From Marc to Market:
The US dollar is trading heavily against
most of the major and emerging market currencies. However, the losses are modest, and the greenback remains within recent
ranges. The Antipodean and Scandi bloc currencies are performing best.
The Reserve
Bank of Australia is the first of four central banks from high income countries
that meet this week. It left the cash rate at the record
low 1.5%. It is Governor Stevens last meeting before his deputy Lowe
takes the helm. Lowe inherits and economy that is still adjusting to the
commodity shock and slowing of China. However,
he is not inheriting a pre-commitment on policy. Next month's Q3
inflation report is seen as an important
for monetary policy in Q4. The central bank does not appear to be in a
hurry to cut rates again this year, but could be forced by circumstances and
data.
The Australian
dollar is the strongest of the majors, gaining 0.75% against the US dollar. It has approached a technical target
near $0.7655. Recall its recent peak was near $0.7750 on August 10 before
sliding to $0.7490 at the end of August. With today's advance, it has retraced 61.8% of the down
draft. The next target is $0.7700. Support is seen in the $0.7600-$0.7620 area.
Although the
BOJ meets later in a couple of weeks, it remains in focus. The balance of speculation has
shifted in recent days to the possibility the BOJ shifts the composition of its bond purchases to facilitate a
steepening of the yield curve. This would
ostensibly involve purchasing less
long-dated JGBs. In anticipation, the yield curve (2 yr-30 yr/40yr) has
steepened recently. On Thursday, the MOF will meet with investors to
assess the demand for 40-year bonds. It is
thought the MOF may increase its sales by around JPY400 bln to JPY2
trillion. Between the MOF and BOJ, there appears to be an willingness to
accept higher long-term yields.
The dollar's
momentum against the yen that had propelled the greenback above JPY104 last
week has eased. It remains within yesterday's range,
which was within last Friday's. Support is
seen in the JPY102.60-JPY102.80 band.
The UK's BRC
snapped the better-than-expected data streak with a 0.9% decline in same-store sales in August. This offsets the 1.1% gain in July. Economists
had shrugged off their Brexit blues and anticipated a 1.4% gain. Sterling eased on the news but remained higher on the day. It
is finding demand around $1.3320. On the topside, $1.35 is key. The
short-term technicals suggest the market has not given up on it. A break
of $1.3250 would suggest this attempt has failed.
The eurozone provided details of its Q2 GDP, which was left unchanged from the initial of 0.3%. Exports contributed 0.5% percentage points, while
household and government spending rose 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. The
euro was uninspired and has been confined
to a little more than a quarter of a cent through the Asian session and
European morning. Resistance is
seen in the $1.1180-$1.1200 area. The euro appears to be carving a
shelf in front of $1.1100. In four of the past five sessions, it has approached but not broken
below the 200-day moving average, which is found just above $1.1130 today....MORE
