Commodity Currencies
Oil related currencies remain weaker against the USD amid the selling pressure seen in crude prices as WTI crude futures broke below USD 49.00 earlier in the European session. The move to the downside was aided by Russian production reaching record highs, oversupplying the market lifting USD/RUB to touch the 64.00 handle, although oil prices stabilized later in the session. Meanwhile, NOK also experienced weakness with USD/NOK trading near 3 week highs above 7.700. In related news, reports that Saudi Arabia would raise its price of their main oil grade for Asian buyers, prompting speculation Saudi is retreating from using price discounts to defend market share failed to impact the oil-linked currencies. Looking ahead, DOE Crude Inventories scheduled for tomorrow are expected to show a build of 700K which can provide further downside for oil as well as NOK and the RUB.
USD/JPY
Throughout the European session USD/JPY has resided in negative territory as widespread dampened risk appetite has led to safe haven flows into the JPY coupled with sharp selling observed in the JPY crosses. The move to the downside is also supported by UST 10-Year yields breaking below 2% for the first time since October 2014. Although, the USD-index as remained in positive territory all session long albeit trading close to multiyear highs, USD/JPY continues its decline on dampened sentiment. Heading into the European close, USD/JPY was fell a leg lower after weak US ISM Non-Mfg (lowest reading since June 2014), Factory Orders and Durable Goods revisions.
EUR/USD
With speculation of pending QE from the ECB and Greek political instability hangs over Europe, EUR/USD continued its decline below 1.1900 despite reports from the Syriza party leader saying that should they win the Greek snap-election they would not look to exit the eurozone. Furthermore, Dutch newspaper Financieele Dagblad reported that the ECB is working on a discussion paper on three different options ahead of the ECB January 22 meeting to execute government bond buying options adding to the further expectations of ECB stimulus which is also dragging the EUR lower.