AUD: Asia Wrap - AUD/USD Extends Gains, Eyes 0.6550
The AUD/USD has had a range of 0.6454 - 0.6497 in the Asia- Pac session, it is currently trading around 0.6490. The AUD has remained better bid throughout the Asian session, +0.45%. The market is shrugging off headlines of explosions and missiles still heading in either direction and focusing wholly on the ceasefire announced by President Trump. The market was very quick to re-sell USD’s across the board and now the AUD is back within striking distance of 0.6550 again.
- "TRUMP SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH NETANYAHU ON CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT, TRUMP THANKS QATAR EMIR FOR HELPING BROKER ISRAEL-IRAN TRUCE"
- “Oil extended declines and US futures gained after Donald Trump said that Israel and Iran had agreed to a tentative ceasefire. Iran’s foreign minister said no agreement has been made but that it would halt fighting if Israel stops.”(BBG)
- From looking vulnerable and on the verge of a collapse, down around 1.2% at one point then ending positive on the day is quite the feat.
- The AUD/USD bounced hard off its support and is now back to potentially testing the top end of its range.
- Price remains in the wider 0.6350 - 0.6550 range for now. After failing to break lower and risk looking like it can extend higher can the AUD have another go trying to break above the 0.6550 area ?
- Options : Closest significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: none. Upcoming Close Strikes : 0.6500(AUD1.41b June 26), 0.6450(AUD553m June 26).
- CFTC Data shows Asset managers maintaining their shorts, the Leveraged community though again added to their shorts.
- AUD/JPY - Today's range 94.26 - 94.56, it is trading currently around 94.35. Choppy price action as the pair establishes a range between 92.00 - 96.00. Should risk build on this move, focus could turn back to the 96.00 area.
Fig 1: AUD/USD spot Daily Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
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JGB TECHS: (M5) Rallies off Lows
- RES 3: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)
- RES 2: 146.53 - High Aug 6
- RES 1: 141.48/142.95 - High May 2 / High Apr 7
- PRICE: 139.40 @ 15:42 GMT May 23
- SUP 1: 138.54 - Low May 22
- SUP 2: 136.57 - 1.382 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
- SUP 3: 134.89 - 2.000 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
JGBs have rallied off recent lows and for now, however a bearish theme remains intact following the reversal that started Apr 7. A continuation lower would signal scope for an extension towards 136.57, a Fibonacci projection. On the upside, a reversal higher would instead refocus attention on 142.95, the Apr 7 high. The first important resistance to watch is 141.48, the May 2 high. A break of this level would be viewed as an early bullish signal.
US FISCAL: Total Tariff Income Jumping In May As New Rates Hit
Treasury reported a record $16.5B in customs/excise taxes on May 22, reflecting the large increase in tariff rates that went into effect in April.
- Today's report is important because it represents the largest tariff collections of the month which are typically on a due date around the 22nd, when most corporate importers make their payments.
- Thursday's one-day collection is a record, and the month has already set a new record. Tariff revenues have totaled $22.3B so far in May, and are came in at $17.4B in April (after averaging $8.1B/month in 2024).
- For the fiscal year as a whole so far, customs duties have totaled just under $93B, per the Treasury Daily Statement.
US FISCAL: Extraordinary Measures Continue To Dissipate Alongside Treasury Cash
Treasury's latest estimate of the size of "extraordinary measures" available to use "in order to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations as Congress deliberate[s] on increasing the debt limit" is down to $67B on May 21 (of an available $299B), vs $82B a week earlier.
- The amount hit the 2nd lowest level since the debt limit impasse started, at $46B, on May 20 (the low was $34B on Feb 24).
- With $476B in cash in the Treasury General Account on May 21, that left the total resources available to Treasury at $543B, the least since April 14 - the day before the annual April 15 tax deadline.
- Treasury Sec Bessent warned Congress earlier this month that "there is a reasonable probability that the federal government's cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess. Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July".
