Thursday, January 14, 2010

Foreign Exchange Research - Daily Market Commentary




13 January 2010

Wednesday

 


 

 

Fundamental Outlook at 1500 GMT (EDT + 0500)

 

 

The euro appreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the single currency tested offers around the US$ 1.4580 level and was supported around the $1.4455 level.  Traders are trying to digest one report that suggests the Obama administration is going to impose a major tax on banks that borrowed funds under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.  Another report suggests the Obama administration is considering extending capital gains tax relief, a move that could support the equity market.  Data released in the U.S. today saw MBA mortgage applications up 14.3% from the prior reading of 0.5%.  The Federal Reserve's Beige Book was released today and confirmed improvements in business conditions in ten of the twelve Fed districts but noted the labour market is "generally weak" in most of the Fed districts.  Data to be released in the U.S. tomorrow include the December import price index, December retail sales, weekly initial jobless claims, continuing claims, and November business inventories followed by many data on Friday including consumer price inflation, industrial production, and more.  Chicago Fed President Evans today reported the U.S. economy may expand 3%  to 5% in 2010 and sees a "stable" outlook for prices.  Philadelphia Fed President Plosser spoke overnight and hawkishly said "This increase in rates must occur well before the unemployment rate or other measures of resource slack have diminished to acceptable levels."  In eurozone news, German gross domestic product growth data confirmed the economy fell 5.0% in 2009, a sharp reversal from 2008's +1.3% expansion. This represented the first contraction in six years and the largest decline since World War II.  French data released today saw the November current account gap narrow to €3.8 billion.  European Union President Van Rompuy reported Greece's fiscal problems are a major concern the entire European Union but reported the Greek government is "already taking the necessary further steps to address the situation." Euro bids are cited around the US$ 1.3885 level.

 

 

¥/ CNY

The yen depreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the greenback tested offers around the ¥91.50 level and was supported around the ¥90.90 level.  Today's range was relatively tight as dealers continued to focus on China and weigh the impact of its recent policy moves on the yen.  Data released in Japan overnight saw December corporate bankruptcy cases off 0.35% m/m and 16.59% y/y.  The yen also continues to weaken a little bit on uncertainty regarding Japan Airlines, a company whose stock has declined to ¥7 and could be delisted.  Global risk aversion is also moving lower and this is negatively impacting the yen as traders move into higher-yielding assets.  Japan's economic problems continue.  First, bank lending continued to move lower in December, probably on account of weakening business confidence.  Second, Japan remains mired in a deflationary cycle that will require the central bank to maintain its ultra-easy monetary policy.  Dealers are also paying close attention to comments from new finance minister Kan following his recent appointment and comments that moved the yen last week.  The Nikkei 225 stock index lost 1.32% to close at ¥10,735.03.  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 ¥133.05 level and was supported around the ¥131.50 level.  The British pound moved higher vis-à-vis the yen as sterling tested bids around the ¥148.75 level while the Swiss franc moved higher vis-à-vis the yen and tested offers around the ¥90.00 figure. In Chinese news, the U.S. dollar depreciated vis-à-vis the Chinese yuan as the greenback closed at CNY 6.8267 in the over-the-counter market, down from CNY 6.8275.   Traders are still talking about People's Bank of China's decision to lift reserve requirements at commercial banks by 50bps from 15.50% to 16.00%, effective 18 January.  This is PBoC's most effective weapon to enact implement a contractionary monetary policy and follows a move to reduce monetary accommodation last week by selling one-year bills at higher rates.  China Investment Corporation executive Peng moved the markets this week when he said "I think the dollar is at its bottom now. There will be very limited space for the dollar to drop further.  The yen is what, I think, has the worst outlook. The yen will continue to drop, unlike the dollar, which will not serve for long as a source of funding carry trades."

The British pound appreciated sharply vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as cable tested offers around the US$ 1.6295 level and was supported around the $1.6135 level.  Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Sentance moved the markets today when he said "At some point you have to say we have increased the amount of stimulus enough.  It doesn't mean you are going to withdraw it but you don't have to keep adding to it.  The Bank is approaching the point where we need to hold back and wait and see how that's flowing into the recovery."  Data released in the U.K. today saw November manufacturing production flat m/m and off 5.4% y/y while November industrial production was up 0.4% m/m and off 6% y/y.  Cable bids are cited around the US$ 1.5730 level. The euro gained ground vis-à-vis the British pound as the single currency tested offers around the ₤0.8965 level and was supported around the ₤0.8915 level.

 

Technical Outlook at 1330 GMT (EDT + 0500)

 

             (Bid Price)       (Today's Intraday Range)                                

           

EUR/ USD        1.4561               1.4579,  1.4455
USD/ JPY           91.30                 91.48,    90.89
GBP/ USD        1.6277                 1.6293, 1.6135
USD/ CHF         1.0154                 1.0217, 1.0137
AUD/USD         0.9257                0.9265, 0.9188
USD/CAD         1.0341                 1.0410,
1.0331
NZD/USD         0.7415                0.7425, 0.7371
EUR/ JPY         132.96                 133.06, 131.50
EUR/ GBP        0.8943                 0.8966, 0.8914
GBP/ JPY         148.62                148.73, 146.68
CHF/ JPY           89.89                  90.01,   89.16

 

                                       

 

 

 

Support                        Resistance                   Support                     Resistance

 

EUR/ USD                                                              USD/ JPY

 

L1.        1.4355                          1.4925                             86.95               93.20 

L2.        1.4175                          1.5145                             84.85               95.50
L3.        1.3795                          1.5360                             82.30               98.85

 

   GBP/ USD                                                          USD/ CHF

 

L1.        1.5755                          1.6890                          1.0040                          1.0370

L2.        1.5355                          1.7310                          0.9920                          1.0580

L3.        1.4950                          1.7615                          0.9750                          1.0695

 

 AUD/ USD                                                           USD/ CAD

 

L1.        0.8870                          0.9425                          1.0150                          1.0590

L2.        0.8685                          0.9600                          0.9920                          1.0820

L3.        0.8225                          0.9840                          0.9735                          1.1060

 

 

 NZD/ USD                                                           EUR/ JPY

 

L1.        0.7145                          0.7645                          125.70                          135.75

L2.        0.6880                          0.7785                          122.50                          138.20

L3.        0.6750                          0.8215                          118.55                          141.00

 

 

  EUR/ GBP                                                          EUR/ CHF

 

L1.        0.8795                          0.9175                          1.4575                          1.4875

L2.        0.8675                          0.9290                          1.4305                          1.5010

L3.        0.8320                          0.9430                          1.4110                          1.5450

 

  GBP/ JPY                                                           CHF/ JPY

 

L1.        144.90                          149.20                            85.30                           91.60

L2.        141.20                          150.60                            83.35                           93.60

L3.        135.95                          152.20                            81.40                           97.95

 

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

Sunday, 10 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

2330     Australia           December TD Securities inflation (0.3% m/m)

2330     Australia           December TD Securities inflation (2.1% y/y)

 

Monday, 11 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

0500     China                Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President Bullard speaks

0745     France              November industrial production (-0.8% m/m)

0745     France              November industrial production (-8.4% y/y)

0745     France              November manufacturing production (-0.8% m/m)

0745     France              November manufacturing production (-8.8% y/y)

0815     CH                    November retail sales (3.1% y/y)

1315     Canada             December housing starts (158,500))

1330     Canada             November building permits (18.0% m/m)

1745     US                    Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Lockhart speaks

2200     NZ                    Q4 NZIER business opinion survey (36.0)

2350     Japan               November trade balance (¥949.0 billion)

2350     Japan               November current account (¥1.376 trillion)

2350     Japan               December bank lending (0.2% y/y)

2350     Japan               December M2 + CD money supply (3.3% y/y)

 

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

N/A       Japan               December economy watchers' survey, current (33.9)

N/A       Japan               December economy watchers' survey, outlook (34.5)

0001     UK                    December BRC retail sales monitor (4.1%)

0001     UK                    December RICS house price balance (35.0%)

0030     Australia           November home loans (-1.4%)

0030     Australia           November investment lending (-0.6%)

0730     France              December Bank of France business sentiment (99.0)

0930     UK                    November visible trade balance (-₤7.108 billion)

0930     UK                    November total trade balance (-₤3.213 billion)

0930     UK                    November DCLG house prices (-2.2% y/y)

1230     US                    December NFIB small business optimism (88.3)

1330     US                    November trade balance (-US$ 32.9 billion)

1330     Canada             November international merchandise trade (C$ 400 million)

1330     Canada             November new housing price index (0.3% m/m)

 

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

N/A       UK                    December NIESR gross domestic product estimate (0.2%)

N/A       US                    MBA mortgage applications (0.5%)

N/A       US                    Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Plosser speaks

0430     UK                    December bankruptcies (-11.4% y/y)

0600     Japan               December machine tool orders (-8.4% y/y)

0745     France              December consumer price index (0.1% m/m)

0745     France              December consume price index (0.4% y/y)

0745     France              December CPI, harmonized (0.2% m/m)

0745     France              December CPI, harmonized (0.5% y/y)

0745     France              November current account (-€4.5 billion)

0815     Germany           December GDP growth (1.3%)

0900     Italy                  November industrial production

0930     UK                    November industrial production (0.0% m/m)

0930     UK                    November industrial production (-8.4% y/y)

0930     UK                    November manufacturing production (0.0% m/m)

0930     UK                    November manufacturing production (-7.8% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          November industrial production (-0.6% m/m)

1000     Eurozone          November industrial production (-11.1% y/y)

1900     US                    Federal Reserve Beige Book

2145     NZ                    November building permits (11.7% y/y)

2350     Japan               November machine orders (-4.5% m/m)

2350     Japan               November machine orders (-21.0% y/y)

2350     Japan               December domestic corporate goods price index (0.1% m/m)

2350     Japan               December domestic corporate goods price index (-4.9% y/y)

 

Thursday, 14 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

N/A       NZ                    December REINZ housing price index (0.2% m/m)

N/Z       NZ                    December REINZ housing price index (41.5% y/y)

0030     Australia           December employment change (31,200)

0030     Australia           December unemployment rate (5.7%)

0700     Germany           December consumer price index (0.7% m/m)

0700     Germany           December consumer price index (0.8% y/y)

0700     Germany           December CPI, harmonized (0.9% m/m)

0700     Germany           December CPI, harmonized (0.8% y/y)

1245     Eurozone          European Central Bank interest rate decision

1330     US                    December advance retail sales (1.3%)

1330     US                    December retail sales, ex-autos (1.2%)

1330     US                    Weekly initial jobless claims (434,000)

1330     US                    Continuing jobless claims (4.802 million)

1330     US                    December import price index (1.7% m/m)

1330     US                    December import price index (3.7% y/y)

1500     US                    November business inventories (0.2%)

2145     NZ                    December credit card spending (0.7% m/m)

 

Friday, 15 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

N/A       Germany           December wholesale price index (0.7% m/m)

N/A       Germany           December wholesale price index (-3.2% y/y)

0200     NZ                    December non-resident bond holdings (65.4)

0430     Japan               Bank of Japan Chief Economist speaks

0815     CH                    December producer and import prices (0.0% m/m)

0815     CH                    December producer and import prices (-3.3% y/y)

0900     Italy                  December consumer price index

1000     Eurozone          December consumer price index (0.1% m/m)

1000     Eurozone          December consumer price index (0.5% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          December CPI, core (1.0% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          November trade balance (€6.3 billion)

1330     US                    December consumer price index (0.4% m/m)

1330     US                    December consumer price index (1.8% y/y)

1330     US                    December CPI, ex-food and energy (0.0% m/m)

1330     US                    December CPI, ex-food and energy (1.7% y/y)

1330     US                    January Empire State manufacturing index (2.55)

1415     US                    December industrial production (0.8%)

1415     US                    December capacity utilization (71.3%)

1455     US                    Mid-January University of Michigan consumer sentiment (72.5)

1930     US                    Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Yellen speaks

 

 

 

 


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