Trading news

USD regains lost ground in G10 but EM rally, Mexico: Q3 GDP

- With a thin calendar today we anticipate further range trading and would adjust to short term mean revering strategies

- We remain constructive on the USD against G10 currencies based on further policy divergence

- ECB October minutes clearly showed that additional monetary policy stimulus will be launched next month (more QE, deposit rate cuts and verbal intervention). Today's speech could help clarify Draghi and the ECB’s stance and have a bearish effect on the EURUSD pair

- Canada: A weaker-than-expected CPI print will revised expectations for BoC easing and pushed CAD lower

- Mexican 3Q GDP is anticipated to increase, although with the Fed on the verge of hiking and crude prices weak we remain bearish on MXN

In the FX markets the USD regained some lost ground against G10 currencies after yesterday's steep decline. The US rate curve rose slightly in the short end as 2 year yields climbed to 0.909% up 5bps. In EM FX, the USD continued to lose ground with solid rallies in KRW, TWR and IDR. The PBoC lowered the USDCNY fix slightly to 6.3780. Overall, trading volumes were subdued after the long and emotionally challenging week. USDJPY bounced around 123.05 to 122.75, while AUDUSD traded between 0.7185 to 0.7210. EURUSD reversed current bullish bounced trading down to 1.0704. With a thin calendar today we anticipate further range trading and would adjust to short term mean revering strategies. Although risk seeking was limited in FX, equity markets continued to see positive developments. Asia regional indices were marginally higher across the board with only Taiwan trading in the red. The Nikkei and Hang Seng rose 0.10%, while the Shanghai composite improved by 0.37%. In the US, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer suggested that financial markets were prepared for a rate hike as the Fed had commutated their strategy correctly. Fischer told the Asia Economic Policy Conference the Fed, “have done everything we can to avoid surprising the markets and governments when we move, to the extent that several emerging market central bankers have, for some time, been telling the Fed to ’just do it.’” He reiterated that no decision has been made on the precise timing of the first rate hike in ten year, yet stated: "in the relatively near future probably some major central banks will begin gradually moving away from near-zero interest rates.” Sound to us like a December hike. We remain constructive on the USD against G10 currencies based on further policy divergence.

Elsewhere, Greece’s parliament has passed reforms in order to unlock €12bn from the €85bn bailout agreement. After a contentious debate, which saw the firing of two deputies from Syriza-led coalition government, the measures were passed by 153 to 137 votes. In New Zealand, credit card spending increased 7.8% y/y in October, compared to a prior 7.3% in September.

On the docket today traders will be listening to Mario Draghi speech in Frankfurt at the European Banking Congress. Yesterday’s, ECB monetary policy October meeting minutes indicated that the Governing Council (GC) was disappointed in the ability of QE to deliver the desired effect. As a result the ECB indicated that the “degree of monetary policy accommodation would need to be re-examined in December.” This view indicates to us that additional monetary policy stimulus will be launched next month (more QE, deposit rate cuts and verbal intervention). Today's speech could help clarity Draghi’s and the ECB's stance. Given the EURUSD recovery we anticipate the speech will have a bearish effect on the pair.

On the data front, Euro area consumer confidence is expected to fall to -8.0 in November from -7.7 in October. Canada, September Headline CPI is expected to come in at 0.1% m/m prior -0.2% and core at 0.2% prior 0.2%. The risk is for a more disappointed read as sluggish oil prices have generated disinflationary pressure. A weaker-than-expected CPI print will revised expectations for BoC easing and pushed CAD lower. Finally, Mexican Q3 GDP is anticipated to increase to 2.4% y/y, up from 2.2% in 2Q, however with the Fed on the verge of hiking and crude prices weak we remain bearish on MXN.

***Yann Quelenn, Market Analyst: “Mexican Q3 GDP will be released today. It is expected to come in at 2.4% year-on-year, up from 2.2% Q2 but down from the first quarter which printed at 2.5%. The Mexican peso has strengthened slightly from the last quarter against the greenback. It is currently trading at an average of 16.50 and in our view the USDMXN will head further north.

The major issue is that Mexico is struggling to find investors to exploit its huge oil reserves. Over the past twenty years, the country has not had the ability to invest in its own infrastructures. Therefore, Mexico has been forced to open up its petroleum business to private and foreign investors. Unfortunately the country has been hit by the lingering oil commodity prices. WTI crude oil broke $40 a barrel on Tuesday night before bouncing back. The downside momentum is clearly important.

In addition, the peso has been constantly dropping against the dollar for four years. December's Fed rate expectations increase demand for dollars, As a result we believe that the peso is set to further lower. However, if December’s fed rate hike does not happen this would provide some relief to the currency. Such respite however, would only be temporary as expectations for March 2016 will grow. It is a never ending story for Mexico, which is not only struggling with its own economy but also with the high expectations that markets expect from the first world economy.”***

Friday, 20 Nov, 2015 / 9:33

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