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The US dollar has recovered a bit further as gold and silver have plunged, and we think there is enough stability to let data do the talking in FX this week. The US calendar should culminate in decent payrolls/unemployment, opening the door to some more dollar upside. Elsewhere, the ECB may not discuss the euro much after all, while the RBA could hike tonight
USD: Some Health Restored
The dollar is looking healthier. The de-basement trade that seemed primarily behind the USD plunge of the past week has started to unwind since Kevin Warsh became US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve Chair. The size of the correction in overbought precious metals is probably offering some additional support to the dollar, but we have stressed repeatedly how the USD drop appeared too detached from the macro story anyway.
With the dollar now having recovered to some degree, we think it will move more in line with data and short-term rates dynamics this week. The US calendar is quite heavy, with ISM surveys (manufacturing released today), and JOLT and ADP before the jobs data on Friday. Our call is for 80k payrolls and unchanged 4.4% unemployment, which can set the stage for a further stabilisation/recovery in the dollar.
Before then, we’ll be observing closely how much interest there is in buying the dips in EUR/USD. It appears to us that the bigger support level was around 1.1880-1.1900, and the break lower is a sign of some restored confidence in the dollar. Another new leg higher without any data or events clearly justifying it would suggest the damage to the dollar is longer-lasting. For now, our call remains for a further USD recovery in the short term.
EUR: Euro Strength Fears May Be Overblown
This week’s central focus is on determining how seriously the European Central Bank views the euro’s appreciation. The fact that EUR/USD is no longer at the much-feared 1.20 level does decrease the chances of any vocal reaction from ECB members, but those were more likely to feature in post-meeting comments or the minutes anyway.
At this Thursday’s meeting – find our latest preview here – there may simply not be enough to trigger a shift in President Christine Lagarde’s dislike of discussing exchange rate levels. Equally, we doubt markets are pricing in much risk of verbal discontent with the euro’s strength, so the bar for a negative euro reaction arguably isn’t high.
Eurozone core inflation on Wednesday is expected to edge slightly lower to 2.2%. Our economists are expecting 2.3%, but either figure should hardly matter for the euro at this stage. EUR/USD should remain almost entirely an extension of USD sentiment, and if we are right to believe USD confidence is gradually rebuilding, we expect a move to our estimated short-term fair value of 1.770 for EUR/USD sooner rather than later.
AUD: RBA to Hike in Close Call
The Australian dollar has been a major victim of the abrupt unwinding of gold and silver longs. Anyway, it did appear that AUD/USD was embedding an excessive amount of positives in January, considering unchanged rate differentials. Unlike EUR/USD, where one of the two legs (EUR) has seen minimal changes in rate expectations of late, AUD/USD has faced some short-end action on both sides.
Markets have progressed to price in 19bp of tightening by the Reserve Bank of Australia at tonight’s meeting, and we are aligned with consensus in calling for a 25bp hike to 3.85%. This appears to be a close call, and while the upward surprise in December CPI (paired with a hot housing market) justifies this move, the RBA should refrain from signalling that this is the start of a new hiking cycle. Markets are pricing in at least another hike by year-end, and any indications this could be a one-and-done move would cap the support a hike can give to AUD.
Our view is that the implications of RBA tightening on AUD/USD may be more visible beyond the short-term anyway, once the USD’s overpowering volatility has dissipated. In line with our USD view, and given market pricing already leaning on the hawkish side, we think AUD/USD should still trade back lower in the coming weeks before re-entering a sustainable path beyond 0.70.
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