US TSYS: Reality Check Slowly Emerging For Tariff Negotiations

Apr-22 19:36
  • Treasuries look to finish mixed Tuesday, curves unwinding a large portion of Monday's steepening with bonds outperforming weaker short end rates (2s10s -6.174 at 58.027) as markets re-assess tariff-tied risks to global trader and the Trump Admin's efforts to meddle with the Federal Reserve's independent policy making.
  • Europe returned from extended Easter holiday improved market depth more than trade volumes evidently (TYM5 at 1.2M near steady to Monday's levels) while the week openers risk-off tone was gradually unwound.
  • Brief midday risk-on move extended after headlines that Tsy Sec Bessent (speaking at a JP Morgan event in DC - closed to public and media) sees the China tariff standoff as unsustainable and expects a de-escalation to occur. Bloom quickly came off the rose as sources clarified the gist of negotiations would be a "slog".
  • Limited react to data: The Philly Fed non-mfg activity index fell further in April to -42.7 from -32.5 in Mar, -13.1 in Feb and -9.1 in Jan; Johnson Redbook Same-Store Retail month-to-date Y/Y sales up 7.0% (the week ending April 19 was +7.4% Y/Y). Same with Fed speakers, taking a back seat to headline risk.
  • Cross asset: Gold retreats to 5372.0 currently after topping 5500.0 briefly overnight; Greenback rebounding BBG US$ index +5.01 at 1221.15; SPX eminis +110 at 5294.75.

Historical bullets

CANADA PM CARNEY TO MEET GOVERNOR GENERAL AT NOON

Mar-23 11:22
  • CANADA PM CARNEY TO MEET GOVERNOR GENERAL AT NOON
  • CARNEY EXPECTED TO SEEK ELECTION

US TSYS: Available "Extraordinary Measures" Pick Up Slightly From Lows

Mar-21 21:00

Treasury has $163B of "extraordinary measures" remaining for authorities to use to fend off hitting the debt limit as of March 19, per the latest release of Treasury data. That's up from $86B on Mar 17 and a low of $34B on Feb 24.

  • That's a little under half of the $377B in measures available to Treasury, with most of the amount remaining ($143B) coming from the so-called "G Fund".
  • This headroom is in addition to $416B in cash left in the TGA, at last count.
  • We haven't seen any changes recently to "x-dates" by when Treasury will run out of cash until the debt limit is lifted.
  • Consensus still centers around late July/early August, but much will depend on April's major mid-month tax take. Treasury wrote to Congress last week that they would be able to provide an update on the x-date in the first half of May, after the conclusion of tax season.
image

USDCAD TECHS: Short-Term Outlook Remains Bullish

Mar-21 21:00
  • RES 4: 1.4793 High Feb 3 and key resistance
  • RES 3: 1.4700 Round number resistance 
  • RES 2: 1.4641 76.4% retracement of the Feb 3 - 14 bear leg 
  • RES 1: 1.4452/4543 High Mar 13 / 4 and a bull trigger  
  • PRICE: 1.4345 @ 16:27 GMT Mar 21
  • SUP 1: 1.4242 Low Mar 6 and a key near-term support   
  • SUP 2: 1.4151/4107 Low Feb 14 / 50.0% of Sep 25 - Feb 3 bull run
  • SUP 3: 1.4011 Low Dec 5 ‘24
  • SUP 4: 1.3944 61.8% retracement of the Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull cycle

USDCAD is trading closer to its recent lows. The bull cycle that started Feb 14 remains intact and moving average studies remain in a bull-mode position, highlighting a dominant uptrend. Note that the latest pullback has exposed a near-term key support at 1.4242, the Mar 6 low. Clearance of this level would undermine the bull theme and instead highlight potential for a test of 1.4151, the Feb 14 low and a bear trigger. The bull trigger is 1.4543, the Mar 4 high.