Get started

Longaudusd

NZDUSD/ AUDUSD: RBNZ GOV WHEELER SPEECH HIGHLIGHTSGovernor of the RBNZ Wheeler offered little bearish pressure on kiwi, refusing to go into any intervention talk and failing to say what the bank will actually use to tame this deflationaire NZD they are experiencing at the moment - with the comments below in mind imo this leaves on direction for Kiwi (short of some FOMC/ USD bullish pressure which seems unlikely as rate expectations continue to be sold-off on the back of a quiet data week) and thats higher - in the speech it became apparent that cutting rates does little to curb kiwi strength given the relative differential remains the highest in G10 in this low interest environment both AUD and NZD rates remain some 50-150bps more attractive for those low risk yield seeking funds. On a break of 0.733 I see NZD$ moving towards 0.76 - though any USD strength could tame the cross, especailly given 60bps of further cuts have been built into the kiwi projections - though given there is 6wks until the next meeting imo there is certainly time for us to move higher before moving lower into the meeting as dovish expectations build as they did before. From here AUD looks more attractive here given their lack of forward guidance, and already breakout levels 0.78 is now the target - USD strength may continue weak given the presidential election.. is it likely the FOMC will hike just before an election e.g. sept or nov? despite their independence this seems unlikely + imo a Dec hike makes the most sense especially as some feds call for some consistency e.g. 12m as it is easier to measure policy transmission this way. One potential downside to this view is USD strength, whilst we seem to be in a wave of relentless selling this could be reversed if it is no election related (though there is little else impetus offered) but nonetheless given AUD's breakout i think the 0.78 target is still fair and given NZDs reaction already - it is unlikely we see sellers from here, this reaction almost mimics the RBA's rate cut reaction e.g. 50pips higher - but that was then followed by 200pips higher 1wk later.. we could certainly be in for the same price action here and this is what my bets are on. RBNZ Gov Wheeler Speech Highlights: -WHEELER: NOT SURPRISED BY NZD MOVE AFTER TODAY'S DECISION -WHEELER: RBNZ HAS BUILT 60BPS OF CUTS INTO PROJECTIONS -WHEELER: NO SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS OF A 50BPS CUT -RBNZ GOV WHEELER: WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOST OF RATE CUT PASSED ON BY BANKS -WHEELER: THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN POLICY TARGETS AGREEMENT -WHEELER: WANT NZD TO FALL, WANT TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF NZD WITH LOWER RATES -WHEELER: DEBT TO INCOME TOOL UNLIKELY TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR -WHEELER: WAGE MODERATION GREATER THAN RBNZ EXPECTED -WHEELER: RBNZ HAS LIMITED INFLUENCE OVER NZD -WHEELER: WOULD BE CONCERNED IF THERE WAS A FURTHER DROP IN ST INFLATION EXPECTATIONS -WHEELER: WILL LOOK AT NZD REACTION OVER COMING DAYS
Long
by QuantumLogicTrading
1
AUDUSD: FUTURE DIRECTION? BUY THE BREAKOUT; SELL THE TRIPLE TOPPost RBA has left Aussie in a somewhat uncertain direction; whilst the 25bps cut last week should have seen us offered to at least the 0.74 low support level, instead weve seen persistent aussie bids, even despite the strong USD employment report and consequential increased rate hike odds. Much of this Aussie topside is a function of investors shifting macro strategies from a monetary policy stance to a yield seeking/ rate differential positionings; further aussie downside was unhelped by the RBA's rate statement & SOMP which failed to offer any forward guidance regarding further policy, or hint at any FX levels which they thought were too high. Despite this I have seen several sell-side houses offer particularly dovish outlooks for the RBA - with 2 or more rate cuts and potentially new unconventional methods being used by end of 2017. My personal view is a mixed one. Whilst Aussie lower at these levels makes sense e.g. rate cut last week seemingly yet to be priced, we are at a double top resistance level that has held when the rate was 1.75 so should hold now the rate is lower. However, whilst this is the case in the immediate term aussie is still trading better bid, which is interesting given kiwi is trading with a slightly biased offered tone even though kiwi still has the better carry at 2.25% vs 1.5% - this could be a signal the market expects the RBNZ to be more aggressive in their policy decision on the 10th and/ or they will be more dovish and assertive with their forward guidance, which i agree is likely given the RBNZ has said several times it is not happy with kiwi at these levels and is likely to use policy tools to combat this. So on this note, if AUD$ holds the 0.768 level and fails to close on the daily above this (and shows 1/2 red dailies lower) this wiLl show the bias has confirmed to the downside and I will sell aussie to 0.750tp1 and 0.743tp2. Alternatively, given aussies topside bias, and the factors mentioned above, it is highly possible that the bulls win and AUD$ breaks higher - if we see a daily close above the 0.768 highs this imo will likely confirm the breakout and my bias until 0.778 is bullish thus I will buy the break with a 0.775tp1 and 0.778tp2. Today USD strength is firming as the fed funds rate implies a sept p=18% that the fed hikes up from 12% yesterday - though on the data side we are pretty quiet, with retail sales the only notable print which is on Friday. On the AUD side Gov Stevens from the RBA will be speaking later this week... hopefully he sets a bearish aussie tone and helps us move lower, but either way i think AUD$ is a solid trade. The breakout will see alot of momentum imo as a high % of bears will have stops ust above the 0.768 level (given the double top resistance) so we would likely short squeeze those stops 30pips higher immediately once their level has broken. Further, a confirmed rejection at the 0.767 level should see the bears take over (as they have done in the past 2 times), hence my high conviction on this trade.
by QuantumLogicTrading
3
AUDUSD: RBA SOMP HIGHLIGHTS - NFP GUIDANCE FROM HEREThe RBA was relatively neutral on the margin, keeping their inflation targets the same at 1.5-2.5. However, unfortunately for aussie shorts the RBA didnt offer any forward guidence on sentiment towards further easing, or specific reference to the aussie FX level - despite there being a strong bid bias brewing in the aud$ cross post-25bps cut. Also their forecasts for underlying inflation imo were quite positive at 1.5% vs 1.0% currently - this infers the RBA perhaps even thinks that the 1.5% rate will be sufficient to reach their inflation target, and that another cut this year isnt being thought about given they predict on target inflation with current policy. Although this does then run the downside risk of inflation staying low (as i expect) which may force the RBAs hand to cut again at years end if inflation is below 1.% or another print that misses the 1.5% expected mark. At these levels aussie looks attractive on the offer with a 0.74xx target - however USD supply has been strife since last week when rate expectations sold off amid poor GDP print to just p12% in september - down from 25% earlier in the week.. this week failed to improve, with little impetus for this to be the case, though the greenback now looks to NFP today for guidance. A beat/ firm print should help aussie offer well at these levels given we are right at the double top 0.766 level, so any USD strength arising from the NFP print has a bias to see AUD$ move lower, though as the macro landscape questionably is changing, it is uncertain if it will be enough to surpress yield seekers demand for aussie deposits for long/ a sustained period (if at all), which is expecially odd since we saw the rate brought down this week whihc should have set a bearish tone for the week, as we have seen with the BOE and GBP. After NFP we will have a clearer view. From here i think aussie positioning should be sidelined until the NFP print is clear - a miss and i actually think Aussie is better to trade bid, with 0.78 a firm target. A NFP hit and that should offer aussie lower, though for some reason I see the risk asymmetrically skewed to aussie topside, given the very week reaction to what is/ should be the biggest fundamental driver possible - a rate cut. So much of this trade is being vigilant - an NFP miss, buy a 0.766 confirmed breakout, a NFP hit - ensure AUD$ is trading with a clear bid bias.. any 10-30pips movement lower will not suffice at these levels, aussie is still likely bidding. RBA Minutes Highlights: - Underlying Inflation To Remain Under 2% For Much Of Forecast Period, Reach 2 % By End 2018 - Prospects For Economy Positive, But Low Inflation Allows For "Even Stronger Growth" - Judged Risks Associated With Rising House Prices And Debt Had Diminished - A$ Remains Significant Source Of Uncertainty For Inflation, Growth Forecasts - Economic Growth And Inflation Forecasts Little Changed Overall - Forecasts Underlying Inflation 1.5% By End 2016, 1.5-2.5% End 2017, 1.5-2.5% End 2018 - Forecasts GDP Growth 2.5-3.5% End 2016, 2.5-3.5% End 2017, 3-4% End 2018 - Says Unemployment To Fall Only A Little Out To 2018, Employment Growth To Be Modest This Year - Drag On GDP From Falling Mining Investment Looks To Have Peaked, Non-Mining Still Subdued - Dwelling Investment To Stay Strong For Next Year Or So, But Raises Risk Of Oversupply - GDP Growth Looks To Have Moderated In Q2 As Net Exports Added Less - Wage Growth Expected To Remain Low, Rise Modestly Out To 2018 - Increasing Supply, China Steel Cutbacks To Put Downward Pressure On Iron Ore Prices - Growth In China Expected To Slow Gradually Over Next Few Years, Housing A Risk - Brexit To Have Limited Effect On Australia's Major Trading Partners
by QuantumLogicTrading
11
AUDUSD: RBA BANK HIGHLIGHTS - CUT & SELL OR STAND PAT & LONG?Inline with the mixed information below, i too am undecided with what the RBA will do. There are several arguments for a cut e.g. CPI falling at an alarming rate/ strong trend; strong aussie; 1.75% high yield and likely to maintain AUD strength. But several against e.g. some of the trimmed prints show stability at 1.7%; need for more data - aussie employment report etc, given the AUD only holds data reports quarterly. That said, whilst im not certain on a RBA rate cut, i am certain on an RBNZ cut (more of a 25 or 50bps cut question), so going into RBA the lower conviction and risk trade is to play it through kiwi transmission e.g. short kiwi$ - an RBA cut will put downside pressure on kiwi$ too as it increases the chance of an RBNZ cut even more as the RBNZ will seek to drive their relative yield down and NZD currency appreciation down. The release is expected at AM5:30GMT - I expect aussiedollar will lose 100-200pips from market on a 25bps cut and if they stand unchanged i expect a topside rally into the 767 resistance graveyard but terminally, with a no rate cut i think we will likely see an end of week close at the 0.782 12m high resistance level assuming the USD employment report is average. Central bank confidence trades relatively low these days in the "disappointment era! however we have seen some strong conviction with bullish bets on RBA cut positioning so far with AUD$ down 100pips+ from yesterday - the lower we move pre-RBA the nastier a disappointment rally with be but also the short downside returns diminish - we could end up only seeing 100pip dropp if we move to 745 pre-decision. BAML ON THE RBA: - We expect the RBA to cut rates this week in response to a weak inflation pulse and spare capacity in the labour markeT. - A cut should lend support to the rates curve above 40bp. We await better levels to reset AU US spread compression trades. - The AUD is benefiting from the global search for positive yield and a rate cut is unlikely to deter this supportive inflow. RBA to hold due to spot on CPI? - TDS - Analysts at TD Securities explained that the recent AUD Q2 underlying CPI was spot-on the RBA’s expectations so they don’t think this will be a trigger for the Bank to cut. RBA to cut tomorrow - MUFG -Derek Halpenny, European Head of GMR at MUFG, suggests that the Australian dollar is one of those currencies that is currently much stronger than what is implied by the 2-year swap yield spread with the US. RBA to cut 25bps at its August meeting – RBC CM -Research Team at RBC Capital Markets, expects the RBA to cut 25bps at its August meeting. RBA: Not enough grounds to cut rates in August - Commerzbank - Antje Praefcke, analyst at Commerzbank notes that even though the market widely expects the RBA to cut the interest rate by 25 basis points from 1.75% to 1.50% next Asian session, they do not see enough grounds to lower the key interest rate in August. RBS - RBA to be on hold
by QuantumLogicTrading
3