Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Foreign Exchange Research - Daily Market Commentary

 

DAILY MARKET COMMENTARY
21 October 2009

Wednesday


 

Fundamental Outlook at 1400 GMT (EDT + 0400)

 

 

The euro appreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the single currency tested offers around the US$ 1.5045 level and was supported around the $1.4890 level.  The common currency reached its highest level since August 2008 but moved lower from multi-month highs after U.S. equity markets slipped late in the North American session.  The Federal Reserve released its October Beige Book and noted the U.S. economy is stabilizing with "modest" improvements, adding "reports of gains in economic activity generally outnumber declines, but virtually every reference to improvement was qualified as either small or scattered."  The euro's test of the psychologically-important $1.50 figure will likely result in increased verbal intervention from eurozone monetary and financial officials who have recently been espousing the benefits of the U.S.'s long-standing strong dollar policy.  Eurozone exports have slumped along with the global economy and officials there will be keep to promote a growth in efforts.  In other eurozone news, Luxembourg is positioning its central bank governor and ECB member, Yves Mersch, to success ECB Vice President Papadempos in May.  In U.S. news, MBA mortgage applications were off 13.7% in the latest week, down from -1.8%.  Data to be released in the U.S. tomorrow include weekly initial jobless claims and continuing jobless claims.  The Federal Reserve received US$ 2.1 billion in loans against commercial mortgage securities sold before 1 January, up from US$ 1.4 billion in September.  Boston Fed President Rosengren asked regulators to find new ways to avert a "firestorm" while Richmond Fed President Lacker said he is "confident" the economy would "continue to see positive growth in the first half of 2010."  Lacker also said his "best estimate" for growth rates in 2010 is a range between 2.5% and 3.0%.  Dallas Fed President Fisher said "bad economic numbers" are getting "less worse" and said he sees 2010 economic growth "significantly below potential."  It is very clear that there is a wide range of opinions among Fed leadership and even on the Federal Open Market Committee and this diversity in opinions may mean the Fed lacks enough of a consensus to materially change monetary policy for the foreseeable future.  Euro bids are cited around the US$ 1.4445 level.

¥/ CNY

The yen depreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the greenback tested offers around the ¥91.25 level and was supported around the ¥90.50 level.  Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Nishimura warned against extending the central bank's emergency credit programs.  Nishimura noted "Excessive concerns are easing considerably and market functions are improving significantly.  Prolonging safety net measures may cause the problem of moral hazard."  It is expected the central bank will allow some BoJ programs to expire at the end of the year but it is generally believed interest rates will not move higher before next year at the earliest.  Nishimura added the "road to recovery will be very bumpy" and said consumer prices may continue to decline before moving to a "desirable" level.  Japan continues to experience disinflationary or deflationary pressures and these continue to lessen corporate profits and wages.  Bank of Japan Governor Shirakawa reported Japan's economy remains "far below" last year's level.  The central bank and the government remain at odds about the implications for the economic recovery on policy. Finance minister Fujii continues to suggest the central bank's emergency programs should be maintained to support the economic recovery.  Fujii yesterday reiterated the yen's strength is on account of the Federal Reserve's "easy" monetary policy – less of an indication that current currency movements are misalignments that will require actual intervention.   Minutes from the BoJ Policy Board's 16-17 September meeting were released this week in which policymakers concluded "A few members were of the view that the positive effects these measures could producer were on the wane." The central bank is likely to not renew some of its emergency spending programs when they expire at the end of the month.  The Nikkei 225 stock index lost 0.03% to close at ¥10,333.39.  U.S. dollar offers are cited around the ¥94.75 level.  The euro moved higher vis-à-vis the yen as the single currency tested offers around the ¥136.95 level and was supported around the ¥135.20 level.  The British pound moved higher vis-à-vis the yen as sterling tested offers around the ¥151.55 level while the Swiss franc moved higher vis-à-vis the yen and tested offers around the ¥90.70 level. In Chinese news, the U.S. dollar strengthened vis-à-vis the Chinese yuan as the greenback closed at CNY 6.8241 in the over-the-counter market, down from CNY 6.8241.  People's Bank of China Deputy Governor Ma yesterday reported China's economic growth accelerated in Q3 from the previous three months.  Ma also reported further dollar weakness may fuel expectations of more yuan appreciation.

 

Technical Outlook at 1230 GMT (EDT + 0400)

 

             (Bid Price)       (Today's Intraday Range)                              

           

EUR/ USD        1.4997                1.5045, 1.4888
USD/ JPY          90.87                  91.27,   90.48
GBP/ USD        1.6582                 1.6635, 1.6345
USD/ CHF        1.0070                 1.0154, 1.0033
AUD/USD         0.9259                 0.9329, 0.9191
USD/CAD         1.0459                 1.0582,
1.0377
NZD/USD         0.7577                0.7634, 0.7462
EUR/ JPY         136.28    136.96, 135.18
EUR/ GBP        0.9045                 0.9124, 0.8996
GBP/ JPY        150.69                 151.54, 148.43
CHF/ JPY           90.21                   90.69,   89.41

 

 

                                       

Support                       Resistance                   Support                    Resistance

 

EUR/ USD                                                            USD/ JPY

 

 

L1.       1.4470                          1.4915                             88.60               93.30 

L2.       1.4355                          1.5140                             87.10               95.50
L3.       1.4175                          1.5360                             86.10               98.85

 

   GBP/ USD                                                        USD/ CHF

 

L1.       1.6115                          1.6685                          1.0275                          1.0580

L2.       1.5720                          1.6830                          1.0040                          1.0695

L3.       1.5405                          1.7040                          0.9750                          1.0885

 

 AUD/ USD                                                         USD/ CAD

 

L1.       0.8450                          0.8830                          1.0535                          1.0945

L2.       0.8300                          0.9050                          1.0365                          1.1125

L3.       0.8070                          0.9120                          1.0155                          1.1355

 

 

 NZD/ USD                                                         EUR/ JPY

 

L1.       0.6880                          0.7125                          131.45                          135.75

L2.       0.6750                          0.7260                          129.75                          136.90

L3.       0.6535                          0.7395                          127.00                          138.75

 

  EUR/ GBP                                                        EUR/ CHF

 

L1.       0.8795                          0.8995                          1.5110                          1.5380

L2.       0.8675                          0.9105                          1.4905                          1.5580

L3.       0.8320                          0.9225                          1.4670                          1.5880

 

  GBP/ JPY                                                         CHF/ JPY

 

L1.       146.10                          152.50                            86.30                           88.65

L2.       142.05                          157.75                            85.40                           90.10

L3.       135.70                          161.70                            81.55                           91.60

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

0000     Australia           August Westpac leading index (1.1% m/m)

0000     US                   Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Plosser speaks

0200     NZ                   September credit card spending (0.1% y/y)

0700     CH                   September M3 money supply (7.7% y/y)

0830     UK                   October Bank of England MPC meeting minutes

1000     UK                   CBI quarterly industrial trends, total orders

1100     US                   MBA mortgage applications

1600     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Lacker speaks

1800     US                   Federal Reserve Beige Book

2030     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Rosengren speaks

2350     Japan               September merchandise trade balance (¥185.7 billion)

 

Thursday, 22 October 2009

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

0430     Japan               August all-industry activity index (0.5% m/m)

0500     Japan               September supermarket sales (-3.4% y/y)

0615     CH                   September trade balance (CHF 1.79 billion)

0645     France              October business confidence (85)

0800     Eurozone          August current account (€ 6.6 billion)

0800     Italy                  August retail sales

0830     UK                   September retail sales (0.0% m/m)

0830     UK                   September retail sales (2.1% y/y)

1230     US                   Weekly initial jobless claims

1230     US                   Continuing jobless claims

1230     Canada            August retail sales (-0.6% m/m)

1230     Canada            August retail sales, ex-autos (-0.8% m/m)

1400     US                   September leading indicators (0.6%)

1400     US                   August house price index (0.3% m/m)

1430     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Rosengren speaks

1430     Canada            Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report

1730     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of New York President Dudley speaks

 

Friday, 23 October 2009

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

0030     Australia           Q3 import price index (-6.4% q/q)

0645     France              September consumer spending (-1.3% y/y)

0800     Germany          October Ifo, expectations (95.7)

0800     Germany          October Ifo, business climate (91.3)

0800     Germany          October Ifo, current assessment (87.0)

0830     UK                   Q3 gross domestic product (-0.6% q/q)

0830     UK                   Q3 gross domestic product (-5.5% y/y)

0830     UK                   September BBA house purchase loans

0900     Eurozone          August industrial new orders (-24.3% y/y)

1230     US                   Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke speaks

1400     US                   September existing home sales (5.10 million)

1400     US                   September existing home sales (-2.7% m/m)

1530     US                   Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Kohn speaks

 

 

 

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