Sunday, January 10, 2010

Foreign Exchange Research - Daily Market Commentary



DAILY MARKET COMMENTARY
5 January 2010

Tuesday

 

          

 

 

Fundamental Outlook at 1500 GMT (EDT + 0500)

 

 

The euro depreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar on Thursday as the single currency tested bids around the US$ 1.4345 level and was capped around the $1.4485 level.  U.S. equity markets were underwater today and the common currency failed to notch sustainable gains on weaker-than-expected U.S. November pending home sales that failed to meet expectations.  Data evidenced a 16.0% m/m contraction, a sharp reversal from the revised +3.9% print in October, and were up 19.3% y/y, down from a revised 28.7% y/y.  On a positive note, November factory orders came in stronger-than-expected, up 1.1% - an expansion from October's +0.8% print.  Bond giant PIMCO reported interest rate markets have gotten ahead of themselves by pricing in rate hikes by the Fed this year.  PIMCO is currently forecasting the fed funds target rate will remain lodged at its 0% to 0.25% range until late 2010 or early 2011.  Kansas City Fed President Hoenig spoke today and was criticial of the "too big to fail" story regarding U.S. banks, saying the idea "needs to be addressed" and that large banks tht become insolvent "should be dismantled in an orderly way."  In eurozone news, data released in Germany saw the December unemployment total decline by 3,000 to 3.42 million, the sixth consecutive monthly decline.  Notably, German GDP expanded 0.7% in Q3 2009 and there is a growing view that Germany could outpace other eurozone countries this year.  Also, EMU-16 flash consumer price inflation for December was up 0.9% y/y, an increase from the prior print of 0.5% m/m.  Most dealers believe the European Central Bank will keep rates steady in Q1.  Euro bids are cited around the US$ 1.3885 level.

 

¥/ CNY

The yen appreciated vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the greenback tested bids around the ¥91.25 level and was capped around the ¥92.55 level.  The Japanese media reported the government and Bank of Japan have now purchased a combined ¥491.7 billion in bank-owned stocks through the end of 2009 to support banks' balance sheets and equities prices.  Conspiracy theorists are wagging about news that finance minister Fujii is ill with some Japan-watchers believing he could step down if his doctor requests so.  Some dealers believe the late-2009 rally in the greenback may have simply been traders covering dollar shorts and booking profits.  Notably, U.S. mutual funds reduced foreign holdings to 25.8% of total holdings in November from about 26% in October, a level that matched the record established in May 2008.  A further reduction in foreign holdings could increase demand for the U.S. dollar.  Japan's gross domestic product fell to an annualized ¥471 trillion in the third quarter of 2009, the lowest level since 1991.  The finance ministry is now predicting Japan's tax revenue will decline to at least a 25-year low in 2010.  Dealers are also paying very close attention to plans for the government's budget in 2010 that does little to reduce record deficits.  Japan's Aa2 credit rating may be imperiled if fiscal conditions do not improve.  Japan currently has about US$ 8.96 trillion in Japanese government bonds outstanding, outweighing the U.S.'s US$ 8.78 trillion in federal debt.  Current forecasts suggest Japan's fiscal deficit would remain as high as 8% of GDP in 2014, a sharp contrast to a 6.7% forecast for the U.S. and talk of a balanced budget in Germany.  Notably, Japan's GDP is estimated to reach 246% of gross domestic product in 2010, compared to about 108% for the U.S. and 89% for Germany.  The Nikkei 225 stock index climbed 0.34% to close at ¥10,681.83.  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 ¥131.45 level and was capped around the ¥133.45 level.  The British pound moved lower vis-à-vis the yen as sterling tested offers around the ¥146.10 level while the Swiss franc moved lower vis-à-vis the yen and tested bids around the ¥88.40 level. In Chinese news, the U.S. dollar depreciated vis-à-vis the Chinese yuan as the greenback closed at CNY 6.8272 in the over-the-counter market, down from CNY 6.8273.  People's Bank of China Governor Zhou again warned that investments in industries with extra capacity and in "redundant infrastructure" could threaten the quality of banks' loans. China is again telling banks to "control the pace of lending." Some traders believe there will be huge inflows related to speculation on further yuan appreciation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technical Outlook at 1330 GMT (EDT + 0500)

 

             (Bid Price)       (Today's Intraday Range)                              

           

EUR/ USD        1.4366               1.4483,  1.4345
USD/ JPY          91.68                 92.54,    91.24
GBP/ USD        1.5993                 1.6152, 1.5964
USD/ CHF        1.0334                 1.0359, 1.0250
AUD/USD         0.9115                0.9173, 0.9091
USD/CAD         1.0390                 1.0418,
1.0335
NZD/USD         0.7341                0.7389, 0.7315
EUR/ JPY         131.73                 133.46, 131.44
EUR/ GBP        0.8980                 0.9014, 0.8944
GBP/ JPY        146.69    149.14, 146.12
CHF/ JPY           88.72      89.89,   88.42

                                       

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

 

 

Tuesday, 5 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

N/A      Germany          November retail sales (0.0% m/m)

N/A      Germany          November retail sales (-1.7% y/y)

0000     Australia           November HIA new home sales (-6.0% m/m)

0745     France              December consumer confidence (-30.0)

0855     Germany          December unemployment change (-7,000)

0855     Germany          December unemployment rate (8.1%)

0930     UK                   December PMI, construction (47.0)

1000     Eurozone          December consumer price index, estimate (0.6% y/y)

1230     Canada            November industrial product prices (-0.3% m/m)

1230     Canada            November raw materials price index (2.5% m/m)

1300     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Hoenig speaks

1500     US                   November pending home sales (3.7% m/m)

1500     US                   November pending home sales (28.6% y/y)

1500     US                   November factory orders (0.6%)

 

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

0001     UK                   December Nationwide consumer confidence (73.0)

0001     UK                   December BRC shop price index (0.2%)

0030     Australia           November retail sales (0.3% m/m)

0030     Australia           November building approvals (-0.6% m/m)

0030     Australia           November building approvals (11.7% y/y)

0850     France              December PMI, services (60.9)

0855     Germany          December PMI, services (53.1)

0900     Eurozone          December PMI, services (53.0)

0900     Eurozone          December PMI, composite (53.7)

0930     UK                   December PMI, services (56.6)

1000     Eurozone          November producer price index (0.2% m/m)

1000     Eurozone          November producer price index (-6.7% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          October industrial new orders (1.7% m/m)

1000     Eurozone          October industrial new orders (-16.4% y/y)

1200     US                   MBA mortgage applications

1230     US                   December Challenger job cuts (-72.3% y/y)

1315     US                   December ADP employment change (-169,000)

1500     US                   December ISM, non-manufacturing composite (48.7)

1900     US                   Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes

1905     Australia           November trade balance (-A$ 2.379 billion)

2145     NZ                   November trade balance (-NZ$ 487 million)

 

Thursday, 7 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

N/A      UK                   December Halifax house prices (1.4% m/m)

0000     Japan               December official reserve assets (US$ 1.073 trillion)

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

0815     CH                   December consumer price index (0.2% m/m)

0815     CH                   December consumer price index (0.0% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          November retail sales (0.0% m/m)

1000     Eurozone          November retail sales (-1.9% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          December economic confidence (88.8)

1000     Eurozone          December consumer confidence (-17.0)

1000     Eurozone          December business climate indicator (-1.56)

1000     Eurozone          December industrial confidence (-19.0)

1000     Eurozone          December services confidence (-4.0)

1100     Germany          November factory orders (-2.1% m/m)

1100     Germany          November factory orders (-8.5% y/y)

1200     UK                   Bank of England MPC interest rate decision

1200     UK                   Bank of England asset purchase program

1330     US                   Weekly initial jobless claims

1330     US                   Continuing jobless claims

1500     Canada            December Ivey purchasing managers index (55.9)

1800     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Hoenig speaks

 

Friday, 8 January 2010

all times GMT

(last release in parentheses)

 

 

0000     Australia           Q3 quarterly wage agreements

0500     Japan               November leading index (89.4)

0500     Japan               November coincident index (94.3)

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

0545     CH                   December unemployment rate (4.1%)

0700     Germany          November trade balance (€13.6 billion)

0700     Germany          November current account (€11.0 billion)

0745     France              November trade balance (-€4.4 billion)

0930     UK                   December PPI, input (0.1% m/m)

0930     UK                   December PPI, input (4.0% y/y)

0930     UK                   December PPI, output (0.2% m/m)

0930     UK                   December PPI, output (2.9% y/y)

0930     UK                   December PPI, output core (-0.1% m/m)

0930     UK                   December PPI, output core (2.0% y/y)

1000     Eurozone          November unemployment rate (9.8%)

1100     Germany          November industrial production (-1.8% m/m)

1100     Germany          November industrial production (-12.4% y/y)

1230     Canada            December employment, net change (79,100)

1230     Canada            December unemployment rate (8.5%)

1300     US                   December non-farm payrolls, net change (-11,000)

1330     US                   December unemployment rate (10.0%)

1330     US                   December average hourly earnings (0.1% m/m)

1330     US                   December average hourly earnings (2.2% y/y)

1330     US                   December average weekly hours (33.2)

1500     US                   November wholesale inventories (0.3%)

1835     US                   Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Lacker speaks

2000     US                   November consumer credit (-US$ 3.5 billion)

 

 

 


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