Thursday, August 23, 2012

Dollar Selling Extends into Asian Trade, Eurozone PMI Data on Tap


Talking Points
  • US Dollar Selling Continues in Asia as FOMC Minutes Feed QE3 Outlook
  • Australian Dollar Lags Comm Bloc Counterparts on Soft Chinese PMI Data
  • Eurozone PMIs in Focus as the Next Key Inflection Point for Risk Trends
The US Dollar continued to edge lower against its top counterparts in overnight trade, extending a selloff sparked in the wake of minutes from Augusts’ Federal Reserve policy meeting. The report showed that many FOMC members thought additional easing would “likely be warranted fairly soon unlessincoming data point to a “substantial and sustainablestrengthening in the economic recovery.

The remarks stoked hopes that additional stimulus would boost US demand for Asian exports, sending an MSCI benchmark gauge of regional stock performance 0.8 percent higher. The risk-sensitive commodity bloc currencies outperformed but the Australian Dollar lagged behind its counterparts after the HSBC Chinese Manufacturing PMI measure dropped to 47.8 in August, showing factory-sector activity shrank at the fastest pace since November 2011. China is Australia’s top export market and key source of demand driving its mining-sector boom.

Looking ahead, the spotlight turns to the preliminary set of Augusts’ Eurozone PMI figures. Another print below the 50 “boom-bust” level on the region-wide measure is expected to show manufacturing- and service-sector activity shriveled for the seventh consecutive month, though the pace of contraction remained unchanged from July.

The deep slump in Eurozone economic growth represents the most significant headwind facing global output this year. With that in mind, any signs of stabilization perceptible from the PMI data set are likely to boost risk appetite and compound downward pressure on the US Dollar. Needless to say, disappointing results have scope to dent sentiment and offer the greenback a lifeline as haven demand returns.

Asia Session: What Happened

GMT
CCY
EVENT
ACT
EXP
PREV
2:00
CNY
Conference Board Leading Index (JUL)
236.4
-
234.8
2:30
CNY
HSBC Flash Manufacturing PMI (AUG)
47.8
-
49.3

Euro Session: What to Expect

GMT
CCY
EVENT
EXP
PREV
IMPACT
6:00
CHF
Trade Balance (CHF) (JUL)
2.19B
Medium
6:00
CHF
Exports (MoM) (JUL)
0.5%
-2.6%
Low
6:00
CHF
Imports (MoM) (JUL)
-
-3.1%
Low
6:00
EUR
German GDP s.a. (QoQ) (2Q F)
0.3%
0.3%
Medium
6:00
EUR
German GDP n.s.a. (YoY) (2Q F)
0.5%
0.5%
Medium
6:00
EUR
German GDP w.d.a. (YoY) (2Q F)
1.0%
1.0%
Medium
6:00
EUR
German Imports (2Q)
1.0%
0.0%
Low
6:00
EUR
German Exports (2Q)
1.2%
1.7%
Low
6:00
EUR
German Domestic Demand (2Q)
-
-0.3%
Low
6:00
EUR
German Capital Investment (2Q)
-1.5%
-1.1%
Low
6:00
EUR
German Construction Investment (2Q)
2.0%
-1.3%
Low
6:00
EUR
German Private Consumption (2Q)
0.2%
0.4%
Low
6:00
EUR
German Government Spending (2Q)
0.2%
0.2%
Low
7:00
EUR
French PMI Manufacturing (AUG P)
43.7
43.4
Medium
7:00
EUR
French PMI Services (AUG P)
50.0
50.0
Medium
7:30
EUR
German PMI Manufacturing (AUG A)
43.4
43.0
High
7:30
EUR
German PMI Services (AUG A)
50.1
50.3
High
8:00
EUR
Euro-Zone PMI Composite (AUG A)
46.5
46.5
High
8:00
EUR
Euro-Zone PMI Services (AUG A)
47.7
47.9
High
8:00
EUR
Euro-Zone PMI Manufacturing (AUG A)
44.2
44.0
High
8:30
GBP
BBA Loans for House Purchase (JUL)
27250
26269
Low
10:00
GBP
CBI Reported Sales (AUG)
16
11
Low

Critical Levels

CCY
SUPPORT
RESISTANCE
EURUSD
1.2461
1.2606
GBPUSD
1.5805
1.5958

No comments: