JPY Crosses & Equity Indices
The divergence between yen crosses and US stock indices has persisted for 6 months, the longest and deepest divergence since 2002. In other words, yen strength against major currencies remains despite strength in equity indices.
Reasons to yen strength
As we explained in previous IMTs and Premium notes, part of the reason to current yen strength is BoJ's inability to weaken JPY, which is largely due to inability to add purchases in JGBs. The reason BoJ has not added JGB purchases to its monthly purchases since Oct 2014 is that simply there are not enough JGBs out there. Similar problem is starting to face the BoE with its latest QE expansion.
Adding purchases of equity ETFs will not do the trick of weakening the JPY because there are simply not enough equity ETFs to increase yen supply.
Japan remains net creditor to the world with current account surplus of 3.8% compared to CA deficits in all major FX except for Switzerland.
Reasons to stocks' strength
Despite the 22nd week of net outflows in Equity mutual funds, major indices remain robust due to momentum-driven funds rather than retail players. The rise in index ETFs and the execution of programs buying indices due to price action, rather, than fundamentals is glaring factor to the recent gains. While retail investors are exiting funds, capital flows are chasing ETFs of these indices, rather than their components.
Probabilities of Fed hike in a sweet spot –Neither too high (may spook markets), nor too low (may indicate recession risk) have also helped markets. Goldlocks has been here before. I already shared with weekly Premium videos the divergence inside US indices (breadth and internals) as well as sectoral divergences. These are raising vital questions as the volatility remains supressed and the Fed grows in confidence to consider the next Fed hike.
Falling volatility and rising yen is another way of looking at the divergence, which highlights the fact that ultra low rates is the key explanation, whereby, Japanese investors find little or no yield abroad, therefore retain money at home, keep the yen supported.
There are currently 9 Premium trades backing this above analysis -- in FX, commodities and indices.
