Risk appetite recovered on Tuesday despite underlying reservations over coronavirus developments.

Risk appetite recovered on Tuesday despite underlying reservations over coronavirus developments. US bond yields increased only slightly from fresh 5-month lows. Wall Street equities posted strong gains, reversing Monday’s losses. Global equities posted net gains, although confidence was still fragile.

The dollar maintained a strong underlying tone and posted fresh 3-month highs. EUR/USD dipped lower to 3-month lows with only a marginal recovery. Sterling pared losses late in the European session on Tuesday with GBP/USD recovering from 5-month lows, but unable to gain significant traction. Commodity currencies struggled to sustain intra-day recoveries amid a firm US dollar. AUD/USD dipped to 7-month lows.

The Euro-zone current account recorded a surplus of EUR11.7bn for May from a revised EUR22.1bn the previous month. In the 12 months to May, there was a current account surplus of EUR310bn and 2.7% of GDP. The data will provide underlying Euro support, although the data also recorded sustained capital outflows into global bonds and equities which would tend to undermine the Euro, especially if the outflows are not hedged.

The Euro was unable to make any headway in early Europe and gradually lost ground amid underlying dollar strength. The stabilisation in risk assets also helped limit the potential for a further liquidation of carry trades funded through the Euro. There were also expectations of a dovish ECB stance at Thursday’s policy meeting.

US housing starts increased to an annual rate of 1.64mn for June from 1.55mn the previous month and above consensus forecasts of 1.59mn. There was, however, a decline in building permits to 1.60mn from 1.68mn and below market expectations.

The Philly Fed non-manufacturing index declined to 44.8 for July from 56.7 previously, but there was a stronger rate of growth in new orders and employment increased at a faster rate on the month. There was a further increase in the prices paid component and prices received also increased at a faster pace which reinforced expectations of higher inflation. Companies were also even more optimistic over the outlook.

Risk appetite improved during New York trading as equities posted gains. Although this lessened the potential for dollar demand on defensive grounds, there was renewed US currency buying after the Wall Street open with EUR/USD retreating to fresh 3-month lows near 1.1750 before a tentative recovery. Narrow ranges prevailed on Wednesday with the Euro around 1.1770 as tensions increased ahead of Thursday’s ECB policy meeting while expectations of a dovish stance hurt the Euro and the dollar was close to 3-month highs posted on Tuesday.

US Treasuries continued to post gains at the New York open with the 10-year yield declining to fresh 5-month lows near 1.15% despite a bounce in equity markets. Overall risk appetite remained fragile which maintained underlying demand for bonds. The dollar was, however, resilient against the Japanese currency and USD/JPY traded just above 109.50 while EUR/JPY traded below 129.0.

Equities posted further gains after the Wall Street open with USD/JPY strengthening towards 110.00 amid wider buying support. There was, however, resistance on approach to 110.00 with significant selling interest.

Japanese trade data recorded a stronger than expected increase in exports with a 48.6% annual increase for June while first-half exports exceeded the 2019 level.

Regional equities were mixed while there were concerns that flooding disruption in central China would cause further disruption to supply chains. Overall volatility declined during the Asian session with USD/JPY around 109.90 while EUR/JPY held above 129.0.

Sterling was unable to secure a significant recovery in early Europe on Tuesday. Overall risk conditions remained fragile which limited support and there were further doubts whether the Bank of England would adopt a more hawkish policy stance at the August policy meeting.

There were no comments on monetary policy from bank officials during the day while further reservations over coronavirus developments also hampered confidence

Equities recovered ground after the New York open amid a wider recovery in risk appetite which provided an element of respite for the UK currency and there was a GBP/USD move back above 1.3600 against the dollar as global developments tended to dominate.

The latest Lloyds Bank survey suggested that the recovery could be slowing with further evidence of labour shortages and supply-side difficulties. The June government borrowing requirement of £22bn was slightly above consensus forecasts. Sterling was unable to make headway on Wednesday and GBP/USD traded around 1.3600 while GBP/EUR traded just below 1.1535.

Economic Calendar