Reports of a possible summit between US president Joe Biden, and Russian president Vladimir Putin, saw European markets get off to a decent start to the week initially.
Unfortunately, the early optimism didn’t last, and the France-inspired initiative soon went the way of every previous initiative in trying to understand exactly what it is Russia wants from its current strategy.
As a result of the Kremlin pushing back on the near-term prospect of a meeting, European markets subsequently rolled over and finished in negative territory, as separatist forces in the Donbas and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine attempted to provoke Ukrainian army forces into action against them.
In a further sign that Russia appears uninterested in arriving at a diplomatic solution, Vladimir Putin said that Russia would recognise the rebel forces sovereignty over the disputed regions, thus validating their claims to be self-governing. This in turn gives him the cover he needs to invade Ukrainian territory in support of the rebel forces, which he has ordered Russian troops to do, to perform a “peacekeeping” role.
Putting to one side that any move would be in breach of international law, it would also blow a hole in the Minsk ceasefire accords and make any chance of an imminent de-escalation even more difficult than it is now. Putin went on to claim that the decision to admit Ukraine to NATO had already been taken and that further expansion was only a matter of time. Last night’s speech certainly makes that prospect much more likely and not less. He went on to say that Ukrainian forces should stop their actions against the separatist regions immediately.
After last night’s laying down of the gauntlet by Putin, the ball is now firmly in NATO’s court, with the very real prospect that sanctions may not be enough, although they will be very much the starting point, as Europe stands on what could be the brink of war. If NATO, the US, UK and more importantly EU nations can’t coalesce around a significant and wide-ranging sanctions response, and in the case of NATO, draw a definitive line in the sand in the wake of last night’s events, then you must wonder what would prompt them to, as dictators rarely stop if you appease them.
Oil prices have reacted accordingly, with Brent crude prices pushing back up towards last week’s high, on the way to the $100 a barrel level which now seems only a matter of time. Gold prices have also rallied back above $1,900, as it quickly becomes apparent that Russia appears uninterested in any outcome other than the one it wants.
With US markets closed yesterday, today's market price action is likely to be spicy to say the least, with European markets set to open sharply lower, as the drumbeat of war gets ever louder.
EUR/USD – continues to struggle anywhere near the 1.1420 area, with the bias for a move back to support at the 1.1270 area. A move through 1.1420 retargets the highs at 1.1485. A move below 1.1270 retargets the lows this year at 1.1120.
GBP/USD – failed at the 1.3640 area last week. Needs to move towards resistance just above these levels at the 1.3720 area and 200-day MA. Support comes in at trend line support at 1.3440, from the December lows, as well as the 50-day MA at 1.3500.
EUR/GBP – the 0.8280 lows continue to remain in sight, while below the 0.8410/20 resistance area.
USD/JPY – a fall below the 114.70 area, opens up a return to the 113.80 area. We have resistance just above the 115.20 area as well as 115.80.
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