Asia Open: The Risk Revival Rocks On

Markets

Global equity markets were stronger Monday, S&P up 0.7%, with gains also through Europe and Asia, as the U.S. moves into a busy week of earnings reports. The news flows were comparatively light, however, but short-term money is getting a whiff of the distinctly positive change in risk sentiment as an air of optimism around trade talks continues to envelop risk markets.

Unlike previous trade talks where expectations centred on the view that something is better than nothing, this time around their appears to be a tangible and workable roadmap in place which is supported  by official confirmation that the US and China were both on the same page about the intent to work towards Phase 1 of a 'deal' by mid November. President Trump echoed this thought overnight increasing the probability an agreement will get inked at a meeting next month in Chile.

And the fact that Phase 2 is even being discussed at this time, which contains “actual meat" according to United States Secretary of Commerce, suggesting that both US and China may have finally found a bridge that isn't too far.

All of this suggests we should have a positive day in Asian markets.

Oil prices

After a two-day slide and despite nascent signs of a definite risk revival, oil prices remain mired troughing out a base confined to relatively tight ranges.

The Commitment of Traders report indicated nearly a three-fold rise in bearish bets.And while this report includes CTA flows and macro discretionary funds it is telling none the less, individually a good chunk of speculators don’t think growth prospects for the global economy are going to turn upwards in the short term.

While this plays into the argument that a tariff détente doesn’t necessarily mean the global economy gets better rather the economic bleeding stops. But with trade talks appearing to be moving into the “actual meat” of the matters, it too implies these oil shorts could be vulnerable to any hint of a rollback in existing tariffs.

Indeed,  in other risk-sensitive assets within the latest IMM report, it indicates a significant reversal in risk-off position as Risk fear indexes have started to recede as the multi-phase US-China resolution appears to be heading in the right direction all the while  Brexit tail risk occupy a smaller slice of the shrinking risk-off pie.  If the reduction in of risk-off bets starts to show tremendous momentum, it could influence oil prices significantly higher.

The early stages of the current risk revival while supportive for oil prices, it's not providing a significant bullish catalyst in the absence of a rollback in existing tariffs  

Overall, however, WTI has been range-bound for the last week, and with Oil prices showing signs of basing it too suggests OPEC compliance remains on trader minds as we veer to the December oil meeting. Even Russia is inching towards full compliance while Alexander Novak reiterates that intention.

Russian agreement is hardly a game-changer from the current supply and demand structure as we are not talking about a lot of barrels that exceed compliance targets. But none the less, it’s a vote of confidence for an agreement extension and a possible signal that Russia may be willing to make deeper cuts coming out of the December meeting.

As for the short term, It doesn’t appear any significant technical levels have been broken to usher in more waves of CTA selling,but  the poor run of data emanating from some of the world largest oil  importers in Asia, specifically China, Japan and South Korea continues to throw a wet blanket on any rallying cry.

Gold Markets

Gold has been trading in a tight $1475-1500 range awaiting clarity on both Brexit and US-Sino trade talks.  And out of the two narratives, US-China trade talks will have the biggest bang for the buck. The improving trade talk landscape may keep gold prices depressed below $1500 and possibly below 1490 near term as trade tension blustery headwinds are offering up little more than a calm breeze these days.

These shifting trade war winds caused hedge funds and money managers to trim some of their bullish bets in the week to October 15 according to the IMM data but still remains historically high suggesting positions, especially freshly minted ones, remain vulnerable to positive trade talk news flows which might  continue to  undercut gold prices

Trade tensions have broadly supported gold this year so a trade calm should then be expected to lessen that support

Currency markets

ASEAN currency continue to advance led by the Korean won as optimism about US-China trade negotiations reverberates in every capital market pocket Asian landscape. Also, the broadly weaker US dollar against G-10 doesn't hurt sentiment either.

The Aussie dollar notched a monthly high before given way to some profit-taking as of trade talk optimises to fill the air. In the absence of any significant US economic data to shift the tide trader turned to the calming trade talk rhetoric from President Trump as progress on the US-Sino talks kept trader toggled risk on and high betas like the Australian Dollar continued to benefit. In addition, RBA chief Lowe's comments last week on a return to trend growth didn’t match up with the dovish tone of the October minutes continue to resonate.  His remarks suggest the RBA are in no rush to ease quickly.