Asian currencies under pressure

January 27, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

The close to 1% drop in the USD index over recent days is misleading in terms of the USD’s performance against emerging market currencies where it has registered strong gains. For example the ADXY (Asian USD index) has dropped to its lowest level since early September 2013 and looks set to decline further as Asian currencies face more pressure. The best performers in this environment are traditional safe havens, especially JPY and CHF while the EUR and Scandinavian currencies have also capitalised on the weaker USD.

The drop in the USD against many major currencies reflects the fact that positioning had reached extreme levels prior to the sharp moves at the end of last week. For instance, net long USD speculative positions (according to the CFTC IMM data) had risen to the highest level since June 2013 while in contrast EUR positioning had dropped to its lowest since July 2013. The subsequent position adjustment will have proved to be a healthy correction that will set the USD up for an eventual rebound and the EUR for a sell off.

The sharp drop in US Treasury yields will undermine the USD further in the near term, however, and the mixed slate of US data releases will offer the currency little assistance. Nonetheless, the USD is expected to stay firm against Asian currencies. Notably capital flows from Asian equity markets have increased over recent weeks, with Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand on track to register outflows for the first month of the year. Against this background it is unsurprising that both the KRW and PHP are the two worst performing Asian currencies so far this year. While I expect a reversal in both, the near term outlook is for further pressure.

Posted in Asia, Asian currencies, Philippines, South Korea. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Risk assets under growing pressure

January 27, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

The growing turmoil in emerging markets is inflicting damage on risk assets across the board and no let up is expected in the near term. Even the rally in US Treasuries has failed to provide any relief to risk assets given the weight of negative sentient. Whether triggered by concerns about a slowing in Chinese growth, Argentina’s letting go of its currency support, and/or political tensions elsewhere such as in Thailand and Ukraine or a combination of all of these, the picture looks increasingly volatile.

Additionally, earnings and valuation concerns are acting to restrain equity markets. Finally, lurking in the background as another weight on asset markets is Fed tapering, with a further USD 10 billion reduction in asset purchases expected to be announced by the Fed this week (Wednesday). The combination of the above spells more bad news in the days ahead, with risk assets set to remain under pressure this week.

Amid the growing gloom in global markets there are still some key data releases and events that will garner some attention this week. In the US as noted the Fed FOMC meeting is the main event, but December new home sales today, January consumer confidence tomorrow and Q4 GDP on Thursday will also be important. However, the former two releases are set to record declines implying a mixed slate of US releases this week.

In Europe, coming off the back of some encouraging flash purchasing managers’ indices the January German IFO business climate index will record its third consecutive gain, while Spanish GDP is set to record its second consecutive quarterly gain. A slight rebound in January inflation is unlikely to stand in the way of a further reinforcement of forward guidance by the European Central Bank.

In Japan Trade data reported today revealed an 18th straight month of deficit while inflation data will reveal that the Bank of Japan still has a lot of work to do to reach its 2% inflation target implying that there will be some discomfort with the recent rebound in the JPY. Finally, expect no change from the RBNZ at its policy meeting on Wednesday, which will leave the NZD under further pressure.

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

JPY and EUR find support

January 24, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

Rising risk aversion is supporting the JPY but the currency may also be finding some support from the misplaced view that the Bank of Japan may not need to be any more aggressive in its policy stance to reach its 2% inflation target, with Japan’s finance minister noting that deflationary conditions have almost ended. Such talk looks premature.

Japan still has a long way to go to reach and sustain inflation at its target. The risk is that without any structural reforms (jobs market, manufacturing sector, immigration) deflation and slower growth could quite easily take hold again. In any case, the Bank of Japan is likely to embark on more aggressive policy in the months ahead in order to achieve the 2% target. In the near term USD/JPY looks supported around 102.50.

The EUR found some additional support from a strengthening in manufacturing confidence in the region, which highlighted that economic recovery continues to take shape. Fitch’s affirmation of Germany’s credit ratings at AAA has also helped sentiment towards the currency.

In the near term much of the same tone is likely although the relatively stronger US economic performance and tapering expectations will mean the USD will not fall too far. EUR/USD will face technical resistance around its 2014 high at 1.3776.

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

Lower US yields undermine the US dollar

January 24, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

A drop in US yields has undermined the USD over recent days against major currencies although emerging market currencies remain under varying degrees of pressure. US 10 year Treasury yields have fallen by around a quarter of a percent since the end of last year, acting as a real drag on the USD.

A rise in risk aversion over recent days (the VIX fear gauge has risen by over 13% since its low on 10 January) appears to have resulted in increased demand for Treasuries and weaker equities, with markets ignoring generally firmer than anticipated US economic data this week including weekly jobless claims and existing home sales.

Emerging market currencies have come under strong pressure while the usual safe havens have strengthened most against the USD in particular CHF and JPY. The EUR has also made up some ground. Fortunately for the USD expectations of Fed tapering continue to fuel some buying of the currency, constraining any downside. Nonetheless, until US Treasury yields resume their upward movement the USD’s upside momentum will be limited.

Posted in emerging markets, FX. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

USD firm versus EUR but not against JPY

January 20, 2014 — Mitul Kotecha

Finally back in the office after two weeks of traveling and it appear that the upside momentum for equity markets has definitely waned. Concerns about the pace of growth, earnings and valuations finally appear to have caught up with stocks. Meanwhile US Treasury yields have remained under downward pressure since the release of the disappointing US December jobs report despite some encouraging data since. In Asia China’s GDP release for Q4 reveaked some loss of momentum, with growth decelerating to 1.8% QoQ. Nonetheless, the annual pace of growth looked reasonably healthy at 7.7%, suggesting a limited reaction in markets today.

A US holiday today will likely keep a cap on market activity today but there will be plenty of Q4 earnings reports over coming days to give further direction. In terms of policy decisions the Bank of Japan and Bank of Canada will likely keep policy unchanged following their policy decisions this week. The BoC is faced with inflation well below target while the BoJ continues to battle to push inflation towards its 2% target. Both central banks will maintain easy policy.

On the data front there is very little of note in the US to focus on, with the main release the December existing home sales report on Thursday where a rebound of 1% is expected. European data releases may prove to be more interesting, with the release of flash purchasing managers indices on tap. Further gradual gains are likely to be registered in January although there will be attention on France which has lagged other countries.

Ratings decisions by Moody’s and Fitch on Germany and France, respectively, will also garner some attention. Rumours of a German downgrade are likely to prove unfounded. In the UK the Bank of England MPC minutes will be is likely to reveal an unchanged outcome of voting to keep policy unchanged although the BoE is likely to adjust its guidance soon reflecting the quicker than anticipated fall in the unemployment rate.

The USD looks well placed to extend last week’s gains, especially against the EUR, with a drop below 1.3500 on the cards. Disinflation pressures and relatively soft growth highlight the potential for easier monetary policy. A variety of options for the ECB are on the cards but the EUR will struggle to make headway given expectations of more ECB action. Additionally the EUR appears to be benefiting less from reserves recycling flows, especially given that Asian central bank reserves accumulation has likely to have slowed. The deterioration in speculative positioning reflects the deterioration in sentiment for the currency.

In contrast USD/JPY will struggle too push higher given the drop in US Treasury yields. Additionally weaker Japanese stocks will not help given the correlation between the Nikkei and JPY. The Bank of Japan meeting this week will not give much support for a further move higher in USD/JPY given expectations of an unchanged outcome. Some consolidation around 104.00 is likely over the short term, with upside limited to technical resistance around 104.92.

I fly off to Mumbai tonight for the last leg of our Asia roadshow presentation series. Hopefully my next post can shed some light on the recent stability of the Indian rupee.

Posted in Bank of Japan, Canada, China, ECB. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »
« Older posts
Newer posts »