Thursday, 26 January 2023
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Markets
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• Eco data were few yesterday and the outcome only gave limited directional guidance for global trading. German IFO business confidence (business climate rising from 88.6 to 90.2; expectations gaining from 83.2 to 86.4) confirmed the message from Tuesday’s PMI’s. A recession will probably be avoided and prospects for later this year are better than a few months ago. European bonds found a bid during the morning session, but the move had no strong legs and yields reversed most of the decline in US trading. At the end of the day, German yields closed little changed (-1.5 bps 2-y; +1.6 bps 30-y). Last ECB speakers before the blackout period reiterated the case for two additional 50 bps hikes in at least February and March. US yields eased between 3 bps (5-y) and 1.1 bp (30-y). The decline in the 2-yield was mainly due to a benchmark change. The $43bn 5-y Note auction met with very strong investor demand, reinforcing a late session bond rebound. Equities again showed resilience, with both US indices and European indices almost fully reversing intraday losses (S&P -0.02%, EuroStoxx 50 -0.12%). The dollar continues its gradual/protracted retreat. DYX closed at 101.64 (from 102). EUR/USD finished north of the 1.09 big figure (1.0916). EUR/GBP slipped back to close just above 0.88, despite UK Gilts’ outperformance. Oil traded little changed near $86/b.
• Asian equities mostly keep a positive tone this morning. Yields on US Treasuries are little changed. The dollar holds near recent lows (DXY 101.60, EUR/USD 1.091, USD/JPY 129.35). Later today, US Q4 GDP is expected show growth of 2.6% Q/Qa while price deflators are expected to ease substantially (core 3.9% from 4.4%). GDP data are old news. Even so, some kind of goldilocks scenario of decent growth and easing price pressure might sustain the ST resilience of equities, soft yields and a weaker dollar. US durable goods orders and jobless claims also deserve some attention. The US 10-y yield struggles to stay above the 3.4% support area. The German 10-y yield meets first resistance near 2.2%. EUR/USD is heading for 1.0942 (50% retracement 2021/22). Major technical breaks are not evident as investors await guidance from next weeks Fed, ECB and BoE policy meetings.
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News Headlines
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| • The Bank of Canada raised the policy rate yesterday by 25 bps to 4.5%. Provided the economy and inflation evolves in line with the outlook, the BoC expects it to hold it there. Growth has been more resilient and the economy remains in excess demand. GDP is expected to expand about 1% this year and 2% in the next, little changed from the October forecast. However, restrictive monetary policy is filtering through, especially in household spending and the housing market. The overall activity slowdown will allow supply to catch up with demand. Inflation declined to 6.3% in December on lower gasoline prices and moderating prices for durable goods. 3-month measures of core inflation have come down, suggesting that it has peaked. CPI is projected to come down to around 3% in the middle of this year and back to the 2% target in 2024. The BoC’s pause announcement came as no major surprise. Markets were pricing in a 4.5% terminal rate for some time now. It nevertheless triggered Canadian yield losses between 4.9-7.7 bps with the front outperforming. Canadian money markets expects 50 bps rate cuts by the end of this year. The loonie lost ground in a kneejerk reaction before paring losses to USD/CAD 1.3392 (from 1.3369).
• Growth in South Korea contracted in Q4 of 2022 by 0.4% q/q. That brought the yearly figure to 1.4%, down from 3.1% in Q3. The first decline in two and a half years was mainly due to a crash in exports (-5.8% q/q), more than offsetting a 4.8% import decline. Household consumption, a key driver for growth for most of last year, also dropped (-0.4%). Government spending offered some counterweight (+3.2%). SK’s finance minister Choo Kyung-ho already pledged strong support for exporters such as tax breaks and administrative help. This may complicate the central bank’s task. Although the BoK itself kept all options open, its rate hike earlier this month to 3.5% was seen as the final one this cycle. The South Korean won reacted stoic to the data. USD/KRW is trading near recent lows of 1231..
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Graphs
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The ECB flagged more 50 bps rate hikes in Q1 2023, accompanied by QT. This clear prioritization to combat inflation pushed the 10-y Bund to a new cycle top just north of 2.50% at the end of 2022. A potential depo rate peak >=3.50% and a further reduction of excess liquidity suggests new upside after the early 2023 correction lower. A sustained break above 2.56% resistance (62% retr. on 2008/2020 decline) needs a high profile trigger.
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The December dots confirmed the Fed’s intention to raise the policy rate north of 5% and to keep it above neutral over the policy horizon. US yields rebounded, but markets doubt this guidance as recessionary fears linger. Early January activity/labour/inflation data failed to convince them and triggered a correction lower in yields. A downshift to +25 bps rate hikes from February onwards is expected, but markets remain too complacent on the future rate path.
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After a strong performance for most of last year, the dollar lost momentum in Q4. EUR/USD leaving a downtrend channel improved the technical picture with the euro receiving support from the ECB’s hawkish twist, lower energy prices and a bullish risk sentiment at the start of 2023. Next resistance stands at 1.0942 (50% retracement on 2021-2022 decline).
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The BoE raised its policy rate by 50 bps in December, with more to come. Recessionary fears among at least part of the MPC might cause a less aggressive approach on inflation further out. Twin deficits are a structural negative for sterling too. EUR/GBP left the 0.86 area post-ECB, but 0.8867 resistance holds at least for now. A break opens the way to the 0.90 area.
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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). Read the full disclaimer.
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KBC Sunrise Market Commentary 26/01/2023 via Trader Talent
Published by Trader Talent on
Markets
• Asian equities mostly keep a positive tone this morning. Yields on US Treasuries are little changed. The dollar holds near recent lows (DXY 101.60, EUR/USD 1.091, USD/JPY 129.35). Later today, US Q4 GDP is expected show growth of 2.6% Q/Qa while price deflators are expected to ease substantially (core 3.9% from 4.4%). GDP data are old news. Even so, some kind of goldilocks scenario of decent growth and easing price pressure might sustain the ST resilience of equities, soft yields and a weaker dollar. US durable goods orders and jobless claims also deserve some attention. The US 10-y yield struggles to stay above the 3.4% support area. The German 10-y yield meets first resistance near 2.2%. EUR/USD is heading for 1.0942 (50% retracement 2021/22). Major technical breaks are not evident as investors await guidance from next weeks Fed, ECB and BoE policy meetings.
News Headlines
• Growth in South Korea contracted in Q4 of 2022 by 0.4% q/q. That brought the yearly figure to 1.4%, down from 3.1% in Q3. The first decline in two and a half years was mainly due to a crash in exports (-5.8% q/q), more than offsetting a 4.8% import decline. Household consumption, a key driver for growth for most of last year, also dropped (-0.4%). Government spending offered some counterweight (+3.2%). SK’s finance minister Choo Kyung-ho already pledged strong support for exporters such as tax breaks and administrative help. This may complicate the central bank’s task. Although the BoK itself kept all options open, its rate hike earlier this month to 3.5% was seen as the final one this cycle. The South Korean won reacted stoic to the data. USD/KRW is trading near recent lows of 1231..
Graphs
The ECB flagged more 50 bps rate hikes in Q1 2023, accompanied by QT. This clear prioritization to combat inflation pushed the 10-y Bund to a new cycle top just north of 2.50% at the end of 2022. A potential depo rate peak >=3.50% and a further reduction of excess liquidity suggests new upside after the early 2023 correction lower. A sustained break above 2.56% resistance (62% retr. on 2008/2020 decline) needs a high profile trigger.
The December dots confirmed the Fed’s intention to raise the policy rate north of 5% and to keep it above neutral over the policy horizon. US yields rebounded, but markets doubt this guidance as recessionary fears linger. Early January activity/labour/inflation data failed to convince them and triggered a correction lower in yields. A downshift to +25 bps rate hikes from February onwards is expected, but markets remain too complacent on the future rate path.
After a strong performance for most of last year, the dollar lost momentum in Q4. EUR/USD leaving a downtrend channel improved the technical picture with the euro receiving support from the ECB’s hawkish twist, lower energy prices and a bullish risk sentiment at the start of 2023. Next resistance stands at 1.0942 (50% retracement on 2021-2022 decline).
The BoE raised its policy rate by 50 bps in December, with more to come. Recessionary fears among at least part of the MPC might cause a less aggressive approach on inflation further out. Twin deficits are a structural negative for sterling too. EUR/GBP left the 0.86 area post-ECB, but 0.8867 resistance holds at least for now. A break opens the way to the 0.90 area.
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). Read the full disclaimer.
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