Currency Market Commentary – 2010.04.28

Below is a sample of our Daily Commentary. To get this comment, and our daily coverage of 15 additional markets and trade ideas, visit futures-research.com for your free 2 week trial!

DOLLAR: The Dollar has retained its safe haven strength this morning as a lack of progress in resolving a now expanding European sovereign debt crisis may be adding to a capital flight out of Euro-denominated assets and into the US Dollar. While the chances for a full default are still remote, the loss of investment grade status on Greek debt creates its own set of problems for many investment firms who are unlucky enough to still be holding those issues. Equally frightening to the market was the Portuguese credit downgrade yesterday, which may only be starting to have a Greek-type decline, but as yet has an unknown price tag for the EU. With events in Europe holding the market’s focus, the FOMC announcement later today has probably lost some of its relevance but it would seem almost impossible that the Fed would make any sort of move in the wake of yesterday’s events. As long as EU debt concerns hold the market in its sway, the Dollar will remain well supported across the board. Unless there are concrete moves towards a solution to this crisis and that doesn’t look to be in the cards today, look for the June Dollar to hold its gains above the 82.50 level and perhaps make even more new highs for the move.

EURO: The June Euro remains under pressure this morning as a resolution to the EU sovereign debt crisis still appears to be far away. The May 19th deadline for Greece to find some sort of aid package in order to roll out some longer-term debt may provoke some sort of compromises over the next few weeks, but as long as political posturing on both sides takes center stage, the June Euro is likely to be remain under selling pressure for the near future. While the chances for a sharp short-covering rally rise whenever officials start to make statements, look for the June Euro to continue its descent past the 1.3120 level unless concrete steps are put into place quickly. The Germans don’t want Greece to get off easy, but they might have already shot themselves in the foot by allowing the Greece crisis to undermine the situation in Portugal.

YEN: The benefit that the June Yen was receiving from European weakness has been turned around overnight, as risk aversion strength may have been offset by ideas that many in the government are looking for a weaker Yen in order to stimulate the deflationary Japanese economy. Unless there are further problems in Europe today, look for the June Yen to head back towards the 106.00 level.

SWISS: The June Swiss has been fairing the best of the European currencies as a flight-to-safety finally appears to be giving the Swiss some benefit. While the Swiss National Bank is likely to be keeping any gains versus the Euro in check, look for the June Swiss to hold its lows above the 92.00 level.

POUND: Politics has finally taken a back seat for the June Pound as it has been caught-up in the general weakness in European currencies. Although the ideas that the UK will be caught up in the sovereign debt contagion are a stretch at best, it does point to the fiscal problems that the new government will have to contend with after the May 9th election. While the June Pound should benefit from any Euro-related rally, look for any gains to be capped off around the 1.53 level unless there are new UK election-related developments.

CANADIAN DOLLAR: The June Canada has had the worst performance of the major currencies since the European credit-downgrades, as the risk aversion wave has caused a flight out of riskier currencies like the June Canadian. With the economic situation in Canada remaining positive, any sort of support found near these levels may be the start of an eventual move higher but recent price action should lead any longs to proceed cautiously.

TODAY’S MARKET IDEAS: A relief rally may take the European currencies off of their lows, but unless the market sees a solution to the EU debt crisis on the horizon, the Dollar is likely to hold its strength over the near future.

Tags: , , , , , , ,