FOREX: Sharp Swings for AUD Persist amid China Tariff Turmoil
Apr-08 17:06
- Today’s session was categorised by a tale of two halves, with initial equity optimism boosting the higher beta currencies in G10, before a sharp souring of sentiment prompted a significant turnaround for the likes of AUD & NZD. Overall, the dollar index remains close to unchanged, with a lot of the focus remaining on the JPY and CHF crosses, given they remain a strong barometer for global risk sentiment.
- Specifically for AUDUSD, the most recent turn lower for equities has certainly sapped the overnight enthusiasm, prompting the pair to almost entirely erode the prior 1.5% advance. The turnaround for risk was exacerbated by the USTR's Greer stating that tariff exemptions will not come through in the near-term, and late confirmation that 104% tariffs on China would be implemented from April 09.
- Earlier 0.6085 highs fell short of initial resistance, which stands at 0.6127, and technical conditions remain firmly in bearish territory. Yesterday’s low print of 0.5933 matched closely with an initial technical support, the 1.764 projection of the Sep 30 - Nov 6/7 price swing. This will remain the key short-term mark on the downside.
- USDJPY is also substantially off the overnight highs, located at 148.12. The pair maintains a bearish tone following last week’s sharp sell-off and the Monday recovery is - for now - considered corrective. A resumption of the downtrend and a break of Friday’s 144.56 low would signal scope for an extension towards 144.13, a Fibonacci retracement point.
- Amid the deterioration of the US/China trade relationship, USDCNH has been pushing fresh record highs today, at 7.3930 at typing. Market moves follow the push higher for the USD/CNY midpoint fix overnight - at 7.2038, the CFETS fix was the highest since Sept'23 and not far off the highest fix on record from late 2022 at 7.2555.
- Calendar focus turns to the RBNZ decision on Wednesday, before the market’s attention shifts to US inflation data, scheduled on Thursday.
Want to read more?
Find more articles and bullets on these widgets:
Historical bullets
CANADA: BoC Seen Cutting Another 25bps Next Week
Mar-07 21:31
- The Bank of Canada is expected to cut its overnight rate target another 25bp on Wednesday to 2.75%, with BoC-dated OIS showing it mostly priced but analysts not as clear cut with 19 of 27 forecasting a cut vs 8 looking for no change.
- It’s quite likely that a pause would have been seriously considered if going on recent trends alone, and even Friday’s labour report with disappointing jobs growth saw the unemployment rate surprisingly hold at 6.6% as it remains below November’s cycle high of 6.9%.
- Instead, a 25bp cut is seen as a prudent step to the mid-point of the BoC’s estimated neutral range of 2.25-3.25% amidst penal US trade policies under the second Trump administration. Tariffs have been threatened, deployed and then pared in a revolving cycle but the uncertainty is damaging. The latest in this ever-changing backdrop, Trump has said the US may do reciprocal tariffs on Canada as early as today (Friday) or Monday. It’s estimated that 38% of Canadian exports to the US are USMCA-compliant, a latest area of focus from Trump, although RBC estimate this could be over 90% relatively quickly.
- Governor Macklem in January talked on stepping up outreach activities with businesses and households and we watch for any guidance on how these real-time conditions might be developing.
US TSYS: Late SOFR/Treasury Option Roundup
Mar-07 21:22
Option desks reported heavy SOFR and Treasury option position unwinds and two-way vol trades Friday, underlying futures near late session lows after Chairman Powell stated the Fed can take its time before considering any further changes to interest rates as inflation is still above target and policy uncertainty out of Washington remains high. Projected rate cuts through mid-2025 cooled significantly vs. morning levels (*) as follows: Mar'25 at -1bp (-2.7bp), May'25 at -9.4bp (-13bp), Jun'25 at -26.3bp (-31.1bp), Jul'25 at -37bp (-42.2bp). Dec'25 had priced in three 25bp cuts this morning now show -69.1bp.
- SOFR Options:
- +10,000 SFRU5 95.50/95.62/95.75 put flys 2.0 ref 96.17
- over -100,000 SFRU5 96.25 calls, 24.0 vs. 96.26 to -.255/0.50%
- -5,000 SFRZ5 96.50/96.87/97.00/97.25 call condors, 6.0 ref 96.385
- +5,000 0QJ5 96.00/96.12/96.25/96.37 put condor, 3.0 ref 96.505
- 36,000 SFRN5 96.06/96.25 2x1 put spds ref 96.265
- 11,000 SFRM5 95.62/95.68 put spds ref 96.00 to -.005
- 9,000 SFRH5 95.68/95.75 1x2 call spds ref 95.725
- 2,000 SFRU5 96.50/97.00 call spds ref 96.25
- 5,500 SFRH5 95.75/95.81 call spds
- 3,000 SFRQ5 95.75 puts ref 96.245
- 2,000 0QK5 95.50/95.75/95.87/96.12 put condors ref 96.485
- 1,500 SFRZ5 95.50/95.75 put spds
- Treasury Options:
- +20,000 TYJ5 112 calls, 9
- Block, +9,000 Monday wkly 10Y 111 call, 4
- -9,000 TYJ5 110 puts, 10
- 5,000 TYJ5 112 calls, 19 ref 111-01 to -06 (total volume over 40.8k)
- 3,500 FVJ5 107.25/109 strangles, 16 ref 107-30.25
- +7,500 TYJ5 110 puts, 13-14
- -10,000 TYJ5 110/112.5 strangles, 23, appr 6.98% implied vol
- +10,000 TYJ5 110.5 straddles, 117-119 vs. 111-03/0.32% (implied appr 6.67-.87
- 5,000 USK5 122/126 call spds ref 117-22
- 3,000 TYJ5 110/112 strangles, 29 ref 111-05.5
- 50,000 FVJ5 108.25/108.75 call spds 10 ref 108-00.75
- over 5,000 TYJ5 109/110 put spds ref 110-30 to 111-00
- 2,000 TYK5 111/112/113.5 broken call flys ref 111-00.5
- 2,500 TYJ5 108.5/109.5 put spds ref 110-28
- 4,500 wk1 TY 110/110.5 2x1 put spds, 6 ref 110-29 (exp today)
- 1,750 FVK5 109.25/110.25/111.25 call flys ref 107-27.5
- over 7,000 wk2 TY 112/113 call spds ref 111-01 to 110-28.5
US TSY FUTURES: BLOCK: Late 2Y/10Y Ultra Flattener
Mar-07 21:18
Late Flattener Block, posted at 1604:32ET, appr DV01 $375,000
- -9,419 TUM5 103-15.25, sell through 103-15.5 post time bid vs.
- +4,166 UXYM5 113-18.5, post time bid
