AUD: A$ Regains Poise On Equity Bounce
AUD/USD ended last week on a better note. We pushed close to 0.6960 post the Asia close on Friday, before edging back down to 0.6945. We track close to this level in early trade today.
- Better equity market sentiment was the main driver of the A$ rebound. US equities surged (+3%), while the VIX index dipped to the low 27% region.
- Equity sentiment was aided by lower consumer inflation expectations in the US.
- US yields were still higher though, the 2yr up nearly 5bps to 3.06%. Recall last week the AU-US yield differential fell sharply, ended last week at -32bp for the 2yr tenor.
- We could see some stabilization today, although RBA Governor Lowe reiterated the central bank's stance late on Friday that 25 or 50bps hikes were likely.
- He also spoke of the resilience of the economy and is not expecting a recession, but recognized the path to lower inflation is a narrow one.
- Commodities edged slightly higher on Friday according to the Bloomberg commodity index (+0.33%). Base metals were still down though (-2.6%). Iron ore was firmer, back up to a $117/tonne handle.
- The data calendar is quiet today.
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US TSYS: Late Risk Appetite Gathers Momentum
Midweek risk-on tone gathered momentum into Fri's close: Tsys steady/mixed with long end firmer but near second half lows while stocks continued to extend rally.
- SPX eminis were up near 5% for the week as risk appetite improved following Wed's May FOMC minutes release that showed a flexible Fed and no discussion of larger rate hikes ESM2 +105.25 (2.47%) at 4161.0.
- Bonds receded off early session highs post data, Apr core PCE at 4.9% YoY but headline of 6.3% YoY slightly higher than expected and fastest of last three months.
- Aside from PCE, Apr Advance Goods Trade Balance shows deficit of $105.9B vs. $114.9B expected; Wholesale Inventories +2.1% MoM vs. +2.0% exp.
- General quiet ahead Monday, May 30 Memorial Day national holiday. Cash FI markets closed while Globex opens at normal time Sunday evening at 1800ET through Monday at 1300ET. Globex reopens at 1800ET Monday evening.
- Tuesday focus: FHFA House Price Index MoM (2.1%, 2.0%); QoQ (3.3%, --); MNI Chicago PMI (56.4, 54.8); Conf. Board Consumer Confidence (107.3, 103.5); May-31 1030 Dallas Fed Manf. Activity (1.1, 1.5)
USDCAD TECHS: Fresh Bear Cycle Low
- RES 4: 1.3091 High Nov 24 2020
- RES 3: 1.3077 High May 16 and the bull trigger
- RES 2: 1.2982 High May 16
- RES 1: 1.2896 High May 18
- PRICE: 1.2742 @ 15:47 BST May 27
- SUP 1: 1.2728 Low May 27
- SUP 2: 1.2714 Low May 5 and a key support
- SUP 3: 1.2568 Low Apr 22
- SUP 4: 1.2459 Low Apr 21
USDCAD traded lower Friday and has breached support at 1.2765, May 24 low. This also means that the pair is below its 50-day EMA. An extension lower would open the next key short-term support at 1.2714, May 5 low. The latest bear leg is still considered corrective and the broader trend outlook is bullish. Initial resistance is at 1.2896, May 18 high. A break would signal a potential bullish reversal.
GLOBAL: Fiscal Tightening And Yield Curves
An excerpt from this month's MNI's Macro Deep Dive focusing on structural drivers from fiscal policy (full note here: https://marketnews.com/mni-macro-deep-dive-may-2022).
- Fiscal policy is clearly just a single factor behind yield curves yet the countries that have the flattest curves also happen to be those expected to see the largest cumulative tightening over 2022 and 2023.
- Tightening here is the annual change in the cyclically adjusted primary balance taken from the IMF's Fiscal Monitor published Apr-2022.
- Of the G10, the UK and Australia could be more prone to further flattening.
- That’s not to say the impact of tighter fiscal policy can’t be felt further on growth expectations though, with only the Czech curve already inverted and with scope for others to follow suit if recession fears do mount.
