NZD: Asia Wrap - NZD/USD Fails Above 0.6000 As The USD Bounce Builds Momentum

Jun-23 04:25

The NZD/USD had a range of 0.5918 - 0.5966 in the Asia-Pac session, going into the London open trading around 0.5925,-0.70%. The NZD has remained under pressure after gapping lower on the Asian open. The market is digesting the implications of a longer and more sustained US involvement in the conflict and how Iran might react to this, potentially blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

  • (Bloomberg) - “New Zealand’s dollar is particularly vulnerable in the event of a haven rally in the US currency should the conflict between Iran and Israel pose constraints on oil supply, according to Bank of America Corp.”
  • “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.”
  • The NZD could not get back above 0.6000 on Friday and this morning has seen another wave of selling as the market digests the weekend's news and the implications of what further US involvement might imply.
  • Technically while the support around 0.5850 holds in NZD/USD it is still in an uptrend but should risk start to come under more significant pressure the market is likely to test this.
  • Options : Closest significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: 0.5830(NZD300m June 23). 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 1.0797 - 1.0828, currently trading 1.0810. 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 higher the more likely it begins to drift lower again, a break sub 1.0750 will see downward momentum return.

Fig 1: NZD/USD Spot Daily Chart

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

Historical bullets

JGB TECHS: (M5) Rallies off Lows

May-23 22:45
  • 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

May-23 20:54

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.
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US FISCAL: Extraordinary Measures Continue To Dissipate Alongside Treasury Cash

May-23 20:35

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".
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