Wednesday June 19: Five things the markets are talking about
The dollar is largely unchanged overnight against G10 currencies as investors await central bank meetings, including the conclusion of the Fed’s two-day meeting later today.
Markets are entering uncharted waters, sovereign yields trade atop of year lows, equities looking to breach new highs now that cracks are appearing in 2019 tighter monetary policy rhetoric amongst G10 central bank members.
Yesterday, ECB president Mario Draghi signaled that the central bank could embark on new stimulus measures in light of risks over the eurozone’s economy. This potential shift in policy by the ECB will certainly make interest rate increases by other central banks more difficult.
Today, the focus is on the Fed (02:00 pm ET), investors are widely expecting the Fed to cut rates at some point in the coming months, but not today. Currently the market is pricing in a pace of easing that would only be justified by a recession – the potential of two to three cuts by Q1, 2020. Are things that bad? Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference should be very interesting (02:30 pm ET).
On tap: Central Banks dominate proceedings this week – the Fed, Bank of Japan and Bank of England all set monetary policy, along with central banks in Norway, Brazil, Taiwan and Indonesia.
1. Stocks given the green light
In Japan, the Nikkei has rallied hard overnight to end atop of its six-week highs on news that the U.S and China will revive talks on trade, while expectations that the Fed will cut rates later this year is giving added support. The Nikkei share average jumped +1.7%, while the broader Topix also climbed +1.7%.
Note: President Trump said he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit later this month and said talks between the two countries would restart after a recent lull.
Down-under, Aussie stocks ended at their 11-year highs overnight, as investors took comfort from the U.S and China rekindling trade talks. Australian resource stocks gained the most. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed +1.2%. It had risen +0.6% on Tuesday when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) had pointed to further policy easing in the future. In S. Korea, the Kospi closed +1.2% higher.
There were no surprises in Hong Kong or China as stocks closed higher as Washington and Beijing looked to rekindle trade talks. In China, the blue-chip CSI300 index rose +1.3%, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained +1.0%. In Hong Kong, stocks posted their best session in seven-months. At the close, the Hang Seng index rose +2.6%, while the China Enterprises Index gained +2.5%.
In Europe, regional bourses trade lower across the board consolidating after sharp gains Tuesday, following a strong session in Asia and flat futures in the U.S.
U.S stocks are set to open ‘little changed’ (-0.1%).
Indices: Stoxx600 -0.2% at 383.9, FTSE -0.4% at 7416, DAX -0.1% at 12320, CAC-40 -0.2% at 5500, IBEX-35 -0.4% at , FTSE MIB 0% at 21216, SMI -0.6% at 9946, S&P 500 Futures -0.10%
2. Oil rallies on Sino-U.S trade hopes, gold unchanged
Oil prices have extended their gains overnight, supported by rekindled hopes for a Sino-U.S trade deal and potential economic stimulus from central banks.
Also providing support is the uptick in tensions in the Middle East after tanker attacks there last week. Washington blames Iran, but Tehran denies any involvement. President Trump has indicated that he is “prepared to take military action” to stop Iran having a nuclear bomb.
Brent crude futures are up +20c, or +0.3%, at +$62.34 a barrel. They rose +2% yesterday, while U.S WTI crude also gained +20c, or+ 0.4%, to +$54.10 a barrel. The benchmark surged +3.8% on Tuesday.
The market is also waiting for the OPEC+ meeting where members will decide whether to extend a supply reduction pact that ends this month. This morning, OPEC has agreed to move its next meeting to July 1, followed by a meeting with non-OPEC allies on July 2. Joint technical committee will meet June 30.
Providing further support was yesterday API data showing that U.S crude stocks fell by -812K barrels last week to +482M. Expect dealers to take directional guidance from the U.S government’s EIA report this morning (10:30 am ET).
Ahead of the U.S open, gold trades steady as investors await the Fed’s monetary policy decision later today. Spot gold is steady at +$1,345.28 an ounce, while U.S gold futures are down -0.1% at +$1,349.40 an ounce.
3. Yields new record lows
Fixed income markets are in pause mode following yesterday’s plunge in European bond yields as Draghi opened the ECB forum in Sintra on a “dovish” note.
Markets saw new all-time yield lows for 10-year bonds in Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden, France, Belgium, Slovakia, Ireland, Slovenia, Latvia, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Croatia.
Currently, bond yields are a tad higher after yesterday’s plunge. ECB policy makers seem to be divided after Draghi’s ‘dovish’ speech. Ten-year bond yields across the bloc are +1-2 bps higher in early trade. Germany’s 10-Y=year Bund yields are a touch higher at -0.31%, having hit a record low at -0.33% yesterday when it fell almost -8 bps – its biggest one-day fall in three-years.
Elsewhere, the yield on U.S 10-year notes rose +2 bps to +2.08%. In the U.K, the 10-year Gilt yield has jumped +4 bps to +0.846%, while in Japan, 10-year JGB yield has decreased -1 bps to -0.137%.
4. Dollar contained for now
EUR/USD (€1.1202) has remained well contained since ECB’s President Draghi said yesterday that more bond-buying or interest rate cuts were options to tackle low inflation. The uptick in ‘dovish’ rhetoric will appease EUR bears. However, they have to wait for the Fed for clarity on potential U.S rate cuts to gain further support. The EUR/USD hit a two-week low of €1.1181 Tuesday.
Data showing U.K annual CPI inflation slipping to +2.0% in May from +2.1% in April has failed, thus far, to impact the pound, with GBP/USD last up +0.1% at £1.2569. Brexit uncertainty is unlikely to push the BoE into flagging possible rate cuts, as the ECB and Fed have done.
Elsewhere, TRY ($5.8629) is under pressure outright on reports that the Trump administration is weighing new sanctions on the country over its purchases of the Russian S-400 missile-defense system.
5. Boris Johnson strong lead
Boris Johnson has taken a step closer to becoming U.K’s next PM, winning +40% of votes in the second round of a contest on a firm promise to leave the E.U by Oct. 31.
The candidates contending to be the U.K’s next PM has been whittled down to five and will be cut to the final two by the end of the week.
UK Conservatives announced results of second leadership ballots (total 313 votes; 33+ needed to move on). Boris Johnson 126 votes; Michael Gove 41 votes; Jeremy Hunt 46 votes; Rory Stewart 37 Votes; Sajid Javid 33 Votes with Dominic Raab being eliminated (30 Votes)
Boris Johnson has extended his lead to quite a significant margin and used last nights debate to provide a few more details on how he intends to sort out Brexit.
Note: Johnson goes through to a third ballot between 09:00 ET and 11:00am ET today.
