US TSYS: Inflation Risks Overshadow Equity Falls, Yields Up Again

Mar-04 01:37

US Treasury futures have done very little Wednesday with the 10-Yr where it opened at 113-00.   This leaves TYH6 above all major moving averages, though the bullish momentum seens since early February is showing signs of moderating.  

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Cash is doing very little, despite the significant falls in equities with most maturities marginally higher in yield relative to where they ended the US trading day. 

  • The 2-Yr is up +0.4bps at 3.514%
  • The 5-Yr is flat at 3.642%
  • The 10-yr is up +0.2bps at 4.065%
  • The 30-Yr is up +0.4bps at 4.711%

 

Wednesday US Data/Speaker Calendar (prior, estimate). All times ET
 

03/04 0700 MBA Mortgage Applications
03/04 0815 ADP Employment Change for February (22k, 50k)
03/04 0945 S&P Global US Services PMI final (52.3, 52.3), Composite PMI final (52.3, 52.3)
03/04 1000 ISM Services Index (53.8, 53.5), Prices Paid (66.6, 67.8)
03/04 1000 ISM Services New Orders (53.1, 53.6), Employment (50.3, --)
03/04 1130 US Tsy US$69B 17-week bill auction
03/04 1400 Fed Beige Book

Historical bullets

CROSS ASSET: Metal Vol Continues, Around Weaker Bias, USD Only Modestly Higher

Feb-02 01:34

Cross asset market focus remains on the metal space, with early sharp losses for both gold and silver in Monday trade. Volatility remains very elevated. So far today silver has had a $75.10 to $87.95 range, we were last near $82, down around 4% versus end Friday levels. Earlier lows weren't sub Friday lows just under $74. For gold, we were last around $4700, with a range of $4586.44 to $4894.23. Earlier lows did breach the Friday low (which was just under $4700). Oil is weaker as well, down over 3%, WTI last near $63, which is a level that prevailed mid last week. 

  • Bitcoin is firmer, back above 77k, with dips under 76k supported so far, but Bitcoin did weaken notably over the weekend (ending last Friday around 84.1k.
  • The USD is higher so far today, but comfortably off best levels (BBDXY highs of 1190.03, last 1189.15/20). AUD and NZD are little changed, while USD/JPY is firmer, above 155.00. This is at odds with the softer US equity futures backdrop, currently off 0.30-0.50% for Eminis/Nasdaq futures.
  • However, weekend comments from Japan PM Takaichi around some of the benefits of a weaker yen (which were tempered somewhat), may still be impacting. Spot USD/KRW is also higher, pushing back towards 1460 (down a further 1.2% in won terms).
  • US Tsy futures are down a touch, while that is also the tone for regional bond futures. 

CHINA: Central Bank Withdraws CNY75.5bn via OMO

Feb-02 01:30

After large injections Thursday and Friday last week, it is not surprising to see a modest withdrawal today, especially given some stabilization in repo rates.  Repo rates however remain stubbornly higher than near term lows and with market volatility expected to rise and a reasonable maturity schedule this week, a return to injections seems logical.  

  • The PBOC issued CNY75bn of 7-day reverse repo at 1.4% during this morning's operations.
  • Today's maturities CNY150.5bn.
  • Net liquidity withdrawal CNY75.5bn.
  • The PBOC monitors and maintains liquidity in the interbank system through the issuance of reverse repo.
  • The CFETS Pledged Repo Deposit Institutions 7 Day Weighted is at 1.44%, from prior close of 1.59%.
  • The China overnight interbank repo rate is at 1.36%, from the prior close of 1.32%.
  • The China 7-day interbank repo rate is at 1.50%, from the prior close of 1.59%.   .  
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CNH: USD/CNY Fixing Edges Up, But Error Term back To Negative

Feb-02 01:23

The USD/CNY fix printed at 6.9695, versus the 6.9718 market estimate. The error term was -23pips, versus +226pips from Friday. This is the first negative fixing error since late Nov last year. The fixing was set higher than Friday's outcome (6.9678) but only marginally. Looking at the longer term trend of the fixing outcome, little has changed despite the recent USD bounce. The weekend onshore media highlighted the push for CNY to become a global reserve currency. This, along with today's fixing result, is likely to reaffirm the relative stability of the yuan during a potential USD bounce. USD/CNH is down slightly so far today, last 6.9555, outperforming the 0.10-0.15% rise in the BBDXY.