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CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

EUR/USD: Italian risks resurface

Italy is back on the agenda as focus turns towards the regional Italian election. Government stability to wobble on Salvini win.

EUR/USD chart Source: Bloomberg

Italy is back on the agenda for the euro after 5 Star Movement (5SM) Party Leader Di Maio announced his decision to step down earlier this week. With this coming before a decisive regional election in Emilia-Romagna on Sunday, risk premium attached to Italy could be on the rise amid concerns over the stability of the 5SM and Democratic Party (PD) coalition. Emilia-Romagna is typically a centre-left stronghold and thus the PD party would be expected to win the regional election.

However, given the sizeable lead in the national opinion polling for Salvini’s League party and with regional opinion polls showing the centre-left and centre-right are neck and neck, there is an increasingly risk that the centre-left rule could be replaced for the first time in over 70 years, which would mark a huge achievement for Salvini’s party. In turn, this would heighten concerns that Italy could be on course for another election in the near term, thus placing pressure on the euro, as well as Italian assets (FTSE MIB + BTPs).

Italian regional election opinion polling

Italian election regional polling

Italian election risks to spark wider Bund/BTP spread

In recent months, foreign investors have stepped up their exposure to Italian debt, therefore rising risks that Italy could once again be heading back to the polls providing us with greater confidence. A widening of the Bund/BTP spread towards 200 basis points will see Italian assets underperform, making EUR/JPY an attractive option on the downside.

Italian yield and inflows

EUR/USD price chart: daily time frame

EUR/JPY Source: IG charts
EUR/JPY Source: IG charts

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
CFDs are a leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.

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