FX Update: Dissonance again in market narrative FX Update: Dissonance again in market narrative FX Update: Dissonance again in market narrative

FX Update: Dissonance again in market narrative

Forex 5 minutes to read
John J. Hardy

Chief Macro Strategist

Summary:  The US dollar was broadly lower as risk appetite surged on Inauguration Day for US President Joe Biden, but the narrative fails to fit with the action seen across markets, even if a single odd day should not . Biden set to work immediately unwinding a raft of Trump move. Elsewhere, Bank of Canada optimism sent USDCAD to a new cycle low.


FX Trading focus: difficult to square the action with background market narrative

Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day came and went with as much pomp and circumstance as possible, given the Covid restrictions, and equity markets perhaps celebrated the lack of public unrest, while the USD wilted as one would expect, given the surge of risk sentiment. Still, the narrative is tough to sustain when looking around the rest of the shop, as US treasuries were rangebound on the day despite the anticipation of tremendous stimulus in the pipeline, and generally unresponsive to the ebullience elsewhere.

And while the US dollar has responded as one would expect to the swell of enthusiasm in risky assets by weakening, momentum is flagging somewhat. Still, that is the “Goldilocks” rout for further USD weakness – too rapid an ascent in US long yields and that becomes a destabilizing factor, while a plunge in yields would suggest some collapse in confidence in the inflationary narrative. Given that the US treasury net issuance in 2021 will far exceed the current pace of the Fed’s declared QE purchase pace, US long yields deserve close watching on the theory that some price discovery remains in this market. For now, the only interpretation of a shoulder-shrug from bond markets in a context of a strong risk appetite is that the market sees liquidity and support without end, but no serious inflation threat. A bold bet!

Yesterday, the team and I posted a piece on the top ten priorities under a Biden presidency – five domestic and five foreign. On the domestic front, the chief immediate task is ensuring a massive vaccine roll-out effort and providing a safety net for the most vulnerable in the meantime. It’s a concern to see headlines on the struggle for vaccine distribution and whether new variants will prove resistance to vaccines (no ability to assess that risk, simply tracking it and crossing fingers on that front – the world will get post Covid lockdowns with or without a successful vaccine by this autumn.) I see today that Biden has activated the Defense Production Act to raise vaccine-, PPE-and other production efforts. This act allows the government to command any private production capacity it can identify along the lines of a war effort.

The US-China rivalry is already off to a hot start for the Biden administration after China sanctioned individuals in the Trump administration for their actions, a move that the Biden administration called “unproductive”. Already, China is asking for reinstatement of the listing of Chinese telecom companies on US exchanges, a first test of the Biden administration attitude toward China.

Chart: USDCAD
USDCAD was smacked lower by an optimistic Bank of Canada that sees a surge in activity resumption once the economy gets to the other side oof lockdowns. The actual affect on forward rate anticipation was virtually nil, but it novel to hear a central bank wax this optimistic and it took USDCAD to new cycle lows. The price action is not particularly pretty for the bears here, but barring another back-up, the formation of note. Two things the market glossed over in bidding up CAD yesterday were  Joe Biden’s revoking of the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline (key for Canadian tar sands production) and the Bank of Canada’s Governor Macklem bringing up some cautious wording on the strength of the loonie in the press conference. The next major zone lower is perhaps the 1.2500 psychological level, followed by the multi-year low below 1.2100.

Source: Saxo Group

The G-10 and CNH rundown

USD – the US dollar weak, but somewhat cautious on going full bore bearish again, as the conditions were about as perfect as they could be yesterday for a more pronounced move. Watching how we close the week.

CNH – not a leader in FX against the US dollar and as long as China drags its heels on CNY strengthening. China will have to limit travel during the New Year holiday (the week before and after February 12) due to Covid outbreaks.

EUR – the euro lagging just about everything else besides JPY and USD as EU growth is set for perma-sluggishness outside of potential for rising export demand because of EU’s aging demographics and besides, negative rates are just no fun. Zero expectations that the ECB moves the needle today.

JPY – the Bank of Japan’s Kuroda out with an oddly timed exhortation that the entire yield curve must be kept low – was he referring to the US? The weaker USD without a rise in US rates allows the USDJPY to trickle back lower and encourages the view that USDJPY to stay in the descending trend channel for now.

GBP – sterling making new gains against the Euro in breaking lower as BoE’s Bailey pushes back against negative rates talk. GBPUSD has also managed a new top – let’s see if these moves stick for another pull higher.

CHF – EURCHF avoided a break to a multi-month low by staying above 1.0735 – but not exactly on the edge of my seat here for anything – volatility only likely to pick up on yield volatility in long fixed income.

AUD – solid employment figures overnight, though full time positions lagging a bit. Still,the participation rate is impressive with it rise back to pre-Covid levels.

CAD – the Bank of Canada outlined the complacent view on inflation – yes, inflation will surge on the basing effects of the year-ago Covid wipeout in March and April, but then quickly fade back lower, in line with the “significant excess supply” in the economy. What if assumptions about that supply are misplaced, however?

NZD – steep consolidation in AUDNZD – profit taking ahead of Q4 NZ CPI tonight? The  first support is the area around the 200-day moving average near 1.0720.

SEK – fairly straightforward strength given the backdrop of better risk sentiment with no spike in yields – can we finally have a go at the critical 10.00 levelin EURSEK?

NOK – EURNOK making a bid lower and NOKSEK for parity, the latter probably requiring a new high for the cycle – or at least threat thereof – for Brent crude as NOK longs are a great expression of eventual economic normalization.

Upcoming Economic Calendar Highlights (all times GMT)

  • 1245 – ECB Meeting
  • 1330 – ECB President Lagarde Press Conference
  • 1330 – US Dec. Housing Starts and Building Permits
  • 1330 – US Philadelphia Fed Survey
  • 1330 – US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims and Continuing Claims
  • South Africa Interest Rate Announcement
  • 2145 – New Zealand Q4 CPI
  • 2330 – Japan Dec. CPI
  • 0030 – Australia Dec. Retail Sales

    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 Bank 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. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. 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 Bank 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 Bank 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 Bank 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 Bank 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 Bank 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/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)


    Business Hills Park – Building 4,
    4th Floor, office 401, Dubai Hills Estate, P.O. Box 33641, Dubai, UAE

    Contact Saxo

    Select region

    UAE
    UAE

    Trade responsibly
    All trading carries risk. Read more. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more

    Saxo Bank A/S is licensed by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and operates in the UAE under a representative office license issued by the Central bank of the UAE.

    The content and material made available on this website and the linked sites are provided by Saxo Bank A/S. It is the sole responsibility of the recipient to ascertain the terms of and comply with any local laws or regulation to which they are subject.

    The UAE Representative Office of Saxo Bank A/S markets the Saxo Bank A/S trading platform and the products offered by Saxo Bank A/S.