FX wrap – GBP volatile on BoE surprise, JPY and CHF under pressure, USD follows yields up
Lachlan Meakin
18/10/2023
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USD was firmer on Thursday, largely due to a rally in treasury yields with the DXY tracking the 10 year yield higher to a peak of 102.470 after bouncing off the psychological 102 support level. US data was mixed with Unemployment claims and current account figures coming in worse than expected, but this was offset by a beat in Existing home sales. There was a selection of Fed speakers, with the Chair Powell headlining.
Little new was revealed with Chair Powell re-iterating the FOMC broadly feels it will be appropriate to raise rates again this year which surprised no-one. GBP was volatile after the BoE somewhat surprised markets with a larger than expected 50bp hike, going into the meeting a 25bp was the favoured outcome by economists, but a 50bp was partially priced in so not a totally unexpected move from the BoE. The bank also maintained guidance further tightening would be required if there was more evidence of persistent inflation.
Post decision GBPUSD hit a high of 1.2838 in a knee jerk reaction before reversing the move and eventually hitting lows of 1.2728 in similar price action we saw after Wednesdays hotter than expected CPI figure. GBP price action is indicating the market feels further hawkish re-pricing of BoE action is limited, with fears that the current projected path will lead to recession in the UK weighing on the Pound and Cable will struggle to breach the major resistance at 1.28. CHF was lower vs the USD after seeing weakness in the aftermath of the SNB rate decision where the SNB hiked by 25bps disappointing some market participants who were looking for a 50bp move.
The SNB did note however that additional rate hikes will be necessary. After an initial spike lower to test the 0.8900 support zone, USDCH reversed course, hitting a high of 0.8973 before finding some selling. JPY was the G10 underperformer with USDJPY printing a fresh 2023 high of 143.22 after breaching the key 142.50 level, with a CPI report coming up today, another close above this level could see a technical continuance to test the 145 level.
Recent Fed speak has also raised the issue that US treasury yields are likely to continue to rally, increasing the rate differential between US10Y and JGBs which will also be a major tailwind to get the pair to 145, which is where the BoJ's November USDJPY intervention was launched. Todays calendar of major risk events below:
By
Lachlan Meakin
Head of Research, GO Markets Australia.
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市場對頂尖製程晶圓及先進封裝(Advanced Packaging)的瘋狂胃納,其增長速度早已遠遠超越了全球供應鏈所能溫和承受的極限。這種極端的供需失衡,正強行逼迫各大 AI 龍頭大廠積極評估「第二供貨源(Second-source)」—— 呢點要稍為校準:這並不代表大廠們正在拋棄台積電,而是他們在實戰中迫切需要多一條通往大規模量產的備用防線。
支撐英特爾未來繼續狂飆的牛市邏輯非常直觀:**全球 AI 算力需求依舊極其瘋狂**,台積電的產能死鎖在短期內根本無法解開,這倒逼跨國科技巨頭必須不計代價尋求具備實質技術公信力的第二代工防線。如果英特爾能成功將目前的秘密測試與意向訂單逐步轉化為實質性的商業產出,全球長線資金將繼續為其晶圓代工戰略瘋狂計價。
最後,不容忽視的是更宏觀的 **AI 資本開支大週期**。一旦 Google、微軟、亞馬遜和 Meta 等超大規模雲端商(Hyperscalers)未來在龐大的基礎設施投入上放緩步伐、或是 AI 商業化變現的投資回報率(ROI)不如預期,成個半導體板塊都將迎來泥沙俱下的結構性大回撤,無論英特爾 Foundry 的製程進展得幾咁完美也無法獨善其身。
綜上所述,主導接下來外匯與股票交叉盤生死的黃金變數包括:輝達會否發出實質生產訂單、18A 工藝的最新良率進展、英特爾代工業務的虧損限度、台積電先進封裝擴產速度,以及北美雲端巨頭們的 AI 資本開支是否依舊強悍。