Quarterly Outlook
Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun
Peter Garnry
Chief Investment Strategist
Summary: AUD higher after RBA delivering a surprise hike of 25 bps, expected 15 bps, coupled with a hawkish statement. AUD around 1% higher on the day and vol continues to trade bid. We like to express a bullish AUD view through AUDNZD, to avoid the USD leg, with short vega strategies like covered calls or seagull structures.
Saxo Bank publishes two weekly FX Options Market Update reports covering changes and updates on the FX Options and FX Volatility market. They describe changes in FX volatility levels, risk premium and ideas how to trade based on these.
Surprise hike from RBA today when they raised with 25 bps with market pricing a 15 bps hike. This was followed by a hawkish statement driving AUD 1.4% higher against the dollar before paring some gains.
AUDNZD is up close to 1% on the day and is testing the 2020 highs at 1.1045. Next stop would be the 2018 highs at 1.1175. We like to express a bullish AUD view in AUDNZD to avoid the USD leg. We continue to get more negative news out from NZ, latest headline: could take 3-5 years before tourism gets back to pre-covid levels. We think AUD will keep outperform NZD going forward.
AUDNZD vols trades higher with 1 month up 0.6 on the week and currently trades at 7.0 which is the highest level since April 2020 and the peak of the corona crisis. 1 month risk reversal is historically very stable and has trade most of the time between -0.25/+0.25 over the last years, it's currently trading at 0.1 for the topside.
We prefer doing covered calls or buying a seagull call structure instead as normally a call spread as we don’t have any risk reversal to work with.
Sell 1 month 1.1150 AUDNZD (covered) call
Receive 45 pips
Alternative
Buy 1 month 1.1075 AUDNZD call
Sell 1 month 1.1175 AUDNZD call
Sell 1 month 1.0975 AUDNZD put
Zero cost
Spot ref.: 1.1055
You should be aware that in purchasing Foreign Exchange Options, your potential loss will be the amount of the premium paid for the option, plus any fees or transaction charges that are applicable, should the option not achieve its strike price on the expiry date
If you write an option, the risk involved is considerably higher than buying an option. You may be liable for margin to maintain your position and a loss may be sustained well in excess of the premium received.
By writing an option, you accept a legal obligation to purchase or sell the underlying asset if the option is exercised against you; however far the market price has moved away from the strike. If you already own the underlying asset that you have contracted to sell, your risk will be limited.
If you do not own the underlying asset the risk can be unlimited. Only experienced persons should contemplate writing uncovered options, then only after securing full detail of the applicable conditions and potential risk exposure.
Forex Options – An introduction
Forex Options – Exotic options
Forex Options - Webinars