USD/CNH was little changed through the course of Tuesday trade, not drifting too far from the 7.3100 handle. This underperformed the softer USD index trends, with the DXY and BBDXY moving lower, as EU related currencies (led by GBP) rose amid firmer core yields. Spot USD/CNY finished up at 7.3069 in Tuesday trade, also largely flat lining like USD/CNH. The CNY CFETS basket tracker was little changed at 100.71 (per BBG).
- For USD/CNH technicals, little has changed. The 20-day EMA support point is close to 7.3000. Upside focus is likely to rest on Feb 4 highs at 7.3365. Implied vol for the 1 month tenor continues to track lower, last at 4.60%, levels last seen in early Dec 2024.
- CNH underperforming the USD index pullback fits with a firmer core yield backdrop from Tuesday's session. JPY and CHF were the weakest performers in the G10 space.
- Higher core yields, following some hawkish BoE rhetoric and Fed Chair Powell staying the course, has pushed yield differentials against CNH, but we remain sub recent highs. With quite steady onshore CGB yields, yield differentials will continue to be driven by the US leg, from a US-CH standpoint.
- Relative equity trends are painting a more optimistic picture for CNH, although Tuesday saw onshore equities finish down, while the Golden Dragon index lost 1.66%, its first fall in 4 sessions.
- On the data front we still await Jan new loans/aggregate finance figures.