NZD: Asia Wrap - NZD/USD Extends Move Higher, Eyes 0.6100

The NZD/USD had a range of 0.5963 - 0.6014 in the Asia-Pac session, going into the London open trading around 0.6005. The NZD has remained well supported all through the Asian session, +0.50%. With the USD back under pressure the NZD very quickly finds itself back on a 0.6000 handle, looking to build momentum for a test of the 0.6100 area.

• "NZ TREASURY: MAINTAINING ECONOMY MOMENTUM MAY BE CHALLENGING" - BBG
• “Among Group-of-10 commodity currencies, the Kiwi “is the only energy importer and most vulnerable if Middle East oil supply is impacted more severely,” wrote Bank of America.”
• A huge bounce from sub 0.5900 and we are again breaking back above the 0.6000 area this morning.
• Technically while the support around 0.5850 holds in NZD/USD it is still in an uptrend, this held perfectly overnight and should risk build on from this then focus will turn once gain back to 0.6050/0.6100.
• Options : Closest significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: none. Upcoming Close Strikes : 0.5690(NZD621m June 25)
• CFTC Data showed Asset managers paring back their shorts slightly once more over the week, the leverage community did likewise.
• AUD/NZD range for the session has been 1.0798 - 1.0817, currently trading 1.0805. The cross is struggling to get any momentum back above 1.0800 for now, it needs to hold above here and start extending higher to put a higher low in place. The longer it fails to extend the higher the chances it begins to drift lower again, a break sub 1.0750 will see downward momentum return.

Fig 1: NZD/USD Spot Daily Chart

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

The Asia-Pac USD/JPY range has been 145.30 - 146.15, Asia is currently trading around 145.45, -0.50%. USD/JPY continues to extend lower in Asia as it follows the capitulation in oil longs, which have reacted to the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East. The market is very quick to re-instate its USD shorts.

• (Bloomberg) -- The Bank of Japan shrank its balance sheet by 2.3% to 716.1 trillion yen in the past 10 days.
• Mixed Demand Metrics For 20Y Auction: Overall though today's result is likely to be seen as better than the performance observed in the 30-year JGB auction earlier this month.
• "AKAZAWA: STILL WORKING ON TIMING FOR NEXT ROUND OF TRADE TALKS" - BBG
• There would have been some paring back of JPY longs on the break above 147.00 overnight but the reversal from above 148.00 shows how quickly the market is to reinstate these positions.
• An ugly daily shadow points to a potential top being in place now, first support back towards 144.50/145.00.
• Price now back in a wider 142.00 - 148.00 range, I am not sure that the brief spike higher would have seen positioning altered too much and the long JPY trade is still alive and well.
• Options : Close significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: 145.00($582m).Upcoming Close Strikes : 144.50($1.34b June 25), 143.00($1.41b June 26)
• CFTC data shows Asset managers maintained their already extensive JPY longs, while leveraged funds have pared back their own longs that had just begun to be rebuilt.

Fig 1 : USD/JPY Spot Daily Chart

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

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