Morning Adviser Europe 9/28/2010 5:58:00 AM
Fresh Fed Easing Scrutinised
By Geoffrey Yu
Tight ranges prevailed overnight in FX as investors digested fresh updates on potential policy paths for the Fed and the BoJ. A Wall Street Journal article released after the equity close gave the dollar a slight boost as debasement fears eased somewhat. The article suggested that any further quantitative easing by the Fed could be less heavy-handed than expected as officials continue to monitor the data as they weigh their next move. But it did not necessarily dissuade the notion that more easing is possible. Our US economists now think the fed funds target will not be hiked until Q3 2011, at least three months later than their original June 2011 forecast. In the aftermath of the latest FOMC decision, our economists do not think further quantitative easing will be necessary but they do acknowledge it is now a much closer call. We therefore lowered our one and three month dollar forecasts to reflect the increased risk of further potential Fed action. On the other side of the Pacific, Nikkei News has also reported the BoJ is mulling fresh policy steps ahead of its policy meeting in early October. There were no major headline US data releases and investor risk-seeking was muted with equities modestly lower and lower Treasury yields across the curve, which was partially spurred by a good 2-yr auction. But among G10 currencies the Australian dollar managed to gain versus the dollar as the relative monetary policy differential remains in Australia's favour. Upcoming data releases include Conference Board Consumer Confidence, S&P/CaseShiller home price data and the Richmond Fed manufacturing survey. EURUSD traded 1.3426-1.3472, USDJPY 84.18-84.34.
Research Spotlight "Is The World Getting Flatter?" UBS G10 FX Strategy Despite the slopes of bond curves across the advanced economies varying significantly at present, all of them have flattened noticeably over the past few months. While these have largely been bull flattening events, Australia's predominantly bear flattening - and historically more 'average' stage of the economic cycle - may be flagging a future where curves at each level of a country's official policy rate are flatter than they used to be. Please see the "Is The World Getting Flatter?" note on www.ubs.com/fx for details.
EUR Targets: EURUSD 1m 1.35, 3m 1.25 A downgrade of the subordinated debt of a prominent Irish bank highlighted widespread fears surrounding the Irish banking sector and the prospect of future downgrades remain. The FT reported that further updates on the situation would likely come on Thursday but it underscores the fact that sovereign and fiscal concerns remain unresolved and sovereign yields remain elevated. ECB President Trichet's comments at the Quarterly Hearing before the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament largely echoed his recent comments as he reiterated again that inflation should moderate over the policy-relevant horizon despite a potential short-term increase. Trichet remains cautious on Eurozone growth and said current policy is accommodative and the current level of interest rates is appropriate. Ahead today, the German GfK survey is expected to register a slight gain to 4.2 from 4.1, while national and regional CPI numbers will be released across Germany..
JPY Targets: USDJPY 1m 85, 3m 85 Nikkei News reported during the US session that the BoJ would consider new policy measures at next month's policy meeting, if the recovery is under threat. Measures considered would include increased government bond buying and increasing funding to markets. However, any suggestion that increased JGB issuance would open the way for the government to increase stimulus were dismissed by the MoF overnight, with minister Noda warning that new bond issuance is undesirable for the extra budget. Japanese exports rose by less than expected to +15.8% y/y (cons. +19.0%) while imports came in slightly ahead of expectations. This slowdown in export growth adds more weight to BOJ's intervention policy as it highlights the negative effects that the stronger yen is having on the real economy. Small business confidence released overnight was also softer than prior at 48.4.
GBP Targets: GBPUSD 1m 1.59, 3m 1.47 Final Q2 GDP is due after the preliminary print slightly exceeded expectations at 1.2% q/q and 1.7% y/y. Consensus estimates are for no change. The IMF endorsed the UK's fiscal tightening plans as it greatly reduces the risk of a loss of confidence. The IMF noted that things were on the mend but also stressed that monetary policy will have to be nimble in the event of further downside risks. The October 20 fiscal austerity measures could point to further BoE easing, which policymakers hinted at in the latest BoE minutes. We adjusted our GBPUSD forecasts to reflect the shift in our dollar view but think fiscal austerity could keep the pound weak versus the Swiss franc and the Nordic currencies.
FX Technicals
AUDUSD little support till 0.9850 EURUSD BULLISH Stalled in front of 1.3511; a break here would expose 1.3692. Near-term support comes in at 1.3426 ahead of 1.3287 USDJPY NEUTRAL Holds support at 84.05; 85.93 and 82.88 mark the key near-term directional triggers. GBPUSD BULLISH The pair is expected to target 1.5999 key high with scope for 1.6253 next. Support is defined at 1.5642 ahead of 1.5503 USDCHF BEARISH Following the break of 0.9786, there is scope for next support at 0.9625. Resistance at 0.9983 ahead of 1.0183. AUDUSD BULLISH There is little resistance till 0.9850 key high with initial support defined at 0.9442 ahead of 0.9309 USDCAD NEUTRAL Remains heavy below 1.0380, keeping our focus on the downside. Initial support lies at 1.0192 ahead of 1.0108 EURCHF NEUTRAL Trading within 1.3391 and 1.2991 range. Break below 1.2991 would expose 1.2766 key low. EURGBP NEUTRAL Pullback from 0.8577 holds above 0.8390. Break of the latter would expose 0.8309 ahead of 0.8202 EURJPY BULLISH While support at 110.66 holds, expect the cross to target 114.74, ahead of 116.68 and 119.33. *NOTE: The trend for each currency pair as defined in the table is determined by our proprietary model and is independent of our discretionary interpretation of price action