Daily Market Outlook, September 17, 2024 

Munnelly’s Macro Minute…

"US Retail Sales: The Final Input Ahead Of The Fed Decision”

On Tuesday, Asian equities were mixed in thin trade, as markets in mainland China and South Korea were closed for public holidays. In Asian trading, the dollar was held down by rate cut bets, and gold was marginally higher. Oil extended overnight gains as a result of concerns regarding Hurricane Francine's influence on U.S. Gulf of Mexico output. The Hang Seng index of Hong Kong experienced a rise of more than 1%. The dollar's value against the yen was at its lowest in over a year, as tech equities followed their U.S. counterparts lower and Japan's Nikkei average declined by 1.5%. This decline was exacerbated by a decrease in U.S. Treasury yields.

The yen experienced a 38-year low against the dollar in early July; however, it has since gained over 12% as the difference between two-year U.S. and Japanese rates has decreased by approximately 130 basis points over the course of 11 weeks. A dovish Fed or a hawkish BOJ could provide a push that propels it past 140, which would pave the way for an assault on the yen peak of 127.215 per dollar from last January. Subsequent gains are probable. Additionally, it would force the yen to surpass the high end of corporate expectations for exchange rates this fiscal year, thereby converting them into purchasers and bolstering the already robust momentum.

Datawise, the German ZEW survey, which is scheduled to be released this morning, is anticipated to indicate a modest decline in sentiment this month. Later today, the U.S. Federal Reserve will commence a two-day policy meeting. Investors are progressively anticipating a half-point reduction in interest rates. The CME FedWatch Tool indicates that Fed funds futures traders are presently pricing in a 62% probability of a 50 basis-point cut and a 38% probability of a 25 basis-point cut. The U.S. retail sales data for August, which is due out later in the day, might have an impact on the Fed's interest-rate decision. It is expected that retail sales will experience tailwinds from back-to-school spending. Stateside, with market watchers expecting an above-consensus print (+0.2%), this would underpin the Goldilocks economic scenario. Downside risks to the data may come from increased concerns among consumers given weaker labor market data, which may translate to reduced spending, with a miss on consensus likely to up the ante on a 50 basis point cut.

Overnight Newswire Updates of Note

  • ZEW German Investor Outlook Faces Potential Third Drop

  • FM Suzuki: Japan To Analyse Impact Of Stronger Yen

  • Polls Show Japan Leadership Race A Three-Way Tussle

  • Asia Shares Fall, Yields Squashed On Fed Cut Bets

  • US & Japan Near Deal To Curb Chip Exports To China

  • Fed's SOFR Prices In 60% Chance Of 50bps Rate Cut

  • Intel, AWS Collaboration For US Chip Manufacturing

  • EU Urged To Address Air-Defence Gaps With Joint Debt

  • EU Plans To Raise €40B In Loans For Ukraine Without US

  • Blinken To Make 10th Trip To Middle East, Ceasefire

          (Sourced from reliable financial news outlets)

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FX Options Expiries For 10am New York Cut

(1BLN+ represents larger expiries, more magnetic when trading within daily ATR)

  • EUR/USD: 1.0970-80 (2.52BLN), 1.1025-30 (3.6BLN)

  • 1.1050-60 (1.41BLN), 1.1095-00 (1.26BLN), 1.110 (379M)

  • 1.1115-25 (2.14BLN), 1.1130-40 (1.06BLN)

  • 1.1175-85 (1.38BLN, 1.1195-00 (903M)

  • USD/CHF: 0.8400 (275M), 0.8630 (800M)

  • EUR/GBP: 0.8400 (771M), 0.8440 (400M), 0.8500 (351M)

  • GBP/USD: 1.2990-1.3000 (722M), 1.3090-00 (884M)

  • 1.3180 (273M), 1.3220 (378M)

  • AUD/USD: 0.6575 (815M), 0.6630-40 (1.83BLN)

  • NZD/USD: 0.6005 (1.1BLN), 0.6100-05 (442M), 0.6355 (434M)

  • USD/CAD: 1.3550 (446M), 1.3650 (1.9BLN)

  • USD/JPY: 140.00 (346M), 140.43-50 (576M)

  • 140.70-72 (300M), 140.85 (1.23BLN), 141.00 (560M)

  • 141.25 (300M), 142.00 (295M), 143.00 (355M)

  • USD/ZAR: 17.30 (200M), 17.50 (200M)

CFTC Data As Of 13/9/24

  • Euro net long position is 81,433 contracts

  • Japanese Yen net long position is 55,770 contracts

  • Swiss Franc posts net short position of -21,304 contracts

  • British Pound net long position is 90,288 contracts

  • Equity fund managers cut S&P 500 CME net long position by 6,179 contracts to 985,040

  • Equity fund speculators trim S&P 500 CME net short position by 18,194 contracts to 253,368

  • Speculators increase CBOT US 10-year Treasury futures net short position by 19,278 contracts to 1,022,105

Technical & Trade Views

SP500 Bullish Above Bearish Below 5565

  • Daily VWAP bullish

  • Weekly VWAP bullish

  • Below 5550 opens 5500

  • Primary support 5475

  • Primary objective is 5700

EURUSD Bullish Above Bearish Below 1.1140

  • Daily VWAP bullish

  • Weekly VWAP bearish

  • Below 1.09 opens 1.0850

  • Primary resistance 1.1150

  • Primary objective 1.0950

GBPUSD Bullish Above Bearish Below 1.3190

  • Daily VWAP bullish

  • Weekly VWAP bullish

  • Below 1.3050 opens 1.2960

  • Primary support is 1.2730

  • Primary objective 1.3390

USDJPY Bullish Above Bearish Below 141

  • Daily VWAP bearish

  • Weekly VWAP bearish

  • Above 141 opens 143.70

  • Primary resistance e143.70

  • Primary objective is 138.50

XAUUSD Bullish Above Bearish Below 2530

  • Daily VWAP bullish

  • Weekly VWAP bullish

  • Below 2500 opens 2460

  • Primary support 2430

  • Primary objective is 2598

BTCUSD Bullish Above Bearish Below 58000

  • Daily VWAP bullish

  • Weekly VWAP bearish

  • Below 54000 opens 50000

  • Primary support is 50000

  • Primary objective is 70000