Monday, February 4, 2019

INR update: Higher oil, Budget, CNH drive USDINR higher


More than the strong January NFP print, it was the US PMI numbers which led to dollar strength in the NY session on Friday. Although ISM was better than expected (in contrast to a disappointing December print)it won’t change the outlook of an approaching slowdown in the US which has been acknowledged by the FED. Therefore I would keep my trades in the direction of the major trend which should be of a slowly and gradually weakening dollar. Consequently a daily close for EURUSD below 1.1392 (55DMA, CMP 1.1440) and for USDJPY above 110 (CMP 109.8), looks unlikely.

USDCNH move higher today morning has driven buying in USDINR, driving NDF 1m 8p right. Budget was on expected lines and has given rise to the usual questions about assumptions. Higher gross and net borrowing number for FY20, have made bond markets look beyond fiscal as a percentage of GDP, and consequently driven 10Y yields higher by 20bps. Overall I think the budget and its impact are behind us now. The movement in CNH today morning seems idiosyncratic given the lunar holiday and contradicting positive noise on US-China trade talks. The fact oil prices moved higher by 2$ has also contributed in USDINR opening at 71.60. I am still weary to trade a breakout in USDINR and don’t expect a big move higher unless Gsecs see a further selloff. CMP 71.67, Range 71.50-71.85.    

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