Spreadex Market Update

Euro sinks after ECB, US CPI could bring Fireworks



Volatile week for the Dollar culminates with today’s US CPI release. EUR weakened yesterday despite hawkish ECB outcome as traders focus on growth concerns around July rate hike. Equities plunged on further central bank tightening signals amidst recessionary fears. Oil slips back from weekly highs as USD rally limits gains. 

 

Key Factors for Today

  • USD saw strong gains yesterday as EUR tanked
  • Big focus on today’s US CPI reading
  • Equities fell on fresh central bank tightening signals & recessionary fears
  • EUR fell despite ECB July rate hike signal, JPY leads FX on safe-haven demand
  • Oil prices down off weekly highs despite better China imports data

 

Coming Up

  • CAD Canadian Employment data
  • USD US CPI
  • EUR ECB’s Lagarde speaks

 

US CPI In Focus Today

The US Dollar has kicked off the final European session of the week with a slightly softer tone on the back of yesterday’s gains. The DXY rallied more than 1% on tumbling risk appetite as traders reacted to the latest central bank tightening signal from the ECB. With financial conditions around the globe tightening, recessionary fears are back in focus. Today’s US CPI figure has the potential to create further volatility if we see a strong reading, reinforcing Fed hawkishness ahead of next week’s FOMC meeting. Similarly, a weak number will likely fuel a USD unwind, giving more weight to the prospect of a post-July rates pause from the Fed. 

 

Risk Appetite on Growing Central Bank Tightening 

Equities markets plunged lower yesterday in response to news of the ECB gearing up for its first rate hike in over a decade and ahead of US CPI today. The DAX is now sitting almost 4% off the weekly highs. Losses were not just limited to European asset markets either. The ASX200 has been the worst performer of the week, down over 4% following the RBA hike on Tuesday. Even the Nikkei, which started the week with strong gains, has reversed 2% amidst this latest wave of risk aversion. 

 

EUR Sinks Despite Hawkish ECB Meeting 

In FX, EURUSD was seen falling 1.5% yesterday despite the hawkish message from the ECB. The central bank announced an end to its asset purchase program and confirmed a 25bps hike due in July with the potential for a further, larger, 50bps hike in September. Given the reaction, it seems that traders are focusing on growth fears and the risk of recession. Given the fall back in risk appetite, JPY has been the strongest currency again over late Asian and early European trading on Friday, benefiting from increased safe-haven flows. 

 

Metals Market Still Stuck in The Mud

It's been an uneventful week for metals traders. Both gold and silver continue to tread water within recent ranges. Today’s US CPI reading might prove the necessary catalyst for action should we see a decent surprise in either direction. Failing that, the focus will be on the June FOMC meeting next week. 

 

Oil Prices Slip on USD Gains

Oil prices are sitting down off the week’s highs following the resurgence in USD over recent sessions. While the macro backdrop remains broadly supportive, the rally in USD into the end of the week has had a limiting factor on crude upside. With risk appetite deteriorating into the end of the week, oil prices are around 2% off highs. News that China’s oil imports in May increased is an encouraging sign that demand is starting to return there. 

 

DISCLAIMER


Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 64% of retail investors lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. For professional clients, spread betting and CFD trading can also result in losses larger than your initial stake or deposit.

Spreadex Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, provides an execution only service and does not provide advice in any way. Nothing within this update should be deemed to constitute the provision of investment advice, recommendations, any other professional advice in any way, or a record of our trading prices. This update does not constitute or form part of an offer of, or solicitation for a transaction in any financial instrument, nor shall it or the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore. Any persons placing trades based on their interpretation of the comments or information within this update does so entirely at their own risk.

No representation, warranty, or undertaking, express or limited, is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained within this update by Spreadex Ltd or any of its employees and no liability is accepted by such persons for the accuracy or completeness of any such information or opinions. As such, no reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information and opinions contained within this update.

The information contained within this update is the intellectual property of Spreadex Ltd and is protected by UK and International copyright laws. All rights reserved. Users may however freely download, distribute and reproduce extracts of the contents, subject always to accrediting Spreadex Ltd as the source and providing a hyperlink to www.spreadex.com.