Your browser does not support JavaScript! Pls enable JavaScript and try again.

FX

Vaccine hopes allow gains in risk sentiment to extend gains

Posted on

Vaccine hopes allow gains in risk sentiment to extend gains                                       

  • USD: The positives overnight – Another vaccine boost for markets? Re-emergence of new vaccine hopes trumps all else overnight that leaves risk assets with a slightly stronger finish and USD mildly weaker with the broad based USD Index (DXY) closing the overnight session at 96.15 from 96.25 the previous day after dropping to as low of 95.78 earlier in the NY session. Stat reports late Tuesday that the Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate has led patients to produce antibodies that can neutralize the novel coronavirus, according to the first published data from an early-stage trial of the experimental shot.  CDC Chief Fauci  notes - “The data really looks quite good…..there have been no serious adverse events. The hallmark of a vaccine is one that can actually mimic natural infection and induce the kind of response that you would get with natural infection. And it looks like, at least in this limited, small number of individuals, that is exactly what’s happening. There have been no serious adverse events”. That said, Dr. Fauci still sees any significant vaccine developments by early next year (at the earliest).              
  • GBP: UK’s ITV also reports likely positive news on the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine is seen generating the kind of antibody and T-cell (killer cell) response that the researchers would hope to see in the preliminary data. The results may be made available on medical journal The Lancet. COMMENT: Vaccines/treatment news seems to be trumping all else for now as markets once again shrug off news about new Covid-19 infections rising in over 30 states across the US and comments from President Trump on China. At the same time however, it  seems markets may still be underestimating (1) the vaccine development timeline and (2) difficulty of making an effective vaccine on a mass scale.                 
  • EUR: More positives on EU Recovery Fund and French fiscal stimulus also helps drive risk sentiment - Chances of successful EU summit rising? – Handelsblatt reports the European Parliament negotiators see improving chances of a EC budget and EU Recovery Fund deal at the 17/18 July EU summit. Of the “frugal 4”, Austria, Denmark and Sweden appear likely to cave in, but Citi analysts point to the Netherlands as a risk of holding out due to the domestic political situation there. However, German Chancellor Merkel says she will bring “a reserve of compromise” to the summit, while the Spanish PM demands a solution “in July”. Adding to the positives, French President Macron promises a local recovery plan worth at least EUR100bn (4.1% of 2018 GDP) to be unveiled at the end of August.          

 

Risk negatives largely ignored for now – rising new Covid-19 cases in US and US tensions with China

  • USD: US Coronavirus update: Lockdown limbo - In the US, more than half the states are seeing positivity test rates rise as the Fourth of July effect filters and there are new testing drives in Texas/Louisiana/Florida. Meanwhile, California reintroduces restrictive measures and Texas could be next to follow, depending on hospitalization trends. Local lockdown measures are also being implemented globally, increasing the risk of growth downgrades for INR, ZAR, COP, HKD. Australia is also starting to see  more measures as the situation in Victoria state fails to improve.
  • CNY: US – China tensions - President Trump reiterates that there is “more action coming” on China. On tariffs, he says “we can impose massive tariffs on China if we want” and that he currently has no plans to speak with President Xi. However, Trump qualifies his remarks by indicating he is ruling out additional sanctions on top officials for now, according to people familiar with the matter. However, given US actions already taken, China vows to take countermeasures and announce its own sanction on US officials and entities over the HK law.

 

Data releases/ events overnight                                         

  • USD: US Manufacturing rebound stronger and more broad-based - US June industrial production rises 5.4%MoM, above Citi at 4.1% and consensus at 4.3%, leaving the headline series down 10.8%YoY. Manufacturing production advances 7.4% and autos rise 105%. Citi analysts see further upside for manufacturing in the auto sector while other components of manufacturing production also have room to rise further, consistent with data such as weekly steel production.           
  • GBP: UK – surprise uptick in core CPI - Headline CPI (targeted by the BoE), rises slightly to 0.6% YY in June (consensus 0.5%, Citi 0.4%) compared to 0.5% YY in May and 1.7% on average over Q1-20. The notable surprise is the uptick in core inflation from 1.2% in May to 1.4% in June (Consensus 1.2%, Citi 1.1%). However, several UK firms seem to have confirmed price reductions associated with the cut to VAT in the hospitality and leisure sectors. Citi analysts expect this to weigh on headline CPI inflation by around 0.4pp-0.5pp in 2H with the largest effects to be seen in Q4-2020.    
  • JPY: BoJ meeting a non-event - As expected, BoJ leaves policy unchanged. In its updated outlook, the Bank marginally lowers its growth forecast for Japan for FY2020 to between -4.5 - -5.7% (central -4.7%) from -3.0 -  -5.0% (central -4.0%) in the April report, while expressing more optimism for FY2021 and FY2020. The inflation outlook though is virtually unchanged, with a narrower forecast range. Bottom Line - there seems to be no implication from the meeting for the government’s fiscal stimulus program and the central bank’s strengthened bond purchases.    
  • CAD: BoC board meeting - BoC leaves policy rates at the effective-lower-bound of 0.25% and recommits to purchases of at-least C$5 billion per week of sovereign Canada bonds. For Governor Macklem's first full-meeting, the tone of the statement is slightly dovish, with asset purchases repackaged as QE. BoC also releases its Monetary Policy Report (MPR) in which the central growth scenario is for a - a 43% annualized decline in Q2 GDP and a +31% bounce back in Q3.    

 

This is is an extract from the Daily Currency Update, dated July 16, 2020. Please approach a Citigold Relationship Manager if you would like more information.

Related Articles