ACM Update Monday 15th April 2019

Tiger Woods won the Masters yesterday. His first major in 11 years. The way Brexit is going, the timeframe might be similar. A summer of inevitable political discontent awaits. Joy.

Now the can has been volleyed rather than just kicked down the road Sterling should maintain a neutral to positive bias over the coming months.

Sterling/Dollar

We have settled above 1.30 the figure and there looks like strong support at this level. If you have a requirement to purchase USD from GBP consider covering off some on a SPOT basis at current levels. In addition, stagger take profit orders to the upside to take advantage of any intraday moves on any market fundamentals.

You can view the movements on the graph below –

There is a fair amount of data out from the UK and the US this week. We have the ILO Unemployment rate (3M) (Feb) released tomorrow with expectations for a print of 3.9%. We also have Average Earnings Excluding Bonus (3Mo/Yr) (Feb) released with a print of 3.4% expected. On Wednesday we have inflation data released in the form of CPI (YoY) (Mar) with expectations of a figure of 1.6% against a previous print of 1.9%. In terms of US releases, the main release this week is in the form of Retail Sales. If you have any USD/GBP exposure to cover off prior to Easter please get in touch with our trading department to discuss specific levels and rates.

Sterling/Euro

If you have a requirement to sell EUR into GBP I would look to cover off some at current levels. It gives you a price point to work from. EUR/USD has moved through 1.13 the figure so this has helped move GBP/EUR lower. The UK fundamentals, on balance, have held up pretty well in spite of two years of chaos and uncertainty. I do expect Sterling/Euro to climb higher this year although every forecast now has to be caveated by Brexit. More Brexit delay will have a negative impact on the UK. This is stating the obvious. In spite of everything, Sterling hasn’t crumbled under the pressure.

You can view the movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below -

If you have a requirement to purchase EUR from GBP I would look at take profit orders at 1.16 the figure this week as a target level. Please contact the trading department to implement an order.

In terms of data this week that will impact the direction of the Euro it is fairly limited. We have the ZEW (sentiment) survey out of Germany and Markit PMI composite (Apr) (Preliminary) out of the Eurozone. Other than that, it will likely be commentary from EU officials and politicians that will drive Euro weakness or strength.

If you have any questions please do let me know.

Have a fantastic week

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM FX Update 08/04/19

Odd’s on the UK not leaving the EU on the 12th April? Tiger roll in the Grand National at the weekend had about the same odds. Will the EU then agree to the June extension that has already been requested or will they insist on a much longer extension? Theresa May had a ‘fireside chat’ with the nation explaining her decision to negotiate with the Labour Party at the weekend. I didn’t see a fire but there we go. How will the Prime Minister’s talks go with the Labour Party this week and will they agree a compromise deal by Wednesday before Theresa May heads to Brussels for a summit? Your guess is as good as mine.

 We are coming to the final stages of Brexit I feel one way or the other. Clarity has to be provided at some point. Cable (Sterling/Dollar) has largely still been trading in its recent range with a move last week up to just below 1.32 the figure. We are trading back around 1.3050 in Monday’s trading session.

 You can view the movements last week on the graph below

 Sterling/Dollar has had a slight bounce higher this morning with the Dollar weakening due to geopolitical tensions in Libya pushing market participants into the Yen and Gold. Sterling is very much still to awake after a heavy weekend at the races it seems. I’d expect Sterling to trade this week again on commentary rather than any fundamentals. We have FOMC minutes out of the US on Wednesday although that is the main release from our cousins across the pond this week. We’re relatively light on the data front.

 As I’m sure you’re thoroughly bored of me saying please make sure you have a plan in place around your FX exposures, especially this month. Whilst all may seem relatively calm and rather dull at present, in this environment it takes one major event to move Sterling percentage points against you. Please contact our trading department to discuss a strategy and technical levels.

On the Sterling/Euro front, we are trading in no mans land at present. If you need to purchase EUR from Sterling I would look at anything at 1.1650 and above as a good level to aim for on a SPOT basis. Please contact our trading department to implement a take profit order at that level should we have a move back higher in Sterling/Euro in the upcoming trading sessions.

You can view the recent movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below –

 This week is relatively light on the data front with the ECB Interest/deposit rate decisions and the ECB Monetary Policy statement and Press Conference on Wednesday this week the main points of note from a EUR perspective.

 Of course, both Cable (Sterling/Dollar) and Sterling/Euro will largely be impacted by Brexit news flow and the likelihood, or not, of a workable solution that the UK can go to the EU with.

 Another week of uncertainty is upon us. Please do get in touch to discuss your individual currency requirements and we’ll help you put a plan in place to mitigate your currency risk.

 Have a great week.

 Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Newsletter 01/04/2019

At least the clocks went forward this weekend. The Brexit process – not so much. We have less than two weeks before we are due to leave. Today a raft of options will be tabled followed by a debate then votes on the options will be held later this evening. Sounds familiar. Will there ever be a majority for the way forward or will have Theresa May’s deal through at the fourth time of asking or will we leave without a deal? We’ll know in the next 12 days. Perhaps.

Sterling has become almost immune to the ebbs and flow of Brexit news. Cable (Sterling/Dollar) has traded from around 1.30-1.33 and Sterling/Euro from around 1.1550-1.1750 recently. However, Sterling may soon either trade significantly lower or significantly higher. If none of the options being voted on this evening get a majority then expect Sterling, technically speaking, to get a good kicking. We may see it fall a few percentage points this evening or rally higher. If our politicians cannot agree on one of the endless options being tabled then the Prime Minister will go again for the fourth time of asking and say “Well, if you can’t agree on anything then it’s either my deal or it’s no deal”. Again, this is all speculative. Sadly, no-one really knows how this is going to end.

The one thing you can guarantee is that if April 12th is the day we are going to leave then Sterling is going to react more aggressively in the next 10 trading sessions.

You can view the recent movements on Cable (Sterling/Dollar) and Sterling/Euro on the graphs below

GBP/USD GRAPH

GBP/EUR GRAPH

If you have a requirement to purchase USD from Sterling then consider purchasing a percentage of your overall exposure on SPOT or a short dated Forward Contract out till end of April. It gives you some downside protection should the UK leave without a deal. Please contact the trading department for rates of exchange and to discuss margin requirements over the next few weeks. Also, consider implementing take profit orders to take advantage of any upside moves on commentary.

If you need to sell Dollars consider staggering take profit orders to the downside to take advantage of any intraday movements or any sustained directional move on the back of Brexit related news. Please contact the trading department to discuss levels. In terms of news flow for USD this week, ISM Non-Manufacturing (PMI) (Mar) and Non-farm Payrolls (Mar) are the key releases.

In terms of Sterling/Euro, we’re trading in no-mans land at present with a neutral bias. We’re extremely light on Eurozone data releases this week although of course Brexit commentary from European officials will impact GBP/EUR. If you would like to discuss a strategy for your individual requirements for GBP/EUR over the coming weeks please do get in touch with our trading department. They will be able to provide you with expected technical levels and work out a plan that works best for you and ultimately mitigates your currency risk.

If you have any questions on anything please do let me know.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update 18th March 2019

Theresa May, like a raft in the Caspian sea looking for land, has a few days to get there. Land being the third meaningful vote. Will she get the support of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and will that translate to some Brexiters switching their vote (the magic number is 75) in support of the PM’s deal? Time, a diminishing commodity for the Prime Minister, will tell.

What is almost certain now is that the UK won’t be leaving the EU on 29th March. Roll on more uncertainty. Will we ever leave the EU? We can live in hope we’ll have some clarity at some stage as this is becoming the longest running dark comedy ever aired.

Sterling has been buoyed with the threat of No deal being taken off the table. You can view the moves on Cable (Sterling/Dollar) on the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

The top of the market has been around 1.33 the figure although we have drifted off in the European session to around 1.3250. If you have any USD requirements from Sterling I would suggest covering off at current levels. If you would like a SPOT rate please contact the trading department for a rate of exchange.

This week, in addition to the never-ending political noise, is a busy week on the data front. We have the UK ILO Unemployment Rate (3M) (Jan) out on Tuesday followed by Average Earnings Excluding Bonus (3 Mo/Yr) (Jan). On Wednesday we have inflation data out in the form of Consumer Price Index (YoY) (Feb) followed by the Fed’s Monetary Policy Statement/Interest rate decision/Press conference. We have the small matter of the UK Parliamentary Vote that day too. On Thursday we have the Bank of England Interest rate decision which is likely to be a non-event.

If Theresa May manages to somehow get her deal through then Sterling should rally higher, perhaps significantly. Consider implementing take profit orders to take advantage of any spikes in the market over the coming weeks. Please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels.

In terms of GBP/EUR, we rallied to just under 1.1750 although we have since given up some of those gains.

You can view some of the recent movements on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

If you need to purchase EUR from Sterling take advantage of the recent moves in your favour. Please contact the trading department for both SPOT and Forward rates. Might Sterling/Euro push higher still? Quite possibly. Consider implementing take profit orders to the upside to take advantage of any significant intraday movements in your favour. Again, please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels. Selling EUR/GBP? Evidently it’s not the best time to do so although consider implementing take profit orders should we see more uncertainty and mudslinging around UK politics that may impact the direction on Sterling.

It is worthwhile discussing your current positions and Q2 exposure with us as levels may be markedly different in a few weeks’ time. Feel free to contact me directly to discuss.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 11th March 2019

Is this the week we finally get some clarity around Brexit? I’d be amazed.

Will Theresa May win Tuesday’s meaningful commons vote? Unlikely. After that, there will be a vote on leaving without a deal. Once that is concluded/fails, there’ll be a vote on delaying the exit date. Clear as mud I’m sure you’ll agree. I’d expect a delay/extension to the exit date. This can then be put to the EU. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean the EU has to accept our offer. Whilst I’m sure they will, if they didn’t, that would be the final cherry on top of this fiasco.

What is all this uncertainty doing to Sterling? It is shifting GBP out of some recent ranges. Cable (Sterling/Dollar) is currently trading around the mid of the past month’s range. We hit the dizzy heights of 1.3339 whilst the low has been 1.2781. The dollar has had some recent strength as investors look to it as a safe haven with global growth concerns back on the table. Couple this with the never ending Brexit chaos and Sterling/Dollar may trade back to lower levels.

You can view the recent price movements on Sterling/Dollar in the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

Is the Dollar particularly attractive at present? Not really. It is the case of the ugly parade between the Dollar, Euro and Sterling. US employment growth was pretty much non-existent in February although the employment rate was back under 4% and average hourly earnings were up. This makes the Dollar slightly less ugly than going into Sterling with all the Brexit chaos at present. In addition, the Euro has been hit with EUR/USD trading around the 1.1250 mark, down to some of its lowest levels since the middle of 2017. On Thursday last week the ECB (European Central Bank) downgraded the growth outlook. I’d expect the dollar to make some further gains against Sterling this week.

If you are holding USD I would take advantage of some of the recent moves and convert a percentage on a SPOT basis against GBP and EUR if you have requirements. Please contact the trading department for a rate of exchange. In addition, with a week of UK politics likely to take up most of the headlines Sterling may find itself under pressure. Consider utilising take profit orders on USD/GBP. Please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels.

If you have a requirement to purchase US Dollars from Sterling by the end of the March you need to consider some worse case scenarios. If there is a disorderly Brexit then Cable (GBP/USD) could fall to 1.20 the figure. Whilst I think that is unlikely it is still a possibility. Please make sure you have had a discussion with me or the trading department to put a plan in place to mitigate some of this risk.

Brexit will of course take centre stage (again) although I think most people have forgotten there is the small matter of the ‘Spring Statement’ and mini-budget on Wednesday. Whilst it isn’t as significant as the main budget, now scheduled in November, it will still be keenly watched. Across the pond we have Retail Sales (MoM) (Jan) out of the US this afternoon followed by inflation data in the form of CPI (YoY) (Feb) on Wednesday.

Sterling/Euro

Over the past month we have traded between a little over 1.13 to a little over 1.17 on GBP/EUR. With reports over the weekend focusing on the UK parliamentary votes Sterling has been sold off. We are down around 0.5% against EUR in today’s trading. Will people start to get out of Sterling positions now the end of March is in view? Quite possibly. Sterling may be in for some short-term pain this week so if you are holding EUR consider some market orders back to GBP to take advantage of any intraday moves in your favour. Please contact the trading department to discuss levels to aim for.

You can view the recent movements on Sterling/Euro over the past week on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

I expect a slight retracement on Sterling/Euro as I think we’re going to struggle to hold above 1.15 the figure this week. With political indecision and general reluctance to hold Sterling positions going into the end of March I think we’ll see Sterling move to the downside. If you have a requirement to purchase EUR from GBP then please consider locking in some of your exposure at current levels on a SPOT basis and discuss Forward Contracts with our trading department. This will allow you to mitigate some of your currency risk in the run up to the end of this month and the inevitable uncertainty that the 29th March will bring.

In terms of data around Sterling and Euro this week it is relatively light. We have some manufacturing data out of the UK on Tuesday in addition to GDP (MoM) (Jan) that is expected to print at 0.2%. On Thursday we have inflation data out of Germany with Eurozone inflation data rounding off the week on Friday.

If you have any questions around your currency requirements please get in touch directly.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 28th January 2019

Last week Sterling soared against the Euro and US Dollar with a no-deal exit looking less likely. Will this uptrend continue or will there be a retracement in Sterling with the key UK parliamentary vote on Brexit ‘Plan B’ this week?

Sterling/Dollar

Cable (GBP/USD) briefly traded above the 1.32 handle on the back of a resurgent Sterling and a US Dollar sell off prompted by the potential of the Fed’s balance sheet normalisation happening sooner than expected. Some of the gains have been given up with some profit taking after the large moves higher last week.

You can view the moves in Sterling/Dollar last week on the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

Will Sterling/Dollar have another push higher or will see a downside move this week? We have the Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, speaking today followed by the Federal Reserve’s monthly policy statement and interest rate decision on Wednesday. On Friday, we have the NFP (Non-Farm) payroll figure released with a print of 168K expected. Tomorrow, from a GBP perspective, the Parliamentary vote on Brexit Plan B is going to be a key short-term driver. If the UK secure any amendments to the backstop then this may assist the Prime Minister in getting her Brexit deal through Parliament. This would give Sterling a shot in the arm and push it higher. However, weekend reports suggest the Irish deputy PM ruling this out. Another week closer to ‘Brexit Day’ and things are still as clear as mud.

If you have a requirement to purchase USD this week take advantage of the recent moves on SPOT. Alongside this do consider implementing take profit orders ahead of tomorrow’s vote. Please contact the trading department to implement these and discuss technical levels.

If you’re selling USD back to GBP you have to protect against any further moves higher in Sterling. At present, historically, rates are still at attractive levels to go back into GBP. Please contact the trading department to discuss a strategy to give you some upside potential whilst protecting against any adverse moves.

Sterling/Euro

Well well well. Finally, we’ve broken out of a tight trading range. Sterling/Euro has ascended to the dizzying heights of above 1.15 the figure. You can view the recent movements on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

If you have a requirement to purchase EUR I would suggest covering off some on SPOT to take advantage of the recent gains. In addition, there may well be more upside in GBP/EUR so consider implementing take profit orders at staggered levels. In terms of specific technical levels to aim for please contact the trading department.

As always, Brexit and the specifics of how we exit the EU will largely determine the direction in GBP/EUR for the foreseeable future. With the March deadline fast approaching you may see heightened volatility in this currency pair. Please make sure you have a strategy in place to take advantage of moves in your favour whilst protecting downside risk. In addition to the UK parliamentary vote tomorrow we have GDP (QoQ) (Q4) and (YoY) (Q4) out of the Eurozone on Thursday. Expectations are for prints of 0.2% and 1.2% respectively. The ECB president, Mario Draghi, is likely to remain balanced on a variety of topics. However, with slower growth being more evident there may be a slight dovish leaning. Draghi is speaking in the European parliament later today although I don’t expect anything new from him on rate hikes.

If you have any Sterling exposure please do get in touch with us. The markets are likely to be more volatile in the coming weeks so make sure you have a plan in place around your currency requirements

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 21st January 2019

he next total lunar eclipse in 2021 may arrive quicker than Brexit. Will Brexit happen? Will there be an extension to Article 50? Will there be a resolution on the Irish backstop? Productive cross-party talks seem as likely as agreement between the Democrats and the Trump administration on the border wall. So, what happens next?

Theresa May goes back to Parliament and makes a statement to the House of Commons today. Cue more merry debate. At present, some kind of extension to the Brexit process is looking like the option that will come to pass. However, no doubt as soon as I’ve finished writing this sentence there will be another development.

What is happening to Sterling? To massively simplify things if an extension to Brexit looks more likely Sterling trades higher. If No deal looks more likely then Sterling falls. Expect Sterling to react more dramatically in the coming weeks to news flow as we hurtle towards end of March.

You can view the recent movements on Sterling/Dollar (Cable) and Sterling/Euro on the graphs below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

 Sterling/Dollar

Sterling/Dollar climbed higher last week although is trading slightly to the downside at the start of this week. If you have a requirement to purchase USD from GBP consider taking some risk off the table by covering some on a SPOT basis at current levels. In addition, dependent on how Brexit negotiations progress Sterling may have a sharp rally higher. Whilst I don’t think we’ll hit 1.30 the figure in the next few trading sessions there is a chance we push through this level again. Please get in touch with the trading department to implement take profit orders at 1.30.

Whilst UK politics, as ever, will be the main driver for Sterling, we have Average Earnings (3Mo/Yr) (Jan) and also the ILO Unemployment rate (3M) (Jan) out of the UK on Tuesday. Prints of 3.3% and 4.1% are expected respectively. If any of these figures disappoint to the downside then we may see a fall in Sterling. If you are holding US Dollars then consider placing take profit orders to the downside around 1.28 the figure. Please contact the trading department to implement orders and to discuss further technical levels.

Sterling/Euro

We are trading around the middle of the range over the past 12 months. We hit the dizzy heights of around 1.1580 back in April ’18 and have traded as low as just under 1.10 the figure.

We have the ECB Interest rate and Deposit rate decision out on Thursday followed by the ECB press conference. This will likely be a non-event so we shouldn’t see too much movement in the single currency. If you have a requirement to purchase EUR from GBP I would look at current levels as being relatively attractive. Might we push higher? Absolutely. However, the downside risks around Sterling are numerous. Feel free to get in touch with the trading department for a SPOT rate. Should we see some miraculous agreement surrounding Brexit then Sterling may shift higher by percentage points. Please get in touch to discuss technical levels to aim for and implement orders at levels that may hit in the coming weeks.

Selling EUR back to GBP? As I’ve said before, historically, you’re at good levels to sell back into GBP so do take advantage of this. Yes, there may be more movement in your favour although if you look on a 5 year basis then we were trading above 1.40 the figure. Please get in touch directly if you would like to discuss your individual requirements with me.

Have a fantastic week and any questions please let me know.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 7th January 2019

January 15th. The next big date in the diary. Nope, not when the New Year Avocado and Kale salad with a sprinkling of pine nuts, washed down with Kombucha tea comes crashing down to the inevitable conclusion. It’s a Parliamentary vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

Like a wheezing middle aged gym goer pounding the treadmill in January, the UK is coughing and spluttering towards the end goal of Brexit. We can make as many predictions around what will happen end of March as we like, although frankly, no-one has an answer.

What we can look at is the direction of Sterling in the run up to March.

If you look at the graphs below you can view the movements in Cable (Sterling/Dollar) and Sterling/Euro in the first week of 2019 -

GBP/USD - 1 Week

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

As you can see Sterling has suffered a few sharp downside moves although has recovered in recent trade against both USD and EUR. Expect ebbs and flows to continue through Sterling in Q1’19. After the end of March? All scenarios are on the table. If there is a ‘Hard Brexit?’ Sterling could potentially fall to and through the 1985 low of 1.07 against the Dollar. Do I expect this to happen? No. However, if you are a USD buyer from GBP I would consider locking in some of your Q1 and Q2 exposure at current levels to protect yourself. Consider implementing either a SPOT transaction or discuss Forward Contracts and margin considerations with our trading department.

As above, if you need to hedge downside moves in GBP against EUR do consider implementing a Forward Contract. This provides you protection should the end of days as some sensationalist headlines suggest occur. Might rates move in your favour over the coming weeks/months if the risk of a ‘No deal’ Brexit becomes less likely? Absolutely. Therefore, in addition to Forward Contracts consider the other side of the trade and implement take profit orders to the upside to take advantage should we see a change in sentiment. Please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels.

If you are a seller of USD and EUR against Sterling then fill your boots at current levels. Historically, we’re at attractive levels. If you would like a SPOT price please let myself or the trading team know. If you think there is further to run to the downside then look at staggering take profit orders. Again, please contact my trading department directly to discuss your own specific requirements.

We had a strong NFP (Non-Farm Payroll) figure out of the US on Friday with a print of +312K for December. This shows the US economy is in a strong position although of course trade tensions with China remain as well as concerns around global growth. The key question for the Federal Reserve and Mr Powell (Fed Chairman) this year will centre around interest rate rises. Will there be two or three rate rises and can the US economy handle this? The Fed Chairman believes the data and thinks so. The man with the yellow hair in the White House not so much. Expect more news coverage around this and no doubt a media fallout.

Should we see a combination of a stronger Dollar coupled with an under pressure UK pound in Q1’19 then we could potentially test a strong support level of 1.20 on GBP/USD. Please make sure you have discussed a strategy with our team to make sure you’re protected whilst allowing yourself upside potential.

What do we have out this week? It’s a relatively light week on the data front although we have the Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, speaking on Wednesday. We also have the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) minutes out that day from the US too. On Thursday we have the ECB (European Central Bank) monetary policy meeting accounts and then the Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, will speak in the evening (UK time). Rounding off the week on Friday we have GDP (MoM) (Nov) out of the UK. A print of 0.1% is expected.

Whilst there is always movements in currency markets the run up to the end of March and ‘Brexit day’ could prove extremely volatile. Levels we haven’t seen for a long time, if ever, may materialise. Please make sure you have a conversation with us to discuss your requirements for Q1 and Q2 ’19 and put a plan in place to mitigate your currency risk.

If you have any questions please do let me know.

Have a fantastic week and enjoy the gym!

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 22nd October 2018

Apparently the Brexit withdrawal agreement is 95% complete. Hmmm. I wouldn’t bet the UK’s future on it. Oh wait, we are.

Sterling/Dollar

This week will be shaped by politics and headlines from the UK Government. Sterling took a hit last week with Cable (Sterling/Dollar) falling to just above 1.30 the figure. This was due to poor macroeconomic data from the UK and the failure at the European Council meeting to make the progress the market expected. Sterling has since had a slight recovery although is trading under 1.31 the figure.

You can view the movements on Sterling/Dollar on the graph below -

GBP/USD - 1 Week

This week is relatively light data and event wise. We have the Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, speaking on Tuesday and we have US GDP (Q3) Preliminary figures released on Thursday. This should give us a better handle on the direction for GBP/USD short-term. However, as we all know, trading Sterling is largely now subject to politics and Brexit. The UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, is in Parliament today and will inform politicians that the withdrawal agreement is almost complete. This should be interesting. Will Theresa May be able to deliver Brexit or will she be given her P45 before then? The fact we even have to discuss this is concerning. Sterling is going to be under pressure for the remainder of Q4. We will have some short-term spikes on GBP positive news so please make sure you are in a position to take advantage of these.

If you can achieve 1.30 or above to purchase USD from GBP I would suggest that is a level worth considering.

If you would like to discuss your upcoming requirements please contact me directly.

Sterling/Euro

Similar to the above, Sterling has fallen around a figure from 1.1425 to 1.1325 on GBP/EUR. If you have a requirement to sell EUR/GBP please consider placing orders at 1.13 the figure. I expect some further Sterling weakness to come into play so try and take advantage of moves in your favour. As we’ve said for a while, the trading range on Sterling/Euro is from around 1.11 to 1.14. We broke slightly higher than 1.14 last week so if we see that move again please make sure you take advantage. Please discuss with the trading department technical levels to aim for.

You can view movements last week on Sterling/Euro on the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

On the Euro front this week, the main event is the ECB meeting and press conference. Italian Government risks will weigh on the Euro. It’s investment grade rating will be reviewed by S&P on Friday. Where do we expect GBP/EUR to go? I expect a mixture of Sterling and Euro weakness this week that will ultimately mean the pair trades in a range. However, with most of the Brexit debate being centred in the UK we expect downside risks for Sterling. Please make sure you have a suitable hedging strategy in place.

If you have any questions please do let me know.

Have a great week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 24th September 2018

Like the Chas & Dave songs Theresa May is finding there “Ain’t no pleasing you” when it comes to the EU and the British public. Should we take the title of another song “mustn’t grumble” into the final leg of the negotiations with the EU or will that lead to the inevitable crash bang and 2001 release “wallop” on the final deal and outcome? The meeting in Salzburg was meant to provide clarity. It didn’t.

Sterling is going to move considerably in either direction in Q4’18. Sterling was making some solid upside moves against EUR with it climbing to just below 1.13 at one point. Those with ‘take profit’ orders in the 1.12’s had orders filled and took advantage of the spikes in the market. The direction and sentiment for Sterling/Euro has since shifted to the downside.

You can view the movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

The move is largely driven through EUR/USD as it has pushed up into the high 1.17s thus pushing GBP/EUR lower. Of course, some negative sentiment around Brexit has exacerbated the move lower for Sterling. EUR/USD advanced again this morning on the back of the German IFO figure that came in at 103.7, slightly above expectations. Other data out of the EU this week is in the form of inflation data that is released on Friday. If you have a requirement to sell EUR back into Sterling do consider implementing ‘take profit orders’ to the downside. Please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels that are achievable to execute at. This week we have a light data calendar out of the Eurozone and the UK so any significant price movements on GBP/EUR are likely to come from ‘Brexit’ headlines and noise. We do have the ECB president, Mario Draghi, speaking on Thursday so this will likely move the EUR in a positive or negative direction dependent on his commentary.

Sterling/Dollar

Cable (GBP/USD) suffered a sharp decline on Friday falling from the high 1.32s into the 1.30’s. This was after the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, said that negotiations with the EU are at an ‘impasse’. That put hopes for a positive outcome and favourable deal between the UK and EU further away than ever. However, Sterling has made a small recovery this morning on comments from the UK Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, that apparently the Government remains confident on a deal. What’s the phrase, “a week is a long time in Politics”. A weekend now seems like a lifetime if we can go from a significant Sterling fall to a positive outlook on the Monday morning. Expect these moves on Sterling for the next 3 months. The ‘he said she said trade”. There’s largely no real substance behind these soundbites although the market will move on them short-term in any case.

You can view the movements on Sterling/Dollar on the graph below -

GBP/USD - 1 Week

Hopefully this week we get some respite from Brexit noise. The US is likely to be more in focus this week. Will the dollar come under further pressure as it did for the majority of last week around talk of tariffs and trade wars? We have the Federal Reserve meeting this week and that comes with the interest rate decision. Will we see another interest rate increase of 25bps from the Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell? The market has largely priced this in already so expect a modest uptick in the US Dollar this week. Other than the Federal Reserve meeting we have US GDP Annualised (Q2) released that is expected to print 4.2%.

Rounding off the week from a UK perspective we have the Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, speaking on Thursday. Questions will inevitably be skewed to Brexit rather than focusing solely on the UK economy so this may impact Sterling dependent if Carney engages on those questions or focuses solely on the economics. On Friday we have GDP (QoQ) (Q2) out from the UK that is expected to print 0.4%. Any figure lower than this then Sterling could have a wobble to the downside.

If you have any questions please get in touch directly.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander.

ACM Update Monday 17th September 2018

The EU summit gets underway this week with the first one being held on Thursday where ‘Brexit’ will be on the menu. Some reports suggest a deal is close, some say we’re about as far away as a reality tv ‘star’ is to winning the Nobel Prize.

Sterling has recovered some fighting spirt over the past few trading sessions and is shrugging off the UK Prime Minister’s ‘it’s my way or the highway’ line on the deal to be put forward to the EU. Time will tell if this tactic is correct or we stumble out without a deal. Dependent on the EU stance this week, Sterling may be due another upside move.

Sterling has rallied against the Dollar and has pushed through 1.31 the figure. This is the highest it has been in 6 weeks.

You can view the movements on the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

If you have a requirement to purchase USD from GBP I would consider locking in some on a SPOT basis. Please contact the trading department for a rate of exchange.

In addition, with Q4 just around the corner and Q1’19 likely to prove extremely volatile for Sterling do consider discussing Forward Contract’s and the margin required to mitigate your risk. Feel free to contact me directly on this.

From the UK this week, other than political pillow fights, we have inflation data out in the form CPI (YoY) and Core CPI (YoY) August. Expectations are for a print of 2.4% and 1.8% respectively. We also have Retail Sales ((YoY) and (MoM) Aug out of the UK. Expectations on the monthly release are for a print of -0.2%. Sterling may have a slight wobble around the release of this figure. We also have the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin out on Friday rounding off the data for this week from a UK perspective. Should there be any soundbites picked up on in relation to Brexit expectations then Sterling may move on the back of it.

Sterling/Euro

This pair may have some volatility in it this week with the ECB President, Mario Draghi, speaking on a couple of occasions. Add in the EU summit and the potential for various remarks to move either Sterling or Euro then we could see GBP/EUR break through 1.13 the figure or shift back below 1.12. Sterling/Euro has traded under 1.11 in August so if you have a requirement to purchase EUR from Sterling I would consider locking in some on a SPOT basis and then implement a market order at 1.13 should Sterling have a rally this week.

You can view the movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

If you have a requirement to sell EUR/GBP I would think about implementing some market orders to the downside to take advantage of any moves in this direction. However, as I’m sure you’re bored of me saying, doing nothing is speculating. EUR/GBP is still at a good level historically and should you have a requirement to purchase Sterling consider giving yourself a price point to work from by executing some on a SPOT basis at present to mitigate any risk should EUR weaken.

If you have any questions on your individual requirements please feel free to get in touch directly.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 3rd September 2018

Last week there was a positive feeling on a ‘good’ deal on Brexit. Now there isn’t. Sterling was rising like a salmon in the River Tweed. Now it isn’t. What will this week have in store for us?

You can view the recent price movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below – 

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

INSERT GBP/EUR GRAPH

The summer is drawing to a close and the UK Parliament is back in session from tomorrow. With an informal date of October (although this could now be pushed to November) for an agreement on the Brexit divorce deal between the UK and EU we should see ‘Brexit’ negotiations increase in intensity. At present, we still look miles apart on a framework with specific actions that will suit both sides. Could it possibly be an 11th hour cobbled together agreement in March? There is still that possibility. There is still the possibility of a ‘No deal’. Should we have badly arranged deal or a ‘No deal’ then like a 59.8% cask strength whisky, it’s going to pack one hell of a punch to Sterling. 

To this end, please start to consider your Q4’18  and Q1’19 position. Please get in touch with me directly to discuss rates and margin requirements for Forward contracts on a 3/6/9 month basis. 

Sterling is currently trading on headlines and comments from various officials involved in the negotiations. However, we have had poor manufacturing data out this morning with a print in the (Aug) PMI’s of 52.8 against expectations of 53.8.

Could we see a further erosion in Sterling in the coming months? Absolutely. However, if you are selling EUR/GBP I would look to take advantage of the recent downside movements. We had largely been trading in a range of 1.11 to the downside with a toppish level of around 1.14. We have now broken through 1.11 and we may fall further. Please consider locking in some of these gains. Feel free to contact the trading department for a rate of exchange.

Sterling/Dollar

Please view the recent movements on Cable (GBP/USD) on the graph below – 

GBP/USD - 1 Week

Is Sterling undervalued or overvalued at present? History would tell us it’s undervalued. Whilst history plays a part in shaping the future, there is no blueprint for Brexit. Therefore, how do you accurately value Sterling in the present? Largely, a lot of the downside move on GBP/USD has been driven through US Dollar strength. Might Sterling over the next few months prove more of a driver? The longer uncertainty continues around the details on any Brexit deal then I think Sterling is going to come under further and increased pressure. Might these be significant moves? I think we’ll be looking at percentage points on these moves.

If you have a requirement to purchase USD from GBP I would consider locking in some on a SPOT basis at present. Do also consider locking in a portion of your exposure on a Forward Contract to de-risk your position. I think Sterling still has room to fall further. This week we have inflation report hearings out of the UK and the NFP figure (Non-Farm payrolls) that are the main releases in a relatively quiet data week.

Selling US Dollars? If you can achieve under 1.30 the figure lock in a sizeable portion at these levels on a SPOT basis. This will average up your annual FX rate significantly. I would then discuss with our trading department staggering ‘take profit orders’ at various levels to the downside. Please discuss appropriate technical levels to aim for this week and over the coming months.

Have a fantastic week and should you have any questions please get in touch with me directly.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 13th August 2018

The Premiership football season is upon us again. No doubt all the teams will crumble to Manchester City like the Turkish Lira did against, well, every currency last week. Will the Lira rally this week? It has fallen so far that if it doesn’t rally then the word ‘contagion’ will be back in the headlines. That will only exacerbate the impending debt burden and issues for Turkey.

EUR/USD has fallen to 13 month lows at 1.1360 although has since recovered slightly to test the 1.14 handle. The Euro has taken a hit on the back of the Lira devaluation with contagion fears due to a number of European Banks having exposure to Turkey. EUR/USD has also been further weighed upon with investor outflows from EM (Emerging Market) currencies into safe haven currencies like CHF/JPY/USD. The US President, Donald Trump, also added to Turkey’s problems with a doubling of tariffs on Turkish Steel and Aluminium in a continuation of the political spat over the detainment of the American citizen Andrew Brunson.

You can view the recent downside movements on EUR/USD on the graph below –

EUR/USD - 1 Week

If you are holding any US Dollars and need to convert into Euro’s please take advantage of the recent price movements. If you can trade anywhere under 1.15 the figure then I would consider locking in a significant amount of your exposure at current levels. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss a strategy and the trading department to execute your transactions.

Sterling/Dollar

Sterling is going to be under pressure short-term. The political ‘elite’ don’t seem able to run a bath never mind a country at present. Political risk is going to be a negative for the pound. Potential leadership battles, backbencher revolt, and the small matter of a ‘No deal’ Brexit is going to keep the compass pointing south for GBP. If you have a requirement to sell Dollars back to Sterling I would firstly take advantage of the current rates with a SPOT transaction. Please contact the trading department for a rate to execute at. Once you have covered off a SPOT transaction I would consider staggering market orders to the downside at 1.2750/1.27/1.2650. This will allow you to average up your FX rate should we hit these levels.

There has been talk of Cable (GBP/USD) falling to lows last seen in 1985 should we have a ‘No deal’ or a very poor deal on our exit from the EU. Whilst of course this is a possibility that is still 8 months away. On a 10 year basis, you are still massively in favour on a USD/GBP trade so take advantage at current levels.

If you are on the other side of the trade and need to move Sterling into USD then you are looking for some intraday spikes and some short-term recoveries. Unfortunately, I expect these to be few and far between at present. Look at some orders around 1.28 the figure although I would caveat that the potential for further downside movements are high. Look to protect your position by covering some of your exposure on a SPOT basis and the implementation of a Stop Loss. Please contact the trading department to discuss your individual requirements in more depth.

You can view the recent movements on GBP/USD on the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

Last week was relatively data light although the geopolitical element in Turkey moved markets. This week we have some data releases out of the Eurozone and the UK that will be keenly watched and should impact GBP/EUR.

Sterling/Euro

Sterling traded under 1.11 last week against the Euro. This looked like a one way bet until the Turkish situation unfolded and weakened the Euro giving the pair some respite. We are currently trading at 1.12. We will likely move sideways today with nothing of note out. However, I expect the downtrend to resume dependent on figures printed this week. We have GDP (QoQ) (Q2) Preliminary out of Germany tomorrow and GDP (QoQ) and (YoY) (Q2) Preliminary released for the Eurozone. The German GDP figure is expected to print 2.5% against a previous of 1.6%. This should give the Euro a short-term boost driving EUR/GBP lower. On the UK side we have the release of Average earnings (3M) (Jun). On Wednesday we have inflation data out of the UK in the form of CPI (Consumer Price Index) readings and also the Inflation report hearings. This should impact on Sterling. Friday we have some inflation data out of the Eurozone to round off the week.

If you can achieve under 1.12 to sell EUR to GBP I would take advantage of this. Please consider implementing a market order at 1.12 the figure by contacting the trading department. If you have a requirement to purchase EUR from GBP then you may have some upside potential with Turkey’s issues set to continue for the immediate future in any case.

You can view the recent price movements on GBP/EUR on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

If you have any questions please get in touch with me directly as the FX landscape is going to shift considerably this year one way or the other.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 6th August 2018

Is it time to put away the sun hats and dig out the tin hats? Cable (Sterling/Dollar) has hit 11 month lows today on the back of increasing concerns on a ‘No deal’ Brexit.

Sterling/Dollar

Last week we had the long awaited interest rate decision from the Bank of England.  Market expectations were for a rise of 25 bps to 0.75% and it duly arrived. The only slight surprise was that the vote was unanimous. You would think with rates being next to static for the best part of a decade that there would have been more of a lift for Sterling.  After a brief jump above 1.31 the pair was back on the defensive. We moved below the 1.30 handle and since then the downside move has continued.

You can view the movements on Sterling/Dollar on the graph below

GBP/USD - 1 Week

Like the changing of the seasons, focus has now returned to ‘Brexit’. Should there be a ‘No deal’ then expectations are for Sterling to weaken by a similar amount to the night of the referendum. That could conceivably see Sterling/Dollar significantly below the 1.20 level. If you have a requirement to purchase USD from GBP over the next 6-9 months it may be prudent to consider a Forward Contract to de-risk your position. Please contact the trading department to discuss rates and margin requirements.

If you’re holding Dollars consider implementing a series of market orders to take advantage of potential further downside risk to Sterling. I would caveat though that to sell Dollars into Sterling at present is the best its been in almost a year. Consider covering off some on SPOT and then work in some market orders. Please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels and realistic levels to achieve in your timeframe.

This week there is little data of note out from the UK other than preliminary GDP (YoY) and (QoQ) (Q2). I wouldn’t expect any great showing on these numbers so Sterling is likely to remain flat if not come off further.

Sterling/Euro

We have moved under the 1.12 level on GBP/EUR. 

You can view the movements on the graph below –

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

INSERT GBP/EUR GRAPH

The dollar is in the ascendency and has pushed EUR/USD down to the mid-1.15s so the Euro is under pressure too hence the move on Sterling/Euro being less severe than through Sterling/Dollar. GBP/EUR has been fairly range bound for a number of months. If you are holding Euro’s I would suggest covering off some into GBP as we’re approaching the low of the range. Please contact the trading department for a rate of exchange.

Politics and Brexit are likely to be the main drivers over the summer months for Sterling so any commentary from officials will impact Sterling. Please make sure you have discussed a strategy with our trading team to mitigate your risk over the next few months,

If you have any questions please get in touch with me directly.

Have a fantastic week

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 16th July 2018

The World Cup is over for another four years. Wimbledon is over for another year. Unfortunately Love Island continues to insult and decimate the IQ level of normally sane UK viewers. When does the pain end? Who knows.

The whole Brexit process is on a par with the pain and suffering that Love Island ‘entertains’ us with. It seems we are on for a ‘soft Brexit’ now. This should aid Sterling, in theory. However, today we have the most recent Brexit strategy under scrutiny in Parliament. If there any changes to the proposal? Well, it weakens the UK’s positioning power further with the EU. Should Theresa May’s proposal be voted for then Sterling should rally. 

Sterling is fairly range bound to kick off with this week as there’s no data of note out the UK today other than the vote in Parliament. 

You can view the movements over the past week on Sterling/Euro on the graph below – 

GDP/EUR - 1 Week

Sterling/Euro has been trading in a range of 1.11 – 1.14 for what seems longer than the last time Scotland reached a major football tournament (1998 for those of you that may be intrigued). If you are purchasing Euro’s from Sterling take advantage of the recent ‘spike’ in GBP/EUR. I use the term ‘spike’ tentatively. We were nestled in the mid 1.1250’s for part of last week. I would suggest utilising market orders at 1.13/1.1350. This is a realistic level to aim for. Please contact a member of the trading department to implement an order. This week data wise out of the Eurozone we have inflation data out on Wednesday in the form of CPI (Consumer Price Index) (YoY) (Jun). Other than that, this week is extremely light out of Europe. Any price movements on GBP/EUR will be likely dictated by Brexit related headlines in either the UK or Eurozone.

Sterling/Dollar

We had Retail Sales data out of the US today that were mixed. Other than the alpha male meeting of Trump/Putin there is little to report on. The Sterling focus this week will be centred around Bank of England Governor Mark Carney’s speech on Tuesday and Average Earnings out of the UK. We also have the ILO (Unemployment Rate) (3M) (May) released.  Expectations are for a print of 4.2%. We also have inflation data from the UK out on Wednesday in the form of Consumer Price Index (CPI) (YoY) (Jun). Consensus print is for 2.6%. There will be volatility surrounding Sterling on this release so please get in touch with the trading department if you have any Cable (GBP/USD) requirements.

Sterling/Dollar has been trading between mid-1.30s and just under 1.3350 over the past month. 

You can view the movements on Sterling/Dollar on the graph below –

GBP/USD - 1 Week

INSERT GBP/USD GRAPH

We’re currently towards the higher end of this range. If you have a requirement to purchase Dollars please consider locking in some of your exposure on a SPOT basis. Consider placing a market order towards 1.3350 as dependent on how Sterling performs and the market perceives the dollar and ongoing trade war concerns there may be an opportunity. However, I would add, that I don’t see Sterling/Dollar pushing too much higher over the summer.

If you need to sell Dollars back to GBP consider taking advantage of current rates.  The low on a 12 month basis is around 1.28. Might we push a few percentage points lower? Perhaps. However, if you’re holding any Dollars I would seriously consider locking in a significant amount on a SPOT basis or alternatively a Forward Contract out for 3, 6 or 12 months. This provides you with protection and peace of mind short/medium and long term irrespective how the Brexit negotiations go. Please contact the trading department to discuss your individual requirements.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a call please get in touch directly.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday 9th July 2018

Is it coming home? It’s coming home. It’s coming home. No, not the World Cup. A ‘soft’ Brexit. Potentially. Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s go with the debut album from those Manchester rascals Oasis and say ‘Definitely Maybe’. 

David Davis, the UK’s Brexit minister, resigned. Sterling initially came off on the news although is now up 0.4% on Cable (GBP/USD) due to Theresa May’s position being strengthened, for now. This of course could dramatically change in the coming hours. Where do we go now? Is Sterling due a rally higher or will it come crashing down to earth? 

You can view the recent movements on Cable (Sterling/Dollar) and GBP/EUR on the graphs below   

GBP/USD - 1 Week

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

Most would have thought Sterling would have plummeted on the news. Quite the reverse. Sterling is up to almost the highest level in a month against the US Dollar. Granted, this is largely down to the Dollar being hammered like Panama routinely does at football. President Trump and the trade war rhetoric is weighing on USD. This can be viewed through EUR/USD pushing higher too. From a Sterling perspective, most market participants are pricing in an August interest rate rise to 0.75% so this is giving GBP a solid base to work from. 

Indeed, Sterling/Euro has pushed back above 1.13 the figure in recent trade. 1.14 has been toppish over the last few months. If you have a EUR requirement from GBP it may be worthwhile implementing a market order at 1.1350 and then 1.14 to execute on a SPOT basis. Please contact the trading department to discuss.    

If you hold EUR and need to move back into GBP I would consider locking in a sizeable portion of your exposure at current levels. Yes, it might go lower although if you can trade under 1.15 I consider this a good level to take advantage of. Please contact the trading department for a rate of exchange.

FX markets have been fairly range bound over the past week with limited price movements. Is this set to change? Politics rather than any economic fundamentals will be the main driver for Sterling in the coming weeks although as much of the world does now, Sterling will play second fiddle to what the Dollar does and that is largely determined by the man in the White House and the ongoing trade war. 

This week we have the ECB President, Mario Draghi, speaking. From the UK we have GDP (MoM) (May) released and the Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney speaking. Any further clues around interest rates will likely impact the short-term direction of Sterling. These speeches and releases largely round up the main events of this week on the economic calendar. 

If you would like to discuss your individual requirements with me please get in touch directly.

I have a funny feeling we will be paying more attention to the travails of the UK Government this week than anything else. Apart from the football.

Have a fantastic week

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday June 25th 2018

As painful as this is to write as a Scot, England thrash Panama at The World Cup, beat the Springboks at Rugby and the Aussies at Cricket, Lewis Hamilton wins the Grand Prix and ‘Brexit’ is now largely irrelevant. Also, it’s going to be 30 degrees in London this week so the Hawaiian tropics will be out.

Will the sun be shining on Sterling this week or will the USD and EUR lay siege to it like rampaging Love Island watching ‘yoofs’ in Falaraki for their summer holidays? Time will tell. 

Sterling/US Dollar

Is August going to be the month when the UK raises interest rates by 25 bps to 0.75%? At the last meeting the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) was split 6-3. We will need the economy to tick up and with Government borrowing figures looking healthier we may finally be on for a further rate rise. However, growth figures have been as lacklustre as the Panama team were at defending yesterday although we should see a gradual improvement in these numbers. 

Cable (Sterling/Dollar) has been trading in the region of 1.31-1.33 in recent trade. 

You can view the movements on the graph below – 

GBP/USD - 1 Week

This week we have Mark Carney, The Bank of England Governor, speaking on Wednesday followed by the financial stability report. Thursday we have GDP figures out of the US.

Where is Sterling/Dollar likely to go? With weekend Brexit related headlines far from positive for the UK Sterling is likely to come under some selling pressure. If you have a requirement to sell USD and purchase GBP I would consider locking in some of exposure on a SPOT basis. We can then look to implement some market orders to take advantage of any further upside. Please contact the trading department to discuss technical levels. 

Purchasing USD from GBP? I would suggest having a call with our trading department. I expect Sterling to push higher towards the end of the summer months although for now the Pound will remain on the backfoot. We touched 1.31 although we’ve since had a reversal back towards the mid 1.32’s. It may be prudent to take some risk off the table at current levels and cover some on a SPOT basis. 

Sterling/Euro

Friday we have inflation data out of the Eurozone in the form of CPI (YoY) (Jun). Other than that it is a relatively light data week for the EUR. 

GBP/EUR has largely traded in a range from 1.13-1.1450 with 1.1450 being toppish after the move higher after the Bank of England. If you are looking to purchase EUR from GBP I would consider implementing a market order at 1.14 for a portion of your exposure whilst considering the 1.13 level as a floor. If you can achieve over 1.13 on SPOT I consider this a good level in the current climate. Please contact the trading department to discuss your individual requirements. 

If you are selling EUR to purchase Sterling take advantage of current levels. Historically, anything under 1.15 has been considered great value. Look at covering off a Forward Contract out for 6 months till end of year to mitigate your currency risk. Q1 next year/March/Brexit? Currency rates quite frankly could be anywhere dependent on how negotiations go. 

You can view the movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below for last week – 

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

INSERT GBP/EUR GRAPH

If you have any questions please do let me know.

Have a fantastic week

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Monday June 11th 2018

Wonders will never cease. An American President will sit down with a North Korean leader in Singapore on Tuesday. More surreal is the fact that Scotland beat England at cricket. Who knew Scotland had a cricket team! Did you know that the former Rangers, Manchester United and Scotland Goalkeeper Andy Goram is the only person to play in an international cricket match and an international football match. There we go readers (for those of you that are left after GDPR), you learn something every day!

The G7 Summit went well. Then it didn’t. Expect trade and tariff tensions to continue between President Trump and the G7 members and pretty much every other country for the foreseeable future. I doubt Justin Trudeau will be invited over to the White House for a BBQ this summer.

Turning our attention back to the UK, Sterling is under pressure. We had disappointing data out in the form of industrial and manufacturing production this morning in addition to the trade surplus widening. Cable (GBP/USD) has now retraced the recovery it made last week back below the 1.34 handle. We have a busy week on the data front with the ILO Unemployment rate (3M) (Apr) and average earnings out tomorrow. We also have inflation data out on Wednesday in the form of CPI (Consumer Price Index). I would expect us to show a slight uptick in inflation to 2.5% although most estimates are for a print of 2.4%. The weak pound has culminated in a drop in inflation this year although with oil prices heading higher there may be more of a conversation around the Bank of England raising interest rates in August. This may give Sterling a shot in the arm towards the end of the summer months. For now, I expect Sterling to remain on the backfoot. 

You can view recent price movements on Sterling/Dollar below – 

GBP/USD - 1 Week

If you hold USD consider converting some of these holdings back to Sterling on a SPOT basis or lock in some more on a Forward Contract. Do I expect GBP/USD to remain at these levels long-term? No. We will see Sterling/Dollar push higher with a test of 1.40 again at some point. If you look at things on a 10 year basis the average GBP/USD rate is a little over 1.52. Take advantage of the recent moves and lock in some Sterling. Please contact a member of the trading department for a rate of exchange. 

If you are a USD buyer from Sterling we have a raft of Dollar related activity this week in addition to the UK focused data. We have inflation data out of the US tomorrow followed by the Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday. It is expected that interest rates will be raised by 25 bps to 2% from the current 1.75%. This will have been priced in by the market although the act of raising rates and any communication on future projections and the pace of future rises should be dollar supportive. If you need to purchase Dollars this week consider doing so prior to Wednesday on a SPOT basis. Feel free to contact me directly should you wish to discuss your individual requirements. 

Sterling/Euro

We have been trading in a tight range for what seems like an eternity. An asthmatic sloth moves more. However, the UK and ECB are likely to be more of a focus this week so we should see some movements. We have the ECB interest rate decision and policy statement and press conference this week. Whilst rates will be left on hold expect QE (Quantitative easing) and the potential end of the ECB’s bond-buying program to be discussed. The purchase of bonds will be phased out although will the end date be set at this meeting or in July? Should the ECB president Mario Draghi decide to wind down Bonds then it’s a signal to the market that the Eurozone is finally out of crisis. There is still a huge divergence between the ECB and the Federal Reserve which is reflected in the current EUR/USD rate. This move by Draghi may give the Euro a boost and drag it back above 1.20 the figure. What will this do to Sterling/Euro? It may push GBP/EUR slightly lower short-term. If you hold Euro’s and need to convert to Sterling please contact the trading department and discuss implementing a market order to take advantage of any intra-day movements in your favour. 

You can view the recent price movements on Sterling/Euro on the graph below – 

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

If you need to convert Sterling into Euro I would consider 1.14 the figure a target to lock in at. Yes, it isn’t great. However, in the current market this is looking mid to toppish at present. Give yourself a realistic price to work from and over the summer months we can look at averaging this up for you.

The FX landscape is open to rapid change due to how politics and economic policy are largely played out these days. Please make sure you have discussed a strategy with us to limit your downside risk whilst allowing yourself room to take advantage of any opportunities to the upside.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Have a fantastic week.

Written by Liam Alexander

ACM Update Wednesday 30th May 2018

Please allow me to open this week’s update by thanking you for still being here with us, for agreeing to continue to receive our musings and commentary on the currency markets. It struck me how relevant “Mama Mia”, Abba’s famous song is so relevant now in this time of Italian and Spanish tempest:

I’ve been cheated by you since you know when

So I made up my mind, it must come to an end

Look at me now, will I ever learn?

If you are reading this then you survived the GDPR deluge of emails shuffling up to you during the darkest hours and begging for you to continue to subscribe to the marketing and musings of websites and service providers you thought were long since gone. Thank you for sticking with us.

GBP/EUR

I don't know how but I suddenly lose control

There's a fire within my soul

Just one look and I can hear a bell ring

One more look and I forget everything, w-o-o-o-oh

This last week has been largely range bound but none the less exciting. Italy is at the centre of European attention. Remember what I wrote two weeks ago? Possibly not but we made it clear that Italy was going to be the epicentre for the next shockwaves to cross the European Union and here we are. The government’s program has been tamed but will likely result in a high deficit, which is worrying markets. The Italians do not feel that they have benefited from economic recovery and its not as if the Italian electorate enjoys the sound of silence. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has declared his support for a Cottarelli led technocratic government, saying President Mattarella had shown a “great spirit of responsibility” to “protect his country’s institutional and democratic stability”. It’s precisely this sort of statement that will anger the populists and wavering voters. The decision clearly is not democratic – the Italian President is preventing the formation of a government, which has a majority vote and a majority of seats. Protecting institutional stability will not resonate with voters who have a vague anger at “institutions” and “experts” already (does this sound familiar?). The fact it is coming from the French President, whom the Italians already see as subjugating Italian interests for those of France, will only exacerbate this further.

Spanish politics joined the list of worries. A Vote of No Confidence is tabled for Friday, and Ciudadanos say they will give Rajoy their vote, in order that they can engineer an orderly exit and new elections. The same threats to Spanish participation within the EU do not exist any thing like the same way as they do in Italy but make no mistake, we live in extraordinary times.

Mamma mia, here I go again

My my, how can I resist you?

Mamma mia, does it show again?

My my, just how much I've missed you

Yes, I've been broken hearted

Blue since the day we parted

Why, why did I ever let you go?

Mamma mia, now I really know,

My my, I could never let you go.

Spain’s opposition tabled a no-confidence motion after the ruling PP party was convicted of corruption. Euro flash PMI data came out mostly below expectations and implies that the slowdown extends well into the second quarter. The ECB Meeting Minutes reiterated the same cautious messages seen in the rate decision.

I've been angry and sad about things that you do

I can't count all the times that I've told you we're through

And when you go, when you slam the door

I think you know that you won't be away too long

Essentially it is all for the EUR to lose ground and GBP is simply treading water, still beleaguered by its own ongoing Brexit woes.

GBP/EUR movement can be seen on the graph below:

GBP/EUR - 1 Week

GBP/USD

You know that I'm not that strong.

Just one look and I can hear a bell ring

One more look and I forget everything, w-o-o-o-oh

While inflation dropped to 2.4% y/y, retail sales leaped by 1.6%, providing promises of a Spring comeback. Q1 GDP growth remained unchanged at 0.1% q/q. GBP/USD also depends on how the USD reacts as it enjoys safe haven flows. USD took advantage of fears related to global trade, in principal the US/China trade war, and the cancellation of the Kim-Trump Summit, which is itself either a masterful ballet of nuanced international relations or a pair of hippos with button related insecurities. The Fed confirmed a rate hike in June via its Meeting Minutes and whilst that will move the market it will likely be priced in when it comes.

GBP/USD movement can be seen on the graph below:

GBP/USD - 1 Week

EUR/USD

Mamma mia, here I go again

My my, how can I resist you?

Mamma mia, does it show again?

My my, just how much I've missed you

Yes, I've been broken hearted

Blue since the day we parted

In the US, the Fed minutes showed that the Fed will allow for somewhat higher inflation, but they cemented the likely June rate hike. USD also enjoyed the risk-off sentiment that is a result of trade fears. Trump’s decision to cancel the meeting with Kim Jong-un weighed on markets but had little impact on EUR/USD. 

US ADP Non-Farm Payrolls came out at 178K in May, lower than 190K expected. In addition, the figure for April was revised down from 204K to 163K. 15 minutes later, US GDP was revised down from 2.3% to 2.2%, also worse than expected. The Personal Consumption component dropped from 1.1% to 1%. All in all, the data came out below expectations, but the US Dollar appears to have just shrugged it off.

Why, why did I ever let you go?

Mamma mia, even if I say

Bye bye, leave me now or never

G.D.P.R, it's a game we play

Bye bye doesn't mean forever

 EUR/USD movement can be seen on the graph below:

EUR/USD - 1 Week

Not trading your currency is still a risk. The markets will move, volatility and relative values will vary but whatever your foreign currency exchange and international payment needs, you can rely on the team here at Aston Currency Management. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us, we look forward to hearing from you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to move to our new offices on Savile Row.

Why, why did I ever let you go

Mamma mia, now I really know

My my, I could never let you go

Have a great week.

Written by Damien Lipman with an appropriate hat tip to Abba.

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