Accessible version Liquid Cross Border Flows Q3 halfway mark Key takeaways FX flows so far in Q3: consolidation Consolidation perhaps best characterises FX flows so far in Q3, after – sharp in the case of USD – positioning adjustments in 1H: investors have bought USD, CHF, and EM FX vs. JPY, GBP, and CAD (Exhibit 1). Among BofA investors, USD shorts are light (Exhibit 2). Exhibit 1: So far in Q3 investors have bought USD, CHF, and EM FX vs. JPY, GBP, and CAD Changes in aggregate FX positioning -40 -20 0 20 ...

Summary of Morgan Stanley's G10 FX Strategy Update Industry Overview - The report focuses on the G10 foreign exchange (FX) market, analyzing various currencies against the US dollar (USD) and providing strategic insights for investors. Key Currency Views USD (US Dollar) - **View**: Bearish - **Skew**: Bearish - The DXY is expected to weaken, particularly against EUR, JPY, and GBP. The risk premium has largely driven the post-Liberation Day move, with potential for further increases in risk premium [2][12][17]. EUR (Euro) - **View**: Bullish - **Skew**: Bullish - EUR/USD is under upward pressure due to increased USD-negative and EUR-positive risk premiums, alongside a compression in Fed-ECB rate expectations [3][18]. JPY (Japanese Yen) - **View**: Bullish - **Skew**: Bullish - Optimism regarding a potential Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hike and concerns about the US labor market may lead to speculation about policy convergence, reducing appetite for JPY carry trades [4][19]. GBP (British Pound) - **View**: Bullish - **Skew**: Bullish - GBP/USD is seen as an attractive option for investors, reflecting a carry-neutral expression of a USD-negative, Europe-positive view. The carry remains crucial for GBP's outperformance [5][21]. CHF (Swiss Franc) - **View**: Neutral - **Skew**: Bearish - Short CHF positions are attractive from a carry perspective, but much of the CHF-negative tariff news is already priced in, potentially leading to underwhelming growth expectations [6][22]. CAD (Canadian Dollar) - **View**: Bullish - **Skew**: Bullish - Anticipation of a decline in USD/CAD, even if upcoming CPI shows signs of deceleration. The convergence of US-Canada rates is expected to weigh on USD/CAD [7][25]. AUD (Australian Dollar) - **View**: Bullish - **Skew**: Bullish - Strong domestic fundamentals and elevated yields could lead AUD/USD to re-test 0.6600, with potential upside towards 0.6900 if CPI surprises positively [8][26]. NZD (New Zealand Dollar) - **View**: Neutral - **Skew**: Neutral - A 25bp cut by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is fully priced in, but stronger-than-expected growth raises the risk of an NZD-positive surprise if the OCR forecast does not decline [9][27]. SEK (Swedish Krona) - **View**: Neutral - **Skew**: Neutral - The upcoming Riksbank meeting is not expected to be a major catalyst, but a rate cut in September is seen as underpriced [14][29]. NOK (Norwegian Krone) - **View**: Neutral - **Skew**: Bearish - A bearish tilt on NOK is noted, with expectations of a lower trough rate from Norges Bank, which may not be fully priced in by the market [16][30]. Additional Insights - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring upcoming economic indicators such as CPI, jobless claims, and PMIs, which could influence currency movements [17][21][25]. - The analysis suggests that the USD's decline since April is primarily driven by risk premium dynamics, with potential for further declines if US rates converge lower towards global peers [12][17]. Trade Ideas - **Long GBP/CHF**: Entry at 1.0927, target 1.12, stop at 1.055 - **Short USD/JPY**: Entry at 147.04, target 135, stop at 151 - **Long EUR/USD**: Entry at 1.1686, target 1.20, stop at 1.11 [16].

Investment Ratings - USD View: Bearish with a bearish skew [2][21] - EUR View: Bullish with a bullish skew [3][22] - GBP View: Neutral with a bullish skew [4][23] - JPY View: Bullish with a bullish skew [5][24] - CHF View: Neutral with a bullish skew [6][25] - NOK View: Neutral with a bearish skew [7][26] - SEK View: Neutral with a bearish skew [8][27] - AUD View: Neutral with a bullish skew [9][28] - NZD View: Neutral with a bullish skew [10][29] - CAD View: Bearish with a bearish skew [11][30] Core Insights - Dollar weakness is a prevailing theme in G10 FX views, driven by US growth and rate convergence with the rest of the world, alongside increased FX hedging [21][22] - The EUR/USD is expected to rise to 1.20 and beyond, supported by European investors hedging US assets [3][22] - GBP is seen as constructive due to its carry-to-vol ratio and low perceived trade tension risks [4][23] - JPY may benefit from US-Japan trade uncertainties and lower US terminal rate expectations [5][24] - The CHF is expected to face downside risks due to yield compression despite low inflation [6][25] - The NOK is viewed with a bearish skew due to lower oil price risks and rate headwinds [7][26] - SEK is anticipated to react to incoming economic data with a bearish bias [8][27] - AUD fundamentals remain strong, indicating potential for performance catch-up against the USD [9][28] - NZD's downside against AUD is limited due to minimal yield advantage [10][29] - CAD is recommended for short positions against CHF due to broad USD weakness and negative terms of trade [11][30] Summary by Sections USD - The USD is expected to weaken as growth and rates converge with the rest of the world, with a risk premium of approximately 6% due to increased FX hedging [63][65][68] - The current account deficit stands at 4.6% of GDP, indicating a widening trend [68][70] EUR - The EUR/USD is projected to rise significantly, with options markets underpricing the potential for it to reach 1.25 [99][101] - Europe's current account surplus is increasing, primarily from goods and services [104][106] GBP - GBP's strength is supported by a favorable carry-to-vol ratio and limited trade surplus with the US [135][137] - The UK's current account deficit is stable but financed by more volatile forms of investment [140][142] JPY - JPY may gain from continued weakness in US economic data affecting terminal rate pricing [171][173] - Japan's current account remains positive, with a narrowing trade deficit [176][178] CHF - The CHF is expected to strengthen due to low inflation and yield compression potential [206][209] - Switzerland's current account surplus is high, driven by a strong goods surplus [212][217] NOK - The NOK faces downside risks despite a higher neutral rate estimate from the Norges Bank [238][240] - Norway's current account surplus benefits from oil and gas exports [244][246] SEK - SEK is sensitive to yield differentials, with potential upside risks against EUR [269][271] - Sweden's current account surplus is improving, driven by trade [274][276] AUD - AUD's strong fundamentals suggest a potential catch-up against peer currencies [299][300] - Australia's current account has shifted to a deficit due to increased imports [305][307] NZD - NZD's downside potential against AUD is limited due to a lack of yield advantage [336][338] - New Zealand's current account deficit is narrowing after a peak in 2022 [341][343] CAD - CAD is expected to decline against CHF due to unfavorable terms of trade [371][373] - Canada's current account deficit has narrowed, primarily due to a lower income deficit [378][380]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a bearish outlook on the US dollar due to moderating US exceptionalism and a more growth-supportive monetary and fiscal mix overseas [6][11][14]. Core Insights - The report highlights that while tariffs remain a headwind for global growth, several currencies such as Antipodeans, NOK, EUR, and JPY are expected to turn the corner on growth [6][11]. - In developed markets (DM), the bearish USD recommendations are barbelled for either a US slowdown (long JPY) or a soft landing scenario (long Scandis, Antipodean, EUR) [6][11]. - In emerging markets (EM), there is a broadening overweight across regions with a preference for Asian creditor currencies (like KRW) and CEE euro-proxies (like CZK) [6][11]. - The report emphasizes that 2025 is different from previous years as no single factor is dominating global FX returns, necessitating a separate analysis of G10 and EM [6][11][24]. - G10 FX forecasts remain unchanged for EUR/USD at 1.22 and USD/JPY at 139, with upgrades for GBP, NZD, and CAD based on improved domestic prospects [6][11][48]. - EM forecasts include a reduction for USD/CNY to 7.15 and USD/ZAR to 17.50, reflecting a more favorable outlook for these currencies [6][11][48]. Summary by Sections Key Currency Drivers - The report identifies several macroeconomic factors influencing FX returns, including US-China trade talks and tariff adjustments [7][8]. - It notes that the reduction of tariffs from 145% to approximately 41% for a 90-day period is a significant development [7][8]. FX Models - The report discusses the performance of various currencies and highlights that the best-performing currencies are often those with current account surpluses [24][25]. - It also notes that the carry-to-value rotation is finally playing out in G10, with surplus countries outperforming [24][25]. G10 FX Short-term Fair Value - The report maintains forecasts for major currency pairs, with a bullish bias on EUR and JPY due to US moderation [56]. - It also highlights that GBP and NZD forecasts have been upgraded based on growth resilience and improved domestic conditions [56]. Technicals - The report indicates that external balances, particularly current account surpluses, have been among the best signals for global FX returns this year [24][25]. - It emphasizes that equity momentum has been a strong strategy for G10 currencies, benefiting from lower policy activity among central banks [24][25]. Trade Recommendations - The report suggests rotating AUD/USD into a long AUD and NZD basket against USD, citing improved domestic prospects for New Zealand [41][56]. - It also recommends an overweight position in EM currencies, particularly in Asia and EMEA, while remaining selective in commodity and frontier markets [23][56].

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The discussion primarily revolves around the **foreign exchange (FX) market** and its dynamics, particularly focusing on the **USD**, **EUR**, **CAD**, and **SEK** currencies, as well as the implications of global bond yields and fiscal policies on these currencies [3][4][5][8][19]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **USD Weakness**: Despite a rate advantage, the USD remains weaker against its G10 rivals, indicating structural bearishness. The current account deficit necessitates capital account surpluses, but the USD price required for this may weaken over time [4][14][15]. 2. **Impact of US Policies**: President Trump's fiscal policies, including proposed tariffs, have created volatility in the bond markets, affecting FX price action. The market perceives a lack of commitment to high tariffs, which has led to a rally in bond yields [3][8][9]. 3. **European Central Bank (ECB) Strategy**: ECB President Lagarde's speech emphasized the potential for the euro to gain a greater international role, allowing EU governments to borrow at lower costs. This could position the euro as a counterpoint to US policies [5][17]. 4. **Sweden's Debt Issuance**: Sweden plans to increase debt issuance significantly, which is expected to attract foreign investment due to its AAA rating and stable fiscal environment. This could bolster the SEK [6][28][29][30]. 5. **Canadian Dollar (CAD) Outlook**: The CAD is expected to benefit from US asset rotations, despite its current lag compared to other G10 currencies. The Bank of Canada (BoC) is not anticipated to cut rates, supporting the CAD's uptrend [18][20][21]. Additional Important Points 1. **Bond Market Volatility**: The bond market's volatility has contributed to indecisive FX price action, with significant fluctuations in long-end yields impacting currency valuations [12][14]. 2. **Fiscal Deficits**: Wider fiscal deficits are projected for the US, which may lead to higher risk premiums for US Treasuries, further complicating the USD outlook [13][14]. 3. **Foreign Investment Trends**: The increase in Swedish government bond issuance is expected to reverse a trend of declining foreign ownership, which had fallen by approximately 78% over the past decade [29][33]. 4. **Market Sentiment**: Risk reversals for CAD have turned bullish for the first time since 2009, indicating a shift in market sentiment towards a potential decline in the USD [24][25]. This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the conference call, highlighting the interplay between fiscal policies, bond market dynamics, and currency valuations.