January 21, 2025 08:35 GMT
OPTIONS: Two-Way USD Risk, Duelling Tariff Headlines Trigger Sizeable Flow
OPTIONS
- Yesterday's FX derivatives volumes were seriously impressive considering the US market holiday, with over $110bln notional crossing the DTCC thanks to the USD sell-off, with tariff target currencies (namely EUR, CAD and CNY) leading the way.
- While relief was evident in the spot rally for EUR, CAD and others - short-end vol markets have not followed, with USD risk reversals and butterfly vol holding at much more cautious levels, somewhat vindicated by the follow-up from Trump overnight and his warning of 25% tariffs on USMCA nations to combat migration flow.
- As such, while USD/CAD sold off on the initial memo headlines yesterday, net upside demand via options is still evident, tipping the put/call skew toward calls. Over $4bln notional has traded in calls with strikes at 1.45 or above, positions which will have benefited from the bounce off the 1.4262 low yesterday.
- This raises the risks around Canadian politics, and increases the importance of Trudeau's succession, with tariff strategy comments on the candidates' campaign trail likely market movers.
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