Forex Market Overview

Forex Market Overview 25 June 2008

FX markets were unusually calm in the Asian session as markets await the news from the FOMC meeting. EurUsd was stuck in a 10 pip range for most of the session trading from 1.5565 to 1.5577 before breaking to the downside as Europe prepared to open. UsdJpy provided little excitement ranging from 107.67 to 107.94 despite trade data showing that exports jumped a whopping 3.7%. GBP traded between 1.9695 and 1.9712 as it followed the rest of the currencies against the USD. Carry trades eased slightly from their elevated levels with EurJpy falling to 167.64 & AudJpy 102.90.

Stocks ended up lower after a choppy session Tuesday in the wake of consumer confidence data that fell to a 16 month low in June and after UBS’s profit warning. Asian markets are mostly trading down this morning due to a fall in metal prices that weighed heavily on the mining companies. Japanese stocks were lower on the back of default concerns around developer and consumer-finance companies. Oil prices closed higher, but below the day’s peak of near $139, ahead of today’s rate announcement and US petroleum inventory data. The Aug '08 contract is up $0.26 to $137.00. Gold closed with gains, as weakness in the dollar underpinned demand for the precious metal; the most active Aug '08 contract up $4.40 to $891.60 and Sep '08 silver -15.7 ¢ at $16.739/oz.

In New Zealand The Westpac consumer confidence index fell sharply from 96.5 to 81.7 and is just above the extreme lows recorded in the early 90's recession. The RBNZ was looking for more evidence of weakness in the household sector and this clearly helps build a case. We expect the central bank to begin cutting in the fall.

If you haven’t heard already the FOMC will be announcing their rate decisions and releasing an accompanying statement later today. We are inline with market expectation and believe the Fed will hold rates at 2.00%. We expect some slight changes in the accompanying statement specifically regarding inflation and inflation expectations, however we are less hawkish then most. On the growth side, better then expected retail sales, inventories and external trade indicates that GDP will just miss contracting in Q2, while both ISM manufacturing and non-Manu have strengthened in recent months. However, we expect the downside risk to the US economy, which has been highlighted by a string of soft housing, consumer confidence data, and the decline in households’ real incomes and wealth shrinking to influence the Fed decision (we are expecting 1-2 members to vote for a hike). Overall we expect the market to be slightly disappointed by the dovish tone and lack of willingness to pre commit to any rate hike near term. Should our base scenario prove correct we should see some Usd weakness as the 60bp already priced in for 2008 looks over done.

However, it should be noted that recently The ECB has been trying to pour cold water on recent comments that there will be a more aggressive rate increasing policy by saying they have not spoken about a series of rate hikes in the Eurozone. Basically it seems that policy makers at the ECB are concerned that investors have jumped the gun and that the latest data could make it harder to raise rates that previously thought.

In addition to the FOMC, the Norge Bank (Poland Central bank is also releasing and are expect to raise 25bp to 6.00%) will also announce rates and publish its monetary policy report today. Risk is slightly skewed to a hold, but with 40% of economists that were polled looking for a hike of 25bp this will be a close one to call. We are expected a 25bp hike in the next 6 months, however this will not be the meeting. We expect the MPR to show inflation projection being revised upward which keep the NOK supported.

Daily Forex Pivot Point
AUDUSD
R 3: 0.9655
R 2: 0.9648
R 1: 0.9588
CURRENT: 0.9555
S 1: 0.9490
S 2: 0.9449
S 3: 0.9405

EURJPY
R 3: 170.00
R 2: 169.10
R 1: 168.39
CURRENT: 212.36
S 1: 166.78
S 2: 166.00
S 3: 165.53

USDSGD
R 3: 1.3850
R 2: 1.3827
R 1: 1.3730
CURRENT: 1.3681
S 1: 1.3634
S 2: 1.3580
S 3: 1.3554

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