Market news

Overnight Headlines

*US futures in the green, closed at another record high Friday

*USD rebounds strongly after solid PCE data

*Japanese stocks jump after ruling LDP party secures election victory

*Australian bonds bounce erase much of Friday’s panicked rout

*RBA, FOMC, BoE meetings plus NFP this week

US equities saw another round of all-time highs Friday, despite disappointing 3Q earnings from some tech titans. Indices posted their best monthly performance of the year after a late surge near the close. Both the S&P500 and the Nasdaq notched around a 7% gain each on the month. The Nikkei is enjoying its biggest daily gain in four months after the LDP Kishida victory reduced political uncertainties. Japanese stocks hit a one-month high buoyed by a stable government and more fiscal stimulus.

USD rebounded off the 50-day SMA below 93.50 to hit more than two-week highs. Month-end flows are being blamed for some of the move. The release of the Fed’s preferred inflation measure showed prices continuing to rise faster than its 2% target. The DXY gained 0.5% on the week after two straight weekly losses, although the index was down on the month. 10-year US Treasury yields dropped the most in a week since early July. Dollar bulls now have eyes on 94.56, and EUR/USD lows at 1.1524.

Market Thoughts – Packed week full of risk events

It’s an exceptionally busy week to kick off the penultimate month of the year. We have central meetings in the US, UK, Norway and Australia. Major data releases are also on the calendar including today’s US ISM and new jobs reports from across the pond from the US and Canada on Friday.

A pretty confident tapering announcement is expected from the Fed on Wednesday. Mid-2022 is seen as the likely optimal end date with focus on the next steps for policy tightening. The RBA lost control of the short end of their bond market last week and it looks like it may have to shift policy. GBP has started to underperform as traders’ position for Thursday’s BoE meeting. Many expect the bank to struggle to deliver the hawkish pricing seen in GBP money markets.

Chart of the Day – AUD/USD hits 200-day SMA

It’s quite a rare event when the Aussie bond market gets headline billing. But the tumult last week has seen the market question if the RBA have now given up on their yield curve control policy. Current purchases are slated to run at A$4bn a week until mid-February 2022. Any changes to this or forward guidance will tell us much about the timing for bond buys to be discontinued.

The reaction in AUD has actually been relatively mild. The market has had an overstretched short position and with the size of the bond sell-off, the aussie is now widely undervalued. Prices hit a four-month high at the end of last week at 0.7555 and the 200-day SMA but have backed off since. Above here we have the down trendline from the February high just above 0.76. Support is at 0.7453.

Jamie DuttaAnalyst / Trader

"With extensive experience as a full time trader and financial market commentator, I have worked as a trader in top tier investment banks and trading houses, including Morgan Stanley and GAIN Capital trading Forex, Index derivatives. and Bonds. I combine technical analysis with a deep fundamental knowledge to identify trade set-ups. My real life experience allows me to break down the complexities of financial jargon and trading. This means everyone can better understand the compelling forces of greed and fear which are realised every day in countless ways across markets."

Vantage does not represent or warrant that the material provided here is accurate, current, or complete, and therefore should not be relied upon as such. The information provided here, whether from a third party or not, is not to be considered as a recommendation; or an offer to buy or sell; or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments; or to participate in any specific trading strategy. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. We advise any readers of this content to seek their own advice. Without the approval of Vantage, reproduction or redistribution of this information is not permitted.