NATO: Rutte-US Commitment Comes w/Expectation To Deal w/Irritant Of Low Spending
Speaking at the NATO Public Forum ahead of the leaders' summit in The Hague, Secretary General Mark Rutte said, on the US's continued commitment to the alliance, “There is total commitment by the US president and the US senior leadership to NATO. However, it comes with an expectation…that we will finally deal with…this huge irritant, which is that we are not spending enough”. US President Donald Trump does not arrive at the summit until this evening, meaning he will miss the initial meetings. The main session of the truncated summit takes place tomorrow. The schedule today sees:
- Remarks from Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - 07:05ET/12:05BST/13:05CET
- The opening of the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum plenary session, conversation between Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - 07:30ET/12:30BST/13:30CET
- Meeting between Rutte, von der Leyen and Zelenskyy - 08:30ET/13:30BST/14:30CET
- Remarks from Rutte and New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon [only Indo-Pacific 4 leader in attendance] - 10:00ET/15:00BST/16:00CET
- Remarks from Rutte and the Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya - 11:30ET/16:30BST/17:30CET
- Arrivals of heads of state/gov't and spouses at Palace Huis ten Bosch for ceremonial dinner - 13:00ET/18:00BST/19:00CET
Livestream of all events can be found here.
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JGB TECHS: (M5) Rallies off Lows
- RES 3: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)
- RES 2: 146.53 - High Aug 6
- RES 1: 141.48/142.95 - High May 2 / High Apr 7
- PRICE: 139.40 @ 15:42 GMT May 23
- SUP 1: 138.54 - Low May 22
- SUP 2: 136.57 - 1.382 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
- SUP 3: 134.89 - 2.000 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
JGBs have rallied off recent lows and for now, however a bearish theme remains intact following the reversal that started Apr 7. A continuation lower would signal scope for an extension towards 136.57, a Fibonacci projection. On the upside, a reversal higher would instead refocus attention on 142.95, the Apr 7 high. The first important resistance to watch is 141.48, the May 2 high. A break of this level would be viewed as an early bullish signal.
US FISCAL: Total Tariff Income Jumping In May As New Rates Hit
Treasury reported a record $16.5B in customs/excise taxes on May 22, reflecting the large increase in tariff rates that went into effect in April.
- Today's report is important because it represents the largest tariff collections of the month which are typically on a due date around the 22nd, when most corporate importers make their payments.
- Thursday's one-day collection is a record, and the month has already set a new record. Tariff revenues have totaled $22.3B so far in May, and are came in at $17.4B in April (after averaging $8.1B/month in 2024).
- For the fiscal year as a whole so far, customs duties have totaled just under $93B, per the Treasury Daily Statement.
US FISCAL: Extraordinary Measures Continue To Dissipate Alongside Treasury Cash
Treasury's latest estimate of the size of "extraordinary measures" available to use "in order to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations as Congress deliberate[s] on increasing the debt limit" is down to $67B on May 21 (of an available $299B), vs $82B a week earlier.
- The amount hit the 2nd lowest level since the debt limit impasse started, at $46B, on May 20 (the low was $34B on Feb 24).
- With $476B in cash in the Treasury General Account on May 21, that left the total resources available to Treasury at $543B, the least since April 14 - the day before the annual April 15 tax deadline.
- Treasury Sec Bessent warned Congress earlier this month that "there is a reasonable probability that the federal government's cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess. Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July".
