US Market Snapshot via IG: DJIA -1.2%, Nasdaq 100 -1%, S&P 500 -1%
Major Headlines
- Trump administration to look at $200bln worth of tariffs on Chinese goods
- RBA Minutes lean on dovish side after omitting interest rate guidance
- ECB’s Draghi delivers cautious statement
JPY: Global markets tumbled with Chinese markets slumping near 4% and US equity futures falling over 1% after reports that the Trump administration were looking at fresh tariffs on Chinese exports valued at $200bln. This is on top of the threat made by Trump to impose 10% levy on China if they do not change practices. As such, as China and the US move closer towards a full-blown trade war, the JPY has been supported by safe-haven flows, notably gaining against the commodity currencies (AUD, NZD, CAD).
AUD: Given its large exposure to China, the Australian Dollar has come in middle of the trade spat between the US and China. Consequently, AUDUSD has fallen to 13-month lows with room for further losses as fears rise over Chinese retaliation. Elsewhere, the latest RBA minutes omitted guidance in regard to interest rates (previously had rates likely to go up rather than down), which suggests that increased trade uncertainty has entered the thinking among RBA rate setters.
GBP: Yesterday saw the House of Lords deliver another defeat for PM May by voting in favour of parliament having a “meaningful vote” on a final Brexit deal. As such, PM May faces another vote in the House of Commons, consequently Brexit uncertainty remains high, which has kept the Pound pressured and now trading at 7-month lows. Fears mount for Theresa May as Tory rebels have warned that they could collapse the government if they disagree with the final outcome of the withdrawal talks.
EUR: Following last week’s surprise announcement by the ECB, attention had been placed on today’s comments from President Draghi. In his speech, Draghi stated that inflation and growth had been returning to objective, while also stating that the central bank will be patient in determining timing of first rate hike. However, highlighted concerns over growth outlook amid rising downside risks from escalating trade wars. Consequently, EURUSD slipped through 1.16 and moved towards support at 1.1550. Eyes on the June low at 1.1510, whereby a break could see a run in on 1.1448.
DailyFX Economic Calendar: Tuesday, June 18, 2018 – North American Releases
DailyWebinar Calendar: Tuesday, June 18, 2018
IG Client Sentiment Index: AUDUSD Chart of the Day
AUDUSD: Data shows 67.6% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 2.08 to 1. In fact, traders have remained net-long since Jun 05 when AUDUSD traded near 0.7619; price has moved 3.2% lower since then. The number of traders net-long is 2.8% lower than yesterday and 16.4% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 1.7% lower than yesterday and 31.8% lower from last week.
We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests AUDUSD prices may continue to fall. Positioning is less net-long than yesterday but more net-long from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed AUDUSD trading bias.
Five Things Traders are Reading
- “DXY Index Hits Yearly High as China-US Trade Tensions Rise” byChristopher Vecchio, CFA, Sr. Currency Strategist
- “Ethereum Analysis: Has ETH Found Short-Term Support at $500?” by Nick Cawley, Market Analyst
- “Market Sentiment Suffers as US-China Trade War Concerns Escalate”by Martin Essex, MSTA, Analyst and Editor
- “US-China Trade War and RBA Guidance Sees AUD Plunge to 13-Month Low”by Justin McQueen, Market Analyst
- “Trading Outlook for Gold & Silver Price, US Crude Oil, S&P 500 & More” by Paul Robinson, Market Analyst
— Written by Justin McQueen, Market Analyst
To contact Justin, email him at Justin.mcqueen@ig.comFollow Justin on Twitter @JMcQueenFX
