Quiet FX, Rumors Of SNB Intervention

 | Nov 21, 2014 05:23AM ET

Market Brief

The Japan Diet is dissolved, preparations for December snap elections will now make the new headlines. Amid the aggressive yen sell-off, the Japan Finance Minister Aso warned that high volatility in FX, on either side, is unwelcome. He mentioned additional budget, new economic packages are underway before the year end. USD/JPY corrected to 117.36 in Tokyo. Given the overbought conditions (RSI at 78%), we see consolidation before the closing bell. Option bids trail above 116.75/117.00, mixed bets abound between 115.75/116.30, large offers sit at 115.50-.

EUR/USD remains capped at 1.2577/78 (Nov 4th & 17th highs). Yesterday’s 1.26 attempt saw little follow through, as a clear signal of short net positioning. More resistance is eyed at 1.2722/42 (daily Ichimoku cloud base / Fib 23.6% on May—Nov sell-off). As expected, EUR/GBP sees solid resistance pre-200 dma (0.80528). Better-than-expected retail sales helped cooling down upside pressures, however option bets are supportive at 0.7970/80, large expiry waits at 0.8010.

The pressures on EUR/CHF 1.20 floor are slightly easing. The pair shifted to 1.20176/1.20245 range. There are rumors running on possible SNB intervention. USD/CHF remains offered below its 21-dma (0.9605) for the third consecutive session. Developing bear market suggest the extension of weakness toward the 50-dma (0.9534). Light vanilla calls will expire at 0.9530/60 before the closing bell.