• Japan FinMin: Current fx moves are different from time of G7 intervention in March (doesn’t say why different, bless)
  • Japan MOF official declines to comment on sudden rise in yen
  • Bank of England leaves rates, QE unchanged. As widely expected
  • Portugal FinMin: Government has approved bailout agreement in cabinet meeting
  • German March industrial orders -4.0% m/m, way weaker than median forecast of +0.1% m/m
  • UK April services PMI 54.3, down from 57.1 in March, weaker than median forecast of 55.7

This is getting all too much for an old boy like me. I don’t know which way to turn.

Anyways, risk aversion cranked up even further this morning. European stocks having opened firmer have turned lower; US treasury yields lower again (how low can they go???), gold and oil off big etc etc. You know the picture.

Against this backdrop yen in demand. USD/JPY down at 79.85 from early 80.45 having been as low as 79.55 so far. Throwaway comment from Noda (see above) hardly helped matters.

EUR/USD down at 1.4825 from early 1.4860. Inbetween we’ve been as high as 1.4899, followed by a slump as low as 1.4805 before steadying in hectic trading conditions.

Asian sovereign selling was seen around the highs and as general risk aversion picked up so EUR/USD moved lower. The move accelerated sharply after real grotty German industrial (factory) orders.

Commodity currencies have been hit hard by sharply lower commodity prices. AUD/USD down at 1.0670 from early 1.0735 having been as low as 1.0648.

Hedge funds seen selling aussie on the crosses early (vs EUR and JPY especially), but Asian sovereign buying in the 1.0700/10 area helped slow the sell-off, at least for awhile. But as risk aversion accelerated and commodity prices slumped so aussie got hit hard.

Major Swiss bank helped AUD/USD through 1.0700 and well-documented stops were tripped through 1.0670 as we fell to 1.0648 session low before partial recovery.

Elsewhere, USD/CAD up sharply at .9655 from early .9585.

Cable marginally easier at 1.6495 from early 1.6520. Sell stops now lined up through 1.6450, 1.6440 and 1.6430. Spoilt for choice really.

EUR/GBP effectively unchanged on the day at .8990. Inbetween though we did spike to .8942 session high after the release of truly grotty services PMI data (see above) But then system funds entered the market as aggressive sellers of the cross and back down we jolly well went.

Sell stops seen now through .8975.