FX market outlook

FX market outlook

Euro jumps on ECB minutes; US CPI & retail sales on the horizon

Here are the latest developments in global markets:

• FOREX: The US dollar index traded marginally lower on Friday, extending the notable losses it posted on Thursday on the back of weaker-than-expected US producer price data and a stronger euro.
• STOCKS: Asian markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix indices traded lower by 0.2% and 0.6% respectively, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 0.8%. In Europe, futures tracking the Euro stoxx 50 suggest it could open 0.3% higher. Over in the US, the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite finished in the green yesterday, with all three indices recording fresh all-time highs. Futures tracking the Dow, S&P and Nasdaq 100 are all currently in positive territory, but only marginally. Of particular interest today will be the announcement of earnings for Q4 2017 by banking giants JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, as well as asset manager BlackRock and PNC Financial Services Group; the results will be released before Wall Street’s opening bell.
• COMMODITIES: Oil prices corrected lower today, with WTI and Brent crude declining by 0.5% and 0.3% respectively, erasing the hefty gains they posted yesterday. Despite this pullback, both WTI and Brent are still hovering near multi-year highs, amid declining US crude inventories, the extremely cold weather observed in the US recently, and the OPEC-led supply curbs. Importantly, the United Arab Emirates’ oil minister hinted yesterday that the current OPEC and non-OPEC deal could be extended beyond its current deadline of December 2018, adding further to the optimism surrounding the oil market. In precious metals, gold edged up 0.4% without any major news behind the move, likely boosted by the softer US dollar.

Major movers: Euro shines as ECB minutes heighten tapering speculation

The euro surged yesterday, after the minutes from the European Central Bank’s (ECB) December policy meeting showed the Governing Council is willing to consider an adjustment in its forward guidance in early 2018, provided the economy and inflation remain on a healthy track. This probably heightened speculation that the Bank’s massive stimulus program may be coming to an end, perhaps as early as this year.

Even though such signals are not particularly new, as several ECB policymakers have already expressed their desire to see the Bank adjust its policy language soon, this was the first time an official ECB communication suggested as much. What’s more, investors may have been surprised by the potential timing of such a move. Since QE is currently intended to run until September 2018, or beyond, one would have expected the ECB to begin adjusting its language around the middle of 2018, and not early in the year as the minutes indicated.

An adjustment in the Bank’s forward guidance in the coming months could unleash another wave of euro appreciation, as investors begin to position for the end of the QE-era. That said, whether or not the ECB will actually proceed with tapering its asset purchase program will likely depend on whether wages and inflation accelerate, something not evident thus far.

The antipodean currencies were on the retreat today, with aussie/dollar and kiwi/dollar trading 0.1% and 0.2% lower accordingly. Meanwhile, dollar/loonie was up nearly 0.2%, with the loonie’s softness likely owed to the pullback in oil prices.

Day ahead: US CPI & retail sales dominate attention

The highlights of the day in terms of releases will be US inflation figures and retail sales for the month of December. Both releases are due at 1330 GMT. Month-on-month as well as on an annual basis, the pace of inflation growth is expected to ease a bit relative to November’s figures. Year-on-year, core CPI is forecast to expand by 1.7% in December, the same pace as in November. Although the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure is the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, CPI figures still have their significance and they could spur speculation on the outlook for interest rates and thus result in dollar movements. It should be mentioned that yesterday’s PPI figures out of the US surprised to the downside.

In terms of retail sales, those are expected to grow at a slower pace in December after expanding by 0.8% in the month that preceded, far outstripping expectations and pointing to a robust economy. Retail sales excluding automobiles are also anticipated to slow in December.

Data on US business inventories for the month of November due at 1500 GMT could also attract some interest.

Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren – a non-voting FOMC member in 2018 – will be giving a speech on the US economic outlook at 2115 GMT.

In commodities, oil traders will be paying attention to the US Baker Hughes oil rig count due at 1800 GMT.