Get 40% Off
⚠ Earnings Alert! Which stocks are poised to surge?
See the stocks on our ProPicks radar. These strategies gained 19.7% year-to-date.
Unlock full list

Eurozone/U.S. Divergence (And What That Means For The Euro)

Published 09/03/2014, 12:19 AM
Updated 07/09/2023, 06:31 AM

This Great Graphic was created on Bloomberg. It depicts the US manufacturing PMI (white line) and the eurozone manufacturing ISM (yellow line).

There has been a clear divergence since the start of the year. Briefly, in January, the eurozone reading rose above the US. This had not happened before, though the eurozone time series only goes back to September 2011. The August prints make for the largest divergence since the eurozone time series began.
US vs Eurozone ISM

The lower graph, also created on Bloomberg, shows the CPI readings (US in white and eurozone in yellow). US CPI is higher than the eurozone CPI by the most since early 2010. The gap has been widening since the Q4 13.

The divergence of inflation and economic activity (using the manufacturing PMI as our proxy) lies at the heart of the divergence in monetary policy. It is this divergence that has encouraged the amassing of the large speculative short euro position in the futures market and the persistent pressure in the spot market, where the euro has fallen for seven consecutive weeks coming into this month.

Technically, the euro looks over-extended, though new lows for the move were recorded yesterday, though yesterday's range was a little more than a quarter of a cent. We think the market is turning cautious ahead of the ECB meeting on Thursday. We suspect the market will be disappointed if the ECB does not announce a QE program. An ABS purchase program would be understood as a form of QE, we think. We are under the distinct impression that ABS purchases are more complicated than many observers seem to appreciate, and the removal of obstacles is not completely in the ECB's domain. Moreover, it seems to be putting the cart before the horse if a QE program is announced before the TLTRO or asset quality review.

US vs Eurozone CPI

We think that odds are good of another cut in rates and some adjustment to the TLTRO to increase the likelihood of greater participation. This could involve cheaper funding (which is implicit by a repo rate cut) and ensuring that smaller banks that do not have access to the ECB's facilities can also participate indirectly through other financial institutions.

Disappointment with the ECB or "sell the rumor buy the fact" type of behavior could see the euro bounce. It is that bounce that investors should be prepared for and take advantage of by reducing euro exposure and/or raising hedge ratios in anticipation of the euro trending toward the mid $1.20s in the coming months.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.