The US dollar is trading with a heavier bias today as its recent
run is consolidated. The euro is trying to snap the eight-day slide that
brought it to nearly $1.0665 yesterday, the lows for the year. It is almost as
if participant saw the proximity of last year’s lows ($1.0460-$1.0525) and
decided to pause, perhaps to wait for additional developments, such a Fed
Chief’s Yellen’s testimony before the Joint Economic Committee of
Congress.
The dollar rose
to about JPY109.75 yesterday. Recall that it had slumped to
JPY101.20 in the first reaction to the US election news a week ago. The
market appears to be pausing ahead of the
psychologically important JPY110 level. The 50% retracement of this
year’s dollar decline is seen near
JPY110.35. The 38.2% retracement of the dollar’s retreat from the
multi-year high set in the middle of 2015 was JPY109.30. The 50% is found near JPY112.45.
to about JPY109.75 yesterday. Recall that it had slumped to
JPY101.20 in the first reaction to the US election news a week ago. The
market appears to be pausing ahead of the
psychologically important JPY110 level. The 50% retracement of this
year’s dollar decline is seen near
JPY110.35. The 38.2% retracement of the dollar’s retreat from the
multi-year high set in the middle of 2015 was JPY109.30. The 50% is found near JPY112.45.
The dollar was
pulling back in the Tokyo session when the BOJ stepped in and surprised market participants. It did not intervene in the foreign
exchange market, but under the new monetary policy framework are facilitating a
steeper yield curve, it offered to buy unlimited amounts of one-to-five year
JGBs at fixed rates. This helped
stabilize the JGB market, which was being
dragged into the rising yields that had swept the global markets,
emanating from the US. The debt purchases also appeared to help put a
floor under the dollar near JPY108.50.
pulling back in the Tokyo session when the BOJ stepped in and surprised market participants. It did not intervene in the foreign
exchange market, but under the new monetary policy framework are facilitating a
steeper yield curve, it offered to buy unlimited amounts of one-to-five year
JGBs at fixed rates. This helped
stabilize the JGB market, which was being
dragged into the rising yields that had swept the global markets,
emanating from the US. The debt purchases also appeared to help put a
floor under the dollar near JPY108.50.
That the BOJ
focused on the short-end of the coupon curve suggests that it was not
particular concerned about the rise in the 10-year yield, which is an aid to keep around zero. The yield on the 10-year bond rose five consecutive
sessions coming into today, reaching a high yield of 5 bp. It closed just
above one basis point today.
focused on the short-end of the coupon curve suggests that it was not
particular concerned about the rise in the 10-year yield, which is an aid to keep around zero. The yield on the 10-year bond rose five consecutive
sessions coming into today, reaching a high yield of 5 bp. It closed just
above one basis point today.
The UK reported
an over-the-top jump in retail sales, but the foreign exchange market was
non-plus. Sterling is slightly firmer against
the dollar, but like yesterday has spent
today within the range seen on Tuesday (~$1.2380-$1.2530). Sterling is flat against the euro.
an over-the-top jump in retail sales, but the foreign exchange market was
non-plus. Sterling is slightly firmer against
the dollar, but like yesterday has spent
today within the range seen on Tuesday (~$1.2380-$1.2530). Sterling is flat against the euro.
Headline retail
sales rose a dramatic 1.9% in October, following a 0.1% rise in September.
The change in the
weather is thought to have spurred a shopping spree for clothes and shoes.
Those products account for about 12% overall retail sales and rose 5.1%,
the most in more than two years. Home goods and food purchases rose by
0.8% each. Of note, internet sales surged by nearly 27%, the largest rise
in almost six years. On a year-over-year basis, UK retail sales are up
7.2%. Last October retail sales stood only four
percent above the previous year comparison.
sales rose a dramatic 1.9% in October, following a 0.1% rise in September.
The change in the
weather is thought to have spurred a shopping spree for clothes and shoes.
Those products account for about 12% overall retail sales and rose 5.1%,
the most in more than two years. Home goods and food purchases rose by
0.8% each. Of note, internet sales surged by nearly 27%, the largest rise
in almost six years. On a year-over-year basis, UK retail sales are up
7.2%. Last October retail sales stood only four
percent above the previous year comparison.
The Australian
dollar also has not responded as one might expect to news that the country had
created 41.5k full-time jobs in October and that the unemployment rate eased to
5.6% from 5.7%. The Aussie was punched through
$0.7500 yesterday, and buyers on a pullback
that have emerged in recent months near these levels have been notable in their
absence. It has been unable to benefit from a weaker US dollar today.
Short-term speculators have been caught leaning the wrong way in terms of positioning. The immediate
risk is the mid-September lows near $0.7440. A break signals a test on $0.7400,
which the Aussie has not traded below since the end of H1.
dollar also has not responded as one might expect to news that the country had
created 41.5k full-time jobs in October and that the unemployment rate eased to
5.6% from 5.7%. The Aussie was punched through
$0.7500 yesterday, and buyers on a pullback
that have emerged in recent months near these levels have been notable in their
absence. It has been unable to benefit from a weaker US dollar today.
Short-term speculators have been caught leaning the wrong way in terms of positioning. The immediate
risk is the mid-September lows near $0.7440. A break signals a test on $0.7400,
which the Aussie has not traded below since the end of H1.
Australia’s
jobs data was not all that. The impressive full-time job growth
does not offset the revised 74.3k full-time job loss in September (initially
was a 53k loss). And the decline in the unemployment rate appears to be a
function of a decline in the participation rate (to 64.4%). Ironically,
as the Reserve Bank of Australia has moved to a neutral stance from its easing
bias, the market has turned the Aussie away from the $0.7700 area that has
provided a formidable cap for the last several months.
jobs data was not all that. The impressive full-time job growth
does not offset the revised 74.3k full-time job loss in September (initially
was a 53k loss). And the decline in the unemployment rate appears to be a
function of a decline in the participation rate (to 64.4%). Ironically,
as the Reserve Bank of Australia has moved to a neutral stance from its easing
bias, the market has turned the Aussie away from the $0.7700 area that has
provided a formidable cap for the last several months.
The US data
calendar features the October CPI, housing starts (and permits), and the
November Philadelphia Fed survey. Core CPI is expected to hold steady
at 2.2%, but the headline rate may edge up to 1.6% (from 1.5%). It would
be the highest reading of the year. Housing starts are expected to
recover after the 9% drop in September. The Philly Fed survey is expected to be
a little softer but mostly little changed. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow
tracker is estimating Q4 GDP at 3.3%. It will update its estimate after
today’s data.
calendar features the October CPI, housing starts (and permits), and the
November Philadelphia Fed survey. Core CPI is expected to hold steady
at 2.2%, but the headline rate may edge up to 1.6% (from 1.5%). It would
be the highest reading of the year. Housing starts are expected to
recover after the 9% drop in September. The Philly Fed survey is expected to be
a little softer but mostly little changed. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow
tracker is estimating Q4 GDP at 3.3%. It will update its estimate after
today’s data.
Today will be
the first time Fed Chair Yellen speaks since the election and the sharp rise in
US yields. Before the Joint Economic Committee
of Congress, she is unlikely to deviate
from what has already been said.
The last two FOMC statements acknowledged that the opportunity to take
another step toward normalization of monetary policy approaching. Even
the doves at the Fed, like Chicago President Evans and Governor Tarullo, seem more receptive to a rate hike
than they appeared to be previously.
the first time Fed Chair Yellen speaks since the election and the sharp rise in
US yields. Before the Joint Economic Committee
of Congress, she is unlikely to deviate
from what has already been said.
The last two FOMC statements acknowledged that the opportunity to take
another step toward normalization of monetary policy approaching. Even
the doves at the Fed, like Chicago President Evans and Governor Tarullo, seem more receptive to a rate hike
than they appeared to be previously.
If pressed,
Yellen will likely agree that it is premature for the Fed to respond in word or
deed to the campaign promises of substantial fiscal stimulus. There will be plenty of time to
react when more precise details are known. She may also be asked the size of the Fed’s balance sheet.
There have been some press reports quoting some economic advisers of the
President-elect, apparently wanting the Fed to reduce its balance sheet.
The Fed has said it will do so after the normalization process is well
underway. Yellen can be expected to defend the independence of the
Federal Reserve while trying to avoid antagonizing some of its critics, who may
see an opportunity with a Republican Congress and President to alter the Fed’s mandate.
Yellen will likely agree that it is premature for the Fed to respond in word or
deed to the campaign promises of substantial fiscal stimulus. There will be plenty of time to
react when more precise details are known. She may also be asked the size of the Fed’s balance sheet.
There have been some press reports quoting some economic advisers of the
President-elect, apparently wanting the Fed to reduce its balance sheet.
The Fed has said it will do so after the normalization process is well
underway. Yellen can be expected to defend the independence of the
Federal Reserve while trying to avoid antagonizing some of its critics, who may
see an opportunity with a Republican Congress and President to alter the Fed’s mandate.
Lastly, Yellen
may also be asked about inflation
expectations. The survey results suggest little
change from low levels, but the market-based breakevens have risen sharply.
The 10-year breakeven (the difference between the yield of the
conventional note and the inflation-protected security) jumped from 1.55% at
the end of September to almost 2% at the start of this week. Yellen will
likely be careful about reading too much into the rise, recognizing the
liquidity premium means that the breakeven is sensitive to the direction of
U.S. Treasuries, with the TIPS acting like a high beta version. This means that during periods of rising
yields, TIPS yields typically rise faster than Treasuries.
may also be asked about inflation
expectations. The survey results suggest little
change from low levels, but the market-based breakevens have risen sharply.
The 10-year breakeven (the difference between the yield of the
conventional note and the inflation-protected security) jumped from 1.55% at
the end of September to almost 2% at the start of this week. Yellen will
likely be careful about reading too much into the rise, recognizing the
liquidity premium means that the breakeven is sensitive to the direction of
U.S. Treasuries, with the TIPS acting like a high beta version. This means that during periods of rising
yields, TIPS yields typically rise faster than Treasuries.
(***Updates will be irregular over the next week or so as I put the finishing touches on my new book, Political Economy of Tomorrow, that is expected to be published in the middle of February 2017…stay tuned. I appreciate your patience and understanding***)
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