US Outlook Continues To Improve, But Investors Take Profit

Sentiment towards the US economic outlook received another boost on Tuesday, following US GDP being revised significantly higher than first reported. This initially led to increased USD demand, which pressured metals and sent the EUR/USD back to 1.24. However, these moves were reversed shortly after when USD profit-taking was noticed. Some may attribute the USD softness yesterday afternoon as being encouraged by the consumer confidence reading slipping, but the USD weakness was noticed at least 45 minutes before this announcement.

Investors closing USD positions following another strong US economic performance was likely correlated to realisation hitting the market that - regardless of the strong data – the Federal Reserve remains at least six months away from raising interest rates. Although last week’s FOMC Minutes can be considered hawkish because they finally provided the potential timing for a US rate rise that the markets have been waiting many months for, the first US rate rise will be a considerable time away and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if investors continue to occasionally close USD positions over the upcoming months.

It is also possible that the profit-taking could have been inspired by a view among the markets that after such a strong Q3 annualised GDP figure (3.9%), economic momentum might slow down during the final period of the year. As of yet, there are no indications of the economic concerns outside of the United States impacting domestic growth. Although this afternoon’s Durable Goods data can provide more insight towards this, where a potential decline in business investment could reflect some caution among investors as they watch economic events unfold around them.

It was previously suggested that both the EUR/USD and GBP/USD’s potential to move to the upside rested with USD weakness, and that’s exactly what we noticed on Tuesday afternoon. The EUR/USDextended to 1.2465, while the Cable climbed back to 1.57. Gold also bounced from support at $1190 and found resistance around $1205 for the fourth time in the past fortnight.

Prior to the US data inspiring some risk appetite into the markets, the EUR/USDwas trading inside a very narrow 20 pip range with some confusion being shown among investors regarding whether the European Central Bank (ECB) will act again next week. Speculation that the ECB might introduce QE reached new heights following dovish comments from Mario Draghi last Friday, although I think it is far more likely that the ECB President was attempting to send the EUR/USD lower than actually warning QE will be introduced in December. It goes without saying that any further ECB stimulus will face strict opposition from the Bundesbank, especially with Tuesday’s improved German export data providing further signals that the German economy is turning the corner.

Before the Bank of England (BoE) Inflation Report testimony to the Treasury Select Committee, the Cable performed in line with expectations and threw away Monday’s 80 pip gains. The pair was expected to come under pressure when the BoE was quizzed regarding the likelihood of the UK entering a period of low inflation and GBP/USD felt the heat when the BoE expressed that there will be a severe drag on inflation over the next few months. When further quizzed on whether UK inflation would fall below 1%, Governor Carney stated that it’s more likely than not that inflation will fall below 1%, while it’s also more likely than not that he would need to write a letter to the UK Chancellor explaining why. The BoE’s views on weak price pressures have also been strong, with them likely to become even stronger over the next few months.

Overall, the BoE’s testimony to the Treasury Select Committee continues to point towards the direction that any interest rate rises will be delayed for potentially one year, which is going to limit investor attraction towards the GBP/USD moving forward. To be honest, there was minimal hawkishness from the BoE on Tuesday, although Governor Carney saved the GBP/USD from falling further when he reiterated that the next move will be a rate rise, not further monetary easing. Later this morning, confirmation of the UK economy expanding by an annualised 3% in the third quarter should be a reminder to investors that although the BoE will not be raising rates, the UK fundamentals remain strong.

Unless widespread US Dollar weakness is around the corner, I favour this pair continuing to consolidate between 1.56 and 1.57 for the remainder of the month.


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