RBA maintains a hawkish bias. Japanese authorities are ready to conduct another intervention

The ISM US Manufacturing Index for June unexpectedly fell by 0.2 to a four-month low of 48.5, weaker than expectations for a rise to 49.1. The ISM Goods and Services Price Sub-Index for June fell by 4.9 to a 6-month low of 52.1, weaker than expectations of 55.9.

Tesla (TSLA) shares rose more than 6% and led gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after Wells Fargo listed it as a tactical idea for the third quarter.

WTI crude oil futures rose to around $83.5 a barrel on Tuesday, hitting a two-month-high, driven by prospects for higher demand during the summer travel season. Prognoses from the American Automobile Association showed vacation travel up 5.2% year-over-year, with auto travel alone expected to rise 4.8% from a year ago. In addition, bets on a rate cut by the US Federal Reserve are providinxg support for oil prices after a recent slowdown in US inflation sparked optimism that a rate cut is imminent.

Asian markets traded mixed yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) was up 0.12%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) added 0.34%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) was not trading, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) was negative 0.22%.

The offshore yuan depreciated to 7.30 per dollar, remaining at its lowest level in seven months, while weak guidance from the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) pressured investor sentiment. The Bank of China set the average rate at 7.1291 per dollar, the lowest since November 21, signaling a willingness to weaken the yuan further. The yuan’s depreciation is also supported by a stronger US dollar, driven by a sharp rise in US bond yields and speculation about Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency.

The Japanese yen fell to 161.5 per dollar, sliding to new 38-year lows due to a sharp interest rate differential between Japan and the US. A lack of urgency from the Bank of Japan to normalize monetary policy is weighing on the currency. However, there is growing speculation that the BOJ may raise rates at its next meeting in late July. A weak yen raises the cost of imports, which adds to inflationary pressures and negatively affects household consumption. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Shun’ichi Suzuki reiterated on Tuesday that the government remains vigilant in monitoring exchange rate movements.

Minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) June meeting showed that policymakers emphasized the need to remain vigilant against upside risks to inflation, adding that a significant rise in prices could necessitate a significant rate hike. Nevertheless, the board sees an opportunity to bring inflation to the target level while maintaining stability in the economy and labor market. Markets are currently pricing in a one-in-three chance of a rate hike as early as August while ruling out the possibility of an RBA rate cut this year.