Lockhart Boosts Greenback

Introduction

Dennis P. Lockhart of the Atlanta Federal Reserve spoke yesterday to boost USD, mentioning that there was scope for the FOMC to raise rates in June if need be. Although Lockhart reiterated a neutral stance on rates, this may have given some buoyancy to USD with San Francisco Federal Reserve president echoing similar views on the timing of any benchmark rate hike in the states. Kiwi Dollar has shown the largest losses against USD overnight after a higher than expected unemployment rate reading to kick off global currency market trading in the APAC region. The market looks ahead today to flash PMIs across Europe and the ADP employment change report out of New York. Traders will also be likely to place a particularly keen eye on the EIA’s weekly release of crude oil stock data as WTI crude oil futures trade below a notable US$44 level.

 

Asian Session

Citibank analysts note that USD/JPY has rallied despite the risk-off sentiment prevalent across the market overnight. This indicates a fundamental adjustment in positioning that may have taken place, in favour of USD. Within the USD/Asia space, currency pairs moved higher with USD/THB and USD/KRW the strongest movers. USD/MYR, sensitive to the oil price, also moved higher to 3.9935 and has support at 3.9900.

NZD moved to a low of .6877 against USD and trades at 1.0872 versus its Antipodean cousin right now. Although the unemployment rate across the nation remains on a long term downward trend, this quarter it rose to 5.7% from 5.4%, higher than the 5.5% anticipated. Employment data can in general be seen to be solid however, with the employment change rising to 1.2%^ from 1.0% last and the participation level also increasing.

 

The day ahead in Europe and NY

EUR/USD trades at approx. the 1.1500 level, almost four big figures higher than its 2016 average of 1.1124. PMI data will be release throughout the morning as well as across the continent as a whole. Importantly, March retail sales figures will also be released at 10:00 BST today too.

Amidst a very recent rise in USD strength, the aforementioned ADP employment change report is anticipated to show a 195k print at 13:15 BST today. This comes ahead of a plethora of unemployment data that will be released from the US on Friday this week. Trade balance data is also published out of the US and Canada today, whilst the trading day will finish with PMI figures and crude oil inventory data too from the states too.

 

Spot

	Last	% since US Close	High	Low
EURUSD	1.1507	0.09%	1.1511	1.1477
USDJPY	106.79	-0.18%	107.46	106.53
GBPUSD	1.4570	0.22%	1.4571	1.4520
AUDUSD	0.7516	-0.44%	0.7517	0.7467
NZDUSD	0.6911	-0.05%	0.6907	0.6877
USDCHF	0.9551	-0.07%	0.9573	0.9537
EURGBP	0.7896	0.17%	0.7912	0.7893
EURCHF	1.0985	-0.10%	1.0991	1.0970
USDCAD	1.2709	0.09%	1.2749	1.2698
USDCNH	6.5062	-0.04%	6.5096	6.5006

 

 

FXO

Friday dated EUR/USD strikes trade at an approx. volatility of 15% ahead of the forthcoming US employment data. This comes as no surprise, the option for this date and currency pair has traded higher in the past on an NFP date. AUD/USD volatility remains high after the RBA decision earlier in the week, with the one week straddle volatility approx. 3.5% higher in volatility than its yearly average of 12.75%.

EUR/USD options bias has been changing this week within the currency option space at Saxo Bank A/S. A further rise in popularity of long call and/or short put positions is evident, with 64% of traders in favour of the upside today.