US TSYS/SUPPLY: Refunding Guidance: Mixed Expectations (1/2)
The main question for February's Refunding announcement (Wednesday 0830ET) is whether Treasury changes its current guidance that it does not "anticipate needing to increase nominal coupon or FRN auction sizes for at least the next several quarters."
- With expectations on this being mixed, the risks run two ways: a softening or removal of this guidance would confirm that higher issuance is coming later this year (consensus is for sizes to be increased in August or November) amid expected fiscal loosening, while leaving it unchanged would likely see long-end Treasuries strengthen modestly in relief. Eliminating, or softening, that language could be negative for Treasury markets as it would signal that an increase in coupon sizes is fairly imminent.
- A majority of analysts whose Refunding previews we saw expect this guidance to be changed, with some risks of removal of the phrase altogether.
- However other analysts see the guidance changed only later in the year, once the fiscal picture is clearer and the new Treasury Secretary has had more than just a couple of weeks to assess the situation.
- “No change” would bring a mildly bullish relief rally for longer-end Treasuries in the very short run, we feel.
- Other possibilities (all of them softening the guidance) include:
- Affirmatively stating that coupon sizes are expected to rise at some point (ie later this year)
- Deleting "at least" (so it reads "does not anticipate needing to increase ... for at least the next several quarters")
- Changing the duration from "several quarters" to a shorter time period
- May 2023's Refunding - which presaged future coupon increases - noted: “Treasury may need to modestly increase auction sizes later this year, potentially as soon as the August 2023 refunding announcement.” Prior to that, Treasury had quarter-to-quarter guidance.
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JGB TECHS: (H5) Returns Lower
- RES 3: 149.55 - High Mar 22 (cont)
- RES 2: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)
- RES 1: 144.48/146.53 - High Nov 11 / High Aug 6
- PRICE: 142.12 @ 15:01 GMT Jan 03
- SUP 1: 141.65 - Low Dec 30
- SUP 2: 141.56 - 1.764 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing
- SUP 3: 141.05 - 2.000 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing
Markets slipped on the hawkish Fed and are yet to fully recover, touching 141.65 on the way lower. Medium-term trend signals on the continuation chart continue to point south. A resumption of the trend would pave the way for a move towards 141.56, a Fibonacci projection point on the continuation chart. A stronger recovery would open 144.48, the Nov 11 high. Further out, key resistance is at 146.53, the Aug 6 high (cont).
USDCAD TECHS: Bull Flag Highlights A Clear Uptrend
- RES 4: 1.4669 2.0% 10-dma envelope
- RES 3: 1.4539 3.382 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
- RES 2: 1.4508 3.236 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
- RES 1: 1.4467 High Dec 19
- PRICE: 1.4392 @ 15:50 GMT Jan 3
- SUP 1: 1.4336 Low Dec 20
- SUP 2: 1.4307/4232 20-day EMA / Low Dec 17
- SUP 3: 1.4136 50-day EMA
- SUP 4: 1.4011 Low Dec 5
USDCAD is unchanged and bulls remain in the driver’s seat. The latest pause appears to be a flag formation - a bullish continuation signal. Note too that moving average studies are in a bull-mode position, highlighting a dominant uptrend. Sights are on 1.4508 next, a Fibonacci projection level. Initial firm support to watch lies at 1.4307, the 20-day EMA. A pullback would be considered corrective.
AUDUSD TECHS: Southbound
- RES 4: 0.6471 High Dec 9
- RES 3: 0.6408 50-day EMA
- RES 2: 0.6341 High Dec 18
- RES 1: 0.6247/6282 High Dec 30 / 20-day EMA
- PRICE: 0.6204 @ 15:21 GMT Jan 3
- SUP 1: 0.6179 Low Dec 31
- SUP 3: 0.6158 1.236 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing
- SUP 3: 0.6100 Round number support
- SUP 4: 0.6045 1.500 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing
A bearish trend condition in AUDUSD remains intact and the pair continues to trade closer to latest lows. Recent weakness maintains the price sequence of lower lows and lower highs. Note that moving average studies are in a bear-mode position too, highlighting a dominant downtrend. Scope is seen for an extension towards 0.6158 next, a Fibonacci projection. Initial firm resistance to monitor is 0.6282, the 20-day EMA.
