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Asia Roundup: Yen rallies to over 4-month peak as coronavirus outbreak worsens, gold at all-time high amid U.S.-China tensions, investors eye German IFO Survey - Monday, July 27th, 2020

Market Roundup

  • Oil slips on rising virus cases
     
  • Gold soars to all-time high
     
  • Dollar eases as Fed seen softening inflation stance
     

Economic Data Ahead

  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) EZ Private Loans (YoY)(Jun)               
     
  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) EZ M3 Money Supply (3m)(Jun)     
     
  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) EZ M3 Money Supply (YoY)(Jun)     
     
  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) Germany IFO – Business Climate(Jul)           
     
  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) Germany IFO – Current Assessment(Jul)    
     
  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) Germany IFO – Expectations(Jul)
     

Key Events Ahead

  • No Significant Events Scheduled

FX Beat

DXY: The dollar index slumped to a near 2-week low, after labour data last week showed the U.S. employment recovery wobbling. Investors drove away from the world’s reserve currency amid cracks in the U.S. economic recovery. The greenback against a basket of currencies traded 0.4 percent down at 93.99, having touched a low of 93.84 earlier, its lowest since September 2018.

EUR/USD: The euro rallied to a fresh near 2-year peak, as the 750 billion euro fund that European Union leaders agreed last week will make the bloc more stable. The European currency traded 0.5 percent higher at 1.1714, having touched a high of 1.1725 earlier, its highest since September 2018. Investors’ attention will remain on a series of data from Eurozone economies, EZ M3 money supply and German IFO survey ahead of the U.S. durable goods. Immediate resistance is located at 1.1767, a break above targets 1.1815. On the downside, support is seen at 1.1612, a break below could drag it below 1.1558 (5-DMA).

USD/JPY: The dollar slumped to an over 4-month trough, as a standoff between Washington and Beijing showed no signs of abating with both sides ordering the closure of consulates in Chengdu and Houston. Moreover, the coronavirus outbreak also continued to worsen, with more than 16.13 million people cases globally and 644,836​ deaths. The major was trading 0.6 percent down at 105.48, having hit a low of 105.38 earlier, its lowest since March 16. Investors’ will continue to track the broad-based market sentiment, ahead of  the U.S. durable goods. Immediate resistance is located at 106.38, a break above targets 106.82 (5-DMA). On the downside, support is seen at 105.14, a break below could take it near at 104.77.

GBP/USD: Sterling rallied to a 4-1/2 month high, as data released last week showed retail sales recovered to almost pre-lockdown measures in June. However, the pair trimmed early session gains as investors focused on the lack of progress in trade talks with the European Union. The major traded 0.1 percent up at 1.2808, having hit a high of 1.2858 earlier, it’s highest since March 11. Investors’ attention will remain on the geopolitical developments, ahead of the U.S. fundamental drivers. Immediate resistance is located at 1.2876, a break above could take it near 1.3008. On the downside, support is seen at 1.2686 (5-DMA), a break below targets 1.2829 (10-DMA). Against the euro, the pound was trading 0.3 percent down at 91.27 pence, having hit a high of 90.01 on Tuesday, it’s highest since July 13.

AUD/USD: The Australian dollar surged, extending previous session losses, as the greenback eased across the board. The Aussie trades 0.3 percent up at 0.7126, having hit a high of 0.7183 on Wednesday, it’s highest since late April 2019. Investors will continue to track overall market sentiment, ahead of U.S. economic releases. Immediate resistance is located at 0.7161, a break above could take it near 0.7183. On the downside, support is seen at 0.7037 (10-DMA), a break below targets 0.7011.

Equities Recap

Asian shares surged, supported by tech gains, while gold hit an all-time high as China and the United States tensions rattled investors.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 1.3 percent.

Tokyo's Nikkei fell 0.2 percent to 22,715.85 points, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index rallied 0.3 percent to 6,044.20 points. South Korea's KOSPI surged 0.8 percent to 2,217.86 points.

Shanghai composite index rose 0.3 percent to 3,205.23 points, while CSI 300 index traded 0.5 percent up at 4,528.45 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng traded 0.4 percent lower at 24,609.80 points. Taiwan shares added 2.3 percent to 12,588.30 points.

Commodities Recap

Crude oil prices edged lower as rising coronavirus cases and tensions between the United States and China sent investors seeking safety in safe-haven assets. International benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.4 percent down at $43.10 per barrel by 0615 GMT, having hit a high of $44.86 on Tuesday, its highest since March 6. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was trading 0.4 percent lower at $41.10 a barrel, after rising as high as $42.49 on Tuesday, its highest since March 6.

Gold prices rallied to record highs as an intensifying U.S.-China row dented the dollar and cemented expectations that central banks would continue pumping out stimulus to ease the economic stress from a worsening coronavirus pandemic. Spot gold rose 1.7 percent to $1,933.66 per ounce by 0620 GMT, having hit an all time high of $1,944.77 earlier U.S. gold futures climbed 1.4 percent to $1,924.20.

Treasuries Recap

The U.S. Treasury yields edged lower, with the benchmark 10-year note yield trading at 0.583 percent.

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