GOOD MORNING
The ZAR weakened on the back of Global Negative Risk sentiment as the threat of the FED un-nerved investors.
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SUMMARY
Significant Market Data
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THURSDAY
- 12H30 : Fed president BOSTIC SPEECH
- 14h30 : US WEEKLY JOBLESS CLAIMS + 248k expected
- 16h00 : US ISM MANUFACTURING PMI 52 EXPECTED
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FRIDAY
- 14H30 : US NON FARM PAYROLLS + 285K EXPECTED VS 528K PREVI0US
- 14H30 : US UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.5% VS 3.5% PREVIOUS
Today
- Once again expect a weaker ZAR as the market continues to track international developments.
- Early on look for some rotation as market makers clear out order books and weak stops.
- Weak longs who entered at the close of NY and Asia at risk of getting stop-loss orders triggered before a weaker ZAR trend resumes.
- The aggressive spike in the US10YT and a market now convinced of a 75bps hike (70% priced in), indicates another strong session for the US Dollar.
- It is highly unlikely that the ZAR will strengthen to any degree of significance in this environment .
- Trade : BUY USDZAR.
Expected Ranges
- USDZAR : Expect a range 16.9400-17.3500
- Importers 17.1000-16.9400
- Exporters 17.2500-17.3500
- EURZAR : Expect a range of 17.0000-17.3500
- Importers 17.1500-17.0000
- Exporters 17.2500-17.3500
- GBPZAR : Expect a range of 19.7300-20.0300
- Importers 19.8000-19.7300
- Exporters 19.9500-20.0300
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OPENING RATES
- USDZAR 17.1900
- EURZAR 17.2200
- GBPZAR 19.9100
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SOUTH AFRICA
- Phala-Phala
- CR insisting he did not evade questions and was purely acting on advice of his legal representatives.
- Opposition parties were left outraged when President Cyril Ramaphosa once again cited legal processes for not providing them with specific details as to what transpired.
- In addition, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola denied accusation that he interefered with the investigation.
- He said officials did not know that the request was related to the incident on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s property.
- Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola told Parliament that the Gupta brothers were indeed behind bars and had been denied bail.
- He also said that their extradition from the United Arab Emirates had not been delayed and was well within the extradition treaty time frame.
- Lamola was taking questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday as part of the peace and security cluster. EWN
- Jacob Zuma was instructed to pay back nearly R8m on his Nkandala Bond, following the collapse of VBS BANK.
- Zuma obtained the bond / loan a few months before VBS collapsed.
- Jacob Zuma owes VBS Mutual Bank R6.5 million – he started defaulting on the loan soon after the bank was put under curatorship. News 24
GLOBAL MARKETS
Stocks:
- Equity market fell sharply in New York on the back of a spike in US yields.
- In regular trading on Wednesday, the Dow lost 0.88%, the S&P 500 shed 0.78% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was down 0.56% for their fourth straight session of losses.
- US stock futures fell further on Thursday after the major averages closed out August with losses.
- Traders nervous about the Federal Reserve’s aggressive plan to bring down inflation that sparked fears of slowing economic growth.
- Dow futures fell 0.3%, S&P 500 futures dropped 0.5% and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 1%.
- In addition, Nvidia’s stock cratered on Wednesday, after announcing it’s been told by the U.S. government to stop selling chips in China and Russia.
- The stock falling 6.5% in extended trading. CNBC
- The company said it was applying for a license to continue some Chinese exports but doesn’t know whether the U.S. government will grant an exemption.
Bonds:
- The 10-year yield rose above 3.1% for the first since June 29th, as interest rates are set to continue to rise.
- Fixed income markets are now pricing a 70% chance the Fed will hike rates by 75 bps at its September meeting.
- In addition, the yield curve inversion continues with the 2-year Treasury yield hit 3.48%, its highest level since November of 2007.
- Earlier in the session Cleveland’s ‘ influential Fed governor, Loretta Mester said, she sees the Fed funds rate rising above 4% in early 2023.
- This was needed to break the back of inflation.
- She added, the rate increases, likely to slow economic growth, which she sees as running “well below 2%.”
- She also added she DOES NOT SEE RATE CUTS IN 2023.
YESTERDAY
- The Dow fell 280 to 31,510
- The SP500 fell 31 to 3,955
- The Nasdaq declined 66 to 11,816
Futures Trading:
image : Trading economics
OVERNIGHT HEADLINES
- Asian markets lower across the region as the risk off theme continued. The fall in NEW YORK , feeding through into ASIA as the investors exit risk assets.
- In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.53% to close at 27,661. The index falling to its lowest levels in almost a month.
- Traders citing a hawkish outlook on US interest rates and weak global economic data hampering investor sentiment.
- Investors are also monitoring the Yen which has fallen to a fresh 24-year low on a widening policy gap with the US, sliding toward the key 140.
- Analysts said the move could prompt Japanese authorities to intervene in the currency markets. Reuters
- In Australia, the ASX 200 declined 2.02% to close at 6,846, as tightening monetary conditions and weak data across major economies escalated fears of a global economic slowdown.
- Weak manufacturing PMI data from China and other major economies also exacerbated a softening global demand outlook.
- This in turn pressuring Australia’s export-reliant, commodity-heavy industries.
- Heavyweight iron ore miners led the declines, with sharp losses from BHP Group (-7.6%) and Fortescue Metals (-4.2%). Reuters
- Crude oil traded below $90/bl as the US WTI benchmark contract fell sharply on Wednesday.
- The final day of August trading confirming a third consecutive monthly decline, as recession worries and a weakening demand outlook overshadowed concerns about tighter supply.
- Oil has fallen more than 20% in the past three months as major central banks aggressively raised interest rates to combat surging inflation.
- China demand concerns also hitting the market on the back of global recessionary fears.
- The sharp declines in oil prices also prompted Saudi Arabia to signal that OPEC+ could cut supply.
- This would effectively neutralise the extra crude expected from a supply boost, should Iran it clinch a nuclear deal with the West. Gulf Energy News
- Gold hammered on the back of a rampant Dollar and rising interest rates.
- Bullion prices lower and fast approaching key support at $1,700/oz.
- Comments from Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, that the policy rate will have to be moved “somewhat above 4%” by early next year sucked the life out of Gold bulls resulting in heavy selling.
- She added for good measure, she does not anticipate rate cuts in 2023.
- Eurozone inflation rate also hit a new record high of 9.1% in August on high energy prices, bolstering speculations for a supersized 75 basis point rate hike from the ECB next week despite recession worries.
- NB: higher interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion, denting its appeal. Kitco metals
- The US Dollar rallied above 109 and once again reached its highest level in 20 years.
- The buck supported by Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, that she does not anticipate rate cuts in 2023.
- Markets are currently priced for a third straight 75 basis point rate hike in September, as investors look ahead to the monthly jobs report on Friday to gauge the strength of the labour market. Fx news
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