US TSYS: Asia Wrap - Futures Move Higher

May-05 03:58

TYM5 has traded higher within a range of 111-06+ to 111-13+ during the Asia-Pacific session. It last changed hands at 111-08, up 0-03 from the previous close.

  • Futures are trading higher as another huge leg lower in USD/Asia driven by the USD/TWD drives price action in Asia. “Some speculation that Taiwanese life insurers hedging strategies for their US bond holdings may be responsible.”(per BBG)
  • No cash market today with a holiday in Japan. 
  • Trump says - “NO PLANS TO TALK TO XI THIS WEEK, CHINA AND US OFFICIALS TALKING ABOUT 'DIFFERENT THINGS'”.(per BBG)
  • Kato : “We are not considering the sale of US Treasuries as a means of Japan-US negotiations,” Kato spoke in Milan, Italy on Sunday, where he is attending the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank.(per BBG)
  • The 10-year Yield range seems to be 4.10% - 4.45%, with the pivot the 4.30% area for now.
  • ISM Services data tonight will be important and will dictate price action tonight. Any move back towards a contraction will get the market worried about growth once more.
  • Data/Events :  US ISM Service PMI

Historical bullets

AUSSIE 10-YEAR TECHS: (M5) Strong S/T Bounce

Apr-04 22:15
  • RES 3: 96.501 - 76.4% of the Mar 14 - Nov 1 ‘23 bear leg
  • RES 2: 96.207 - 61.8% of the Mar 14 - Nov 1 ‘23 bear leg
  • RES 1: 95.915 - High Apr 4 
  • PRICE: 95.860 @ 16:42 GMT Apr 04
  • SUP 1: 95.420/95.300 - Low Feb 13 / Low Jan 14  
  • SUP 2: 95.275 - Low Nov 14  (cont) and a key support
  • SUP 3: 94.640 - 1.0% 10-dma envelope

Aussie 10-yr futures extended a recent strong bounce through to the Friday close, putting prices through the top end of the recent range. The confirmed breach of 95.851, the Dec 11 high on the continuation contract, reinstates a bull cycle and focuses attention on resistance at 96.207, a Fibonacci retracement point. A stronger bearish theme would expose 95.275, the Nov 14 low and a key support. Clearance of this level would strengthen a bearish condition.

USDCAD TECHS: Bearish Structure

Apr-04 20:00
  • RES 4: 1.4452/4543 High Mar 13 / 4 and a bull trigger
  • RES 3: 1.4415 High Apr 1 
  • RES 2: 1.4308 50-day EMA 
  • RES 1: 1.4242 High Apr 4
  • PRICE: 1.4196 @ 17:10 BST Apr 4
  • SUP 1: 1.4028 Low Apr 3
  • SUP 2: 1.3986 Low Dec 2 ‘24  
  • SUP 3: 1.3944 61.8% retracement of Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull run
  • SUP 4: 1.3894 Low Nov 11 ‘24 

USDCAD rallied Friday, but remains lower on the week after Thursday’s downleg. The move down has confirmed a clear reversal of the bull cycle between Sep 25 ‘24 and Feb 3. Price is through a key support at 1.4151, the Feb 14 low. This signals scope for an extension towards 1.3944, a Fibonacci retracement. On the upside, key short-term resistance is seen at 1.4308, the 50-day EMA. 

CANADA DATA: Unexpected Jobs Contraction Boosts Implied April BOC Cut Chances

Apr-04 19:55

Canadian employment unexpectedly contracted in March, falling by the most since January 2022 at -32.6k (+10.0k expected, +1.1k prior) in a sign that the trade war with the US is spilling over increasingly into the "hard" data. The unemployment rate ticked up 0.1pp to 6.7%, in line with expectations and below the November 6.9% high, though unrounded it rose from 6.55% to 6.71% - the largest increase since November.

  • The drop in employment was largely due to a 62.0k drop in full-time positions (after -19.7k, the 2nd straight drop), with part-time up for the 4th consecutive month at 29.5k (after 20.8k prior) - that mix is clearly indicative of hiring uncertainty among firms.
  • The monthly full-time drop was the 2nd largest since the pandemic lows in the labour market (April 2020). Goods producing jobs fell by 12k (2nd consecutive decline), while services shed 21k (wholesale/retail trade and Information, culture and recreation led losses).
  • The participation rate dipped 0.1pp to 65.2%.
  • Wages were soft, dropping 0.2% M/M for the first drop since November, with the Y/Y rate slipping to 3.6% from 3.8% prior. The rise in permanent employees' wages of 3.5% Y/Y was well below the 4.1% expected (4.0% prior).
  • Market-implied probability of an April BOC rate cut rose to as high as 68% after the data before settling the day at around 55%. That compares to 40% prior to Wednesday's US tariffs announcement.
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