Week in FX Europe Dec 11-16

Last week’s Euro summit is not sitting well with the market. From the first trading session this week, investors were given the green light to push this currency down to an 11-month low. Rating Agencies continue applying pressure in the background, threatening to downgrade one or all of the Euro-zone members. The absence of the ECB as the “lender of last resort” is hurting risk appetite. Because we are in December, it’s difficult for many participants to strap on massive risk positions in a low-liquidity and volatile environment. This month and year may be winding down, but the heat on the Euro-zone is certainly becoming more intense. Investors are trading up against some key support levels for the currency, levels that when breached could see another decent run to the downside.

Below are some other highlights of the week:

EUROPE

• EUR: Moody’s reiterates that it would review the ratings of all European sovereigns in Q1, joining S&P in noting rising vulnerability without taking the formal step of placing the ratings on review.
• Moody’s: Placed eight Spanish banks on review for possible downgrade, citing domestic economic weakness and an ailing commercial real estate market. These reasons are only ever going to become more dominant with the threat of the Euro-zone dipping into recession come the New Year.
• EUR: It was not a surprise to see that the EU summit and ECB meeting last week has left the euro very vulnerable.
• ECB: They delivered a set of measures aimed at improving banking sector liquidity, and made progress on moving towards a more perfect “fiscal union”. It is suggested that the measures will stop short of ensuring market access for the larger peripheral sovereigns at sustainable rates.
• ECB: They also rejected the notion that fiscal agreement would pave the way for more aggressive bond purchases. This week’s absence has been duly noted, allowing bond yields to push higher without any obvious aggressive ECB response.
• ITL: On Monday Italy successfully auctioned 1-year bills, with a +5.95% yield and 1.92 bid-to-cover ratio.
• EU: German ZEW survey surprised positively (-53.8 vs. -55.2), but remains at very depressed levels.
• EU: The EFSF saw strong demand at its 3-month bill auction, and Spain successfully sold 12 and 18-month bills. Market should not be concerned because of the shortness of maturity.
• UK: Inflation slowed to +4.8%, y/y, in November from +5.0%, and in line with expectations. Core-inflation moderated to +3.2%, y/y, from +3.4% and a touch below the consensus forecast for +3.3%. With monthly gains in core prices remaining firm will pose a risk to further easing by the BoE. However, given weak growth the market is leaning towards an expansion of QE in February.
• SEK: Inflation printed +2.8%, y/y, a tad above expectations of +2.7%, but moderating from +2.9% in October. Core-inflation remained stable at +1.1%, y/y, again a tad above the consensus for +1.0%. With core-inflation printing below the Riksbank forecast for two consecutive months supportive market expectation of a cut at the next meeting.
• SGD: Their employment outlook weakened sharply for Q1 2012. Net employment expectations fell to +16% from +31% in Q4. However, this is still consistent with an increase in employment, albeit at a slower pace, and is in line the government’s outlook for only 1-3% GDP growth in 2012.
• EU: In mid-week, Germany sold +4.18b 2-year notes and paid the lowest yield (+0.25%) for 2-year product since the inception of the EUR. The bid-to-cover was 1.4 versus a four auction average of 1.1. The Italians on the other hand, in contrast, paid a Euro era record yield of +6.47% to sell +EUR3b five-year debt, adding to concerns that an EU summit last week had made little progress in tackling the region’s debt crisis. The country has done little to ally fears over its ability to continue to raise funds at sustainable levels. It’s estimated that they need +EUR220b’s worth of bonds next year.
• EU: The Euro-zone factory output data disappointed, falling on the month (-0.1%) and registering its weakest annual gain in nearly two-years. Production rose +1.3%, y/y, the weakest increase in two-years and well below street estimates of +2.1%. Weakness in the Euros manufacturing base reinforces the regions concerns on the health of their economy.
• UK: Labor market data came in slightly better than expected. While the ILO unemployment rate is stable at +8.3% in October, the jobless claims increased by +3k only. These numbers point to somewhat better job market conditions and a more resilient economy than other indicators would suggest. However, capital markets expect an expansion of the QE program in February.
• EU: Spain sold +€6b of 5’s and 10-year debt, well-above the +€3.5b indicative maximum on offer. This was the second oversubscribed auction of Spanish paper this week.
• EUR: Euro area PMI surveys surprised to the upside, despite expectations for a further drop. The manufacturing PMI rose to 46.9 from 46.4, the first increase in eight-months. Services PMI increased to 48.3 from 47.5. However, with the financial distress and resulting tight credit conditions should limit any further rebounds. Analysts continue to suggest further easing from the ECB will be necessary.
• EU: Euro-zone inflation came in an unrevised +3.0%, y/y, last month. Core-inflation was stable at +1.6%. In its monthly bulletin, the ECB again highlighted substantial downside risks to the economic outlook. Projections now show inflation dropping below +2% next year and to +1.5% in 2013. This is certainly inline with more rate cuts.
• GBP: UK retail sales ex- fuel fell -0.7%, m/m, in November, worse than the -0.4% forecasted. Coupled with positive revisions to previous months, the annual growth rate is +0.5%, y/y, above the consensus for +0.3%.
• CHF: The SNB left EUR/CHF floor at 1.20. Their statement was a carbon copy to the September statement. Inflation forecasts were revised lower. The 2012 inflation forecast was left unchanged at -0.3% while the 2013 inflation forecast was marginally revised by -0.1% to -0.4%. Hilderbrand projects GDP Growth to be at +0.5%, y/y, next year. They are attributing the negative growth risks to “their country’s close relations with the euro area; Switzerland’s economic prospects are highly dependent on how the crisis develops”.
• IMF Lagarde: Crisis escalating and requires assistance from countries outside the EU.
• HUF: The currency is underperforming on the news that the IMF mission chief cut short a visit to Hungary due to disagreements on central bank law and on pension funds.

AMERICAS Week in FX

ASIA Week in FX

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.