Relative to our peer group and other G7 countries, the U.S. economy has been an island onto itself over the past 18 months. The U.S. economy has done a much better job of weathering the global slowdown from the trade war and reduced trade volumes that have so negatively impacted so many other economies. While there have been clear signs of U.S. recessionary contractions in farming and manufacturing from the trade war, other sectors of our economy have held their own or benefited from the sharp reduction in U.S. interest rates aided by the Fed’s three rate cuts this year. The U.S. dollar has reflected this exceptionalism and remained firm overall, despite sharply declining U.S. interest rates.
While capitalism has its faults, it still offers the best system for maximum flexibility to a changing environment along with a dynamic reallocation of resources etc. and has allowed our economy to shift gears and withstand the global slowdown better than almost any other country. The economic levers are adjusting and working combined with the lasting effects of tax cuts and deregulation to help stabilize the economy. Job creation over the past three months (near 200,000 average) almost reflects the economy getting a second wind, even without the benefit of concluding a Phase 1 trade agreement between the U.S. and China.
While recessionary signs were flashing orange earlier this year, the economy has regrouped and stabilized. The Fed’s corrective adjustments to lower interest rates combined with the Fed’s more predictable outlook regarding monetary policy and inflation have aided in stabilizing the economy. Further impetus could come from a conclusion to the Phase 1 trade agreement and if the U.S. dollar declines slightly as predicted for 2020, the longest U.S. economic expansion in U.S. history should continue to march on.
MAJOR CENTRAL BANK ACTIVITY THIS WEEK
12/11
United States
Expectations for rates to be unchanged at 1.75%
12/11
Brazil
Expectations for rates to be cut by 50 bps to 4.50%
12/12
Switzerland
Expectations for rates to be unchanged at -0.75%
12/12
Turkey
Expectations for rates to be cut from 14.00% to 12.50%
12/12
ECB
Expectations for rates to be unchanged at 0.0%
12/13
Russia
Expectations for rates to be cut from 6.50% to 6.25%
KEY MARKET MOVING ECONOMIC RELEASES
United States and Canada
12/11
CPI
Expectations for a gain of 0.2%; YoY rises to 2.0%
12/12
PPI
Expectations for a gain of 0.2%; YoY rises to 1.3%
12/13
Retail Sales
Expectations for a gain of 0.4% following a 0.3% print
Europe/Eurozone
12/10
German ZEW Survey
Expectations for a slight improvement in the survey
12/10
U.K. Indust. Product.
Expectations for a 0.2% print following a -0.3% print
12/10
U.K. Trade Balance
Expectations for a slight decrease in the trade deficit
Asia/Japan, and New Zealand
12/11
Japan Machine Ords.
Expectations for a gain of 0.7% after a -2.9% print
12/12
Japan Tankan
Expectations for a decline from 5 to 3
FORECASTS
EUR
While the linkage with the upward surging GBP has been strong at times, the euro has also been pressured by weak EZ economic data and a persistently overachieving DXY. EUR/GBP reflects this bipolar relationship and continues to grind lower since October making multi-year lows this week. Continue to expect the EUR to shadow and be hinged to the GBP and Brexit volatility as the U.K. election final approaches this week. Christine Lagarde will preside over her first ECB meeting on Thursday where rates are expected to be unchanged but tilted toward a dovish bias. Expect a steady to slightly weaker EUR this week but with an eye on the GBP post-election.
GBP
The GBP had a spectacular resurgence since October 1 appreciating near 7% against the U.S. dollar and has appreciated against numerous other major currencies as optimism spreads regarding the upcoming election this week. Polls still favor a slight Tory majority as the Tory lead over Labor remains consistently near 10%; the market remains optimistic and continues to buy GBP dips. As we have all witnessed both in the U.S. and abroad, polling results over the past years have not always hit their mark. Expect a steady GBP as the election on Thursday approaches and hope the polls have hit their mark.
JPY
The JPY has been on a weakening trend since September 1 coinciding with the resumption of U.S. – China trade talks. But over the past month, the JPY is unchanged as U.S. interest rates have stabilized and come off their highs. Markets seem near to have priced in a Phase 1 deal and are hopeful for a conclusion prior to the implementation of more tariffs on December 15th. Continue to expect volatile intraday markets as ping-pong headlines regarding trade shift sentiment. Expect further consolidation this week.
CAD
The Canadian dollar had a rude awakening as Friday’s Canadian Jobs report was incredibly weak and undid all the good and upbeat news from the Bank of Canada earlier in the week. Up until Friday, the CAD had reflected the resiliency of the Canadian economy and the independent course chartered by the Bank of Canada. The Canadian dollar gave back almost all of its gains for the week. Expect more range trading this week as the markets continue to digest the impact of the very weak jobs report but Canadian 2-year yields remain above U.S.2-year yields should keep the Canadian weakness contained.
CNY
The CNY has consolidated its gains since the resumption of the trade talks trading between 7.0500 and 7.000 for the past two weeks. Since November 1, the CNY is near unchanged; intraday volatility continues to reflect the ping-pong headlines regarding the status of the trade negotiations. Expect more range bound and consolidative trading this week with an eye toward presidential tweets.
AUD
The Aussie mirrors much of the recent developments of other key major and commodity linked currencies piggybacking the positive or negative developments regarding U.S. – China trade prospects. While the Aussie has experienced multiple bullish and bearish trends since August, it has returned to the same levels seen in early August. The RBA kept rates unchanged at its last meeting of the year last week following three rate cuts in June, July, and October. Markets remain biased toward another rate cut in February with a 68% probability. Expect a steady and range bound AUD this week.
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