Commodity Currencies Come Under Pressure

Trade Idea – Foreign Exchange Commodity Currencies Come Under Pressure. Pausing for a minute to reflect on something else apart from the Greek drama there are some interesting opportunities outside the EUR. Please find below some comments on the Commodity currencies (AUD, CAD, NOK and NZD) which are likely to face headwinds in coming months. Pressure is likely to come from a temporary downside correction in oil prices and further easing of monetary conditions by central banks. We believe in the longer term, there is upside to the CAD and NOK unlike AUD and NZD where we believe rates will remain depressed.

Oil Prices to Push CAD & NOK Lower

Commodity Currencies Look Set to Fall

Commodity currencies (AUD, CAD, NOK and NZD) are likely to face headwinds in coming months. Pressure is likely to come from a temporary downside correction in oil prices and further easing of monetary conditions by central banks. We believe in the longer term, there is upside to the CAD and NOK unlike AUD and NZD where we believe rates will remain depressed.

CAD & NOK – Oil Price Influence

Last year’s decline in oil prices has yet to dent global oil production. OPEC has kept production stubbornly high in effort to maintain market share, while US shale producers have managed to exploit efficiency gains in order to maintain output levels. The market has taken confidence from the first sign of strength in oil demand and still anticipates production cuts, which in the last few months, have kept oil prices well supported in the US$65-60 range.

Oil Prices to Push CAD & NOK Lower

We believe the rebound in oil prices in the early part of the year was slightly premature and could partially undermine rebalancing in the global oil market. As such we forecast global oil production remaining strong into next year, which is when the impact of announced capital expenditure cuts is likely to stem oil production from conventional sources. This should see oil prices fall further in the short term only to rally in the early part of next year.

In the last few days the Greek debt crisis and negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program has prompted a retraction in oil prices. Investors are expressing concern over the potential impact on oil demand from an increasingly likely “Grexit” scenario and the introduction of Iranian crude onto global markets. Despite the yesterday’s price drop, we still see risks skewed to the downside for crude prices, creating a good opportunity to go tactically short both the CAD and NOK. Lower oil prices are likely to exacerbate growth concerns in both Canada and Norway and could prompt further currency depreciation, particularly against the US Dollar.

The AUD and NZD have both recently depreciated as both nations have witnessed the price of their primary commodity exports decline. In Australia, weak sentiment towards Chinese growth prospects and oversupply has caused the price of coal and iron ore to crumble. Similarly, in New Zealand excess global production and subdued demand has seen dairy prices collapse.

In response, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) have cut benchmark interest rates in an attempt to buoy growth and stabilise falling inflation. Furthermore, in most recent media statements, both institutions have highlighted the importance of further currency devaluation in supporting economic objectives. Thus, we believe that further interest rate cuts could be in store, which makes the medium term outlook for both the AUD and NZD bearish. Given this outlook, we believe investors would likely benefit from acquiring short exposure to both AUD and NZD.

Commodity Export Prices Have Plunged

Investors wishing to express the investment views outlined above may consider using the following ETF Securities ETPs:

Currency ETPs
EUR Base

ETFS Long AUD Short EUR (EUAU)
ETFS Short AUD Long EUR (AUEU)
ETFS Long CAD Short EUR (ECAD)
ETFS Short CAD Long EUR (CADE)
ETFS Long NOK Short EUR (EUNO)
ETFS Short NOK Long EUR (NOEU)
ETFS Long NZD Short EUR (EUNZ)
ETFS Short NZD Long EUR (NZEU)

GBP Base

ETFS Long AUD Short GBP (GBAU)
ETFS Short AUD Long GBP (AUGB)
ETFS Long CAD Short GBP (GBCA)
ETFS Short CAD Long GBP (CAGB)
ETFS Long NOK Short GBP (GBNO)
ETFS Short NOK Long GBP (NOGB)
ETFS Long NZD Short GBP (GBNZ)
ETFS Short NZD Long GBP (NZGB)

USD Base

ETFS Long AUD Short USD (LAUD)
ETFS Short AUD Long USD (SAUD)
ETFS Long CAD Short USD (LCAD)
ETFS Short CAD Long USD (SCAD)
ETFS Long NOK Short USD (LNOK)
ETFS Short NOK Long USD (SNOK)
ETFS Long NZD Short USD (LNZD)
ETFS Short NZD Long USD (SNZD)

3x

ETFS 3x Long AUD Short EUR (EAU3)
ETFS 3x Short AUD Long EUR (AUE3)
ETFS 3x Long CAD Short EUR (ECA3)
ETFS 3x Short CAD Long EUR (CAE3)
ETFS3x Long AUD Short GBP (AUP3)
ETFS 3x Short AUD Long GBP (SAP3)
ETFS 3x Long AUD Short USD (LAU3)
ETFS 3x Short AUD Long USD (SAU3)

5x

ETFS 5x Long AUD Short EUR (EAU5)
ETFS 5x Short AUD Long EUR (AUE5)
ETFS 5x Long CAD Short EUR (ECA5)
ETFS 5x Short CAD Long EUR (CAE5)

Currency Baskets

ETFS Bullish USD vs Commodity Currency Basket Securities (SCOM)
ETFS Bearish USD vs Commodity Currency Basket Securities (LCOM)

Important Information

This communication has been provided by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (“ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”). The products discussed in this document are issued by ETFS Foreign Exchange Limited (“FXL”). FXL is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.