Key Events This Week: October 12th – October 16th
Sun: CNY – New loans and aggregate financing
Tue: GBP – CPI, EUR – German ZEW
Wed: CNY – CPI, USD – Retail sales and beige book
Thur: AUD – Unemployment rate, USD – CPI, NZD – CPI
Fri: USD – University of Michigan Confidence
Overview
USD The US dollar was broadly weaker over last week, extending losses from the release of the dismal September jobs report. FOMC minutes release was doveish, citing increased downside risk to inflation and global growth. Markets continue to push rate-hike expectations into next year with CME Fed Watch now pricing only a 39% chance of a December hike, with March 2016 the first full pricing. Given the focus on the inflationary environment currently, traders will be closely watching this week’s US CPI print expected to highlight a dip into deflationary territory at -0.2%.
EUR The single currency was higher last week amidst dollar weakness whilst continuing to rotate around shifting risk sentiment. The strong inverse correlation with risk seemed to breakdown last week as Equity markets traded higher also. ECB minutes release saw the ECB citing increased downside risks to inflation and the willingness to intervene further if needed, though no extension of QE has been discussed as yet. Comments made by the ECB’s vice president during an interview at the IMF’s yearly meeting stated that lower oil prices and a fall in the euro would boost the Eurozone economy, downplaying the need for further stimulus. German ZEW survey is key data focus this week.
GBP September services PMI data disappointed UK bulls last week, showing marked weakness with a print of 53.3 against the expected 56. Sterling was weaker across the board except for strength seen against the dollar and the yen. The BOE’s October meeting saw the Central Bank striking a more doveish tone than expected, stating their view that inflation was likley to remain below 1% until spring of 2016. Sterling received some support from comments made by BOE’s Carney during the IMF session that a UK rate hike was independent of Fed lift-off timing as he reiterated his view that the issue of a rate rise will come into play around the start of 2016. Traders will be focused on UK CPI this week to see if the UK has once again managed to avoid dipping back into deflation.
JPY Focus last week was on the BOJ October monetary policy statement, with some players expecting the Central Bank to increase its stimulus. However, the BOJ made no policy adjustments and dismissed the idea of negative rates in the near future. JPY was broadly weaker amidst reduced safe-haven flows as commodities rebounded. Despite the monetary policy statement, there is still a large expectation that the BOJ will increase stimulus on October 30th. As well as being driven by US data, JPY will also be sensitive to Chinese data this week, with any data weakness likely encouraging safe-haven support for the Japanese currency.
AUD The Aussie strengthened across the board last week, maintaining strength amidst short reductions following the RBA’s neutral meeting and a continued rebound in commodity markets, fueled further by the doveish FOMC minutes. Domestic unemployment data this week is expected to see the unemployment rate tick up to 6.3%. Price will also be sensitive to Chinese data and the possible consequences for the global risk environment should we see a particularly weak or strong data.
CAD The rebound in oil prices last week has seen the Canadian dollar continue to strengthen, recovering ground sharply against the US dollar. Friday’s employment data put a dent in an otherwise shining week for the loonie as the unemployment rate was seen to tick up to 7.1%. An absence of tier one domestic data this week will leave the Canadian dollar trading outlook driven by US and Chinese news and the path that oil takes.