NZD: Asia Wrap - NZD/USD Drifts Lower After Rejecting 0.5900

The AUD/USD has had a range of 0.6462 - 0.6484 in the Asia- Pac session, it is currently trading around 0.6483, +0.14%.  US Yields collapsed in response to the NFP data which sparked a kneejerk response lower in the USD. This was also a very bad day for US stocks which finally look to be pulling back from elevated levels. The question for the AUD going forward is does the USD see sellers quickly return in response to the move in rates, or can the USD rise from the ashes and return as a safe haven. The AUD bounced nicely off the 0.6400 area but I suspect sellers again back towards 0.6500/50 initially as risk wobbles and the market wrestles about what to do with the USD.

• AUSTRALIAN DATA: MI Underlying Inflation Gauge Rises Signalling Possible Trough. The Melbourne Institute headline inflation gauge for July showed a material increase to 2.9% y/y from 2.4% in June as it rose 0.9% m/m. Its trimmed mean measure rose 0.8% m/m to be up 1.9% y/y from 1.2%, the highest since January. This can lead the monthly CPI trimmed mean by up to 6 months and thus could be signalling that it troughed in June around the bottom of the RBA’s 2-3% target band and may rise in coming months. The headline inflation gauge has less signal to it. Currently the RBA remains focussed on quarterly CPI data but a more complete monthly series will be released in November.
• Options : Closest significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: 0.6465(AUD727m), 0.6450(AUD402m). Upcoming Close Strikes : 0.6600(AUD1.97b Aug 7), 0.6800(AUD1.72b Aug 7) - BBG
• CFTC Data shows Asset managers reduced their shorts slightly -49183(Last -53959), the Leveraged community added to their own shorts -13997(Last -12010).
• AUD/JPY - Asia-Pac range 95.13 - 95.82, Asia is trading around 95.70.  The pair failed on multiple attempts above 97.00 and has moved swiftly back to test its first support around the 95.50 area. With risk having a huge reversal lower last week the headwinds for JPY crosses are growing and should risk remain under pressure I suspect bounces will initially be met with supply.

Fig 1: AUD CFTC Data

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P

The TYU5 range has been 112 to 112-12 during the Asia-Pacific session. It last changed hands at 112-03+, down 0-03 from the previous close. 

• The US 2-year yield has bounced off Friday’s lows trading around 3.696%, up 0.01 from its close.
• The US 10-year yield has also bounced off Friday’s lows trading around 4.241%, up 0.03 from its close.
• (Bloomberg) -- “A block of 2,300 contracts in 10-year bond September futures traded at a price of 114-03 on CBOT. A total of 53,897 contracts traded so far in this session.” There were also multiple block trades executed in both the five-year and two-year contracts.
• The 10-year yield had a powerful move lower in reaction to the NFP data, breaking below its 4.30% pivot within the wider range 4.10% - 4.65%. This now turns momentum lower in yields and you could expect buyers of treasuries on bounces back towards 4.30/35% now looking to initially test the 4.10% area. The move was even more aggressive in the 2-year which has rejected the move back towards 4% and now looks to target the pivotal 3.50% area.
• Wei Li(CIS BlackRock) on LinkedIn: “I don’t envy Powell, the Fed challenge is real:
• Slower growth - we had expected tariffs to slow US growth to about HALF its potential, and now it looks like the economy is already there. 3-month average payroll gains of just 35k is below our breakeven estimate of 60-80k, that accounts for demographics and softening immigration flows. Tariffs and trade are distorting other data such as gdp, but it is less the case with labour data/nfp.”
• “Persistent inflation pressure - average hourly earnings rose on the month, puzzlingly strong given weak job creation, although partly attributable to slower immigration crimping labour supply. Furthermore, tariffs are starting to feed through and could further push up goods prices.”
• CrossBorder Capital on X: “US Treasuries looking pretty stable despite the noise!? Term premia decoupling favorably from RoW. Zero evidence of loss of safe haven quality.”
• Data/Events: Factory Orders, Durable Goods

Fig 1: 10-Year US Yield 120min Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P

• China's bond futures joined in on the global rally following the US moves on Friday night.  
• The 10-year future is up +0.13 to 108.58, touching the 20-day EMA.

• China's 2-year bond future is up +0.03 at 102.37 and sits just below the 20-day EMA of 102.38.  
• The CGB10yr is -1bp at 1.68%.