• European stock markets rally after Greece rescue deal
  • EUR consolidates gains, rallies against commodity currencies
  • A summit agreement would be needed to activate aid – German Govt. Spokesman
  • Greek aid deal is technical, specific accord making clear everyone contributes – Lagarde
  • UBS surprise with higher than expected profit result

EUR/USD rallied hard in Asia and early Europe to a high of 1.3699 (NY close 1.3495) but slipped steadily once European trading got up and running. Euro skeptics came out of the woodwork enamoured by a German government spokesman who said a summit agreement would be needed to activate aid to Greece. EUR/USD steadied around 1.36 even but talk of weak stops below 1.3570 proved a magnet in an otherwise low-key European session. On a positive note the 3 year Greece bond rallied strongly with the yield last down around 87bps to 6.01% still 100bps higher than the EU rescue loan rates. Intraday range so far 1.3520-1.3699; last at 1.3585.

USD/JPY held steady in Asia around 93.10 in the face of a surging EUR/USD taking EUR/JPY close to 127.50. USD/JPY traded down to 92.90 ish in Asia but has remained well bid throughout the European session trading above 93.50 before consolidating just below. This has kept EUR/JPY bouyant around 127.00. Intraday range 92.90-93.60; last at 93.48.

AUD/USD after surging to 0.9378 in Asia from a 0.9330 NY close has been on a downhill ever since dragged lower by cross related flows (especially EUR/AUD short covering) and somewhat dovish language from the RBA’s Debelle. Market also wrong footed in Asia going home long only to be stopped out in London below 0.9280. Intraday range 0.9251-0.9378; last at 0.9280.

GBP/USD has been somewhat sidelined today overwhelmed by the Greece rescue loan news. EUR/GBP witnessed a stop driven surge in Asia with the pair rushing to 0.8846 before retracing steadily in early London. Straight GBP/USD has followed EUR/USD of course but in a lagging fashion. Intraday range 1.5377-1.5485; last at 1.5388.

Equities. Australia and Japan posted modest gains of 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. The biggest loser of course was Thailand (down 4.1%) in the wake of the weekends deadly riots. European bourses are flat whilst US futures are now showing tiny losses after being up nearly 0.5% earlier in Asia in the wake of the EUR/USD surge.

Oil is down 40 cents whilst Gold remains up around $3.40 from Fridays NY close.