FX Update: Fed bazooka fails to impress. G7 meeting next test.

Forex 5 minutes to read
John J. Hardy

Head of FX Strategy

Summary:  The US Fed dropped rates to zero, announced a massive QE effort and global central banks have coordinated an expansion in USD swaps, helping to ease the pressure on USD funding problem for a brief moment, but the funding challenge may outstrip any traditional measures to deal with it the end. As well, strong risk of market closures ahead if G7 is unable to get ahead of the crisis today.


Trading Interest

  • This market is largely untradable in terms of spot – but interest in medium to longer term EURGBP downside via options and same for GBPUSD upside if GBPUSD approaches 1.2000.

Global central banks pulled everything they could muster out of their hats at the weekend, topped by the Fed’s 100 basis point rate cut late on Sunday, together with another $700 billion in Fed QE (treasuries and mortgage backed securities), and coordinated central bank announcements on expanding USD swap lines on signs of USD funding stress. The S&P futures nearly immediately jolted to limit down, erasing a good portion of Friday’s zany late rally that was likely inspired by anticipation of action over the weekend. European indices are plumbing new depths this morning. The reaction speaks to the severity of the contagion across asset markets amidst this mad dash for cash and stresses in USD funding as so many assets around the world are denominated in USD. We’ll discuss more in the days and weeks ahead, but there is a huge global “redenomination risk” as the problem is vastly larger than anything central banks can bring to the table.

The New York Times argues that as few as 20% of workers would quality in the of the deal struck between Congress and the White House on paid sick leave and other measures – where the onus is on the employer to provide the pay. This is incredibly tone deaf to the scale of the needed response and we can expect US lawmakers to come with ever larger rescue packages from here – taking US deficits to perhaps double or more of their current size (Fed balance sheet set to explode). Take Denmark, where the government is backstopping pay for all employees directly impacted by the crisis up to a certain level of pay. And the shutdown in the US has yet to truly begin. Note that the CDC has issued guidelines discouraging gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. Local authorities, whether municipalities or states, will use these guidelines from here and we can’t imagine the numbers that will be incoming for March and April, as the US economy is 70% services based and will be suffering a virtual shutdown.

Chart: EURUSD
The euro and the yen are benefitting in relative terms across the board from the opening up of USD swap lines and EURUSD helpfully found support ahead of the critical 1.1000 level at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement, but needs to pull back above 1.1400 to suggest that the US authorities are getting ahead of the crush on USD funding issues. If the pair fails back to the lows here – it’s a sign that more must be done to turn back the killer dollar.

Source: Saxo Group

The G-10 rundown

USD – a key stopper for disorderly USD rise has been put in place with the Fed and other central banks opening up the swap lines, but can the Fed backstop the entire world? Global intervention on the agenda as this is too big for the Fed.

EUR – ECB President Lagarde apparently apologized to the ECB governing council after the disaster of last week’s press conference, but EU peripheral spread are blowing wider again this morning – the next months are critical for proving the viability of the Euro Zone. Cash drops must come and soon…

JPY – the USDJPY found resistance at the ultimate levels around 108.00 with a bit of price action sloshing – we should have stuck to our guns on that one – focus on risk toward 100.00 now as long as the contagion lasts, but there will be some interesting levels to sell JPY at against hard assets and commodities whenever this crazy move bottoms out. Bank of Japan buying up everything in sight overnight – but it’s not working yet…

GBP – sterling is getting a drubbing here and we like the idea of scaling into exposure versus the euro first and eventually the US dollar, although considerable concern that the UK government has done a poor job on handling the virus outbreak, with risk of a more extreme crunch if the country needs to correct sharply.

CHF – doing its job at the moment as safe haven, but a slow mover higher versus a strong euro here.

AUD – the RBA switches to QE and offers repos – we’re already there. Now eyeing the GFC lows around 0.6000 in AUDUSD as the next test

CAD – oil and risk appetite point lower for CAD. Bank of Canada surprised on Friday with a 50 basis point chop but still at +0.75 percent for a policy rate! More chops to come and we continue  to look higher in USDCAD.

NZD – the RBNZ chopped 75 basis points just ahead of the Fed overnight, leaving the policy rate at 0.25% and with nowhere to go except into QE and FX intervention if the NZD continues to grind higher versus the AUD.

SEK – the krona needs massive fiscal stimulus and Sweden may be behind the curve with the virus response. Could get disorderly as long as markets remain this dysfunctional.

NOK – the lows in NOK will coincide with the lows in oil, barring Norges Bank intervention. There will be an amazing comeback – but from what level?

Calendar (times GMT)

  • 1230 – US Mar. Empire Manufacturing Survey

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article
Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-hk/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo or its affiliates.

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited
19th Floor
Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower
12 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong

Contact Saxo

Select region

Hong Kong S.A.R
Hong Kong S.A.R

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited (“Saxo”) is a company authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Saxo holds a Type 1 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Securities); Type 2 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Futures Contract); Type 3 Regulated Activity (Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading); Type 4 Regulated Activity (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 Regulated Activity (Asset Management) licenses (CE No. AVD061). Registered address: 19th Floor, Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower, 12 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation. Please click here to view the relevant risk disclosure statements.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-hk/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this site may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and services offered on this website are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity residing in the United States and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.