NEW ZEALAND: Food Prices Up 5%y/y In July, Fuel, Travel & Accommodation Up M/M
For July, New Zealand food prices rose 0.7%m/m, after June's +1.2% gain. Food prices are now up 5.0% y/y. Stats NZ noted: "Higher prices for the grocery food group, up 5.1 percent, contributed the most to the annual increase in food prices. The price increase for the grocery food group was due to higher prices for milk, butter, and cheese."
- Other monthly inflation components were up in July. Rents rose 0.1%, while electricity and gas also posted rises. Petrol and diesel prices also firmed (+1.2% and 2.3%m/m respectively). Air travel was also up firmly, along with accommodation services (+3.0%m/m).
- In y/y terms, trends were mixed, electricity and gas prices up over 10%, while fuel remained negative. Accommodation services are now +13.9%y/y.
- The utility strength in y/y terms fits with the RBNZ view around stronger headline inflation pressures in the near term.
- The strength in food and accommodation prices are likely to be watch points in terms of spill over risks to other parts of the economy.
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COMMODITIES: Oil and Gold Post Modest Falls
- Initial headlines yesterday created concerns that if the US amplifies pressure on Russia, its supply of oil could be interrupted.
- Details of the US plans to pressure Russia into a ceasefire emerged to show that infrastructure was not expected to be targeted. This has been taken that oil supplies will likely not be impacted. The threats however throw a spotlight on India and China who remain as the biggest buyers of Russian oil.
- This saw the market re-focus on the upcoming OPEC+ led increase in supply and saw oil post modest declines overnight.
- WTI finished the US session down -0.69% at US$66.52 bbl.
- Brent finished the US session down -0.72% at US$68.71 bbl.
- The US may depart the International Energy Agency without changes to forecasting that Republicans have criticized as unrealistically green, according to President Donald Trump's energy chief.
- Guyana’s oil exports are set to hit a fresh record in September of 900,000 bbl / day as the country starts selling a new crude grade, adding barrels into a global market where OPEC+ is seeking to recover market share.
- Gold finished the US trading session down marginally after earlier gains were erased into the close.
- Gold finished at US$3,324.55, a fall of -0.57% as a tame inflation report added further to the view that rates are not close to being cut.
- Gold's two key drivers at present remain geo-political risk (trade tensions) and US inflation expectations, both of which appeared to soften overnight.
JPY: USD/JPY - Surges Higher With US Yields Breaking Above 148.00
The overnight range was 147.58 - 149.02, Asia is currently trading around 148.90. USD/JPY surged higher with US yields in response to the US CPI showing clear signs that tariffs are beginning to impact the core goods data. The USD/JPY relentless march higher has been pretty telling, challenging a market positioned the wrong way. This time USD/JPY has not given the JPY longs any respite and the powerful move back above 148.00 does not bode well. Dips should now be well supported in the short-term, will Asset Managers start paring back their extensive JPY longs now ? The first decent buy zone is now back towards the 147.00 area.
- (Bloomberg)- Short-dated options bets turned net bearish on the yen to the dollar on Tuesday for the first time since September of 2022 as the Japanese currency hit its lowest spot level since the aftermath of Liberation Day. The moves indicate the downdraft in the Japanese yen is set to extend.
- “Japan’s bond market is facing a potential Liz Truss moment as the risk of a ruling coalition defeat in Sunday’s election fuels concerns over fiscal policy. Yields on bonds with maturities of 20 years and beyond have risen at least 20 bps this month, part of a wave of selling in global bond markets as investors increasingly worry about government finances.” - BBG
- USD/JPY is now breaking above the highs of this year's range and implies the move could have more to play out. The Market is long JPY and should the USD continue to correct higher the risk is a move back above 150.00 to further challenge the conviction of the shorts.
- Options : Close significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: 149.00($910m).Upcoming Close Strikes : 145.50($1.29b July 21).
- CFTC data shows Asset managers reduced their JPY longs slightly +89331, while leveraged funds have almost squared their newly built JPY longs +5224.
- Data/Event :
Fig 1 : USD/JPY Spot Daily Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
JGB TECHS: (U5) Returns Toward 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: 137.95 @ 16:14 GMT Jul 15
- SUP 1: 137.84 - Low Jul 14
- 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 hold above recent lows, however a bearish theme remains intact following the reversal posted off the mid-June highs. A continuation lower would signal scope for an extension towards 136.57, a Fibonacci projection. On the upside, 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.
