MNI EUROPEAN OPEN: Gold Surge Continues

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• TRUMP, UPPING PRESSURE ON POWELL, AGAIN CALLS FOR RATE CUTS - BBG 
• FED INDEPENDENCE FACING IMMINENT RISK - MENAND- MNI INTERVIEW 
• PUTIN SAYS HE IS OPEN TO DIRECT PEACE TALKS WITH UKRAINE - RTRS 
• ECB'S KAZAKS WARNS TARIFFS RAISE RISK OF EURO-AREA RECESSION - BBG
• JAPAN'S KATO AIMS TO FURTHER FX DIALOGUE WITH BESSENT THIS WEEK - BBG

Fig 1:  Gold Versus BBDXY Index (Inverted) 

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg/Refinitiv. 

UK 

POLITICS (POLITICO): “The Green Party hopes to scoop up disillusioned former Labour voters in next month’s regional elections.”

EU

ECB (BBG): “European Central Bank Governing Council member Martins Kazaks said that tariffs announced by the US were stoking uncertainty and raising the risk of an economic recession in the euro area.” 

EU/ECB (POLITICO): “The ECB thinks the U.S. president's lavish support for the American crypto sector risks causing financial "contagion" that could blow up the European economy, according to a policy paper seen by POLITICO. But in a rebuff, the Commission dismissed the Bank's alarmist analysis, signaling that it had misunderstood the EU's own rules.”

TRADE (POLITICO): “"In a more and more unpredictable global environment, countries are lining up to work with us," the Commission president said without naming Trump or the U.S. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told POLITICO.”

RUSSIA/UKRAINE (RTRS): “Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time in years, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was prepared for any discussion to halt attacks on civilian targets.” 

UKRAINE (DW): “"Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France and the United States — we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace," Zelenskyy posted on X.”

US

FED (MNI INTERVIEW): MNI interviews legal scholar and ex-NY Fed staffer Lev Menand on whether Trump could fire Jerome Powell. -- On MNI Policy MainWire now, for more details please contact sales@marketnews.com 

FED (BBG): “President Donald Trump warned the US economy may slow if the Federal Reserve does not move to immediately reduce interest rates, in his latest broadside against Fed Chair Jerome Powell.” 

OPINION POLLS (RTRS): “President Donald Trump's public approval rating edged down to its lowest level since his return to the White House, as Americans showed signs of wariness over his efforts to broaden his power, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday found.” 

FISCAL (BBG): “A Republican proposal to impose a tax hike on millionaires offers to generate about $400 billion over a decade, according to two new estimates provided to Bloomberg News, providing fresh revenue to partially offset the cost of the party’s multi-trillion-dollar tax package.” 

TARIFFS (RTRS): “U.S. trade officials finalized steep tariff levels on most solar cells from Southeast Asia, a key step toward wrapping up a year-old trade case in which American manufacturers accused Chinese companies of flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods.” 

OTHER 

CANADA (RTRS): “Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, ahead in polls in the run-up to an April 28 election, renewed calls on Monday for voters to give him a strong mandate to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat.” 

JAPAN (BBG): Japan’s Minister of Finance Katsunobu Kato said he aims to build on close discussions pertaining to currencies when he meets his US counterpart Scott Bessent in Washington this week.

AUSTRALIA /JAPAN (BBG): “Macquarie Asset Management agreed to sell its North American and European public investments business to Nomura Inc. for A$2.8 billion ($1.8 billion) as part of its increased focus on private markets.” 

CHINA 

FUNDS (SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS): “Some QDII funds in China have substantially reduced exposure to US stocks in 1Q and added positions to mainland China and Hong Kong-listed equities amid external uncertainties and caution among global investors over US market, Shanghai Securities News reports, citing quarterly filing by mutual funds.” 

BANKS (SECURITIES TIMES): “A growing number of small and medium-sized banks have lowered deposit rates since the beginning of April in an effort to reduce funding costs and preserve interest margin, Securities Times reports, citing tally it compiled based on statements by lenders.”

YUAN (PBOC): “The PBOC will make cross-border use of yuan more convenient and improve the efficiency of payment and collection, especially for companies going overseas, according to an action plan jointly released by financial regulators and the Shanghai municipal government on Monday.”

CHINA MARKETS 

MNI: PBOC Net Injects CNY56 Bln via OMO Tuesday

MNI (BEIJING) - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) conducted CNY220.5 billion via 7-day reverse repos, with the rate unchanged at 1.50%. The operation led to a net injection of CNY56 billion after offsetting the maturities of CNY164.5 billion reverse repos today, according to Wind Information. 

• The seven-day weighted average interbank repo rate for depository institutions (DR007) fell to 1.5876% at 09:54 am local time from the close of 1.7080% on Monday.
• The CFETS-NEX money-market sentiment index, measuring interbank money-market liquidity, closed at 50 on Monday, compared with the close of 52 on Friday. A higher reading points to tighter liquidity condition, with 50 representing an equilibrium.

MNI: PBOC Sets Yuan Parity Higher At 7.2074 Tues; -0.57% Y/Y

MNI (BEIJING) - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the dollar-yuan central parity rate higher at 7.2074 on Tuesday, compared with 7.2055 set on Monday. The fixing was estimated at 7.2892 by Bloomberg survey today.

MARKET DATA

NEW ZEALAND MARCH TRADE SURPLUS NZ$970M; FEB. +NZ$392M
NEW ZEALAND MARCH 12-MONTHS YTD TRADE DEFICIT NZ$6.13B; FEB. –NZ$6.63B
NEW ZEALAND MARCH EXPORTS NZ$7.59B; FEB. NZ$6.61B
NEW ZEALAND MARCH IMPORTS NZ$6.62B; FEB. NZ$6.22B

SOUTH KOREA PPI MAR. +1.3% Y/Y; FEB. +1.5%

MARKETS

US TSYS: Asia Wrap - Yields Largely Unchanged

TYM5 has traded slightly lower with a range of 110-22 to 110-27+ during the Asia-Pacific session. It last changed hands at Heading 110-23, down 0.03 from the previous close.

• The US 10-year yield is unchanged, dealing around 4.41%
• The US 2-year yields is unchanged, dealing around 3.77%
• Risk has turned lower with concerns President Trump will fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell adding to a market that is already consumed with uncertainty.
• “President Donald Trump warned the US economy may slow if the Federal Reserve doesn’t move to immediately reduce interest rates.”(per BBG)
• Dips back towards 4.25% support in US 10-years have found sellers first up as US yields continue to rise on fears of a rotation out of US assets.
• Data/Events : The IMF releases its World Economic Outlook, Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson as well as regional Fed chiefs Tom Barkin (Richmond), Neel Kashkari (Minneapolis) and Patrick Harker (Philadelphia) are scheduled to speak later Tuesday

JGBS: Mixed With Belly Underperforming

JGB futures are weaker but well above session lows, -28 compared to the settlement levels.

• The local calendar has been light today.
• "Bank of Japan officials see no need to change their stance on gradually raising interest rates despite US tariffs, as they wait for more data to analyse the impact. The BOJ is likely to hold its policy settings steady at its May 1 meeting and may cut its price forecast due to a stronger yen, cheaper oil, and economic weakness." (per BBG)
• "The impact of Donald Trump's tariff campaign has already filtered through to Japanese companies, with about 10% saying the measures have affected their businesses and more voicing concern on the future jolt, according to a MoF survey." (per BBG)
• Cash US tsys are ~2bps cheaper in today's Asia-Pac session after yesterday's long-end sell-off.
• Cash JGBs are mixed across benchmarks, with the belly underperforming (~3bps cheaper) and the 20-year the outperformer (~2bps richer). The benchmark 10-year yield is 3.0bps higher at 1.314% versus the cycle high of 1.596%.
• Swap rates are 1-2bps higher.
• Tomorrow, the local calendar will see Jibun Bank PMIs and the Tertiary Industry Index. PPI Services is due on Thursday. 

AUSSIE BONDS: Holding A Twist-Steepener On First Trading Of The Week

ACGBs (YM +4.0 & XM -1.5) are mixed after pulling back from Sydney session highs on the first trading day following the Easter weekend. The local calendar was light today.

• Cash US tsys are ~1bp cheaper in today's Asia-Pac session after yesterday's long-end sell-off. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson as well as regional Fed chiefs Tom Barkin (Richmond), Neel Kashkari (Minneapolis) and Patrick Harker (Philadelphia) are scheduled to speak later Tuesday. The IMF is also due to release its World Economic Outlook.
• Cash ACGBs are 1-6bps richer with the AU-US 10-year yield differential at -14 bps.
• Swap rates are flat to 4bps lower, with the 3s10s curve steeper.
• The bills strip has bull-flattened, with pricing +1 to +6.
• RBA-dated OIS pricing is 1-7bps softer across meetings today. A 50bp rate cut in May is given a 23% probability, with a cumulative 122bps of easing priced by year-end (based on an effective cash rate of 4.09%).
• Tomorrow, the local calendar will see S&P Global PMIs alongside the AOFM planned sale of A$1000mn of the 3.25% 21 April 2029 bond.

BONDS: Modest Twist-Steepener To Start The Week

NZGBs closed showing a twist-steepener, with benchmark yields 2bps lower to 2bps higher. 

• Cash US tsys are slightly cheaper, with a flattening bias, in today's Asia-Pac session after yesterday's long-end sell-off. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson as well as regional Fed chiefs Tom Barkin (Richmond), Neel Kashkari (Minneapolis) and Patrick Harker (Philadelphia) are scheduled to speak later Tuesday.
• NZ recorded its third merchandise trade surplus in four months in March at $970mn up from $392mn. The YTD deficit narrowed to $6.13bn from $6.63bn. It has now declined around $11bn since the May 2023 peak. Both export and import growth were robust last month. Trade is a bright spot in NZ’s struggling economy but with a 10% tariff on goods to the US and an escalating US-China trade war the outlook is highly uncertain and likely to be negative.
• Swaps closed showing a bull-steepener, with rates 1-5bps lower.
• RBNZ dated OIS pricing closed flat to 3bps softer across meetings, with late  2025 / early 2026 leading. 27bps of easing is priced for May, with a cumulative 83bps by November 2025.
• Tomorrow, the local calendar will be empty.
• On Thursday, the NZ Treasury plans to sell NZ$250mn of the 4.50% May-30 bond and NZ$250mn of the 4.25% May-36 bond.

FOREX: Asia Wrap - Back To Selling The USD

The BBDXY had an Asian range of 1218.32 - 1213.72. With hopes of any early trade deal fading and Trumps Powell comments adding further uncertainty, the market has very quickly returned to what is now becoming a consensus trade, sell the USD. An FT article quoted the Centre for European Reform - “ German support for its industry will create downstream demand for suppliers in other European countries that are reeling from Chinese competition and the threat of US tariffs. Adding that smaller countries could demand that Germany nudge its industry to build factories in other parts of Europe.”

• EUR/USD -  Asian range 1.1482 - 1.1540, has traded better bid most of our session. Traders are targeting a move back to 1.2000 in the Euro as the USD’s safe haven role is reassessed. Dips back to 1.1450 should once again find demand.
• GBP/USD - Asian range 1.3362 - 1.3410, dealing near the session highs. GBP yesterday exploded higher through the previous week's highs around 1.3300. Expect buyers on dips to reemerge back towards 1.3250/1.3300.
• USD/JPY -  Asian range 140.10 - 141.17,going into the London open dealing near the lows. A big break below 141.50/142.00 yesterday in low liquidity, currently testing the pivotal support  around 140, a break here could see the move really accelerate, targeting 125/130.
• USD/CNH - Asian range 7.2923 - 7.3158, the USD/CNY fix printed at 7.2074. China has warned countries against striking deals with the US that could hurt Beijing’s interests, putting countries in a position where they will eventually have to pick a side. Watch EUR/CNH and CNH/JPY to really see the recent yuan underperformance.
• Cross asset : SPX +0.37%, Gold 3481, US 10yr 4.41%, BBDXY 1214, Crude oil 63.73.
• Data/Events : Spain Trade Balance, EC Govt Debt/GDP ratio, IMF releases its World Economic Outlook

Fig 1: EUR/CNH Spot Weekly Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg

FOREX: Antipodean Wrap - AUD & NZD Making New Highs

With hopes of any early trade deal fading, the market very quickly returned to what is now becoming a consensus trade, sell the USD. USD/CNH is stable but look at EUR/CNH and CNH/JPY to see how the Yuan is being managed lower. “ (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand exporters had a bumper start to the year, buoyed by a lower currency and higher global prices for key commodities such as milk powder and meat. Exports surged to a record NZ$20.6 billion ($12 billion) in the three months through March, Statistics New Zealand said Tuesday in Wellington. That’s a seasonally adjusted 11% jump from the fourth quarter and 19% more than the year-earlier period.”

• AUD/USD - Asian range 0.6402 - 0.6436, AUD has traded better bid for most of the Asian session. After showing some signs of exhaustion at the end of last week the AUD has broken and held above the pivotal 0.6400 area. Dips back to the 0.6300 area should continue to find demand while the market obsesses about a lower USD.
• AUD/JPY - Asian range 90.12 - 90.57. Price goes into the London open towards the lows trading around 90.20, still firmly within last week’s range of 89.50-91.50. Support towards 90.00 continues to hold for now, a break through here and the downward trend could be reinstated.
• NZDUSD - Asian range 0.5981 - 0.6021, NZ exports hit a record on low currency and high commodities. The market is going into London pressing new highs. Thoughts of a reversion were fleeting as upward momentum is reignited. Expect buyers to return first around 0.5920/50, then around 0.5850/80.
• AUD/NZD - Asian range 1.0682 - 1.0706, the cross has drifted sideways in the Asian session. 

Fig 1 : AUD/USD Spot Daily Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg

ASIA STOCKS: Mixed Trends, But Most Markets Outperforming Wall Street Falls

Asian equity markets have been mixed in the first part of Tuesday trade, although the major indices are outperforming the sharp cash losses US markets saw in Monday trade. US equity futures re-opened higher this morning in Asia Pac trade, but have only recaptured a fraction of the losses seen on Monday. Eminis were last around +0.35% higher. 

• Japan markets are little changed, with a modest downside bias at this stage. The NKY 225 was off around 0.30%, but still holding above the 34000 level. Yen has continued to rally and is threatening to break through 140.00 against the USD. The Topix is little changed.
• Hong Kong markets have seen volatility, but the benchmark HSI is little changed, last just under 21400. This is within striking distance of recent April highs. The tech sub index is underperforming, down 0.50%. Bellwether China names like Meituan and JD.com have fallen amid reports of greater competition in the food delivery business (per BBG).
• Onshore China bourses are little changed, the CSI 300 holding under 3800.
• The Kospi is up modestly, but the Taiex is down 1.30%, underperforming broader region trends. Trade tensions were a factor weighing on TSMC, amid chip export control concerns
• In South East Asia, Singapore's benchmark index is up around 1.2%. Indonesian stocks are also outperforming, up close to 0.90% for the JCI. 

OIL: Crude Higher But Down Sharply In April, Fed Speak Later

Oil prices are off today’s peaks but remain moderately higher although are holding onto most of yesterday’s losses. Benchmarks fell around 2% due to concerns of political interference in US monetary policy, which drove a pullback in risk. WTI is up 0.7% to $62.85/bbl down from the intraday peak of $63.25. Brent is 0.6% higher at $66.65 after reaching $67.05 earlier. They are down around 11% in April. The USD index is down another 0.2% after falling 0.7% on Monday. 

• Markets continue to worry about the outlook for energy demand given increased protectionism and escalating trade tensions between the US and China at a time of expected excess supply. OPEC+ went ahead with its planned output increase in April, which was greater than expected which may have been because of pressure from President Trump to bring prices down.
• Not only are demand prospects highly uncertain, so is supply with talks between the US and Iran scheduled to resume on Wednesday. An agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme may result in an easing of sanctions. There could also be negotiations on a Ukraine-Russia truce in the coming week.
• Later the Fed’s Jefferson, Harker, Kashkari, Barkin and Kugler appear with the focus likely to be on any comments related to central bank independence. April Philly/Richmond Fed indices and preliminary April euro area consumer confidence print. The ECB’s de Guindos speaks.

GOLD: Close To $3500, Moving In Line With USD Weakness

Gold is fast approaching the $3500 level. Session highs rest at $3494.8, while we were last near $3486/87, still up 1.8% for the session so far. Monday's gain for bullion was 2.92%. 

• Gold is moving in lockstep with USD weakness, the chart below shows bullion plotted against the BBDXY index, which is inverted on the chart.
• The inability of the USD to sustain the earlier modest rebound has likely only added to gold's current bullish momentum. The USD remains firmly under pressure, with continued unwinding of US exceptionalism in focus.  
• As we noted earlier, the RSI (14) on gold is comfortably into overbought territory, not at 79.6, but we are still under 2024 extremes for this metric. 

Fig 1: Gold Spot Price & USD BBDXY Index (Inverse) 

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg 

UP TODAY (TIMES GMT/LOCAL) 

Date	GMT/Local	Impact	Country	Event
22/04/2025	0600/0800	**	SE	Unemployment
22/04/2025	1230/0830	*	CA	Industrial Product and Raw Material Price Index
22/04/2025	1230/0830	**	US	Philadelphia Fed Nonmanufacturing Index
22/04/2025	1255/0855	**	US	Redbook Retail Sales Index
22/04/2025	1300/0900		US	Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson
22/04/2025	1330/0930		US	Philly Fed's Pat Harker
22/04/2025	1400/1000	**	US	Richmond Fed Survey
22/04/2025	1400/1600	**	EU	Consumer Confidence Indicator (p)
22/04/2025	1700/1900		EU	ECB's De Guindos at MIT/ICADE Finance Club
22/04/2025	1700/1300	*	US	US Treasury Auction Result for 2 Year Note
22/04/2025	1740/1340		US	Minneapolis Fed's Neel Kashkari
22/04/2025	1830/1430		US	Richmond Fed's Tom Barkin
22/04/2025	2200/1800		US	Fed Governor Adriana Kugler
23/04/2025	2300/0900	***	AU	Judo Bank Flash Australia PMI
23/04/2025	2301/0001	*	GB	Brightmine pay deals for whole economy
23/04/2025	0030/0930	**	JP	Jibun Bank Flash Japan PMI
23/04/2025	0600/0700	***	GB	Public Sector Finances
23/04/2025	0630/0730		GB	DMO remit revision following FY24/25 CGNCR
23/04/2025	0715/0915	**	FR	S&P Global Services PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0715/0915	**	FR	S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0730/0930	**	DE	S&P Global Services PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0730/0930	**	DE	S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0800/1000	**	EU	S&P Global Services PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0800/1000	**	EU	S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0800/1000	**	EU	S&P Global Composite PMI (p)
23/04/2025	0800/1000		EU	ECB Wage Tracker
23/04/2025	0830/0930	***	GB	S&P Global Manufacturing PMI flash
23/04/2025	0830/0930	***	GB	S&P Global Services PMI flash
23/04/2025	0830/0930	***	GB	S&P Global Composite PMI flash
23/04/2025	0900/1100	**	EU	Construction Production
23/04/2025	0900/1100	*	EU	Trade Balance
23/04/2025	1030/1130		GB	BOE's Pill speech at University of Leeds
23/04/2025	1100/0700	**	US	MBA Weekly Applications Index
23/04/2025	1300/0900		US	Chicago Fed's Austan Goolsbee
23/04/2025	1330/0930		US	St. Louis Fed's Alberto Musalem
23/04/2025	1330/0930		US	Fed Governor Christopher Waller
23/04/2025	1345/0945	***	US	S&P Global Manufacturing Index (Flash)
23/04/2025	1345/0945	***	US	S&P Global Services Index (flash)