FOREX TRADING

USD Higher, Jobless Claims Fall, Pending Home Sales Tank

• USD: Higher, jobless claims fall, productivity revised higher, pending home sales tank, stocks erase gains
• JPY: Lower, BOJ’s Noda rejects government pressure to buy JGB bonds and expand QE
• EUR: Lower, Greek budget euphoria fades, ECB holds rates policy study, exit plan continues, weak Q4 GDP
• GBP: Mixed, BOE holds interest rates and asset purchases unchanged, house prices decline
• CAD and AUD: AUD & CAD lower, Australian trade deficit widens, Canadian building permits fall

Overview

The USD traded higher Thursday supported by ongoing concern about the Greek fiscal outlook and in reaction to mixed US economic data. USD extended its early rally after the release of an unexpected decline in pending home sales. Equity markets gave back all the morning’s early gains after the release of the pending home sales data. The pending home sales report appeared to inject more risk aversion into the trade. The ECB elected to hold rate policy unchanged as expected. In the press conference following the ECB policy decision ECB President Trichet said that the recovery is on track and will remain uneven, current ECB rates are appropriate, and inflation expectations remain anchored. Trichet went on to say that adverse weather could impact first quarter growth. The ECB expects EU 2010 GDP growth of 0.4% to 1.2%. The ECB expects EU 2010 CPI at 0.8% to 1.6%. Trichet said that the ECB welcomes Greece’s fiscal plan and signaled that the ECB would continue with the current gradual pace of withdrawal of liquidity. Trichet also said that it is not appropriate for the IMF to aid Greece. This comment sparked selling of the EUR and generates concern that Greece could be left out in the cold if the EU fails to agree to aid for Greece. EU officials will discuss the need for Greek aid Friday. GBP traded mixed initially supported by the BOE’s decision to hold interest rates and asset purchases unchanged. GBP turned lower in reaction report of a decline in UK house prices. Commodity currencies were mixed with a CAD continuing to outperform. AUD traded lower pressured by concern about the global growth outlook and in reaction to report that the Australian trade deficit widened in January. JPY traded a three month high versus the USD supported by a decline in risk appetite as Asian equity markets decline. JPY was also supported by comments from the BOJ Noda rejecting Japanese government calls for the BOJ who purchase more JGB’s. JPY turned lower after the release of better than expected US jobless claims and productivity data. Jobless claims posted a larger than expected decline, productivity rose more than expected and unit labor costs declined by more than expected. USD edged higher after the release of these reports. Pending home sales posted a sharp decline and factory orders rose more than expected. USD traded to the highs for the day after the report of the pending home sales drop and erasing of early US equity market gains.

Focus turns to Friday’s release of US February unemployment and nonfarm payrolls. The trade expects a modest uptick in the US unemployment rate and a fairly sharp drop and nonfarm payrolls partly because of bad weather and snow storms that blanketed much of the US during February. (more…)

USD Lower, Bernanke Says Rates to Stay Low, Stocks Rally

• USD: Lower, new home sales declined by 11.2%, Bernanke says rates to stay low for an extended period
• JPY: Higher, exports rise, safe haven demand as Asian equities decline
• EUR: Higher, EU industrial orders rise,ECB’s Gonzalez-Paramo downplays risk of contagion from Greece
• GBP: Mixed, BOE’s Posen said he expects UK inflation to remain subdued, QE will be expanded if needed
• CAD and AUD: AUD & CAD higher, China tells commercial lenders to restrict lending to local governments

Overview

The USD traded mixed to lower Wednesday with the EUR rebounding supported by report of better than expected EU industrial orders and speculation that Bernanke will signal that US interest rates will remain at zero for some time. The GBP continues to underperform pressured by a dovish statement from the BOE’s Posen. Posen said that the BOE will expand quantitative ease if necessary. Commodity currencies opened lower pressured by weaker Asian equity market trade and report that China took action to curb lending. China’s regulators told its commercial banks to restrict lending to local governments. Commodity currencies turned higher in US trade, tracking a rally in US equities sparked by Bernanke’s testimony. JPY traded higher for the fourth day in a row supported by report of a jump in Japan’s January exports. In his testimony before Congress Fed Chairman Bernanke said the economy still needs help, a sustained recovery remains in question and interest rates will stay low for an “extended period.” Bernanke went on to say the Fed will have to tighten at some point to prevent inflationary conditions but he gave no clue when that point might be. Bernanke’s testimony was seen a bit more dovish than expected as he confirmed the Fed extend period language. Some analysts have suggested that the Fed’s discount rate hike last week would be a prelude to the Fed dropping the extended period language from its next communiqué. This seems less likely after today’s testimony. The Fed’s Bullard said rates may stay near zero for all of 2010 and the USD trades lower as stocks rally. US economic data was weak with new home sales reported down by a record 11.2%. (more…)

USD Lower, Pending Home Sales Up 1%, Stocks Rally

• USD: Lower, pending home sales rise less than expected but post improvement year-over-year
• JPY: Higher, supported by gains in cross trade to AUD, Kamei calls for the Post Bank to diversify
• EUR: Higher, Greek debt default spreads narrow, PPI rises, German retail spending improves
• GBP: Mixed, UK election polls suggest possibility of a hung parliament, debt fears limit gains
• CAD and AUD: AUD lower & CAD higher RBA leaves rate policy unchanged, CAD tracks risk sentiment

Overview

USD traded mixed Tuesday with the main focus on the RBA’s decision to leave rate policy unchanged. A 25 bps hike was widely expected from the RBA and the AUD traded sharply lower in reaction to the RBA’s decision to hold rate policy steady at 3.75%. The RBA cited recent tightening of monetary policy in China as one of the key factors for the decision to hold rates steady. The RBA left the door open for future rate hikes if the Australian economy continues to improve. European currencies were mixed with the EUR supported by report of an unexpected rise in EU producer prices and in reaction to a narrowing of Greek default spreads. The Greek prime minister said that Greece will do everything necessary to end its fiscal crisis. CHF is supported by report of better than expected Swiss consumer sentiment. GDP continues to underperform pressured by uncertainty about the UK budget deficit outlook as the latest UK polls indicate a possibility of a hung parliament. A hung Parliament in the UK would make it much more difficult for the UK to address its budget deficit. GBP downside was limited by report of improvement in UK construction PMI and speculation that the BOE will signal a pause in its asset purchase program at Thursday’s BOE policy meeting. JPY traded mixed supported by sharp gains in cross to the AUD. JPY gains were limited by improving risk sentiment sparked by the RBA’s rate decision and firmer equity market trade. US economic data was mixed with pending home sales reported to have risen by less than expected, pending home sales rose in all districts during the summer. The pending home sales report suggests that US housing market continues to stabilize.

Focus turns to Wednesday’s release of ADP employment report, central bank policy meetings in Europe Thursday and Friday’s US January unemployment report. The ECB is expected to remain on hold and continue to outline exit strategies and the BOE is expected to remain on hold as well with the possibility of announcing a pause in its asset purchase program. USD headline unemployment is expected to post a 0.1% rise to 10.1% and nonfarm may turn slightly positive. (more…)