Sunday, January 24, 2010

Foreign Exchange Research - Daily Market Commentary



DAILY MARKET COMMENTARY
15 January 2010

Friday

 

           

 


 

Fundamental Outlook at 1500 GMT (EDT + 0500)

 

 

The euro depreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the single currency tested bids around the US$ 1.4365 level and was capped around the $1.4510 level.  The common currency was pressured overnight on rumours that German Chancellor Merkel may resign following a media report that she was losing the support of her coalition partners.  Merkel dismissed this talk as "absurd" and pledged to move forward with her pledge to reduce taxes.  Data released in the eurozone saw the November trade surplus print at €4.8 billion, down from €6.6 billion in October, while EMU-16 consumer price inflation rose 0.3% m/m and 0.9% y/y.  The common currency has also been pressured this week following ongoing concerns that Greece's fiscal position may require drastic intervention from the European Union.  European Central Bank President spoke after the ECB's decision to keep rates unchanged yesterday and provided a mixed assessment of the eurozone economy.  Trichet also talked up the U.S. dollar, an ongoing dialog he has had with the market that is designed to limit the amount of upside potential for euro appreciation.  In U.S. news, data released today saw December consumer price inflation up a smaller-than-expected +0.1% m/m and 2.8% y/y at the headline level and 0.1% m/m and 1.8% y/y at the core level.  Also, the January Empire State manufacturing index improved to 15.92 from a revised prior reading of 4.50.  Additionally, December industrial production printed at 0.6% and capacity utilization improved to 72.8%.  Finally, the mid-January University of Michigan consumer sentiment index receded to 72.8 from the prior reading of 72.5.   Data to be released on Tuesday include net long-term TIC flows and the NAHB housing market index.  Most Federal Reserve officials – but not all – have talked up the U.S. economy's recent strengthening and Fed officials are said to be reviewing ways to drain upwards of US$ 1 trillion in excess cash from the financial system.  Euro bids are cited around the US$ 1.3885 level.

 

 

¥/ CNY

The yen appreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the greenback tested bids around the ¥90.60 level and was capped around the ¥91.30 level.  Bank of Japan Chief Economist Momma reported "the pace of Japan's economic growth may slow temporarily because of decreasing public works spending…but overall, the Japanese economy is likely to continue to pick up.  Momma said the rate of deflation will ease in one to two years because "the huge output gap has to be erased."  This week, finance minister Kan reported Bank of Japan can enact more measures to ease monetary policy and it is likely the government will increase pressure on the central bank to expand monetary policy further.  New finance minister Kan reported he plans to address the yuan at the Group of Seven meeting in February and indicated "there are still various policy measures that could be taken" by Bank of Japan to relax monetary conditions further.  The Nikkei 225 stock index gained 0.68% to close at ¥10,982.10.  U.S. dollar offers are cited around the ¥94.75 level.  The euro moved lower vis-à-vis the yen as the single currency tested bids around the ¥130.30 level and was capped around the ¥132.40 level.  The British pound moved lower vis-à-vis the yen as sterling tested bids around the ¥147.40 level while the Swiss franc moved lower vis-à-vis the yen and tested bids around the ¥88.20 level. In Chinese news, the U.S. dollar appreciated vis-à-vis the Chinese yuan as the greenback closed at CNY 6.8269 in the over-the-counter market, down from CNY 6.8272.  Data released in China overnight confirmed China's foreign reserves raced higher to a new record level in December, up 23% to US$ 2.4 trillion.  At the same time, banks provided CNY 379.8 billion in new loans, lifting the 2009 total to a record CNY 9.59 trillion.  This huge growth in loan demand evidences the risk of additional overheating in the Chinese economy and the pressure People's Bank of China faces to restrict additional monetary growth this year.  PBoC this week decided to lift reserve requirements at commercial banks by 50bps from 15.50% to 16.00%, effective from 18 January.  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 depreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as cable tested bids around the US$ 1.6270 level and was capped around the $1.6355 level.  Data released in the U.K. today saw the November leading indicator index decline 0.9%.  Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member this Posen called for additional business lending while MPC member Barker said she does not expect the economy to gather steam in the first six months of the year.  Barker also indicated she sees first half growth prospects as "patchy."  MPC member Sentance moved the markets this week when he said "At some point you have to say we have increased the amount of stimulus enough.  It doesn't mean you are going to withdraw it but you don't have to keep adding to it.  The Bank is approaching the point where we need to hold back and wait and see how that's flowing into the recovery."  Data released in the U.K. this week saw November manufacturing production flat m/m and off 5.4% y/y while November industrial production was up 0.4% m/m and off 6% y/y.  Cable bids are cited around the US$ 1.5730 level. The euro lost ground vis-à-vis the British pound as the single currency tested bids around the ₤0.8810 level and was capped around the ₤0.8880 level.

CHF

The Swiss franc depreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the greenback tested offers around the CHF 1.0285 level and was supported around the CHF 1.0180 level.  Data released in Switzerland today saw December producer price inflation up 0.1% m/m and decline 2.5% y/y.  The OECD today called on Switzerland to keep interest rates unchanged until the economic recovery takes hold.  U.S. dollar offers are cited around the CHF 1.0420 level.  The euro moved lower vis-à-vis the Swiss franc as the single currency tested bids around the CHF 1.4750 level while the British pound gained ground vis-à-vis the Swiss franc and tested offers around the CHF 1.6750 level.

 

Technical Outlook at 1330 GMT (EDT + 0500)

 

             (Bid Price)       (Today's Intraday Range)                                

           

EUR/ USD        1.4378               1.4511,  1.4366
USD/ JPY           90.88                 91.31,    90.60
GBP/ USD        1.6297                 1.6354, 1.6268
USD/ CHF         1.0263                 1.0284, 1.0179
AUD/USD         0.9249                0.9318, 0.9323
USD/CAD         1.0269                 1.0282,
1.0230
NZD/USD         0.7372                0.7431, 0.7359
EUR/ JPY         130.68                 132.39, 130.29
EUR/ GBP        0.8822                 0.8879, 0.8810
GBP/ JPY         148.01                149.20, 147.40
CHF/ JPY           88.47                  89.61,   88.18

 

                                       

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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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