Much of what the Bank of Japan announced
today had been largely leaked. While there was a sizeable response in the
asset markets, the dollar’s knee-jerk gains against the yen were quickly unwound.
today had been largely leaked. While there was a sizeable response in the
asset markets, the dollar’s knee-jerk gains against the yen were quickly unwound.
The BOJ lifted
its self-imposed restrictions on its asset purchases and shifted the focus of
policy from the monetary base to the yield curve. It is not clear that this shift
increases the chances of the BOJ reaching its inflation target.
its self-imposed restrictions on its asset purchases and shifted the focus of
policy from the monetary base to the yield curve. It is not clear that this shift
increases the chances of the BOJ reaching its inflation target.
Going forward
it will implement its JPY80 trillion increase in the monetary base more flexibly, and will no longer have an average
maturity target. This
produced a dramatic sell-off in JGBs. Japanese bonds maturing in
one to 15 years saw their yields jump 20-40 bp. Longer-dated bonds rose
less. The 20-year yield rose 13 bp,
and the 30-year yield increased by a dozen basis points. The 40-year bond
yield was practically unchanged.
it will implement its JPY80 trillion increase in the monetary base more flexibly, and will no longer have an average
maturity target. This
produced a dramatic sell-off in JGBs. Japanese bonds maturing in
one to 15 years saw their yields jump 20-40 bp. Longer-dated bonds rose
less. The 20-year yield rose 13 bp,
and the 30-year yield increased by a dozen basis points. The 40-year bond
yield was practically unchanged.
The BOJ also
indicated it would stick with its JPY6 trillion a year purchases of equity ETFs,
but changed the distribution. It will buy more of the broader
Topix. Many participants had anticipated this, and there had been some
outperformance of the Topix and the
Nikkei 400 in recent days. This continued
today with the Topix and Nikkei 400 up 2.8% and the Nikkei 250 up almost 2%.
indicated it would stick with its JPY6 trillion a year purchases of equity ETFs,
but changed the distribution. It will buy more of the broader
Topix. Many participants had anticipated this, and there had been some
outperformance of the Topix and the
Nikkei 400 in recent days. This continued
today with the Topix and Nikkei 400 up 2.8% and the Nikkei 250 up almost 2%.
The dollar
initially fell to almost JPY101 before rallying to JPY102.80. However, the enthusiasm was not sustained and the greenback eased back to JPY101.60.
It has been confined to about a 30
tick range in the European morning.
initially fell to almost JPY101 before rallying to JPY102.80. However, the enthusiasm was not sustained and the greenback eased back to JPY101.60.
It has been confined to about a 30
tick range in the European morning.
Most Asian
equity markets were higher, led by Japan. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose
1.4%, the biggest gain in two months. European markets are also higher,
with the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 up 0.6% in late-morning turnover. Financials
and telecoms are outperforming.
equity markets were higher, led by Japan. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose
1.4%, the biggest gain in two months. European markets are also higher,
with the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 up 0.6% in late-morning turnover. Financials
and telecoms are outperforming.
Attention turns
to the Federal Reserve. Most participants are convinced the Fed will not lift rates
today, but will signal its intention to hike in December. There is a
meeting in November, but there is no precedent for changing policy so close to
a national election.
to the Federal Reserve. Most participants are convinced the Fed will not lift rates
today, but will signal its intention to hike in December. There is a
meeting in November, but there is no precedent for changing policy so close to
a national election.
We try to be
careful to separate what we think the Fed will
likely do from what we think it ought
to do. We think the Fed
ought to raise interest rates today. In one stroke it would recoup some
of the credibility that critics say it has lost. It would shift debate
from over-promising and underdelivering to delivering a surprise.
We argue that the US economy is resilient enough to withstand a 25 bp
rate hike. In addition, contrary to
some arguments that think the international climate is not supportive, we
suspect that a Fed hike now would be welcomed by other central banks, who may
have exhausted the political willingness to ease monetary policy further.
careful to separate what we think the Fed will
likely do from what we think it ought
to do. We think the Fed
ought to raise interest rates today. In one stroke it would recoup some
of the credibility that critics say it has lost. It would shift debate
from over-promising and underdelivering to delivering a surprise.
We argue that the US economy is resilient enough to withstand a 25 bp
rate hike. In addition, contrary to
some arguments that think the international climate is not supportive, we
suspect that a Fed hike now would be welcomed by other central banks, who may
have exhausted the political willingness to ease monetary policy further.
In lieu of a rate
hike, the dot plots and Yellen’s press conference will be the focus. The FOMC finished last year saying
that four hikes would likely be appropriate this year. The dot plot,
however, is not a commitment of promise. Nevertheless,
it shows how far the Fed was from the mark. In June it shifted to two
hikes. Now, if it is going to maintain that every meeting is live, it
must signal a single hike. The news stream could be a bit more supportive.
Following last week’s CPI and yesterday’s housing starts, the Atlanta Fed
shaved its Q3 GDP tracker to 2.9%. It will still be the first quarter in
four that growth surpassed its trend of around 2%.
hike, the dot plots and Yellen’s press conference will be the focus. The FOMC finished last year saying
that four hikes would likely be appropriate this year. The dot plot,
however, is not a commitment of promise. Nevertheless,
it shows how far the Fed was from the mark. In June it shifted to two
hikes. Now, if it is going to maintain that every meeting is live, it
must signal a single hike. The news stream could be a bit more supportive.
Following last week’s CPI and yesterday’s housing starts, the Atlanta Fed
shaved its Q3 GDP tracker to 2.9%. It will still be the first quarter in
four that growth surpassed its trend of around 2%.
A big (7.5 mln
barrel) drop in US crude inventories is underpinning oil prices today ahead of
the government’s estimate. It appears to be lending support to
the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso and the Norwegian krona. Sterling
remains out of favor. It is the poorest performer over the past week, losing
almost 2% and is spending more time below $1.30. The low from last month was set near $1.2865 and in
July just below $1.28. The euro sold off after poking through $1.1210
yesterday. It closed on its lows near $1.1150 and saw follow through selling to just below $1.1125 to match the
late-August low. Initial resistance is seen near $1.1160 ahead of the
FOMC announcement.