MNI US MARKETS ANALYSIS - Oil Price Spike Weighs On Treasuries

US TSYS: Post OPEC+ Bear Flattening, ISM Mfg Headlines Docket

• Cash Tsys are off lows but have nevertheless seen a solid bear flattening after a significant rally into Friday’s close with month/quarter end. The net cheapening pressure came from the overnight surprise OPEC+ cut announcement with Fed rate expectations continuing to increase and drag the yield curve higher.
• 2YY +6.4bp at 4.090%, 5YY +5.5bp at 3.628%, 10YY +4.3bp at 3.511% and 30YY +4.5bp at 3.695%.
• TYM3 trades 5+ ticks lower at 114-24 on more typical volumes a little under 300k. It remains within resistance at 115-07+ (Mar 28 high) and support at the 20-day EMA of 114-09+.
• Data: S&P Global US mfg PMI Mar final (0945ET), ISM mfg Mar (1000ET), Construction spending Feb (1000ET). ISM headlines after mixed indicators, with the MNI Chicago PMI pointing to a broadly similar print, S&P PMI showing upside and regional Fed surveys downside.
• Fedspeak: Gov Cook on mon pol (1615ET, moderated Q&A no text)
• Bill issuance: US Tsy $57B 13W, $48B 26W Bill auctions (1130ET)

STIR: Fed Rate Path Continues Trend Move Higher

• Fed Funds implied rates have held onto a move higher at the open and despite some retracement from earlier highs are still at Friday’s high pre core PCE miss with a 15bp hike priced for May (+2bp) from the current effective 4.83%.
• The first cut from current levels is seen in Sep with -12.5bp at 4.71% (+3.5bp) and 42bp of cuts to 4.41% in Dec (+6.5bp).
• Gov. Cook speaks late at 1615ET in a moderated discussion on mon pol. She last spoke Fri – weighing stronger momentum against potential headwinds, with banking turmoil having potential to tighten credit [and lower the rate path].

FOMC-dated Fed Funds implied ratesSource: Bloomberg

GLOBAL STIR: ECB / BoE Terminal Pricing Higher Is Notable Vs Limited Fed Increase

The surge in oil prices on the OPEC+ production cut has bear flattened yield curves early Monday but the bigger picture is it hasn't been hugely impactful on terminal central bank rate hike pricing on either side of the Atlantic.

• ECB/BoE peak pricing is a couple of bps off early session highs but have still gained more than Fed peak pricing this morning (which is still focused on May being the last hike, at only about 60%/40% prob of 25bp vs pause, and 55bp of cuts by year-end). We'll see if that changes as US desks come in.
• The wider terminal differential has probably helped contribute to keeping a lid on the dollar (as noted), with the broad index back to flat vs earlier gains of +0.4% on the OPEC surprise (which defied the usual inverse relationship between oil prices and USD).
• ECB terminal Depo rate pricing +4.1bp to 3.60%
• BoE terminal Bank Rate pricing +3.7bp to 4.70%
• Fed terminal Funds rate (upper limit) pricing +1.5bp to 5.16%

MNI RBA Preview - April 2023: April Pause, Q1 CPI To Determine May Outcome

• The April 4 RBA meeting is going to be particularly close but it is likely rates will be kept at 3.6% as the Board watches and waits for more information on domestic and global developments. But economists are split and many expect another 25bp hike. However, given that rates are now in restrictive territory, the Board has the luxury to pause in April and reassess at the May meeting.
• Click to view the full preview: MNI RBA Preview - April 2023

FOREX: USD is paring overnight gains

• The Dollar has pared its overnight gains during the early European session.
• The Greenback was in the Green overnight, following the OPEC news that they would cut output.
• The USD is now more mixed against G10, down 0.66% vs the NOK, given the Oil bid.
• The Yen sits at the other end of the spectrum, and is down 0.43% at the time of typing.
• European mfg PMIs were mostly close to inline and had no impact in FX.
• The EUR found a bid against the USD, GBP, CNH, CHF, but is overall mixed.
• Next resistance in EURGBP is at 0.8829 High Mar 30.
• Looking ahead, sees US Final mfg PMIs, so more focus on the US ISM mfg this afternoon.
• Speakers, include, ECB Simkus, Vujcic, and Fed Cook.

FX OPTIONS: NOTABLE EXPIRIES 

Of note:

EURUSD 1.21bn at 1.0900.

GBPUSD 1.07bn at 1.2250 (tue).

USDCAD 1.77bn at 1.3600 (tue).

USDCNY 1.37bn at 6.9000 (tue).

EURUSD 3.82bn at 1.0900 (wed).

USDJPY 1.27bn at 133.00 (wed).

USDCAD 1.37bn at 1.3600 (wed).

• EURUSD: 1.0800 (221mln), 1.0825 (345mln), 1.0850 (599mln), 1.0900 (1.21bn).
• GBPUSD: 1.2400 (581mln).
• AUDUSD: 0.6650 (470mln), 0.6715 (283mln).

EQUITIES: S&P E-Minis Bull Cycle Still In Play

• In the equity space, S&P E-Minis ended last week on a bullish note. Price has breached 4119.50, reinforcing the bullish conditions. The move higher exposes 4148.48, 76.4% of the Feb 2 - Mar 13 downleg. Clearance of this level would signal scope for an extension towards 4205.50, Feb 16 high ahead of 4244.00, Feb 2 high and a key medium-term resistance. Firm support is at 4027.87, the 50-day EMA.
• EUROSTOXX 50 futures traded higher last week and the contract remains bullish. Price has pierced resistance at 4268.00, the Mar 6 high and a key resistance. A clear break of this hurdle would strengthen bullish conditions and open 4300.00 next. Moving average studies are in a bull-mode set-up and this highlights a broader uptrend. Initial firm support lies at 4146.30, the 20-day EMA.

COMMODITIES: WTI Trend Outlook Remains Bullish

• On the commodity front, trend conditions in Gold remain bullish and the recent short-term pullback is considered corrective. Note that price action since Mar 20 appears to be a pennant - a continuation pattern. This reinforces bullish conditions and signals scope for an extension higher near-term. The recent test above $2000.0 opens $2034.0 next, a Fibonacci projection. $1918.3 marks a firm support, the Mar 17 low - a break would signal scope for a deeper pullback.
• In the Oil space, WTI futures remain in a bull cycle and today’s gap higher at the open, strengthens this current condition. The contract has touched a high of $81.69, just above resistance at $81.04, the Mar 7 high. A clear break of $81.04 would signal scope for a continuation higher and open $83.04, the Jan 23 high. Key support is seen at $75.72, the Mar 31 high and the gap low on the daily chart. Initial support lies at $77.60, 23.6% retracement of the Mar 20 - Apr 3 rally.