US FISCAL: June Surplus Confirmed, 12-Month Deficit Continues To Narrow

• Treasuries look to finish near late Wednesday session highs as tensions in the Middle East underscored risk-off support for rates after this morning's soft CPI set the stage for an early rate rally (overlooking this morning's "done deal" US/China rare earth trade negotiation headlines).
• The US embassy in Baghdad is readying for an evacuation amid rising regional security tensions, likely linked to concerns over failed nuclear talks with Iran, Reuters reported. Iran threatens to target US. bases if nuclear talks fail, heightening fears of military conflict, Reuters said.
• Headline inflation came in below-expected at 0.08% M/M (0.20% MNI median) - but this was due entirely to the downside miss in core items: core services excl OER & primary rents ('supercore'): 0.061% M/M after 0.209%. Latest 3mth av of 0.01%; core services excl all shelter: 0.056% M/M after 0.151%. Latest 3mth av of 0.046%.
• Rates extended after decent $39B 10Y note auction re-open stopped .9bp through: drawing 4.421% high yield vs. 4.430% WI; 2.52x bid-to-cover vs. 2.60x prior.
• Focus turns to Thursday's PPI inflation and weekly claims.

A few notes from Treasury Secretary Bessent's 5+ hour hearing at the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday:

• Bessent suggested that the US could extend the pause on reciprocal tariffs beyond the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement - "It is highly likely that those countries or trading blocs in the case of the E.U., who are negotiating in good faith, we will roll the date forward to continue good faith negotiations".
• Bessent said the current fiscal year deficit would be between 6.5-6.7% of GDP (which as MNI noted earlier is where the deficit is tracking through the first 8 months of the fiscal year to May).
• Regarding his previously stated goal of achieving a 3% of GDP deficit, he told the committee that he wanted to get it under 4% by the end of Trump's term. "I said that we would like to have a three in front of the deficit to GDP by 2028 the end of President Trump's term, which is the long term average."
• He wouldn't be drawn on an x-date estimate in response to a question, saying that estimate sare "imprecise", identifying mid-to-late summer as the most likely timing. He told Congress on May 9 that there was a "reasonable probability" that the x-date could be reached in August.
• Outside of the usual political wrangling on the deficit impact of the fiscal legislation going through Congress, there was little on actual Treasury issuance. When asked about potential novel approaches to Treasury instrument issuance, including bonds with an "equity interest" in cash receipts, Bessent said he was open to ideas but "right now, we are committed to the fulsome the regular cadence of treasury issuance as it is."
• Bessent indicated that he'd like to remain Treasury Secretary until 2029 - of note given reports and market speculation that he could be named Powell's successor as Fed Chair in the near future.

• RES 4: 0.6603 High Nov 11 ‘24  
• RES 3: 0.6582 High Nov 12 ‘24
• RES 2: 0.6550 61.8% retracement of the Sep 30 ‘24 - Apr 9 bear leg
• RES 1: 0.6546 High June 11
• PRICE: 0.6517 @ 16:34 BST Jun 11
• SUP 1: 0.6464/6413 20- and 50-day EMA values 
• SUP 2: 0.6357 Low May 12    
• SUP 3: 0.6275 Low Apr 14 
• SUP 4: 0.6181 Low Apr 11 

The trend needle in AUDUSD continues to point north, affirmed by the pair printing a new YTD high at 0.6546 in the wake of the US CPI print. Key support lies at 0.6413, the 50-day EMA. A clear break of this average is required to highlight a potential short-term reversal. The pair has recently cleared a key short-term resistance at 0.6515, the May 7 high, confirming a resumption of the uptrend. Sights are on 0.6550, a Fibonacci retracement.