市场资讯及洞察

The negative dollar reaction to a modest tick-up in US jobless claims yesterday (231k versus consensus 212k) where the US Dollar Index (DXY) dropped from session highs at 105.74 to close at session lows of 105.20 seems to be telling FX traders that tells us that: a) markets are probably lacking some sense of direction in the period between payrolls and US CPI. b) the generally overbought dollar remains quite vulnerable to even slightly softer US data releases. c) markets may be buying in more convincingly on the softening US jobs market narrative. Beyond very short-term price movements, it’s looking like the key for the USD to trend materially lower remains inflation. Consensus is looking at 0.3% month-on-month core CPI print on Wednesday, which is still too high for the Fed to start cutting rates this summer.

Today’s US calendar includes only the University of Michigan surveys. Markets will be watching closely whether the medium and long-term inflation expectations have moved at all from April’s 3.0/3.2% levels. From the Fed the most interesting speaker will be Neel Kashkari, who recently argued for a higher neutral rate, which would suggest current monetary policy is not as restrictive as perceived.

USD was notably lower after what was seen as a dovish FOMC meeting on Wednesday. The Fed 2024 median dot was left unchanged with 3 cuts for 2024 still the Fed forecast but the dovish part came at the presser where Fed Chair Powell downplayed the hot January and February CPI numbers. This dovish tilt saw risk assets surge and the USD dump.

USDJPY bucked the weak Dollar trend pushing up to 152 before the result from the FOMC saw it pare some of those gains. A hawkish BoJ source reporting in Nikkei that suggested another hike could come in July or October also supporting the Yen somewhat. There is also speculation if the Yen weakness were to continue the BoJ/MoF could step in to intervene, with ING noting that local accounts felt that 155 would be red line.

Gold ripped to all time highs, with XAUUSD hitting a high of 2222 USD an ounce on the back of USD weakness and falling yields post FOMC, before falling back just above the old high at 2195 heading into the APAC session. Today ahead, more Central Bank action out of the BoE and SNB for FX traders to look forward to.

USD was slightly lower on Monday with DXY hitting a low of 104.140, holding above the 104 support level. News was light with only New Home Sales of any note, which missed modestly to the downside (662k vs the expected 675k). There was some Fed speak, the highlight being Fed hawk Bostic where he reiterated his desire of just one rate cut in 2024, this failed to make much impact on the Dollar though.

AUD and NZD saw gains to differing degrees against the USD with AUD outperforming, continuing the steep rally in AUDNZD to see the pair touching on 1.09 and firmly in overbought territory. Both AUD and NZD supported by the surprise Yuan fix by the PBoC that was much firmer than forecast. AUDUSD initially tested Friday's low at 0.6510, before the fix and improving risk sentiment saw it reverse course to hit a high of 0.6546.

USDJPY was ultimately flat in a tight ranged session. Some more jawboning from top currency diplomat Kanda saying that the BoJ has been closely watching “FX moves with a high sense of urgency and will take appropriate steps to respond” saw the talk of intervention arise with Bank of America noting that intervention is seen as a 'realistic option' to support the Yen, especially if the USDJPY cross rises to the 152-155 zone.

JPY was the currency everyone was watching coming into the pivotal BoJ meeting on Tuesday. The BoJ, as widely telegraphed, ended 17 years of negative interest rates, ETF purchases and their yield curve control policy. While a big move from the central bank there was no real surprise, with USDJPY surging to touch on 151, well into the “intervention zone” above 150.

The US Dollar Index was bid on JPY weakness, seeing DXY briefly rise above 104.00 to a peak of 104.06 in the UK session before paring some gains head of today’s closely watched FOMC meeting. AUDUSD dropped to 1 week lows after the RBA rate decision which left rates on hold as expected, but pulled back slightly on the tightening bias namely a language change from “further increase in interest rates cannot be ruled out “ to “not ruling anything in or out on interest rates”. NZD saw weakness in sympathy of the Aussie although AUDNZD saw marginal gains but failed to breach 1.08 with a high of 1.0793.

USD saw marginal weakness on Wednesday in a quiet news day. The US Dollar Index (DXY) pushing to lows after a strong 30yr Treasury saw yields drop and DXY briefly breaking beneath Tuesdays low of 102.72. A turn around later in the session saw DXY retake the 50% Fib support level at 102.80 ahead of today’s Retail Sales, Jobless Claims, and PPI data.

EUR saw decent gains vs the Dollar, with EURUSD setting a weekly high of 1.0948. ECB member Villeroy spoke, saying the ECB is winning the inflation battle, but cuts are more likely appropriate in June rather than April. EURUSD holding the key 1.09 support so far this week, with 1.10 the next major resistance level to the upside.

USDJPY was ultimately flat in a whipsawing session that saw USDJPY testing 148.00 to the upside. Before pairing gains as the Yen strengthened on a report from Reuters suggesting that early signs suggest a strong outcome in the annual wage talks that have heightened the chances that the BoJ will end NIRP next week. Gold popped on Wednesday, bouncing off the 2151 support level and recouping most of Tuesday’s losses to head into the APAC session at 2175 USD an ounce, with the next upside resistance the all-time high at 2195.

As April draws to a close, the global economy stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the resurgence of inflationary pressures that refuse to retreat. In fact, it feels as though the inflation genie has re-emerged, asking, "Oh, you want more?" This resurgence prompts a crucial question: have we truly witnessed the peak of inflation, and consequently, the peak in interest rates, or are we merely witnessing a temporary lull before central banks are compelled to escalate interest rates further? The market has become entangled in this debate over the past few weeks, and it's far from reaching a resolution.

At the heart of the matter lies 'sticky' inflation. Economies such as Australia, the United States, and New Zealand are grappling with persistent price increases in essential fixed goods and services, including insurance, rent, housing costs, and utilities. The resilience of inflation in these sectors underscores the enduring impact of global economic forces on household budgets.

Remarkably, despite facing a post-COVID landscape fraught with challenges, households in these nations have displayed remarkable resilience. They have weathered the storm of rising interest rates while managing to maintain or marginally adjust their spending habits. Such resilience would typically be viewed as a positive narrative in a conventional economic cycle, signaling prudent financial management and adaptability.

However, the current economic landscape is anything but conventional. Against the backdrop of a global interest rate cycle reaching decade-high levels, the resilience of households and the absence of significant spending contractions raise concerns. Will tentative central banks be forced to raise rates again, rather than enact the forecasted rate cuts that were almost certain just eight weeks ago?

The chart depicting the change in the 30-day interbank cash rate implied yield curve from the start of March to the end of April vividly illustrates this shift. The difference is staggering. The resurgence of inflationary pressures threatens to upend optimistic projections.

It challenges the notion that the peak of the current economic cycle has already been reached. Instead, it suggests that the trajectory of interest rates may continue to trend upward, defying earlier forecasts and unsettling financial markets. From and FX perspective this is creating and interesting situation in the policy divergences of other central banks.

The US is facing a similar issue to that of the RBA - market pricing for the Federal Funds rate has gone from a fully pricing in 3 rate cuts with the real possibility of a 4 th in 2024 too just 1 rate cut in 2024 and only 2 cuts in 2025. Both are facing much higher rate situations in 2024. Compare that to the likes of European Central Bank (ECB), Swiss National Bank (SNB), Bank of Canada (BoC), and the Riksbank.

All are signalling potential rate cuts in upcoming meetings. In the case of the ECB it looks like being as early as June. This policy divergence creates significant implications for FX markets.

Bullish bets in the AUD have been coming thick and fast as interest rate differentials has seen crosses moving firmly in the AUD’s favour. EURAUD, AUDCAD, AUDJPY and the likes In the case of the AUDUSD this pair is hard to read as both have similar dynamics. The rule of thumb in a scenario like this is ‘all roads lead to the USD’ and explains why the AUD is lagging in this pair but not elsewhere.

On the USD – the clearest example of the pressure it is putting on the rest of its peers is USDJPY. For the first time since 1990 USDJPY passed Y160. It would appear this is a market test for the Bank of Japan.

Does it defend its falling currency? Does it lose its authority due to it losing control of its control mechanism? The economic fundamentals make this a very interesting question indeed.