The USD has been under renewed pressure since Wednesday's U.S. jolts data and the market is on high alert for Friday's U.S. jobs data and its potential to sway the U.S. Fed into a 50bps cut on Sept. 18.
Overnight expiry encompasses Friday's jobs report, and the sharp rise in related implied volatility highlights the largest realised volatility risk premium for any jobs data release this year.
General shorter dated expiry options have also seen their implied volatility ramped higher, with 1-week EUR benefiting from the ECB rate decision and 2-week from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Two-month FX option expiries include the U.S. election on Nov. 5.
There has been more demand for USD put, than USD call options - the right to sell the USD versus buy it, which suggests the FX market could see more volatility after a weaker US jobs that hurts the USD.
JPY gains have fuelled the USD/JPY drop sub 143.00 from 146.00 this week and lifted its benchmark 1-month expiry implied volatility from 11.9 to 13.75 and 1-month risk reversals from 1.6 to 2.45 for JPY calls over puts. Outright demand for 140.00 strikes has been apparent all week but traders are keen to cover the risk of 140.00 barriers being breached within the week.
Huge EUR/USD options expire Thursday which might lessen the current long gamma situation and allow more FX volatility. One-week expiry implied volatility gains 1.0 to 9-week highs at 8.5 since including the ECB, while 1-month regains 6.35 from 6.15 on Thursday.
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(Richard Pace is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)