• This week’s long-drawn countdown to the US September CPI finally resulted in a few hours of extremely volatile trading annex a historic intra-day market reversal, in particular in US equities. Hoped for signals of inflation topping out again didn’t materialize. Headline inflation hardly eased (0.4% M/M and 8.2% Y/Y, from 8.3%). US core inflation (6.6% Y/Y) even jumped to the highest level since 1982 as the monthly pace (0.6%) stays uncomfortably elevated. In a first logical Pavlov reaction, the US yield curve inverted with the 2-y jumping north of 4.50% while 10 & 30y yields tried to take out the 4.0% barrier. Money markets embraced the idea of two additional 75 bps Fed rate hikes in November and December. The S&P opened about 2.50% lower. However, technical factors came into play. Amongst others, the S&P touching the 50% retracement of the post-corona rally triggered a squeeze on recent bearish positioning. In an impressive comeback, US indices closed up to 2.60% (S&P) and 2.83% (Dow) higher. US yields also eased back below above mentioned high profile levels. In the end US yields rose ‘modestly’ between 8.3 bps (5-y) and 4.2 bps (30-y). In a flattening move, German yields closed 9.4 bps higher for the 2-y but eased 5.5 bps for the 30-Y. USD gains already stayed relatively modest immediately after the CPI release and the US currency even fell prey to profit taking as the risk rally unfolded. The DXY index eased back to close at 112.36. EUR/USD also easily stayed away from the cycle low to close at 0.9776 (open 0.9703). USD/JPY spiked to test the 147.66 1998 top, but no sustained break occurred. For now there is no communication on interventions. UK markets also had a good run yesterday. Persistent BOE presence in the bond market and headlines on the UK government downscaling fiscal spending pushed UK yields more than 20 bps lower across the curve. Sterling outperformed (EUR/GBP close 0.8632).
• This morning, Asian markets joined the risk rebound from WS yesterday. The Nikkei and the Hang Seng are outperforming with gains of 3.0%+. US Treasuries gain marginally. The dollar eases against the likes of the Kiwi and the Aussie dollar. USD/CNY trades modestly lower at 7.166. EUR/USD also gains modestly (0.978). The yen stays in the defensive. At USD/JPY 147.45, the pair is holding near the multi-year peak. Later today, the market focus stays on the US with the US September retail sales and the U. of Michigan consumer confidence (including inflation expectations measures). Control group retail sales are expected at 0.3% M/M. Yesterday’s post CPI market reaction suggests that data probably will have to be extremely strong to push US yields sustainably beyond the 4.50% (2-y)/4.0% (10/30-y) barriers. That said, there is evidently also no reason of the Fed to backtrack on its anti-inflationary rhetoric. In this context, US yields might consolidate near recent highs. Aside from further technical repositioning, equities from now on will have to cope with the Q3 earnings (major US banks today) and probably even more with enterprises’ guidance. Here we are not convinced on sustained reversal in sentiment for the better yet. The dollar recently could have gained more given the overall risk sentiment and developments on interest rate markets. Here some consolidation might be on the cards, with EUR/USD looking for a short-term equilibrium in the 0.95/1.00 trading range.
News Headlines
• ECB sources are in full swing. After yesterday’s leaked details on final options to change TLTRO modalities, Bloomberg now reports on growing consensus on the process of shrinking the balance sheet. Discussions started at last week’s meeting in Cyprus. Officials favor letting bonds mature rather than resorting to debt sales, though that option shouldn’t be entirely excluded. They could also envisage keeping up some reinvestments to moderate the pace of unwinding. ECB members want to wait until policy rates hit neutral (December) before starting the portfolio roll-off. This implies that the second pillar of normalization/tightening will most likely come into effect early 2023.
• Chinese inflation accelerated less than forecast in September, rising from 2.5% Y/Y to 2.8% Y/Y. Underlying core inflation even slowed from 0.8% Y/Y to 0.6% Y/Y. Underlying Chinese demand remains weak as shown for example by consumer discretionary prices or services inflation (0.5% Y/Y). The strict zero Covid-policies are one of the main culprits. Chinese producer price inflation slowed from 2.3% Y/Y to 0.9% Y/Y.
Graphs
The ECB ended net asset purchases and lifted rates by a combined 125 bps at the July and September meetings. More tightening is underway but the ECB refrained from guiding markets on the size of future hikes. The correction end of September soon found support at the June high. Germany’s 10-yr yield is retesting the highest levels since 2011 (2.35%) with real rates driving the push higher.
The Fed policy rate entered restrictive territory, but the central bank’s job isn’t done yet. The policy rate is expected to peak above 4.5% early next year and remain above a neutral 2.5% over the policy horizon. QT hits max speed. The 10y reached its highest level since 2008 (4.01%) and this level after a brief correction is again under test.
EUR/USD is in a strong downward trend channel since February. The dollar remains the main beneficiary of rising US (real) yields in a persistent risk-off context. Geopolitical and recessionary risks are bigger for Europe, holding down the single currency as well even as the ECB finally embraced on a tightening cycle. Resistance stands at EUR/USD 0.9950/1.0050. The YTD low stands at 0.9536
The UK government had to backtrack on part of its lavish fiscal spending plans which sent sterling initially tumbling towards the EUR/GBP 0.90+ area. Yawning twin deficits and rising risk premia will continue to weigh on the UK currency even as markets think that the BoE will have to counter fiscal support with additional monetary tightening.
Calendar & Table
Note: All times and dates are CET. More reports are available at KBCEconomics.be which you may sign up to.
This document has been prepared by the KBC Economics Markets desk and has not been produced by the Research department. The desk consists of Mathias Van der Jeugt, Peter Wuyts and Mathias Janssens, analists at KBC Bank N.V., which is regulated by the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA). Read the full disclaimer.
Sunset Friday, January 27, 2023 Daily Market Overview Click here to read the PDF-version of this report. Markets • Blackout periods for central bankers and a near empty eco calendar (outdated US PCE deflators and spending figures Read more…
Friday, 27 January 2023 Please click here to read the PDF version Markets • US and European yields yesterday continued the bottoming out process that started earlier this week as investors are counting down to Read more…
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KBC Sunrise Market Commentary 14/10/2022 via Trader Talent
Published by Trader Talent on
Markets
• This morning, Asian markets joined the risk rebound from WS yesterday. The Nikkei and the Hang Seng are outperforming with gains of 3.0%+. US Treasuries gain marginally. The dollar eases against the likes of the Kiwi and the Aussie dollar. USD/CNY trades modestly lower at 7.166. EUR/USD also gains modestly (0.978). The yen stays in the defensive. At USD/JPY 147.45, the pair is holding near the multi-year peak. Later today, the market focus stays on the US with the US September retail sales and the U. of Michigan consumer confidence (including inflation expectations measures). Control group retail sales are expected at 0.3% M/M. Yesterday’s post CPI market reaction suggests that data probably will have to be extremely strong to push US yields sustainably beyond the 4.50% (2-y)/4.0% (10/30-y) barriers. That said, there is evidently also no reason of the Fed to backtrack on its anti-inflationary rhetoric. In this context, US yields might consolidate near recent highs. Aside from further technical repositioning, equities from now on will have to cope with the Q3 earnings (major US banks today) and probably even more with enterprises’ guidance. Here we are not convinced on sustained reversal in sentiment for the better yet. The dollar recently could have gained more given the overall risk sentiment and developments on interest rate markets. Here some consolidation might be on the cards, with EUR/USD looking for a short-term equilibrium in the 0.95/1.00 trading range.
News Headlines
Graphs
The ECB ended net asset purchases and lifted rates by a combined 125 bps at the July and September meetings. More tightening is underway but the ECB refrained from guiding markets on the size of future hikes. The correction end of September soon found support at the June high. Germany’s 10-yr yield is retesting the highest levels since 2011 (2.35%) with real rates driving the push higher.
The Fed policy rate entered restrictive territory, but the central bank’s job isn’t done yet. The policy rate is expected to peak above 4.5% early next year and remain above a neutral 2.5% over the policy horizon. QT hits max speed. The 10y reached its highest level since 2008 (4.01%) and this level after a brief correction is again under test.
EUR/USD is in a strong downward trend channel since February. The dollar remains the main beneficiary of rising US (real) yields in a persistent risk-off context. Geopolitical and recessionary risks are bigger for Europe, holding down the single currency as well even as the ECB finally embraced on a tightening cycle. Resistance stands at EUR/USD 0.9950/1.0050. The YTD low stands at 0.9536
The UK government had to backtrack on part of its lavish fiscal spending plans which sent sterling initially tumbling towards the EUR/GBP 0.90+ area. Yawning twin deficits and rising risk premia will continue to weigh on the UK currency even as markets think that the BoE will have to counter fiscal support with additional monetary tightening.
Calendar & Table
This document has been prepared by the KBC Economics Markets desk and has not been produced by the Research department. The desk consists of Mathias Van der Jeugt, Peter Wuyts and Mathias Janssens, analists at KBC Bank N.V., which is regulated by the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA). Read the full disclaimer.
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