FX: "Dollar Bounce in Asia is Sold in the European Morning"

US Dollar Index 100.29 +0.03

FinViz

From Marc to Market:

The US dollar is firmer against most of the major currencies in fairly quiet Asian turnover, but is seeing those gains pared in early Europe. The highlights include the RBNZ meeting that left rates on hold, as widely expected. The concern about the strength of the Kiwi saw the market reduce the perceived likelihood of a rate hike. NZD came off. 

Japan reported stronger core machine orders (6.7%, more than twice the median). German trade surplus was smaller than expected at 18.7 bln euros rather than 20.5 and 22.7 previously. Exports were off 3.3% in December and follows the disappoint drop in December industrial output reported earlier this week (-3.0% rather than +0.3% as the median would have had it).

Large option expiries today: Euro: $1.06 (570 mln euros), $1.0650 (510 mln euros), $1.07 (929 mln euros): Tomorrow: $1.06 (1.2 bln euros). JPY: 111.15 ($450 mln), 112.35 ($330 mln), 113.00 ($626 mln), 113.50 ($800 mln): Tomorrow: 111.00 ($1.2 bln) 112 ($1.7 bln).

The MSCI Asia Pacific shares are off about 0.3%. The Nikkei traded heavily (-0.5%) the auto sector was under pressure, ahead of Abe's meeting with Trump tomorrow. A good part of the US trade deficit can be traced to autos and auto parts. Japanese companies are thought to be vulnerable to the new America First thrust, even though Japan produce in the US most of the cars it sells to the US. Still, it looks like Japan has surpassed Germany to move in second place of with the largest trade surplus with the US after China. Separately, in the region, we note that China's shares that trade in Hong Kong were the strongest with the 1.2% rise. It is a 14-month high.

Core bond yields are firmer, including US 10-year yields. Of note, despite the continued political focus, the premiums over Germany are mostly narrowing again. The French premium is smaller for the third consecutive session, for example. The Italian premium pushed through 200 bp at the start of the week, but is now back near 190 bp.

US highlights are not very high: weekly initial jobless claims and wholesale sales and inventories, not the stuff that moves the market. Two Fed officials speak: Bullard and Evans. Bullard adopted a new framework last year and his views were a bit of an outlier. Evans has been a dove but most recently he suggested he see scope for two and possibly three hikes this year.

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