JPY flexes again as JGB yields soar

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Latest market moves:
A quick one today. The Japanese yen is powering up after US treasury yields reversed lower after having broken above key levels. This by itself is a relief for JPY longs, but an interesting twist has been the weakness in long JGB’s overnight as a 20-year JGB auction saw the weakest bidding metrics since 2012 and the benchmark yield for 20-year JGB’s rose above 2.50% for the first time since 2000. The JPY strength was broad with most PY crosses pressing on local lows if not yet on technically interesting levels just yet. Interesting to note the contrast in the European bond markets this morning, where yields are pressing to new local lows on a very weak German PPI figure for April (-0.6% (!) MoM and -0.9% YoY vs. -0.3/-0.6% expected).

EURUSD teased higher through the 1.1266 resistance yesterday and to 1.1288 before dropping back to 1.120 and then rebounding back higher in late Asian and early European trading today. A close there above 1.1300 helps to cement a more broadly bearish USD picture.

The RBA surprised dovish, less with its expression of uncertainty on tariff issues and very modest downward revision of the inflation outlook and much more by noting that a 50 basis point cut was considered and clearly expressing an optionality to slash rate quickly if the economy/labor market weaken more than anticipated. Australian 2-year rates collapsed almost 20 basis points as the market upped the odds of further cuts. AUDNZD slipped below 1.0850

The US fiscal focus continues as House Republicans wrangle over how much help for poorest Americans needs to be slashed (how is this a political win for Trump?) and on SALT tax exemptions. The noise is that the House wants to have something ready by the end of this week. And we’ll need to continue to track US treasury yields.

Chart: USDJPY
Some follow through lower here in USDJPY is feeding further hope for the bears that we are set for a showdown at the critical 140.00 level in coming weeks. The rising line of consolidation or trendline is challenged here and the next step is perhaps a full erasing of the rally of the 142.34 lows.