FX markets traded in a holding pattern on Monday to start the week ahead of a deluge of big data to come. EU PMI’s were ugly though, all missing expectations, indicating a slowing economy but with sticky prices, raising the spectre of stagflation again and weeing the Euro underperform.

FX WRAP

USD was firmer on Monday, with a rise in the US Dollar index aided by EUR and GBP weakness and a rebound in US Treasury yields. DXY hit a high of 101.42 and closing a session highs in low volatility session. USD traders showing caution ahead of key risk events later in the week, headlined by the FOMC monetary policy meeting tomorrow where a 25bps fully priced in. A rally in UST yields, up to 3.878% also bolstering the Dollar.

As previously mentioned, EUR was the G10 underperformer (with GBP not far behind) , after disappointing EU and UK PMIs where misses were seen across the board. EURUSD hitting a low of 1.1061 and testing the 50% fib retracement support level. The ECB meets on Thursday where a 25bps is also fully priced in, the question will be is another one coming in September. For GBP watchers, Cable hit a low of 1.2799, briefly breaching the major support and psychological level of 1.28 before bouncing to finish the session 20 pips above, this will be a critical level to watch.

AUD and NZD were firmer, with the NZD continuing to outperform, mostly on AUD weakness rather than anything NZD specific. AUDNZD declined back below 1.09 after the AUD was undermined by declines in two out of three PMIs released on Monday. Aside from this, newsflow was light for AUD and NZD with a key Australian CPI figure released tomorrow the main risk event for AUD traders this week.

CAD saw marginal gains vs the USD and with a lack of anything CAD specific, seemed to be aided by a jump in crude oil prices on China stimulus tailwinds. USDCAD testing Fridays lows at 1.3150 before finding some support and marginally rebounding.

Safe-havens were mixed. JPY firmed early in the session, with USDJPY hitting a low of 140.73, before reversing course as US Treasury yields recovered, ending the session mostly flat. Like the EU and US JPY traders have a pivotal Central Bank meeting this week, with the BoJ monetary policy update released on Friday. CHF was also weighed on by the comeback in UST yields, with USDCHF breaking out of it’s recent range to the upside, to touch on 0.87.

A light calendar today with no Tier one data to be released, a calm before the storm from Wednesday onwards.