Singapore Retains Existing FX Policy, Traders Focus On ECB Meeting
Swissquote Bank Ltd | Apr 14, 2015 08:29AM ET
Forex News and Events
In an unexpected move, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) maintained its existing policy of measured NEER band appreciation. The policy statement directed "no change to the slope and width of the policy band, and the level at which it is centered." There had been speculation over Singapore’s FX framework as being breakable as the SGD NEER was been pushed to the bottom band. This pressure sparked chatter on foreign reserves levels and comparison to the SNBs failed CHF policy. However, sweeping away the hype the economic data did not demand easing today. While the economic outlook for Singapore has deteriorated in recent months, the data has not be so bad as to warrant additional modification (band widening). The tone of the semiannual Monetary Policy Statement was slightly more optimistic. Inflation data has slow but steady at 1.0% and Q1 growth at 2.1%, was higher than consensus. The market’s reaction to sell USD/SGD was predictable considering the overdone expectations. With USD/SGD at 1.3600 plenty of speculative longs have been cleared out providing an good entry point to reload USD/SGD longs. In addition, with the MAS stating that reports of heavy FX intervention are incorrect, liberates the upside. US Dollar bearish reversal is slowing. While structural issues and further policy easing will disturb SGD, we see further upside in USD/SGD.
EUR/USD is consolidating yesterday’s losses around the 1.0550 handle. However, demand is thin and sentiment significantly negative. Not helping the EUR bulls was a story in the FT indicating that Greece is organizing a strategy to declare a debt default, unless it can reach a deal with creditors by the end of April. The report indicated that the Greece government will withhold €2.5bn total repayment to the IMF by June unless an agreement with international creditors can be reached. The most recent leak seems to be a response to a weekend report that Eurozone officials were “shocked” at Greece’s failure to outline structural reform. We suspect Greece’s debt strategy is not a low probably event. The nations is currently hemorrhaging capital and will not have the public funds to pay public sectors salaries and statement pension by months end. The lack of confidence is also manifesting itself in Greeks not paying their taxes, which is only escalating the crisis. We remain considerably negative on the EUR/USD and look for rallies to reload shorts. The adjustment higher in the short end yields of the US curve is providing support for the USD. EUR/USD finally broke the 1.0570 support and is heading to the next support of 1.0458 (low from March 15). Fresh boost will be needed to break this key support as it also corresponds to a low from March 2003 (1.0504).
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With a light calendar in the US session, traders will be looking forward to ECB meeting on Wednesday. It’s unlikely that the central bank will propose any new policy initiatives, so the focus will be on discussions at the press conference. Investors should be concentrating on the ECBs medium term policy outlook, update on QE program and discussions on Greece. What’s is also likely to grab the spotlight is early ending of QE. We suspect that real debate over the exit of the ECB QE program are premature (before September 2015). In an interview conducted Monday, ECB executive board member Yves Mersch was questioned about exit strategy. A known hawk he mentioned that if inflation moved above target “it would of course be appropriate to consider whether we need to adjust our plan.” However, he stressed that “we have not yet arrived at a point where we need to conduct a public discussion on the exit." Clearly QE has made a noticeable impact on the European economy, yet spillover into the mid-term inflation outlook (in headline and core) is too early to measure. Barring a significant deviation from this view reaffirmation of the ECB commitment to QE will keep EUR weak verse EM and USD while holding up well against European peers.
EUR/USD
Today's Key Issues
Country /GMT Feb Industrial Production SA MoM, exp 0.40%, last -0.10% EUR / 09:00
Feb Industrial Production WDA YoY, exp 0.80%, last 1.20% EUR / 09:00
Mar Retail Sales Advance MoM, exp 1.10%, last -0.60% USD / 12:30
Mar Teranet/National Bank HPI MoM, last 0.10% CAD / 12:30
Mar Retail Sales Ex Auto MoM, exp 0.70%, last -0.10% USD / 12:30
Mar Teranet/National Bank HPI YoY, last 4.40% CAD / 12:30
Mar Retail Sales Ex Auto and Gas, exp 0.60%, last -0.20% USD / 12:30
Mar Teranet/National Bank HP Index, last 167.52 CAD / 12:30 Mar Retail Sales Control Group, exp 0.50%, last 0.00% USD / 12:30
Mar PPI Final Demand MoM, exp 0.20%, last -0.50% USD / 12:30
Mar PPI Ex Food and Energy MoM, exp 0.10%, last -0.50% USD / 12:30
Mar PPI Ex Food, Energy, Trade MoM, exp 0.10%, last 0.00% USD / 12:30 Mar PPI Final Demand YoY, exp -0.90%, last -0.60% USD / 12:30 Mar PPI Ex Food and Energy YoY, exp 0.90%, last 1.00% USD / 12:30
Mar PPI Ex Food, Energy, Trade YoY, exp 0.80%, last 0.70% USD / 12:30
Mar NFIB Small Business Optimism, exp 98, last 98 USD / 13:00
Feb Business Inventories, exp 0.20%, last 0.00% USD / 14:00 1Q
Real Estate Index Family Homes, last 440.6 CHF / 22:00 4Q CBA/HIA
House Affordability, last 96.2 AUD / 22:00
The Risk Today
Luc Luyet
EUR/USD continues to weaken after the break to the downside out of its horizontal range defined by the support at 1.0713 and the key resistance at 1.1043. A further decline towards the support at 1.0458 is favoured. Hourly resistances stand at 1.0684 (10/04/2015 high) and 1.0789 (09/04/2015 high). In the longer term, the symmetrical triangle favours further weakness towards parity. As a result, any strength is likely to be temporary in nature. A strong resistance stands at 1.1114 (05/03/2015 low). Key supports can be found at 1.0504 (21/03/2003 low) and 1.0000 (psychological support).
GBP/USD has broken the support at 1.4635, confirming increasing selling pressures. Despite the recent bounce, the short-term technical structure is negative as long as prices remain below the hourly resistance at 1.4725. An hourly support now lies at 1.4566. In the longer-term, the break of the strong support at 1.4814 opens the way for further medium-term weakness towards the strong support at 1.4231 (20/05/2010 low). Another strong support stands at 1.3503 (23/01/2009 low). A key resistance can be found at 1.5552 (26/02/2015 high).
USD/JPY is showing some signs of weakness. Monitor the test of the hourly support at 119.64 (07/04/2015 low). Other supports are given by the rising channel (around 119.15) and 118.72. An hourly resistance can now be found at 120.84. A long-term bullish bias is favoured as long as the strong support at 115.57 (16/12/2014 low) holds. A gradual rise towards the major resistance at 124.14 (22/06/2007 high) is favoured. A key support can be found at 118.18 (16/02/2015 low), whereas a key resistance stands at 121.85 (see also the long-term declining channel).
USD/CHF has broken the resistance at 0.9757, validating a double-bottom formation. The implied upside potential is given by 1.0023. A short-term bullish bias is favoured as long as the hourly support at 0.9751 (10/04/2015 low) holds. Resistances stand at 0.9863 and 0.9984. Another hourly support lies at 0.9674 (intraday low). In the longer-term, the bullish momentum in USD/CHF has resumed after the decline linked to the removal of the EUR/CHF floor. A test of the strong resistance at 1.0240 is likely. A key support can be found at 0.9450 (26/02/2015 low, see also the 200-day moving average).
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