Markets
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| • The Fed yesterday as expected raised its policy rate by 50 bps, bringing the target range to 0.75%-1.0%. More 50 bps hikes are likely in coming meetings. In a direct address to the American people, Chair Powell said the Fed will use its tools to resolve the hardship that high inflation is causing. With inflation too high and an extremely tight labour market it’s in everyone’s interest to return to stable prices and restore the balances between supply and demand, also in the labour market. In this respect, the Fed in June will start reducing its holdings of Treasury securities by $30 bln p/m and MBS holdings by $ 17.5 bln p/m, doubling those amounts to a combined $ 95 bln p/m in September. The Fed Chair was confident on the resilience of the economy. The labour market is strong; consumers have excess savings and businesses are in good shape. So, the US economy should be able to cope with higher policy rates without falling into a recession. Neutral financial conditions might be met by a policy rate between 2% and 3% and the Fed won’t hesitate to go above that level if necessary. Even as the Fed president reiterated a strong commitment to bring inflation back to target, the press conference had a ‘dovish lining’. Hikes of 75 bps are not considered. US yields initially hardly reacted to the Fed statement, but Powell rejecting the option of 50 bps + hikes triggered a short squeeze on US bond markets. In the end, the curve bull steepened with the 2-y declining 14 bps, the 5-y easing 10.9 bps while the 30-y gained 2.6 bps. The correction was mainly driven by a setback in the real yield (10-y -8.6 bps to 0.05%). This ‘soft’ repositioning also triggered profit taking on the recent USD rally. DXY dropped to the 102.50 area. EUR/USD jumped from the 1.0540 area to close at 1.0622. USD/JPY dropped below the 130 handle (close 129.09). The Fed making no plans to move to 75 bps hikes and Powell’s positive assessment on the economy propelled US equities with gains ranging from 2.81% (Dow) to 3.19% (Nasdaq).
• Asian equities mostly trade in positive territory as China returns from holidays despite a poor China services PMI. The dollar regains a few ticks. Later today, the Bank of England (exp 1.0% from 0.75%), the Norges Bank (exp. unchanged) , the Czech National Bank (exp 5.5% from 5.0%) and the Central bank of Poland (expected 5.5% from 4.50%) decide on interest rates. The BoE can’t ignore higher inflation further eroding purchasing power. However, if Bailey and co keep their guarded tone on further action, the hike might not help sterling much. US yields might enter a ST consolidation pattern near recent peak levels, but we don’t expect a protracted correction. Any USD setback might be modest too, especially against the euro. The ECB still has to clarify its anti-inflation commitment. In this respect, we keep a close eye on a speech of ECB chief economist Lane. A clear hawkish U-turn from Lane won’t pass unnoticed on European (interest rate and FX) markets, but we want to see it happen first before turning more positive on the euro. An EUR/USD rebound above the 1.0760 area would signal some easing of pressure on the euro.
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News Headlines
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| • The Brazilian central bank (BCB) raised its key Selic rate as expected by 100 bps, to 12.75%, the highest level since January 2017. The cumulative amount of tightening since early last year amounts 1075 bps. Inflation pressures intensified further due to supply problems related to the new corona-wave in China and the war in Ukraine. The repricing of monetary policy in advanced economies increases uncertainty for emerging markets as well. As Inflation risks prevail, the BCB aims to continue its tightening cycle next meeting but with a smaller (<100 bps) hike. Monetary policy is already in restrictive territory. Therefore, some cautiousness is necessary in future actions. The Brazilian real didn’t respond to the outcome with USD/BRL already back below 5 ahead of the verdict via the dollar correction.
• The Chinese Caixin services PMI crashed from 42 to 36.2 in April (vs 40 expected), the lowest level since the initial Covid-dip of 26.50 in February 2020. Regional Covid-outbreaks and the zero-Covid response by Chinese authorities limited both supply and demand. Details showed a crash in new business while employment broadly stabilized (49.3 from 49.9). Prices charged fell to the lowest level since May 2020. A front-page report in China Securities Journal suggests that China’s economy may have bottomed in April and should start to recover from May due to supportive government actions. USD/CNY is trading broadly stable around 6.6050 following public holidays earlier this week.
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European yields recovered from the early stages of the Russian-Ukrainian war as the expected growth slowdown didn’t deter the ECB from formally stepping up the normalization plans. Net asset purchases will end in June, with a first rate hike likely in July. Runaway inflation expectations suggest the ECB’s response will still be too little, too late. Next resistance stands at 1.06% (2015 top).
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The Fed started its tightening cycle and published an aggressive blueprint for the remainder of the year. 50 bps rate hikes at the next meetings can be taken for granted. The US yield curve extended its bear flattening trend. Quantitative tightening will start in June. The psychologic 3% resistance is under pressure but holds for now.
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EUR/USD remains stuck in a downward trend channel. Losing the previous YTD low at 1.0806 and the 2020 bottom at 1.0636, suggests a return to the 2017 low at 1.0341. ECB needs to step up its inflation response to give the single currency much needed backing. Russian war in Ukraine plays in the euro’s disadvantage as well.
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The developing cost-of-living crisis seems to hit the UK economy first and the hardest. Weak economic data toughen the Bank of England’s dilemma in battling inflation with doubt starting to filter through in markets. EUR/GBP bounced off the 0.82/0.83 support zone. The YTD high at 0.8512 is first meaningful resistance.
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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 05/05/2022 via Trader Talent
Published by Trader Talent on
Markets
• Asian equities mostly trade in positive territory as China returns from holidays despite a poor China services PMI. The dollar regains a few ticks. Later today, the Bank of England (exp 1.0% from 0.75%), the Norges Bank (exp. unchanged) , the Czech National Bank (exp 5.5% from 5.0%) and the Central bank of Poland (expected 5.5% from 4.50%) decide on interest rates. The BoE can’t ignore higher inflation further eroding purchasing power. However, if Bailey and co keep their guarded tone on further action, the hike might not help sterling much. US yields might enter a ST consolidation pattern near recent peak levels, but we don’t expect a protracted correction. Any USD setback might be modest too, especially against the euro. The ECB still has to clarify its anti-inflation commitment. In this respect, we keep a close eye on a speech of ECB chief economist Lane. A clear hawkish U-turn from Lane won’t pass unnoticed on European (interest rate and FX) markets, but we want to see it happen first before turning more positive on the euro. An EUR/USD rebound above the 1.0760 area would signal some easing of pressure on the euro.
News Headlines
Graphs
European yields recovered from the early stages of the Russian-Ukrainian war as the expected growth slowdown didn’t deter the ECB from formally stepping up the normalization plans. Net asset purchases will end in June, with a first rate hike likely in July. Runaway inflation expectations suggest the ECB’s response will still be too little, too late. Next resistance stands at 1.06% (2015 top).
The Fed started its tightening cycle and published an aggressive blueprint for the remainder of the year. 50 bps rate hikes at the next meetings can be taken for granted. The US yield curve extended its bear flattening trend. Quantitative tightening will start in June. The psychologic 3% resistance is under pressure but holds for now.
EUR/USD remains stuck in a downward trend channel. Losing the previous YTD low at 1.0806 and the 2020 bottom at 1.0636, suggests a return to the 2017 low at 1.0341. ECB needs to step up its inflation response to give the single currency much needed backing. Russian war in Ukraine plays in the euro’s disadvantage as well.
The developing cost-of-living crisis seems to hit the UK economy first and the hardest. Weak economic data toughen the Bank of England’s dilemma in battling inflation with doubt starting to filter through in markets. EUR/GBP bounced off the 0.82/0.83 support zone. The YTD high at 0.8512 is first meaningful resistance.
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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