FOREX: USD Weakness Continues, Led By Safe Havens
The USD remains under pressure in the G10 space, with safe havens outperforming at the margins in Wednesday trade to date. USD/CHF is back to 0.8230, up 0.65% in CHF terms, continuing Tuesday's outperformance trend for the Swiss Franc. This puts 0.8200 back in focus, with dips in this pair sub this level supported so far in May. USD/JPY is back under 144.00 for the first time since May 8.
- There doesn't appear to be a fresh catalyst for today's move, other than a continuation of trends from Tuesday. Lower US equity futures (off 0.25-0.30%), may be aiding the safe havens at the margin. US Tsy yields are holding up at this stage, led by the back end of the curve, 10yr above 4.50%, 20yr near 5.02%.
- The broader BBDXY index is down around 0.30%, last near 1219. As we noted earlier, a close back below 1220 and the focus will return once more back to the lows for the index (1216 handle in earlier May, 1212 in April).
- EUR/USD is up 0.35% to 1.1320/25, while AUD and NZD are +0.20-0.25% higher, but remain within recent ranges.
- USD/Asia pairs are mostly lower, although USD/CNH lags these moves, still above 7.2000 at this stage.
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ASIA STOCKS: Outflows Continue to Challenge Asian Bourses
The ongoing theme of outflows dominate Asia markets again as any inflows are short lived.
- South Korea: Recorded outflows of -$88m as of 18th, bringing the 5-day total to -$1,001m. 2025 to date flows are -$12,479, m. The 5-day average is -$200m, the 20-day average is -$431m and the 100-day average of -$156m.
- Taiwan: Had outflows of -$552m as of 18th, with total outflows of -$2,292m over the past 5 days. YTD flows are negative at -$20,009. The 5-day average is -$458m, the 20-day average of -$240m and the 100-day average of -$233m.
- India: Had inflows of +$470m as of the 17th, with total outflows of -$72m over the past 5 days. YTD flows are negative -$15,486m. The 5-day average is -$14m, the 20-day average of +$17m and the 100-day average of -$142m.
- Indonesia: Had outflows of -$487m as of 17th, with total outflows of -$1,273m over the prior five days. YTD flows are negative -$3,440m. The 5-day average is -$255m, the 20-day average -$100m and the 100-day average -$47m
- Thailand: Recorded outflows of -$40m as of the 18th, outflows totaling -$33m over the past 5 days. YTD flows are negative at -$1,422m. The 5-day average is -$7m, the 20-day average of -$25m the 100-day average of -$19m.
- Malaysia: Recorded inflows of +$9m as of the 18th, totaling -$75m over the past 5 days. YTD flows are negative at -$2,853m. The 5-day average is -$15m, the 20-day average of -$50m the 100-day average of -$40m.
- Philippines: Saw inflows of +$0m as of 17th, with net inflows of +$5m over the past 5 days. YTD flows are negative at -$287m. The 5-day average is +$1m, the 20-day average of -$4m the 100-day average of -$5m.
CHINA PRESS: Targeted Measures To Stabilise Foreign Trade Necessary
Authorities should consider subsidising logistics costs for industries with export dependence exceeding 30%, such as tax deductions for overseas warehouse construction used for cross-border e-commerce, said Zhu Keli, founding dean at the National Research Institute of New Economy. The State Council executive meeting last Friday called for customised targeted measures to stabilise employment and foreign trade in different industries and enterprises.
CHINA PRESS: China Needs To Boost Funding Support For Consumption
Officials could offset tariff disruption and declining external demand by implementing between CNY700 billion to CNY1 trillion of fiscal funds to promote domestic consumption, possibly issuing more special treasuries as early as Q2, said Wang Qing, analyst at Golden Credit Rating. The CNY300 billion consumer goods trade-in scheme should be expanded to include more goods and services, and increased funding, in response to growing momentum in redirecting export-oriented production toward domestic markets beginning in Q2. (Source: Securities Times)
