ANZ and Westpac Forecast Two RBA Rate Hikes in March and May 2026 
Fed Holds Rates Steady as Middle East Conflict Clouds Inflation Outlook 
What does China’s host bid mean for the High Seas Treaty? 
Bank of Japan Eyes April Rate Hike Despite Inflation Dip, ING Says 
Is dark chocolate healthier than milk chocolate? 2 dietitians explain 
Federal Reserve Balance Sheet Reduction: Brookings Research Outlines Possible Path Forward 
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Middle East Uncertainty 
Bank of Japan Governor Signals Gradual Progress Toward 2% Inflation Target 
J.P. Morgan Now Expects Two ECB Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Pressures 
We are foreseeing for excess reserves at the ECB to rise above EUR 1,000 bn. Although the European central bank is pumping in money by buying securities worth EUR 80 bn every month and hence increasing the excess reserves by this amount, daily purchase volumes differ, of course.
But it is certain that the threshold will be exceeded on one of the coming days. The ECB would certainly not end the monthly purchases in the near future. This means that excess reserves will rise by roughly another trillion every year but the second trillion will be more difficult.
The effects on the banking system and potential adjustments to the ECB programme, there is one key effect on all market participants, which stems from the fact that the market needs to digest two problems.
First, the excess reserves of the banking system as a whole will rise by EUR 80 bn per month. If anybody thinks the banks could prevent this development by lending more, they would need to explain to me why lending has not risen yet. In addition, the ECB reserves are obviously rising by roughly this amount every month – just look at the figures.
Second, it is up to the individual banks to implement the increase in the excess reserves of the banking system as a whole.
OTC outlook:As a resultant effect of fundamental developments as discussed above, the sentiments in OTC market for EURAUD have been notably changing, you can probably make out 1w IVs skews creeping up in positive numbers and IVs rise just shy above 10% for this expiry. This indication means there is more bets on EUR calls and AUD puts as the OTC market sentiments are more concerned about the underlying spot may shift towards OTM calls strikes on expiration.
The volatility smiles most frequently show that traders are willing to pay higher implied volatility prices as the strike price grows aggressively out of the money.
The current spot FX is trading at 1.4861, since major trend appears to weaker to extend slumps up to 1.47 levels in medium terms, aggressive bears can initiate hedging strategy either by using credit put spreads or by shorting mid-month futures as the currently mild bullish environment is hovering around this pair, any upswings are to be optimally utilized in the hedging strategy to reduce the cost.
