ClearFX Daily Commentary - 14/06/2011

Australian Dollar:

The Australian Market re-opens this morning following the three-day Queen''s Birthday long weekend. Given the Holiday, volumes were down yesterday and after opening at a rate of 1.0525 against its US Counterpart the Australian Dollar traded within a tight 40 Basis point range during the domestic session. While the Australian Currency drifted slightly higher during the US and European Session reaching an eventual high of 1.0636, riskier assets such as the Australian Dollar are expected to remain under some mild selling pressure as global growth concerns and ongoing uncertainly over the Greek debt Crisis continue to play on the minds of Investors. Meanwhile we see the Aussie open stronger this morning at a rate of 1.0604 as the market looks towards the release of the NAB Business Confidence Figures due out today at 11:30am

We expect a range today of 1.0560 – 1.0660

New Zealand Dollar:

Following a relatively subdued opening to the week the New Zealand dollar dropped as low as 81.14 US Cents yesterday. As news spread that a series of earthquakes had hit Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, the New Zealand Currency was immediately sold losing a full cent against its US Counterpart. With the most recent series of earthquakes being the worst since the February Trembler which killed more than 180 people, there are fears more strain will be placed on an economy still recovering from the shocks of the quake earlier in this year. With the costs of the most the recent quakes yet to be calculated, they are likely to prompt the RBNZ to keep interest rates at record-lows for a longer period as we see the kiwi open markedly lower at a rate of 0.8155.

We expect a range today of 0.8120 - 0.8200

Great British Pound:

The Great British Pound benefitted yesterday from a weaker EURO as investors moved assets into the neighbouring Sterling overnight. With a weaker EURO the Bank of England also released its quarterly bulletin which fuelled further speculation of potential interest rate rises before year’s end. Given the soft economic data of late, the BOE did make mention that should inflationary pressures continue to mount, the UK economy could absorb higher borrowing costs. Off the back of such news the pound rallied during the European Session trading as high as 1.6388 as it opens a cent a half higher this morning at 1.6374 against its US Counterpart.

We expect a range today of 1.5390 – 1.5490

Majors:

In the Absence of any economic releases out of the US overnight the Greenback opens marginally lower against the Yen this morning at a rate of 80.201. While Global equities finished higher off the back of continued strong corporate earnings, the US currency still remains bearish in the Short-term as the US President Obama addressed Corporate leaders overnight stating the greatest challenge to the US economy still remains within getting people back to work. Meanwhile making headlines out of the EURO Zone last night was news that Greece had its Credit Rating downgraded 3 levels by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Agency. Giving a clear insight towards the risks of further defaults, investors remain increasingly sceptical toward the ability of European Leaders to address the ongoing sovereign debt crisis. As a result the EURO lost over a one and half cents during yesterday’s session and after reaching an eventual low of 1.4408 we see it open this morning at a rate of 1.4414 against its US Counterpart

Data releases

AUD: NAB Business Confidence

NZD: FPI m/m

JPY: Monetary Policy Statement, Overnight Call Rate, Revised Industrial Production m/m

GBP: CPI y/y, RPI y/y, CORE CPI y/y, DCLG HPI y/u

EUR: No Data Today

USD: Core Retail Sales m/m, PPI m/m, Core PPI m/m, Business Inventories m/m.