Date : 22nd January 2016.
CURRENCY MOVERS OF 22nd January 2016.
MACRO EVENTS AND NEWS
FX News Today
Euro weakness and commodity currency strength has been the central theme in forex markets in the wake of the ECB’s dovish guidance yesterday. The biggest mover has been the Russian rouble, which is up 3% against the dollar, and by more than this versus the euro as a 4%-plus rebound in oil prices sparked a rebound from record lows. EURAUD, EURNZD and EURCAD are also down notably today. AUDUSD climbed back above 0.7000 for the first time in eight days. EURUSD has remained above yesterday’s post-ECB low at 1.0777, but has remained heavy, giving back most of the rebound gains to 1.0900 in unraveling to the low 1.08s. The yen has mostly traded lower, except in the case against the euro, as its safe haven premium unwound. Japanese stock markets led Asian markets higher, closing 5.88% for the better — its second biggest one-day gain in the last five years, according to Bloomberg.
Draghi gave markets what they wanted, a clear hint that the ECB may extend easing measures further in March when the QE program will be reviewed again and Draghi highlighted that this move towards an easing bias, was adopted unanimously, which means it is also backed by Bundesbank President Weidmann. Draghi said in the introductory statement that the downside risks that emerged since the start of the year mean that there is the “need to review and possibly reconsider” the policy stance in March, when the next set of forecasts are available. In the Q&A session he was keen to highlight this part of the statement, which confirms that Draghi’s message to markets is that the ECB can and will do more if necessary. The question is what the ECB can still do – and Draghi didn’t go into detail when quizzed about that, just reiterated again that the ECB is willing to use all “instruments available”. So we could see a further QE extension and in particular an extension to other papers, as the pool of eligible assets is limited under the current structure of QE.
BoC Outlook: Rate cut bets that were unfulfilled have been moved ahead to March and April, according to Bloomberg, which cities futures pricing in roughly 50% odds for a cut by April. The globeandmail.com spotlights the contrast between the Bank’s optimism and the increasingly weaker domestic growth outlook. To review, the BoC’s lack of cut day before yesterday was accompanied by a still constructive growth outlook. Granted, 2016 GDP was slashed to 1.4% from 2.0%, but the return to full capacity growth was only delayed to the end of 2017 from 2017. We see a 1.3% growth rate in 2016, but downside risks abound.
Main Macro Events Today
EMU PMI:We are looking for broadly stable PMI readings in January, with the Eurozone manufacturing reading seen steady at 53.2 (med same) and the services reading to 54.1 (med 54.2). Even German ZEW investor confidence, which naturally is much more sensitive for market moves, came in somewhat better than expected and French national business sentiment yesterday also showed a slight improvement. With Draghi sending the ECB on course for further moves in March, even a better than expected PMI reading may have limited impact, although it would underpin the recovery in stock markets.
Canada CPI Preview: We expect CPI to expand at a 1.8% y/y pace in December (median +1.7%), accelerating from the 1.4% rate in November. CPI is seen falling 0.3% month comparable basis in December after slipping 0.1% in November. Gas prices fell 5.0% in December compared to November, which is expected to weigh on month comparable CPI. The BoC’s core CPI index is seen falling 0.2% m/m in December after the 0.3% drop in November.
US Existing Home Sales Preview: December existing home sales data is out Friday and should reveal a 11.3% headline increase to a 5.300 mln (median 5.120 mln) pace following the 10.5% drop to 4.760 mln in November.
NZDUSD UPDATE, IS GLOBAL RISK APPETITE DRIVING KIWI?
NZDUSD, Daily
The latest global market theme driving markets is the “risk on – risk off” play. Although I do not like the term “risk on–risk off”, one will find it hard to disagree with the current market “theme”. The recent “risk on–risk off theme” has so far played out well for traders who are playing NZDUSD. As risk appetite swings day-to-day from “on/off”, those NZDUSD traders who are plugged into the current theme are swinging with the NZDUSD from going short (risk on day’s) to going long (risk off day’s) depending on which risk appetite mode the market is in.
My strategy for the NZDUSD, since a double top is spotted from the October and December highs, and that for the short term I believe that the “risk on theme” will prevail before markets start to normalize, leads me with the view to Short the NZDUSD if prices stay below 0.6600 for a target at 0.6260.
EURAUD UPDATE,
EURAUD, Daily
Given Mario Draghi’s dovish remarks during yesterday’s press conference about a review of monetary policy, weakness in the EUR has prevailed against higher yielding currencies. The AUD , as a higher yielding currency, should do well against the EUR over the long term. However, there is a risk that the EUR could bounce back in the short term if the current global risk sentiment spikes higher again.
Current price remains within the upward sloping channel line , so I will look for prices to return towards the lower end of the channel before entering any new long positions.
My strategy for the EURAUD pair in the short term is to play the short position for a 1.5180 target ( Target 1) , as trade 1 , ahead of potential support from buyers for a re-entry , trade 2, as a buy order around 1.5090 for a 1.5610 (Target 2).
Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report.
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Janne Muta
Chief Market Analyst
&
John Knobel
Senior Currency Strategist
HotForex
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