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• The massive core bond yield surge eased or reversed after having experienced the worst month in many decades. European swap yields registered the biggest monthly jump since the creation of the EMU, even after giving up 5.7 (30y) to 11.3 bps (5y) yesterday. German Bunds hugely outperformed US Treasuries with yields 6.6 (30y) to 10.9 bps (5y) lower. Short-term US yields’ late-session last hurrah brought them back in positive territory for the day. The 5y closed 2.9 bps higher. Q1 thus ended with a 30y/5y inversion as yields at long tenors finished a little less than 3 bps lower. Several elements could explain yesterday’s moves. First, the decline in oil prices amid reports the US will release 1mln barrels a day for six months from its Strategic Reserve, resulting in easing inflation expectations. Second, the weak equity sentiment with Europe and Wall Street shedding about 1.5%. Third: end-of-quarter rebalancing. Some of the recent trends on currency markets reversed too at the last day of the quarter. The USD and euro started on equal footing but the odds soon turned in favour of the greenback. EUR/USD retreated from its recent bounce to 1.1067, below 1.1121 support. The Japanese yen outperformed peers. USD/JPY eased slightly to 121.70, EUR/JPY give up more than a big figure to 134.67. The Swiss franc also got reprieve, rallying 0.9% to the euro and testing EUR/CHF 1.02 support. Sterling caught a better bid as well. This prevented EUR/GBP from taking out 0.85 and instead finish lower at 0.842.
• Asian-Pacific stocks trade soft in the wake of the US performance. China is one of the few exceptions (+1%). The private (Caixan) manufacturing PMI slipped deeper in contraction territory (48.1) than expected but was no big surprise after official data showed the same yesterday. Japanese corporate assessment (Tankan) of both current conditions as well as the outlook for Q2 weakened across the board. Soaring prices and geopolitical uncertainty offset a hoped-for rebound after Covid restrictions were eased in March. The yen is under pressure this morning though that’s probably more the result of rising core/US yields (>4 bps). Equity futures suggest a pale green open. The euro and dollar again start with similar momentum. Both face key economic indicators later today. EMU inflation in March is expected at a record 6.8% y/y. Even after already being revised higher, national readings earlier this week make an upward surprise possible still (7%?). March payrolls, expected at a strong 490k, are due in the US. US money markets expect 200 bps of additional tightening by the Fed this year and that may suffice for now. Meanwhile, we continue to believe there is room left to price in an ECB catch-up move, especially after yesterday’s correction. This should support EMU yields in particular and EUR/USD. A weekly close above 1.1121 should bring technical comfort to the currency pair.
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• The Czech National Bank yesterday decided to raised its policy rate by 50 bps to 5.0% in a 5-2 vote. Two members preferred the keep the policy rate unchanged. However, at the press conference, governor Rusnok indicated that a 75 bps hike was also discussed. The Board sees the risks and uncertainties compared to the winter forecast as being markedly inflationary in the short run. These risks also require significantly tighter monetary policy and probably for longer than expected previously. Inflation (11.1% Feb) was already significantly higher than expected before the war in Ukraine amid higher food prices and administered regulated prices. Price pressures are being exacerbated by the war. Inflation now is expected to rise further in spring and remain very high for the rest of the year. The CNB remains prepared to raise rates further to restore price stability as soon as possible. The impact of the war is expected to cut expected growth in half (was 3%). With respect to FX interventions, the CNB indicated they mainly intended to address excessive koruna fluctuations. There was no deep debate on using the koruna as a policy tool. Rates are the preferred tool, but the koruna is no taboo. De koruna hovered up and down after the policy announcement, but finally closed marginally stronger near EUR/CZK 24.40.
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European yields recovered from the setback by the Russian-Ukrainian war. It will slow down growth but didn’t deter the ECB from formally stepping up the normalization plans. QE is to end in Q3 with a rate hike in the next quarter. Real yields may further bottom out while inflation expectations will probably remain elevated. Resistance at 0.58% is under pressure. A sustained break higher brings the 0.80% 2018 high on the radar.
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The Fed started its tightening cycle and published an aggressive blueprint for the remainder of the year. A 50 bps rate hike May is likely. The US yield curve extended its bear flattening trend. Plans to shrink the balance sheet will be published in May. Risks for a short-term correction rise as the commodity surge has eased. Medium term, the sell-off on core bond markets isn’t over.
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The ECB sticking to – accelerating even – the normalization schedule is a (latent) positive for the common currency. After first protecting EUR/USD’s downside, it now lifts the pair near resistance at 1.1121. A break calls of the immediate downside technical alert. A return above 1.12 would make the technical picture more neutral.
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EUR/GBP took out the first resistances between 0.82 and 0.83. The March ECB and BoE meetings restored some kind of monetary policy balance. The BoE even turned more dovish, but markets question this turn. EUR/GBP is showing signs of bottoming out nevertheless as (near-term) rate support lifts the euro’s spirits.
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| 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).
These market recommendations are the result of qualitative analysis, incorporating room for past experiences and personal assessments. The views are based on current market circumstances and can change any moment. The most prominent input comes from publicly available data, financial news, economic and monetary policies and commonly used technical analysis.
The KBC Economics – Markets desk has used reasonable efforts to obtain this information from sources which it believes to be reliable but the contents of this document have been prepared without any substantive analysis being undertaken into these sources.
It has not been assessed as to whether or not these insights would be suitable for any particular investor.
Opinions expressed are our current opinions as of the date appearing on this material only and can be opposite to previous recommendations due to changed market conditions.
The authors of this recommendation do not warrant the accuracy, completeness or value (commercial or otherwise) of any recommendation. Neither are the authors liable to those who receive these recommendations for the content of it or for any loss or damage arising (whether in tort (including negligence), breach of contract, breach of statutory duty or otherwise) from any actions or omissions of the authors in reliance on any recommendation, or for any claim whatsoever in respect of the content of, or information contained in, any recommendation. Any opinions expressed herein reflect the judgement at the time the investment recommendation was prepared and are subject to change without notice.
Given the nature of this advice (linked to currencies and interest rates) , the advice is overall not specific in nature. As such there is no reference to any corporate finance contract and as such there is no 12 month overview based on the different advices.
This document is only valid during a very limited period of time, due to rapidly changing market conditions.
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KBC Sunrise Market Commentary 01/04/2022 via Trader Talent
Published by Trader Talent on
Markets
• Asian-Pacific stocks trade soft in the wake of the US performance. China is one of the few exceptions (+1%). The private (Caixan) manufacturing PMI slipped deeper in contraction territory (48.1) than expected but was no big surprise after official data showed the same yesterday. Japanese corporate assessment (Tankan) of both current conditions as well as the outlook for Q2 weakened across the board. Soaring prices and geopolitical uncertainty offset a hoped-for rebound after Covid restrictions were eased in March. The yen is under pressure this morning though that’s probably more the result of rising core/US yields (>4 bps). Equity futures suggest a pale green open. The euro and dollar again start with similar momentum. Both face key economic indicators later today. EMU inflation in March is expected at a record 6.8% y/y. Even after already being revised higher, national readings earlier this week make an upward surprise possible still (7%?). March payrolls, expected at a strong 490k, are due in the US. US money markets expect 200 bps of additional tightening by the Fed this year and that may suffice for now. Meanwhile, we continue to believe there is room left to price in an ECB catch-up move, especially after yesterday’s correction. This should support EMU yields in particular and EUR/USD. A weekly close above 1.1121 should bring technical comfort to the currency pair.
News Headlines
Graphs
European yields recovered from the setback by the Russian-Ukrainian war. It will slow down growth but didn’t deter the ECB from formally stepping up the normalization plans. QE is to end in Q3 with a rate hike in the next quarter. Real yields may further bottom out while inflation expectations will probably remain elevated. Resistance at 0.58% is under pressure. A sustained break higher brings the 0.80% 2018 high on the radar.
The Fed started its tightening cycle and published an aggressive blueprint for the remainder of the year. A 50 bps rate hike May is likely. The US yield curve extended its bear flattening trend. Plans to shrink the balance sheet will be published in May. Risks for a short-term correction rise as the commodity surge has eased. Medium term, the sell-off on core bond markets isn’t over.
The ECB sticking to – accelerating even – the normalization schedule is a (latent) positive for the common currency. After first protecting EUR/USD’s downside, it now lifts the pair near resistance at 1.1121. A break calls of the immediate downside technical alert. A return above 1.12 would make the technical picture more neutral.
EUR/GBP took out the first resistances between 0.82 and 0.83. The March ECB and BoE meetings restored some kind of monetary policy balance. The BoE even turned more dovish, but markets question this turn. EUR/GBP is showing signs of bottoming out nevertheless as (near-term) rate support lifts the euro’s spirits.
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).
These market recommendations are the result of qualitative analysis, incorporating room for past experiences and personal assessments. The views are based on current market circumstances and can change any moment. The most prominent input comes from publicly available data, financial news, economic and monetary policies and commonly used technical analysis.
The KBC Economics – Markets desk has used reasonable efforts to obtain this information from sources which it believes to be reliable but the contents of this document have been prepared without any substantive analysis being undertaken into these sources.
It has not been assessed as to whether or not these insights would be suitable for any particular investor.
Opinions expressed are our current opinions as of the date appearing on this material only and can be opposite to previous recommendations due to changed market conditions.
The authors of this recommendation do not warrant the accuracy, completeness or value (commercial or otherwise) of any recommendation. Neither are the authors liable to those who receive these recommendations for the content of it or for any loss or damage arising (whether in tort (including negligence), breach of contract, breach of statutory duty or otherwise) from any actions or omissions of the authors in reliance on any recommendation, or for any claim whatsoever in respect of the content of, or information contained in, any recommendation. Any opinions expressed herein reflect the judgement at the time the investment recommendation was prepared and are subject to change without notice.
Given the nature of this advice (linked to currencies and interest rates) , the advice is overall not specific in nature. As such there is no reference to any corporate finance contract and as such there is no 12 month overview based on the different advices.
This document is only valid during a very limited period of time, due to rapidly changing market conditions.
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