- UK July Halifax house price index +0.6% m/m, some way better than median forecast of -0.3%
- Interest rates will have to go up quicker than anyone expects, ex-Bank of England officials warn – The Telegraph
- Euro zone July final services PMI 55.8, down from flash 56.0
- Japan FinMin Noda: Excessive disorderly fx moves undesireable for economic stability – JIJI
- UK July services PMI index falls to 53.1 from previous 54.4, weaker than median forecast of 54.5 and lowest read since June 2009
- Euro zone June retail sales flat m/m, +0.4% y/y vs median forecast of +0.1% for both. May’s data revised higher, to +0.4% m/m, +0.6% y/y from previous 0.2%, +0.3% respectively
Not much to get excited about. Generally listless Summertime trade.
EUR/USD marginally firmer at 1.3225 from early 1.3210. BIS came in selling above 1.3220 early helping pressure the pairing. Worse than expected euro zone PMI data, weak European stocks then took us down to session low 1.3184 with major French bank notable seller.
But buying from a large Swiss commercial bank helped lend support and stops seen in 1.3175/80 area just about remained intact. Session low 1.3184. Talk of buy orders down at 1.3150/60, said to include Asian sovereign interest.
Buy stops now seen through 1.3240, before sell orders at 1.3250/65.
AUD/USD up at .9163 from early .9120, and this despite selling by Asian sovereign around .9140. Noted .9150 option barrier got knocked out in very late morning trade. US investment house notable buyer in latest leg higher.
Talk of more barrier option interest at .9180 now, with fairly decent sell orders noted just ahead of there. Stops gathered just above .9180.
USD/JPY up slightly, presently at 85.45 from early 85.30. Talk real money and a large fund selling above 85.45 has so far helped limit the recovery.
Barrier option interest noted at 85.00 with defence bids said to be in place just ahead of there. More buy orders seen 84.80/00 before large stops through 84.80.
Cable up slightly at 1.5945 from early 1.5925. Well noted technical resistance at 1.5968 remains intact. Sell stops seen through 1.5880. Buy stops through 1.5970 before decent sized sell orders at 1.5990/00 ahead of 1.6000 barrier option interest.