision will presage a competition for capital especially among emerging markets.

The biggest FX reaction unsurprisingly (given its greater sensitivity to US yields) came from USD/JPY, with the currency breezing past the 104 level. However, given that US yields have not pushed significantly higher in the wake of the Fed tapering decision the boost to the USD will be limited in the short term. Indeed, FX markets will likely digest the Fed news will little reaction both in major and emerging market currencies in the short term.

Further out, the prospects for contrasting policy stances between the Fed, ECB and BoJ imply that the USD will forge higher against the EUR and JPY as well as other major currencies. Meanwhile, highly correlated currencies with US Treasury yields, in particular in the emerging markets spectrum, including INR, TRY, and BRL, will be the most sensitive to an expected rise in US yields over the coming months.

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JPY, EUR and GBP view

December 17, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

It is highly unlikely that the Bank of Japan adjusts policy at its meeting later this week but further action next year remains likely. More importantly for USD/JPY will be the actions of the Fed this week and the subsequent move in US yields. US 10 year yields have struggled to sustain a move above 2.9% recently, reducing the yield advantage over JGBs and in turn pulling USD/JPY back from its highs.

It is only a matter of time before US yields resume their uptrend and in this respect the outlook remains for more USD/JPY upside. Nonetheless, I am cognisant of the large short (CFTC IMM) JPY position in the speculative market, which into year end suggests plenty of scope for position squaring and short USD covering.

The EUR is set to end the year on firm note but further upside looks limited and the risk / reward favours selling the currency from current levels. Although economic data reveals continued improvement as reflected in the flash Eurozone composite purchasing managers’ index yesterday, much in terms of recovery expectations is in the price.

While a strong basic balance (current account + FDI + portfolio flows) continues to underpin the EUR I do not expect this to persist. Nonetheless as many bears have found out the EUR is a difficult currency to sell and while EUR/USD is likely to increasingly struggle on its approach to 1.3800, any sell off will not be rapid unless the ECB belatedly adopts a more aggressive monetary policy stance.

Like the EUR, GBP is struggling to push higher, as profit takers emerge and a dose of reality sets in given the magnitude of its rally versus USD over recent months (around 10% since July). The rationale for GBP’s gains are clear; surprisingly good economic data and a reassessment of monetary policy implications. However, GBP bullishness has resulted in net long speculative positions reaching their highest since 15 January 2013.

Further GBP gains will require yet more positive economic surprises but this is unlikely to be delivered in the jobs data, inflation data and Bank of England MPC minutes over coming days. Consequently GBP/USD is unlikely to extend gains above 1.6300 in the near term.

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A lot to get through before year end

December 16, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

As the end of the year nears markets will still need to get through a heavy week in terms of events and data releases before winding down. The main event is the Federal Reserve FOMC meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday and trading direction is likely to be limited ahead of this. There remains a considerable degree of uncertainty about the timing of Fed tapering, with most market participants split between this week and January 30th. We see a one in three chance of Fed tapering beginning this week, with our bet on a January move.

There are also plenty of US data releases on tap including the December Empire manufacturing and Philly Fed surveys, industrial production, CPI inflation, Q3 current account balance, housing starts, existing home sales and Q3 GDP this week. The data will be mixed with manufacturing surveys showing little improvement, home sales declining while in contrast GDP will be revised higher and industrial production will reveal a decent gain.

In Europe there is also plenty to digest amid thinning market liquidity. The final EU summit of the year on 19-20 December will focus on the steps towards banking union while Eurozone flash manufacturing and confidence purchasing managers confidence indices to be released today will show some, albeit limited improvement. Further gains in the German ZEW investor confidence and IFO business confidence surveys are likely to be recorded in December although the surveys are unlikely to match the pace of recent gains.

The UK will also reveal further economic clues in the form of the CPI inflation, jobs data and Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) minutes. In particular, the minutes are unlikely to reveal any urgency to change policy despite the faster than anticipated drop in the unemployment rate. In terms of central banks the Bank of Japan is set to leave policy unchanged given recent the progress on inflation while the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) minutes will reveal further focus on the strength of the AUD.

The intense focus on the Fed means that there will very limited market movements until after the outcome of the meeting. It is unclear whether the recent slippage in US equities has been due to renewed nervousness about Fed tapering or simply year end profit taking. Either way, a delay in Fed tapering may provide some, albeit limited relief to risk assets.

The USD will benefit if tapering is announced this week, but much will depend on what US bond yields do. Recent moves in currency markets are looking increasingly stretched, with EUR and GBP failing to build on their recent gains, while USD/JPY is also struggling to move higher. This may continue over coming days as FX market activity thins further.

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Firm US data not helping the dollar

December 9, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

The US November employment report released at the end of last week helped to reinforce expectations that the Fed will begin tapering soon, possibly as early as the FOMC meeting in mid December. Non-farm payrolls rose by 203k while the unemployment rate dropped to 7%. Job gains have averaged around 180k per month over the last 6 months. The jobs data followed on from several other firm US data releases over the week highlighting strengthening signs of recovery.

Equities reacted well, rising as fears over tapering were outweighed by concrete signs of recovery. Meanwhile bond yields rose over the week although they slipped on Friday. Attention will turn to next week’s Fed FOMC meeting while this week’s data flow will be more limited. The main event will be the November US retail sales report where a moderate gain in sales is expected in terms sales outside of autos, providing the final clues to the Fed’s decision next week.

Elsewhere markets are still reeling from the ECB’s less dovish than expected statement last week as reflected in the subsequent strength of the EUR. Data this week in the Eurozone will be encouraging, with Eurozone industrial production set to rebound. This will be echoed in the UK, with hard data reflecting the strength in manufacturing surveys.

In Japan this morning’s data slate was disappointing, with Q3 revised lower and the current account registering a deficit for the second straight month in October although the JPY impact will be limited. Finally, the RNBZ is will hold a policy rate meeting this week although no change is expected from the central bank as recent mortgage restrictions will have reduced the need to tighten policy. Nonetheless, as reflected by the latest NZ housing data loan to value mortgage restrictions have yet to have a significant impact.

The USD failed to benefit from the solid data in the US last week undermined by some slippage in US yields, with the reaction indicative of a market that is becoming increasingly accustomed to the idea of an imminent Fed tapering. The USD index appears to be struggling into year end, with the EUR taking advantage of the USD’s inability to push higher especially given that the ECB did not appear to be in any hurry to add more monetary accommodation last week.

Conversely USD/JPY looks set to continue to edge higher as sentiment for JPY continues to deteriorate; latest IMM positioning data shows that net JPY positions have hit their lowest since July 2007. The next key technical resistance level is around 103.74. Firm trade data in China over the weekend helped to bolster AUD and NZD although the latter is benefitting the most, boosted overnight by strong house price data in November. Consequently AUD/NZD continues top plumb new depths.

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Rising risk aversion

December 5, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

The US ADP November jobs report and October new home sales both beat expectations yesterday piling on the pressure on US Treasuries and adding further weight to support those looking for the Fed to taper at the December 17-18 FOMC meeting. Consequently non farm payrolls expectation will likely be revised higher from the current consensus of around 180k. In contrast the ISM non manufacturing index came in below consensus, with the jobs component slipping. US equities ended marginally lower while the USD held its ground. However, risk measures such as the VIX “fear gauge” moved higher. Rising risk aversion may reflect expectations of imminent tapering and some angst ahead of US budget talks.

US November payrolls data to be released tomorrow will be crucial to provide more decisive clues to the timing of Fed tapering. Attention ahead of the jobs report will turn to the European Central Bank policy decision where no action is expected although some downward revisions to staff forecasts are likely. We continue to expect a more aggressive ECB stance into 2014. The Bank of England and Norges Bank will also decide on policy rates but no change is expected in both cases. In the US an upward revision to Q3 US GDP is expected to around 3.1% QoQ annualised while jobless claims will also be in focus. Market nervousness is likely to continue today although activity is likely to be limited ahead of the US payrolls data tomorrow.

The USD should be supported due to higher US Treasury yields although USD/JPY has lost some ground in the wake of higher risk aversion. The large short JPY market position may also be limiting the JPY’s downside for now. EUR/USD is trading shy of its recent highs above 1.36 and could be vulnerable to a dovish ECB statement today as well as to growth forecast downgrades by the ECB. AUD continues to remain under pressure having traded just below 0.90 overnight in the wake of disappointing GDP data yesterday and is likely to remain vulnerable to further slippage. CAD was further undermined by a relatively dovish Bank of Canada statement following the decision overnight to leave policy rates unchanged.

Given that US Treasury yields have risen by around 33bps since the end of October it is worth looking at which currencies are most sensitive to rising yields. In Asia the most correlated currencies with 10 year US Treasury yields over the last 3 months and therefore most vulnerable currencies are the SGD, THB, and MYR. The least sensitive have been CNY, IDR and KRW. Playing long KRW / short SGD appears to be a good way of playing an environment of rising US yields, especially given that yields are set to continue to rise over the coming months.

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