- Sarkozy threatened to pull out of euro – Spanish newspaper report
- German Dep Govt Spokeswoman: Media report on Sarkozy euro zone threat is baseless
- Japan DPJ panel will mull spending cuts so next fiscal year’s new bond issuance doesn’t top 44.3 trln yen
No one wants to embrace risk at the moment, especially on a Friday ahead of the weekend. European stocks been hit again this morning, oil off close to 1 1/2 bucks, while euro zone debt insurance is getting more expensive again. And on and on ad nauseum. You know the signs. Well trodden path of late.
EUR/USD down at 1.2470 from early 1.2545 having been as low as 1.2433. The Sarkozy story (see above) hit the euro hard and it hasn’t really recovered much after German government came out and denied report.
Barriers at 1.2500, 1.2475 and 1.2450 have all fallen by the wayside. More barrier option interest now at 1.2400. Talk of decent European corporate buy orders down around 1.2420. On topside, reports early this morning that decent stops through 1.2610, but that seems a long ways away now.
Cable down at 1.4550 from early 1.4625, having been as low as 1.4497. Talk of very large 1.4500 option expiries at todays New York cut (1.5 bln mentioned). Also talk of very large 1.4400 expiries due next Thursday May 20 (hedge fund related and said to be for upwards 3 bln.)
USD/JPY down at 92.45 from early 92.85, yen as usual beneficiary of geneneral risk aversion.
EUR/CHF steady at 1.4015., SNB still said to be supporting cross down at 1.4000/05.