Bank of England Leaves Policy on Hold; Broader Markets Find Support

- Short-term technicals starting to look stretched; Euro bounce possible

- Strategy is to sell currencies (expect Yen) against the buck into rallies

- Aussie outperforms on solid employment data

- China trade data disappoints and weighs on broader sentiment

- Greek political saga continues; austerity in jeopardy

- UK manufacturing impresses, while ECB bulletin fails to garner attention

- Bank of England leaves rates and asset purchases on hold as expected

Although the US Dollar remains very well bid across the board (Yen exception) on risk liquidation themes, technical studies are starting to look a little stretched and could warn for some consolidation before any fresh currency weakness. We have mostly been seeing some corrective consolidation in early Thursday trade thus far, and from here, we prefer an approach of selling currencies into rallies.

Relative performance versus the USD Thursday (as of 11:40GMT)

AUD +0.64%

NZD +0.46%

CAD +0.28%

GBP +0.25%

EUR +0.12%

CHF +0.11%

JPY -0.05%

The Australian Dollar is the outperformer on the day, with the commodity currency finding some relative strength on the back of a very well received employment report. Nevertheless, we would warn that Aussie bulls should not get too excited by this data showing, as broader risk off macro themes are at play, and should continue to weigh on the Australian Dollar. By extension, the latest China trade data was far from positive, and we believe it should have more of an influence on the correlated Australian Dollar than the Aussie employment data. The China data therefore is offsetting, and as such, Aussie rallies are still only viewed as short-term technical rallies ahead of an eventual bearish resumption below parity.

Elsewhere, the ongoing saga in the Eurozone is still very much in the spotlight, and it now looks as though any efforts for austerity in Greece could be out the window, given the post-elections government shakeup. The latest comment from SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, that the Greek bailout agreement was “null and void”, can not be sitting well with investors.

Moving on, the Bank of England has come out and left policy on hold (0.50% and GBP325B) as was widely expected, with the central bank halting its quantitative easing program at GBP325B. The Pound managed to find some relative strength immediately following the release, as the prospect of less monetary accommodation has been interpreted as a hawkish development, with the BOE now focusing more on inflationary risks. Also seen helping the Pound on the day was a better than expected manufacturing production result, and stable industrial production. Our EUR/GBP long position from 0.8050 has been underwater, but we continue to look for a sizable bounce over the coming sessions with daily studies so violently oversold.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK

EUR/USD: The market has finally cleared some key support by 1.3000 and the break opens the door for deeper setbacks over the coming days towards the 2012 lows from January at 1.2620. However, short-term technical studies will need to unwind from oversold readings before we are to see any extended declines below 1.3000, and we recommend looking to sell into rallies into the 1.3150-1.3200 where a fresh lower top is now sought. Ultimately, only back above 1.3300 would delay.

USD/JPY: The latest pullback from the 2012, 84.20 highs is viewed as corrective and it looks as though the market could still see a bit more weakness before considering the possibility for the formation of a medium-term higher low. Overall, this is a market that has undergone a major structural shift in recent months and we now see the pair in the early stages of a longer-term up-trend. Ultimately, only a weekly close back under 78.00 would negate.

GBP/USD: Finally starting to see signs of a medium-term top and potential 2012 high after the market has stalled and retreated from the 1.6300 area. Key support now comes in by 1.6065 and a break and close below this level will confirm bearish bias and accelerate declines towards 1.5800 further down. Ultimately, only a break back above 1.6300 would negate and give reason for reconsideration.

USD/CHF: Our core constructive outlook remains well intact with the latest setbacks very well supported by psychological barriers at 0.9000. It now appears as though the market could be looking to carve a fresh higher low, and we will be watching for additional upside back towards the recent range highs at 0.9335 over the coming sessions. Above 0.9335 should then accelerate gains towards the 2012 highs by 0.9600 further up. Ultimately, only back under 0.9000 delays and gives reason for pause.

--- Written by Joel Kruger, Technical Currency Strategist

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