JPY: Asia Wrap - Ueda & Stocks Help USD/JPY Higher
Jun-10 04:28
The Asia-Pac USD/JPY range has been 144.40 - 145.29, Asia is currently trading around 144.95. USD/JPY had a pop higher just after the Japanese Fix as Ueda said Japan’s price trend still has some way to go to reach their 2% target.
- BoJ Governor Ueda has been before parliament, answering questions from lawmakers. The Governor noted limited policy space on the downside, given the current 0.50% policy rate. This is if a fresh stimulus is needed. The real rate is being kept sub 0% to stimulate the economy further, as Ueda states that Japan is still some distance from the 2% inflation objective. Ueda reiterated that they will raise rates if they have confidence in achieving the 2% target.
- "KATO: SEEKING MORE JGB HOLDINGS BY DOMESTIC INVESTORS, WILL MAKE EFFORTS TOWARD APPROPRIATE JGB MANAGEMENT. CRUCIAL TO SEEK JGB HOLDINGS BY DIVERSE GROUPS" - BBG
- Demand seen again today in USD/JPY as risk continues to outperform, large option interest around these levels could see it do some work around here.
- The market still seems very confident of a move lower in USD/JPY but with positioning quite large now we have seen the risk of pullbacks increase.
- With the failure to break below 142.00 last week, price is back in its recent 142.00 - 147.00 range and will need a break either side of that to get a clearer direction. US CPI tomorrow will potentially have a say.
- Options : Close significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: 144.00($708m), 143.30($618m). Upcoming Close Strikes : 143.00($1.28b June 12), 140.00($1.22b June 12), 144.00($1.19b June 13), 145.00($4.37b June 16).
CFTC data shows Asset managers maintained their already extensive JPY longs, and leveraged funds are trying again to build their own longs.
Fig 1 : USD/JPY Spot Daily Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
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Historical bullets
MACRO OUTLOOK: US PPI/Retail Sales And Powell Follow On Thursday [2/2]
May-09 20:17
- Core PCE implications will then be watched closely in Thursday’s PPI report, and we expect with additional focus on portfolio management after last month’s huge upward revision to February.
- Retail sales, whilst only reported in nominal terms, will offer a keenly awaited look at consumer behavior.
- Real spending moderated to 1.8% annualized in Q1 after 4.0% in Q4 despite likely tariff front-running, with April a good test of how much discretionary spending was pulled forward.
- Finally, Powell provides “Opening Remarks” at the Second Thomas Laubach Research Conference, although he’s allotted twenty minutes so there is scope for more substantive remarks than you’d usually expect. His message at Wednesday’s FOMC press conference was one firmly of being in no hurry to cut rates amidst huge uncertainty. He also appeared to put more weight on hard data over soft indicators that appear more stagflationary in nature.
MACRO OUTLOOK: US CPI Offers Look At April Tariff Distortions on Tuesday [1/2]
May-09 20:15
- The week’s US data calendar is highlighted by CPI inflation on Tuesday although PPI inflation and retail sales reports on Thursday are in close second. All three releases are going to be important, offering further hard data for April in the first month under reciprocal tariffs. What’s more, PPI and retail sales are followed by Fed Chair Powell just ten minutes after their release (more on that below).
- Core CPI inflation is seen accelerating to 0.3% M/M in April, with six unrounded estimates we’ve seen to date averaging 0.27% M/M.
- A potential for a ‘low’ 0.3% aside, it’s still likely a swift acceleration from a particularly soft 0.06% M/M in March which was in large part down to surprisingly abrupt declines in lodging away from home (-3.5%) and airfare (-5.3%) prices.
- This lodging weakness carried over to core PCE inflation back in March, at just 0.03% M/M after a particularly strong 0.50% M/M in February in a large wedge with core CPI at 0.23% M/M.
- Markets currently price a next Fed cut with the September FOMC meeting.
USDCAD TECHS: Pressuring Resistance
May-09 20:00
- RES 4: 1.4296 High Apr 7
- RES 3: 1.4111 High Apr 4
- RES 2: 1.4041 50-day EMA
- RES 1: 1.3943 High May 9
- PRICE: 1.3930 @ 16:06 BST May 9
- SUP 1: 1.3751 Low May 6
- SUP 2: 1.3744 76.4% retracement of Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull run
- SUP 3: 1.3696 Low Oct 10 2024
- SUP 4: 1.3643 Low Oct 9 ‘24
USDCAD has recovered from its recent lows. Despite the recovery, the trend condition remains bearish and short-term gains are considered corrective. A fresh cycle low on Tuesday reinforces the bearish theme. Potential is seen for a move towards 1.3744, a Fibonacci retracement. Note that moving average studies are in a bear mode position, highlighting a dominant downtrend. Key resistance is seen at 1.4041, the 50-day EMA.
