FOREX: AUD Crosses - AUD Under Pressure In The Crosses, Holds Up Against the JPY
The market has gapped lower on the Asian open but no real follow through as yet as investors digest the implications of the weekend's bombing. ESU5 -0.45%, NQU5 -0.55%. The AUD short will remain a favorite way to express the markets view that risk is potentially turning lower.
- EUR/AUD - Friday night range 1.7730 - 1.7881, Asia is currently trading around 1.7845. The pair has bounced off its 1.76/77 support area and while this holds the markets focus will be on potentially testing the 1.8000 area again. Should risk remain under pressure and momentum begin to grow, this move higher is likely to extend.
- GBP/AUD - Friday night range 2.0769 - 2.0874, Asia is trading around 2.0845. This pair is back in the middle of its 2.0500-2.1050 range. A break above 2.1050 is needed to see the move higher once more gain momentum.
- AUD/JPY - Friday night range 93.83 - 94.28, Asia is trading around 94.30. Choppy price action as the pair establishes a range between 92.00 - 96.00. A break back below 91.50/92.00 is needed to see the move lower regain momentum and the focus turn back to the year's lows again. The move higher in oil and a market already very long JPY is preventing this pair moving lower in reaction to risk for now.
- AUD/NZD - Friday night range 1.0800 - 1.0828, the cross is dealing in Asia around 1.0815. 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 momentum return.
Fig 1: GBP/AUD spot Hourly Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
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JGB TECHS: (M5) Rallies off Lows
- 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
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.
US FISCAL: Extraordinary Measures Continue To Dissipate Alongside Treasury Cash
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".
