Market update: Euro suffers, stocks steady, oil squeezed

• Trade is likely to be thinned this week by Thanksgiving in the United States, but the virus’ resurgence has traders once again monitoring COVID-19 cases and governments’ responses.

• USDIndex at 16-month highs above 96.00.

• Yields: 10-year Treasury rate is up 1.4 bp at 1.57%, while across the Asia Pacific region bonds are mostly higher, despite the prospect of a rate hike from the RBNZ. The  2s, 5s, and 7s also richened measurably ahead of the upcoming auctions and as hawkish comments from Fed VC Clarida and Governor Waller saw gains pared, but the move was short lived.

• China’s PBOC kept the loan prime rate unchanged once again and Covid jitters in Europe weighed on sentiment.

• Equities: Stock markets have traded narrowly mixed, with Topix and JPN225 down -0.08% and up 0.09% respectively. The Hang Seng lost -0.7%, while the CSI 300 lifted 0.5%. US stocks stalled due to mix of earnings news, albeit from record highs, with the USA30 tumbling -0.75%, hitting 35600 lows. The USA500 stabilised at 4713 while the USA100 rallied to 16632.

• USOil dipped to $74.06 lows as countries continue to debate the release of strategic reserves. Reuters report that: “Japanese officials are working on ways to get around restrictions on releasing national reserves of crude oil in tandem with other major economies to dampen prices”.

• Gold down to 1838.55 (S1).

• FX markets – Yen sell off continues with the CHF a notable exception. EUR and GBP weakened. EURUSD at 1.1262, GBPUSD steady below PP at 1.3426.

European Market Update: The 10-year Bund future is down -23 ticks, slightly underperforming versus Treasury futures, while in cash markets the US 10-year rate has lifted 1.2 bp to 1.56%. Stock futures are mostly higher, with the GER30 and UK100 posting gains of 0.1% and 0.2% respectively and US futures slightly outperforming.

The Covid situation in some parts of Europe is escalating again, mainly in those areas with a strong anti-vaccine movement and a low vaccine uptake and protests against nationwide curbs dominated the headlines over the weekend. With little on the data calendar today, Covid developments will likely remain in focus, as they will also play a part in upcoming central bank decisions.

Biggest FX Mover (07:30 GMT) NZDUSD (+0.74%) retested the 0.7000 area. Faster MAs are currently aligned on the right hand side indicating consolidation, MACD lines hold negative, while RSI is at 51 and Stochastic started falling, suggesting lack of further boost for now. H1 ATR 0.00105, Daily ATR 0.00610.