China’s Growth Faces Structural Challenges Amid Doubts Over Data 
S&P 500 Relies on Tech for Growth in Q4 2024, Says Barclays 
U.S. Stocks vs. Bonds: Are Diverging Valuations Signaling a Shift? 
Trump’s "Shock and Awe" Agenda: Executive Orders from Day One 
Moldova Criticizes Russia Amid Transdniestria Energy Crisis 
Lithium Market Poised for Recovery Amid Supply Cuts and Rising Demand 
China's Refining Industry Faces Major Shakeup Amid Challenges 
Mexico's Undervalued Equity Market Offers Long-Term Investment Potential 
Gold Prices Slide as Rate Cut Prospects Diminish; Copper Gains on China Stimulus Hopes 
US Futures Rise as Investors Eye Earnings, Inflation Data, and Wildfire Impacts 
Oil Prices Dip Slightly Amid Focus on Russian Sanctions and U.S. Inflation Data 
Wall Street Analysts Weigh in on Latest NFP Data 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Urban studies: Doing research when every city is different 
US Gas Market Poised for Supercycle: Bernstein Analysts 
U.S. Treasury Yields Expected to Decline Amid Cooling Economic Pressures 
Goldman Predicts 50% Odds of 10% U.S. Tariff on Copper by Q1 Close 
GBP had not rallied even though the subjective probability of a disruptive no-deal Brexit had receded materially over the prior month. This anomaly was corrected with a vengeance in January as GBP rallied by a chunky of 4.5%. But having first undershot in response to favourable developments around the risk of no-deal, it appeared to us that GBP was in danger of over-reacting and was moving from merely removing the negative tail-risk of no-deal, which we estimate to be worth about 3% to GBP’s probability-weighted value, to beginning to price a materially higher probability of no-Brexit. This was premature, in our view, and the subsequent 1.5% correction lower in GBP tends to support such an assessment.
The one pushback against selling GBP vs. JPY correlation at the current market is value, or rather the lack thereof. Implied corrs have already subsided 15% pts. from their local December peak to near 2-yr lows and carry only thin premium over trailing realized corrs. Within the GBP-cross universe, somewhat better value resides in GBPAUD options where nominal implied corrs. are 15-20 pts. higher, and which also incidentally ranks second next only to GBPJPY on long-horizon risk-return metrics from corr. selling in Exhibit 5 (highlighted in blue).
Unlike GBPJPY however, GBPAUD is not a symmetrically profitable triangle play in calls and puts: Exhibit 5 suggests that owning GBP calls/AUD puts (against selling GBPUSD calls and AUDUSD puts) significantly outperforms owning GBP puts/AUD calls, presumably on account of GBPAUD’s traditional anti-risk sensitivity on the upside (i.e. spot tends to rally sharply in crashes).
Fortunately, this directional preference suits current tactically bullish GBP views to a tee, hence GBP call/AUD put spreads financed with AUD put/USD call spreads is a viable alternative to our GBPJPY – USDJPY call spread switch for expressing a constructive view on Brexit negotiation outcomes. Sterling appears to be turbulent in the weeks to come, we run you through hedging scenarios of Brexit risks in our upcoming post. Courtesy: JPM
Currency Strength Index: FxWirePro's hourly GBP spot index is flashing at -92 levels (which is bearish), hourly USD is at -4 (neutral), hourly JPY spot index was at 103 (bullish) and hourly AUD is 136 (bullish) while articulating at (12:07 GMT).
For more details on the index, please refer below weblink: http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
