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The Dollar snaps a two week decline versus the EUR after disappointing U.S Home Sales data and ahead of the G20 meeting. The USD and JPY are benefiting from the recent surge in risk aversion ahead of the G20 meeting and a concern that the group’s leaders will pose stricter regulations on financial markets. The drop in Oil prices, which began Wednesday, only exacerbated yesterday as equity markets tumbled and the Dollar strengthened, putting pressure on the commodities market.

USD – Dollar Rebounds on Return to Risk Aversion

The Dollar came roaring back yesterday against its rivals as poor housing data and falling equity markets sapped traders appetite for risk. Existing home sales numbers were released to an unspectacular reception with the numbers failing to reach their expected targets. Only 5.10M existing homes were sold as compared with economists forecasts of 5.36M. This sent traders running from higher-yielding currencies and into long Dollar positions.

Yesterday’s trading was notably volatile, with the EUR/USD climbing in early European trading hours to a daily high of 1.4789, only to end the day at 1.4650 from 1.4721. Driving the early appreciation for the EUR was a lower number of U.S. Unemployment Claims. These gains were later eroded after less than spectacular housing data was released. Against the Yen the Dollar was down as traders looked for the less risky currency. The pair closed at 90.82 from 91.30.

Looking ahead to today’s trading, we can expect further volatility of the Dollar. The Group of Twenty (G20) meets for a second day today. Comments made by the global heads of finance can move the market fast so traders should be aware of their impact. U.S. New Home Sales data is due at 2:00pm GMT time. If the New Home Sales is anything like the Existing Homes Sales data from yesterday, the EUR/USD could continue its decline for the second day in a row to finish the week near the 1.4550 mark.

EUR – Pound Crumbles on Currency Comments

The Pound took a thrashing during yesterday’s trading as comments by the Bank of England sank the British currency. A report surfaced that Bank of England (BOE) Governor Mervyn King stated a weaker Pound could be beneficial to the U.K. economic recovery. It is assumed the BOE prefers a weak Pound. The weaker currency could help boost British exports, making them relatively cheaper than their foreign counterparts.

Traders immediately began bidding the Pound lower, sinking the GBP/USD to 1.5947 from 1.6353, for a single day decline of 2.5%. The EUR also rose 2% on the Pound as the EUR/GBP ended at 0.9816 from 0.9004, and the GBP/AUD fell to 1.8467 from 1.8803.

If the BOE does prefer the Pound to depreciate, this could create an opportunity for those traders who feel the British currency is not properly valued. Perhaps the BOE sees the possibility for further weakening of the Pound. Will the bank take future action to help artificially deflate the nation’s currency?

JPY – Yen Rises on Negative U.S. News

As the rally of riskier currencies puts on the breaks, demand for the Yen is increasing. Yesterday’s news of lower U.S. housing data helped slow the rally for riskier assets, thereby boosting the Yen. This trend continues to go unabated, with the USD/JPY rising alongside riskier assets, and falling when risk sentiment diminishes. This was the case yesterday as the USD/JPY fell to 90.82 from 91.30

Traders should be watching today’s data releases from the U.S. for today’s direction of the Yen. If the negative news will continue further into the day, we could have another pullback of some of the higher yielding currencies. If so the USD/JPY could be looking to drop below the 90.00 support line.

Crude Oil – Economic Data Lowers Demand for Crude

The price of Crude Oil was significantly lower yesterday as poor U.S. housing data and a strong Dollar weighed on the commodities market. Traders took the information as a pullback to economic growth and a sustained economic recovery, thereby reducing demand for the commodity. Oil fell below a significant support line of $66 and finished the day down at $65.85 from $68.36.

Yesterday’s 3.6% drop in price was the second day in a row for a pullback in Crude prices. The valuation seems to be taking hints from reported economic data. If this is the case, traders will be wise to follow today’s U.S. Core Durable Goods Orders and New Home Sales numbers. We could see Crude Oil trading at $65 by the end of today.

Article Source – Dollar, Yen up Ahead of the G20 Meeting

Currency markets will be focused on the outcome of the G20 summit of world leaders in Pittsburg to guide directional momentum. A leaked draft communiqué hinted policymakers were in no rush to withdraw fiscal stimulus, but concerns remain about what measures will be taken against risk-taking in the financial markets.

Key Overnight Developments

• NZ Annual Trade Deficit Shrinks as Imports Fall for Fifth Month
• Bank of Japan Says Recovery After Stimulus, Restocking is “Uncertain”

Critical Levels

The Euro initially sold off but prices recovered late into the overnight session, adding much as 0.2% against the US Dollar. The British Pound continued to be sold, though prices recovered most of the drop in early trading that saw GBPUSD test as low as 1.5918, trading just below 1.60 ahead of the opening bell in Europe.

Asia Session Highlights

New Zealand’s annual Trade Balance deficit contracted to the narrowest in over six years, revealing a shortfall of –NZ$2.37 billion in August following a revised –NZ$2.49 billion result in the previous month as imports fell for the fifth straight month, shrinking -21.6% from a year before. The outcome speaks ill of domestic demand in the smaller antipodean nation, especially considering that the Kiwi Dollar has become considerably stronger over recent months, which should boost New Zealanders’ purchasing power of foreign goods and encourage imports. More of the same is likely going forward as unemployment continues to push higher, trimming incomes and discouraging spending. Indeed, a survey of economists conducted by Bloomberg forecasts the trade gap will shave just -6.6% on average off GDP this and next year, the smallest since 2004. To be fair, however, exchange rate movements take a long time to be reflected in trade figures, so it is possible that the currency’s recent gains may surface to widen the shortfall in the months ahead. The deficit grew –NZ$725 million from July, more than the –NZ$329 million expected, but monthly figures tend to be volatile and looking at annualized readings offers better gauge of trade flows’ direction.

Minutes from the August policy meeting of the Bank of Japan revealed that while policymakers agreed that “overseas economic conditions have stopped worsening,” but expressed concern that the pace and sustainability of recovery after the effects of fiscal stimulus and the inventory restocking cycle run their course “remained highly uncertain.” Members concurred that exports will probably continue to improve for the time being as overseas markets stabilize, but domestic consumption will remain weak as unemployment continues notwithstanding isolated policy-induced spikes in purchases of specific items such as cars and electrical appliances. On inflation, members concluded that year-on-year consumer price figures will remain weak largely because of the correction in high oil costs seen last year. On financial conditions, policymakers said that while funding access had improved for large firms, credit for small enterprises remained limited.

Euro Session: What to Expect

With little of importance on the economic calendar, currency markets will be focused on the outcome of the ongoing Group of 20 (G20) summit of world leaders going on in Pittsburg. Traders’ concerns are two-fold: first, there are worries that policymakers will take recent signs of economic stabilization to agree on a path to withdrawing fiscal stimulus measures, nipping the recovery in the bud; second, it remains unclear what, if anything, will be agreed upon regarding regulations of risk-taking in the financial markets. On the former point, a draft G20 communiqué leaked by Reuters contained language saying leaders will maintain expansionary policies until the global recovery is secured, alleviating at least some concern. Little is known on the latter point, however, and any actions that are perceived to be too strong (which, in fact, would be any kind of broad-based agreement considering the difficulty of building consensus in the G20) are likely to send capital feeing out of risky investments and into safety-correlated assets like the US Dollar and the Japanese Yen.

Article Source – Currency Markets Look to G20 Summit Outcome to Guide Price Action (Euro Open)