The Forex Market Overview

The Forex Market Overview 15 July 2008

The Usd was broadly weaker in Asian sessions causing traders to brace themselves for a data heavy day as risk aversion moved back into the market. EurUsd after a short retreat, trended upwards from 1.5882 to 1.5954 while AudUsd broke easily thru 0.9737 intraday resistance heading to 0.9772 new highs. UsdJpy slipped to 105.70 as concerns over credit market losses damped risk appetite. As expected, Jpy funded carry trades were also sold off. Worries in credit markets are currently weighing on equity markets with Shanghai’s down 3.43% and DAX falling 1.77% at the open (US futures are lower across the board). Precious metals continue to surge forward with gold trading to 973.78 and silver 19.13. And given the current state of uncertainty VIX has climbed to 28.48 and 1month implied Vols have followed.

In a unanimous vote the BoJ held rates at 0.50% as expected. In addition, their half year update revised growth downwards while raising the CPI forecast. Perhaps the key take away, was the unique wording surrounding inflation which stated "in the case that downside risk to the economy eases, risks to higher fluctuations in the economy and prices may be intensified due to prolonged easy monetary conditions". This hints that the BoJ is concerned that its loose monetary policy might actually be aiding to inflation and that they therefore, are willing to tighten should CPI move above their comfort zone. We expect that this comment will only benefit Jpy in the short term as markets are still trading on yield differentials and risk appetite.

In New Zealand inflation moves higher than expected, with food and energy by far the largest contributors. Headline inflation printed strong at q/q 1.6% vs. 1.4% exp, y/y 4.0% vs. 3.8% exp. Given these elevated figures it would be difficult for the RBNZ to rationalize a rate cut in July and even puts Sept cuts in jeopardy.

In Australia the RBA minutes released today were mildly dovish. The Key takeaway for the minutes were "weighing up the various factors, the Board judged that the current stance of monetary policy remained appropriate". The RBA recognized that the economy was clearly weakening stating "Consumer spending had slowed significantly and there had been a marked decline in the growth of credit to both households and businesses. Surveys indicated that confidence had fallen further over the past month and asset prices were weakening".

In the UK markets, we will be watching CPI data which is likely to rise from 3.3% to 3.6% y/y and give the Gbp some support. In addition with signs of acceleration in June PPI the BoE will be gauging second round effects into core. In our view with inflation far from peaking, the MPC should be on hold for the next few months at least.

On the continent, German ZEW will have trades attention. We are expecting another decline to -56.0 from -52.6…getting precariously close to all time recession lows of -62.0. While this index is not very accurate in regards to predicating GDP we don’t expect the market to look kindly on the gloomy data.
14.00gmt - Fed’s Bernanke Testifies to Senate on Economy

Daily Forex Pivot Points
AUDUSD
R 3: 0.9923
R 2: 0.9792
R 1: 0.9758
CURRENT: 0.9788
S 1: 0.9664
S 2: 0.9597
S 3: 0.9546

EURJPY
R 3: 171.88
R 2: 170.00
R 1: 169.67
CURRENT: 168.52
S 1: 167.83
S 2: 167.13
S 3: 166.09

USDSGD
R 3: 1.3850
R 2: 1.3827
R 1: 1.3729
CURRENT: 1.3480
S 1: 1.3476
S 2: 1.3470
S 3: 1.3400

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