FOREX: GBPUSD Consolidating Above 1.2550 Resistance

Feb-14 13:11
  • In similar vein to the higher beta currencies in G10, sterling continues to trade with a resilient bid tone. This has allowed GBPUSD to comfortably consolidate its position back above 1.2550 resistance, with the further gradual appreciation on Friday strengthening a short-term bullish condition. Gains on the week now total 1.45%.
  • The pair has traded through the 50-day EMA, and breached resistance at 1.2550, the Feb 5 high. This signals scope for a climb towards 1.2610, a Fibonacci retracement. Above here, 1.2667 will garner the market's attention, the Dec 19 high.
  • Additionally, the strong bounce for GBPJPY appears to be negating the prior developing bearish sentiment for the cross. We have risen firmly back above the pivotal 190.00 mark to 192.30 at typing, which alongside a number of yen crosses, has allowed a recent oversold condition to unwind, and bolsters the broader short-term GBP optimism.
  • UK labour market, CPI and flash PMIs data will headline the economic data schedule across Tuesday and Wednesday next week, key for gauging the policy rate trajectory for the BOE.

Historical bullets

GILT PAOF RESULTS: GBP1.00bln of the 4.25% Jul-34 Gilt sold.

Jan-15 13:09
  • GBP1.00bln had ben available.
  • This means GBP35.637bln of the gilt remain in issue.

US TSY OPTIONS: Early SOFR/Treasury Option Roundup: Call Buying Ahead CPI

Jan-15 13:08

Active overnight trade with SOFR & Treasury call options seeing varied trade ahead of this morning's CPI inflation data (TY midcurve call buying 2 day option in decent size, appr 4.55% yld). Underlying futures gaining, TYH5 near recent highs at 107-17.5 (+6). Curves mixed, however (2s10s -1.60 at 40.539, 5s30s +1.335 at 38.909) with short end lagging support. Projected rate cuts through mid-2025 near steady, current vs. late Tuesday levels* as follows: Jan'25 steady at -0.7bp, Mar'25 at -4.9bp (-5.1bp), May'25 -10.3bp (-10.2bp), Jun'25 -17.7bp (-17.9bp), Jul'25 at -21.7bp (-21.2bp).

  • SOFR Options:
    • over 13,000 SFRJ5 96.25/96.50 call spds 
    • over 7,100 SFRJ5 96.00 calls 
    • 3,600 SFRJ5 95.81/95.93/96.06 call flys ref 95.85
    • 1,650 SFRM5 95.93/96.12 call spds vs. 95.56/95.68 put spds ref 95.845
    • 3,500 0QU5/3QU5 95.25 put spds, 2.5 cr flattener (3QU sold over)
    • 1,200 SFRZ5 99/100/101 call flys ref 95.91
  • Treasury Options: (Note, Tuesday's huge TYH5 108.5 call buying saw total volume of 133,834, prelim open interest +98,051 to 129,368 this morning).
    • over 31,000 wk3 TY 108.25 calls, 5 vs. 107-16.5/0.17% (expire Friday)
    • 4,000 TYG5 108/108.5 2x3 call spds ref 107-17
    • 5,000 TYH5 106 puts 22 ref 107-17
    • 4,000 wk3 TY 108/108.5 2x3 call spds ref 107-17
    • 8,000 TYH5 106/107 put spds ref 107-17
    • 4,600 TYG5 107.75/108.5 call spds, 13 ref 107-16.5
    • 3,500 TYH5 108/109.5 2x3 call spds ref 107-16.5
    • +3,000 FVH5 107/108 call spds, 5.5 ref 105-16.5
    • 2,000 TYG5 105.75/106.75 put spds trf 107-14.5
    • Block, +9,000 wk3 TY 108 calls 8 vs. 107-15.5/0.25%, more on screen at 9
    • 4,000 FVH5 106.5/107 call spds, 6.0-6.5 ref 105-17.5 to -16

BONDS: Underpinned Into U.S. CPI, Gilts Outperform, Periph EGBs Tighter To Bunds

Jan-15 13:05

Bonds remain underpinned through early NY trade, with U.S. participants reacting to the rally that followed the softer-than-expected UK CPI data.

  • Bearish technical setups for core global FI intact, but today’s recovery increases the risks to those trends.
  • Gilts the global outperformer at the 10-Year point following that data, with the UK curve bull steepening on the back of dovish BoE repricing.
  • An uptick in benchmark European equity indices has promoted some peripheral EGB spread tightening to Bunds over the last few of hours.
  • Upcoming U.S. CPI data is obviously key.
  • We have seen no changes to CPI forecasts following yesterday’s PPI data (most analysts have said as much explicitly). Pre-PPI consensus for CPI per MNI medians were +0.38% M/M for headline, and +0.24% for core.