Asian Open: Jerome Powell reconfirmed, Russia threatens Finland

Thursday US cash market close:

The Dow Jones Industrial fell -103.81 points (-0.33%) to close at 31,730.30
The S&P 500 index rose -5.1 points (2.51%) to close at 34,058.75
The Nasdaq 100 index fell -22.06 points (-0.18%) to close at 11,945.50

Asian futures:

Australia's ASX 200 futures are down 0 points (-0.62%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 6,941.00
Japan's Nikkei 225 futures are down -70 points (-0.27%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 25,678.72
Hong Kong's Hang Seng futures are down -106 points (-0.55%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 19,274.34
China's A50 Index futures are up 83 points (0.64%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 13,236.70

Jerome Powell has been confirmed by the US Senate for a second term, with an overwhelming 80-19 vote in his favour. Marketplace radio released an interview with Jerome Powell, where he said inflation is too high and, with hindsight, they should have raised rates sooner. Asked what he is thinking in 5 words or less, he relied “get inflation back under control”.

US producer prices softened in April which will appease those who think inflation has indeed topped. More data is likely needed to be certain, but it is at least a baby step in the correct direction – even if consumer and factory gate prices remain at eye watering levels.

Russia threatens Finland

Geopolitical tensions continued to with Russia warning Finland there would be “consequences” if they joined NATO. With Sweden also looking to join NATO as soon as possible it is likely just a matter of time before the threat is extended to them as well.

JPY and USD led the session

The US dollar index rose to its highest level since December 2002 overnight (just shy of 105), and the euro fell to just 17-pips above the 2017 low. AUD/USD closed below 96c for the first time since June 2020 and NZD/USD hit a fresh 23-month low.

The yen is finally behaving like its old safe-haven self, rising broadly against its FX peers (even the US dollar). EUR/JPY fell ~2.4% during its worst session since the pandemic, AUD/JPY fell to an 8-week low and USD/JPY fell briefly below 127 before recovering back up to 128.40.

Like several yen pairs, GBP/JPY is in a strong downtrend on the hourly chart although it is now within a corrective phase. It’s possible we may be in for a quiet session and, if so, may be one to watch in the European session. We’re looking for evidence of a swing high around 157, near the 20-hour eMA and daily pivot point. But if we see a break higher then we’d look for evidence of a swing high around 158, below the weekly R2 pivot and 50-hour eMA.

Everything you should know about the Japanese yen

Gold breaks trend support

Gold cannot get a break – to the upside that is, having closed below 1830 to invalidate a key trendline, 200-day average and yesterday’s bullish bias. ETF flows unwound around half of yesterday’ prior inflows and 10-year breakevens (inflation expectations) fell to their lowest level since February.

WTI however did follow our bias from the European open, after pulling back to the $103 area the rising to $107. From here we retain a bullish bias above $105 with $109 now in focus.

ASX 200:

ASX 200: 6941 (-1.75%), 12 May 2022

Health Care (-1.76%) was the strongest sector and Financial (-0.75%) was the weakest
11 out of the 11 sectors closed lower
2 out of the 11 sectors outperformed the index
16 (8.00%) stocks advanced, 177 (88.50%) stocks declined

Outperformers:

+4.66% - Orica Ltd (ORI.AX)
+2.6% - EBOS Group Ltd (EBO.AX)
+2.47% - Meridian Energy Ltd (MEZ.AX)

Underperformers:

-17.61% - Block Inc (SQ2.AX)
-16.69% - Altium Ltd (ALU.AX)
-11.58% - Xero Ltd (XRO.AX)

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