USD weaker except versus JPY, EUR gains unsustainable

April 8, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

Risk aversion is creeping higher whether due to weaker data and budget concerns in the US, political uncertainty in Europe or tensions in the Korean peninsular. Central banks continue however, to do their utmost to keep monetary conditions sufficiently easy to facilitate recovery.

The Bank of Japan was the latest to do its part under the helm of governor Kuroda, with new measures including a major increase in asset purchases, delivering a positive surprise to markets while pushing the JPY sharply weaker.

Only the ECB appears to lag in terms of central bank activism keeping policy on hold last week despite weak economic conditions are ongoing austerity pain. A series of industrial production releases across the Eurozone including German February IP scheduled for release today will not change the picture materially.

The much weaker than expected US March jobs report in which payrolls increased by only 88k, concern that economic activity is following a similar pattern to previous years ie strength in Q1 followed by weakness in Q2, has intensified. I do not believe this is the case but the jury is still out.

At the least the data will embolden Fed doves who will use the data as evidence that any tapering off in asset purchases should not occur quickly. A series of Fed speeches this week including one by Fed Chairman Bernanke tonight will be listened to very closely to determine whether the jobs report has provoked further caution from the Fed. Moreover, Fed FOMC minutes will be scrutinized to determine how the Fed will adjust the flow rate of asset purchases to the changing outlook.

The overall tone to FX markets is one of broad based USD weakness, with the notably exception of the JPY where the relatively aggressive BoJ stance has provoked a bigger reaction. The EUR has taken advantage of a softer USD but is unlikely to sustain gains around the EUR/USD 1.3000 level given the political problems across the Eurozone and relatively weaker economic conditions.

Indeed, news that Portugal’s constitutional court rejected austerity measures has put at risk the ability of the country to achieve its budget targets and regain access to international bond markets. Meanwhile Cyrpus’ bail in continues to leave a sour taste among depositors across the region while Italy continues to edge towards fresh elections.

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

No Fed suprises, Cyprus unresolved, Kuroda weakens yen

March 21, 2013 — Mitul Kotecha

The Fed delivered no surprises overnight, with policy settings and guidance left unchanged and only minor changes the statement. Slight downward revisions to near term growth and the unemployment rate reflected recent fiscal issues but the Fed sounded more upbeat on current economic conditions. The Fed statement helped markets retain a better mood despite the continued fluidity of the situation in Cyprus.

On this front, as Cyprus tries to renegotiate the terms of EUR 10 billion the country appears to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Increasing the levy on higher value deposits as has been suggested threatens to infuriate Cyprus’ biggest creditor Russia but at the same time a lack of any forthcoming deal will put at jeopardy and liquidity support from the ECB to Cyprus’ banks. Markets appear to be giving the country and Eurozone officials some leeway leaving most asset markets in ranges.

Although the saga in Cyprus had helped to extend the EUR’s decline the truth is that the currency was already in decline from its 1 February high around 1.3712 in the wake of an increasingly adverse growth and yield gap with the US and Italian political uncertainty.

While market panic over Cyprus appears to have eased helping the EUR to find some stability the fact remains that no solution is on the table and once again it feels as though Eurozone officials are belatedly scrambling to find solutions before market patience runs out. EUR/USD looks supported however, around the 200 day moving average at 1.2878.

USD/JPY has been correlated most with the relative move in 10Y yield differentials between US Treasuries and Japanese JGBs. Given the prospects that the 10Y differential in terms of Treasuries versus JGBs will widen further it implies yet more gains in USD/JPY.

It is worth watching yields closely but at this point I await stronger signals that US bond yields are headed higher before contemplating a further JPY decline. In the near term USD/JPY looks supported around 94.72 as risk appetite returns and ahead of an inaugural speech by BoJ Governor Kuroda in which he is expected to announce a major policy shift aimed at bold easing according to Japanese press.

Posted in Bank of Japan, Cyprus, Federal Reserve. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »