official Daily Market Notes by Tickmill.co.uk

[tickmill-analytics]

Two questions ahead of today’s Powell Testimony

Tuesday at the market was quite calm, despite the potential storm that Powell's testimony in Congress today is supposed to bring. The head of the Fed will have a tough time: back in January, he confidently spoke about disinflation in 2023 and made pretty transparent hints that the Fed will soon end the tightening cycle. If in January the markets predicted one 25 basis point increase and a terminal rate of 4.75-5.00%, then currently the consensus has shifted to three rate hikes this year and a terminal range of 5.50-5.75%. Today, Powell will have to explain what he meant back then and connect his soft rhetoric with the February surprises in data into a single story, otherwise there will be a communication failure that could harm the regulator's reputation. This, in turn, increases the costs of conducting monetary policy - if market participants start forming their own expectations rather than listening to the Fed, it will be more difficult for the regulator to expect the policy to work as intended. Therefore, it is necessary to strike a balance between not bending too much to deny what is happening and not going along with every swing of market sentiment.

From a practical point of view, investors may be concerned about two questions today:

1.    What is the likelihood that the Fed will raise rates by 50 basis points at this month's meeting?
2.    How has the expected terminal rate range changed?

However, most likely these two questions will remain unanswered. We are still waiting for another NFP and CPI report for February, which will allow us to clarify whether the February strengthening in data is the beginning of a new trend or still a temporary aberration. Most likely, the Fed and Powell will prefer to get more information to give more accurate forecasts to the markets about forthcoming policy decisions. In addition, the market's recent reaction to expectations of a tighter monetary policy suggests tightening credit conditions in the market (as seen from higher bond yields and wider credit spreads), which should itself have a depressing effect on inflation and economic activity. Powell cannot fail to understand this, and in theory, this should be an argument in favor of a more cautious tone today.

Considering that market prices have already factored in a fairly aggressive Fed policy for the next few meetings, Powell's cautious tone may balance the odds towards a more moderate policy trajectory, and as a result, risky assets will respond with a small rise and the dollar with a decline. Based on the dollar index, within the current mini bearish trend, we can consider a drop in the index towards the lower border of the channel, which will correspond to the level of 104.20:

This would correspond to the EURUSD rise to the area of 1.0725/30.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Markets look completely unprepared for dovish NFP report

US equity indices continue to cling to key levels that currently separate the bearish and bullish markets. For the SP500 index, this level is 4000 points, around which it has been hovering since the end of February. On Thursday, futures for US stocks are trading moderately lower, as are European stock indices. The dollar index, after a brief rise to the level of 106 points, corrected on Wednesday and continues to moderately decline on Thursday. Employment data from the ADP agency exceeded expectations, but only slightly, with an increase of 242K jobs compared to the forecast of 200K. Due to the positive surprise in employment data, demand for risk assets remains subdued, so risks for tomorrow's report are also shifting towards a positive surprise.

However, considering that the chances of a 50 b.p. rate hike at the upcoming Fed meeting are already 74.9%, there is little room for further selling in case of a strong report:

A much greater effect will be caused by job growth below the forecast of 200K - a shift in expectations could be significant and the hypothesis that the February improvement in data was another temporary aberration may start to gain ground. In that case, the dollar will face strong headwinds, and risk assets, including the cryptocurrency market, may rebound due to retreat of bond yields.

Fed Chair Powell, speaking to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, generally said the same things as he did in the Senate on Tuesday. In addition, he hinted that the JOLTS job openings report, the NFP report for February, and the CPI next week will be key data that will affect the FOMC's March decision.

JOLTS data showed that the number of job openings decreased to 10.824 million, with the previous reading revised up to 11.234 million:

The consensus was for 10.5 million. The layoff rate decreased from 2.6% to 2.5%, the lowest level since January 2021, but still above the historical average of 1.9%. The job openings/unemployed ratio decreased to 1.9, but it is still above the level that would characterize a balanced labour market. However, Oxford Economics noted that the share of those surveyed decreased to 32% from 64.3% in July 2022, meaning that there is an increased risk that the JOLTS report distorts the real situation in the labour market, particularly it may overstate labour shortage.

According to the ADP report, employment in the US increased to 242K from 119K in February, which exceeded the expected 200K. The report noted that there is active hiring, which is good for the economy and workers, but wage growth is still quite high and that moderate slowing of wage growth itself is unlikely to lead to a rapid reduction in inflation in the near term. At the same time, job holders showed a 7.2% (prev. 7.3% m/m) which is the slowest pace of growth in the past 12 months, and the proportion of workers who changed jobs was 14.3% (prev. 15.4% m/m). The ADP report comes out before the employment report is released on Friday, but recently it has been showing low predictive power in providing an accurate estimate of new jobs. Regarding the employment report, Pantheon Macroeconomics noted: "Our model is based on solid employment data from Homebase and does not take into account ADP figures; this model correctly predicted January and indicates employment growth of 200K in February".

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

The Fed set to ease monetary policy in response to banking sector tensions, propping up risk assets as US economy is still in good shape

Over the weekend, American politicians took steps to restore trust in the US banking system and prevent bank runs, but unfortunately two pretty big banks couldn't be saved. In the next few days, the markets will be primarily focused on the performance of US banks, and over the next week, they'll be looking to the government for additional measures. Expectations for the Fed rate have sharply changed, and the spread between long-term and short-term bond yields has started to narrow. Essentially, this indicates that expected inflation has decreased and the risk of recession in the US has increased. Demand for safe havens should remain high this week, with traders keeping an eye on low-yielding JPY and CHF.

Following the second-largest bankruptcy in US history on Friday, American politicians took steps to restore trust in the US banking system. The Federal Reserve, US Treasury, and Deposit Insurance Corporation announced two key measures. The first measure is that all uninsured depositors in Silicon Valley Bank will be fully reimbursed. This solves the problem of uninsured depositors (in this case, in venture capital/technology) potentially losing their deposits and withdrawing money from other banks with high levels of uninsured deposits (reports suggest that 96% of deposits in SVB were uninsured). The second key measure is that the Federal Reserve announced a new liquidity program - the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP). This will allow qualified financial institutions to access dollar liquidity in exchange for placing US bonds, agencies, or mortgage-backed securities as collateral. Importantly, the collateral value will be accepted at face value, meaning that the Fed will temporarily bear the bank losses from Treasury depreciation. This solves the problem of SVB, which needed to sell securities to cover deposit outflows - this led to losses and capital reduction.

Investors today will be keeping a close eye on the stocks of US banks to see if the measures taken were enough to restore trust. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't look too good:

Over the weekend, another bank, Signature Bank in New York, was also declared bankrupt by US authorities. The clear takeaway for the market is that the Federal Reserve won't be able to raise rates by 50 basis points on March 22 if it's introducing new liquidity measures for the US banking system at the same time.
Right now, the market has lowered its expectations for the FOMC rate for this month to +25bp, and some experts predict unchanged rates. In fact, the price for the December 2023 FOMC meeting is now 75bp lower than it was in the middle of last week.

For the currency market, this means that the first major financial crisis in the US since 2008 has led to a significant reduction in the US yield curve, which has negatively affected the dollar. The same thing is happening now. The US economy is in good shape and, for now, the beginnings of a financial crisis are seen by the market as something that can be quickly isolated with Fed liquidity injections. That's why risk assets, despite the decline, are holding up pretty well, and the most speculative segment - cryptocurrencies - has even risen in anticipation that the Fed will radically change course in the near future, either by no longer raising rates or by cutting them.

DXY will likely trade together with the US banking sector index, particularly the regional banking sector index, today. Risks indicate a drop towards 103.50 and potentially down to 102.50 this week.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Stock markets plunge on Deutsche Bank worries as contagion risks grow

The stock market is once again under pressure as worries about the banking crisis increase again, this time mainly on the European continent, after a brief respite. The STOXX 50, DAX, and French CAC 40 are all down more than 2%. The trigger for the correction was a surge in concerns over Deutsche Bank's position - the cost of default insurance on the bank's bonds jumped from 142 to 193 points on Friday. This was preceded by news that the bank intends to redeem Tier 2 subordinate bonds, which raised concerns about the bank's ability to service its debts (this type of bond offers perpetual income) and caused outrage in the subordinated debt market (AT1 bonds), which was the source of volatility for the entire EU banking sector a few days ago.

Source: Bloomberg

The risk-off sentiment has also spread to the American continent, with Treasury yields across the maturity spectrum falling and hitting a local low. The yield on the 10-year bond fell to 3.28%, the lowest since the beginning of September 2022. The derivatives markets which have federal funds rate as underlying asset, now completely rule out the possibility of a rate hike in May.

Defensive assets rose sharply on Friday, with gold once again testing the $2,000 per ounce level. This time, the breakout move is likely to push the price higher than the previous local maximum. The potential target for buyers could be $2,050 per ounce. Oil prices also collapsed, signalling a rise in recessionary sentiment. Both main benchmarks lost more than 3% in the moment.

Regarding the economic calendar for today, data on orders for durable goods added pessimism to the US economy, with a decrease of 1%, against a forecast of 0.6% compared to the previous month. Recall that Powell stated at the press conference that stress in the banking sector would be reflected in a slowdown in economic activity and faster inflation decline, so market sensitivity to incoming data, particularly negative surprises, may be reduced as investors may discount negative deviations. The PMI indices for the economies of the European bloc produced a mixed impression: activity in the manufacturing sectors of countries once again fell below expectations, while the positive momentum in the service sector persisted, so the corresponding indices exceeded expectations.

On the American market, the focus is back on the financial sector of the S&P 500: the price has dropped to the support level (500 points).

Next week, it's important to keep an eye on whether the price can hold below the level, as in case of successful consolidation, a technical signal may trigger further selling and then this sector will continue to generate risk aversion.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Stock market rebound may help the Fed to gain confidence in its tightening course

News related to Deutsche Bank shook financial markets on Friday, but the trend on Monday suggests that the market overreacted with panic: SPX futures topped 4000 points, gold fell by more than 1.5%. Shares of American banks, which are probably some of the best proxies for broad market volatility, bounced back in pre-market trading, ensuring that Monday's trading will be driven by a search for yield. The catalyst for the rebound is believed to be the news that the FDIC has approved the purchase of SVB Financial by another US bank. Together with full deposit insurance, the purchase of a troubled bank significantly reduces the risks of a domino effect in the US banking sector, which until recently "hung like a stone around the market's neck."

Earlier, an official from the Fed stated that the situation with SVB Financial is unique, hinting that if the threat of "contagion" can be prevented, the central bank can return to its main task at the moment - combating inflation.

The interest rate differential between EU and US bonds continues to change unfavourably for the dollar, as the Fed leans towards a gradual tightening of its program, while ECB officials continue to express concern about inflation and pedal the topic of prolonged policy tightening. Thus, ECB official Nagel spoke about QT on Monday, saying that its pace should be accelerated closer to the summer.

It is well known that the interest rate differential on short-term bonds explains large portion of exchange rate movements in the short term, and EURUSD is no exception. Since the beginning of March, the interest rate differential on 2-year bonds between the US and Germany has decreased by more than 30 basis points, but the strengthening of EURUSD has not been significant:

One of the main reasons for the "lag" in the EURUSD rate from the dynamics of the corresponding differential may be the reluctance to part with the dollar due to high volatility and the recent surge in bearish sentiment. In other words, demand for the dollar as a protective asset may now be holding back its depreciation, and if the risks of new episodes of bank stress dissipate, EURUSD is likely to grow at a "leading" pace.

However, along with the increase in risk appetite, expectations for aggressive actions by the Fed at upcoming meetings will be simultaneously revised. Powell said that the recent risk-off worked like a rate hike (credit spreads widened, yields on high-yield bonds rose, increasing the cost of borrowing), therefore an increase in risk appetite will have the opposite effect and should add work to the Fed. Overall, this can be seen already: along with the market rally, the chances of a Fed rate hike in May have doubled, from 17 to 35%:

It is obvious that the prospects of a prolonged market rally under such conditions are not visible.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

As banking system shocks subside the focus shifts to central banks’ battle with inflation

The dollar index struggles to bounce back up after dropping to 102.50 level, in line with the earlier idea that the Fed is avoiding clear policy recommendations, while the ECB is showing more readiness to raise rates. This shifts the interest rate differential in the direction that works against the US currency.

European indices bounced up more than 1% on Wednesday, almost recovering to pre-SVB Financial correction levels:

UBS and Deutsche Bank stocks, which are indicators of the Eurozone's perception of banking stress, continued to rise today, up 2.49% and 3.94% respectively. It's a pretty positive sign that market participants are becoming more confident that shocks in the banking system are successfully isolated and their impact is diminishing.

Significant declines in US crude oil and gasoline inventories according to EIA data supported oil prices, with WTI and Brent rising to two-week highs. Crude oil inventories fell by more than 7 million barrels (forecast +0.1 million), while gasoline inventories fell by 2.9 million (forecast -1.61 million). The inventory drop suggests increased demand from refineries and fuel distributors, such as gas stations, which in turn positively characterizes the dynamics of consumer demand, a key driver of economic expansion.

The reduction of concerns about banking stress in the US and EU will inevitably intensify search for yield (rotation from quality to risk), and therefore a narrowing of credit spreads (lower borrowing costs). As shown in the chart below, the spread between investment-grade bonds and high-yield bonds, after rising in mid-March, has stabilized and is likely to soon begin to decline:

As a result, there will also be an increase in inflation risks (thanks to credit expansion), which will inevitably reactivate hawkish rhetoric from the Fed as inflation is still quite high. That's why it may make sense to approach the current rally with great caution and consider the possibility of short positions on risk assets or profit-taking ahead of upcoming speeches by the Fed officials, especially Powell.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Optimism gradually gives way to caution?

The US stock indices closed slightly down on Tuesday, despite a decrease in risk-free rates after the release of US job market data (JOLTS report). The S&P 500 and Dow indices fell by 0.58 and 0.59%, while the technology sector stocks (which are more defensive assets) lost slightly less - 0.37%. At the same time, bond yields (risk-free rates) reacted downwards after the data was released - the two-year rate lost more than 18 basis points in the moment, while the 10-year rate lost about 12 basis points.
To understand what a decrease in bond yields along with a negative reaction in the stock market means, two scenarios need to be considered:

1.    Bond yields are falling, and stock prices are rising:

This scenario is characterized by capital inflows into both bonds and stocks. It is clear that this happens when expectations shift towards monetary policy easing and the expectation of firm income growth or a decrease in uncertainty. For this to happen, moderately negative information (aka "bad news - good news") is necessary, which should trigger a monetary stimulus that is expected to be sufficient to provide expansion.

2.    Bond yields are falling, and stock prices are also falling:

This same scenario rather characterizes the capital outflow from stocks into bonds (rotation between asset classes), i.e., a flight from risky assets into defensive ones. This also happens when expectations shift towards monetary policy easing, but at the same time, expectations regarding firm income growth worsen or uncertainty increases. This is usually facilitated by the release of excessively weak economic indicators ("bad news - bad news"), and there is concern that the central bank may provide insufficient stimulus when changing policy.

Yesterday's JOLTS report, which, as I previously mentioned, is currently in focus for the Federal Reserve due to the increased importance of the labour market in inflation forecasts, surprised with a sharp decline in job openings from 10.5 to 9.9 million, with a forecast of 10.4 million:

The sharp reduction in excess job openings indicates that employers are less willing to compete for workers (which should slow down wage growth and then inflation) and that firms' expectations regarding demand for their goods/services may have worsened, causing them to reduce hiring rates.

Considering the leading nature of this indicator and the sharp negative change, the market's reaction to the report in stocks and bonds yesterday may well be the first sign of a shift towards caution. For this scenario to gain traction, market participants may prefer to wait for reports on service activity today (with a focus on hiring components) and Non-Farm Payrolls on Friday. If wage growth did indeed slow significantly in March, concerns about an economic downturn could increase, and the market may experience a sell-off that will "demand" interventions from the central bank (hints of an end to the tightening cycle or rate cuts).

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Bearish Economic Reports Put US Equity Markets at Risk of Downturn

Equity market investors are getting increasingly nervous and risk-averse as the US economy continues to surprise with bearish economic reports this week. On Tuesday, it was the JOTLS data and the ISM manufacturing report, on Wednesday, the ADP employment report and PMI in the non-manufacturing sector were released, all four of which failed to meet modest forecasts, and in some cases were significantly worse than expected (such as JOLTS), although there are currently no signs of an impending recession in the data. Overall, it can be said that the data sharply limited the potential for equity market rally and made it more vulnerable to a downturn as concerns about a slowdown in the economy intensified, but at the same time there is hope that the Federal Reserve will take decisive action to delay the onset of a slowdown.

According to the ISM, activity in the US non-manufacturing sector grew at a slower pace in March compared to the previous month. The corresponding index fell from 55.1 to 51.2 points, which is significantly lower than the forecast of 54.5 points. New orders sub-index led decline, falling from 62.6 to 52.2 points:

This index is a leading indicator for price and hiring plans in the sector, and its sharp slowdown suggests that firms may be more cautious about raising prices in the near future and reduce demand for labour.

In turn, the hiring sub-index fell from 54 to 51.2 points, indicating slower growth in demand for labour in March compared to February and confirming the trend in JOLTS and ADP data: the US labour market imbalance, which has been generating inflation throughout the last year, began to gradually weaken in the end of the first quarter.

The ADP agency reported that the US economy added only 145,000 jobs in March, compared to the forecast of 200,000. The previous figure was slightly revised upwards to 261,000. Wage growth slowed down for both those who held on to their jobs and those who were willing to switch. The chief economist of ADP said that labour market data for January showed that the economy may have started to slow down.

The US stock market showed mixed dynamics yesterday, but labour market data probably increased market fragility and made it more susceptible to sharp corrections. Treasury yields hit lows for this year, with the 10-year Treasury yield breaking through the 3.3% level, the lowest since September 2022.

The price of gold is rising and approaching historic highs. The increase may be partly due to the fact that BRICS countries are increasing their non-dollar reserves to reduce the influence of the US through dollar reserves.  The main factor behind the rally is, of course, the increased expectations of a recession in the global economy and expectations of a decline in real interest rates, which have a negative correlation with gold prices.

Data on the Chinese economy supported oil prices. Activity in China's services sector continued to expand in March, with the corresponding index rising from 55 to 57.8 points. The composite index rose from 54.2 to 54.5 points, indicating that the pace of expansion in the sector is gradually picking up.

Today's focus is on data on initial and continuing jobless claims. In addition, markets may pay attention to comments from Fed representative Bullard.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

US CPI report boosts hunt for yield but rates markets remain cautious

The report on inflation in the US boosted risk appetite on Wednesday, causing a sharp decline in the dollar. Overall inflation in the US slowed to 5% per year, which was better than the forecast of 5.2%. The dollar index lost about half a percent yesterday, dropping to around 101.50. Today, the correction continued - EURUSD rose above 1.10, and GBPUSD rose above 1.25. The content of the FOMC protocol was somewhat discouraging, as it stated that members of the Open Market Committee expect a moderate recession by the end of the year, but risk assets shrugged off the negative news quite quickly - after a "red" session on Wednesday, US stock indices rebounded on Thursday, with the S&P 500 up 0.6%, DOW up 0.4%, and Nasdaq up more than 1%.

The currency market was apparently more interested in the inflation report than the interest rate market. Interestingly, the dynamics were different - the dollar fell, while the yield on treasury bonds, after a brief downward movement, returned to levels prior to the release of the CPI report:

The treasury bond market (the largest in the US) and the dollar are inversely proportional - when investors sell bonds, they increase demand for the dollar, and vice versa. The decline in the dollar in the absence of an increase in bond prices (or a decrease in their yields) apparently indicates a purely currency phenomenon of the weakening of the dollar: investors in American assets gradually prefer to seek yield abroad, which increases the supply of dollars and lowers its exchange rate against other currencies.

However, one should be very cautious: although overall inflation in the US is slowing down, core inflation has changed little over the past four months, which cannot but worry the Federal Reserve. In March, it reached 5.6% (in line with the forecast). If not for the situation with SVB Financial, such behaviour of inflation would have served as a basis to raise the rate by 50 basis points at the upcoming meeting. There is something to think about...

Data on the Chinese economy today additionally fuelled demand for risky assets, as they demonstrated a serious surprise. China's exports unexpectedly grew by 14.8% year on year in March, which is a sharp deviation from market forecasts of a 7% reduction:

This also fundamentally changes the outlook for the expansion of the Chinese economy this year, as exports have been in a downward trend over the past five months. The growth in exports in March was due to the same drivers as in previous months, only this time the impact of these drivers turned out to be unexpectedly strong. The overall indicator grew due to the export of electronic components and products, which, in nominal terms, ranks first in China's export structure. Exports in this category grew by 12% in annual terms, and its contribution to overall exports remained stable at 58%. Electronics exports recorded growth for the first time since October 2022.

Imports decreased slightly by 1.4% year on year, but still recorded a monthly growth of 15.3%. Imports of electronic components, which should be considered as part of processing trade and is an indicator of future export growth, decreased by 16% year on year. Its contribution to overall imports also decreased from an average of 38% in 2022 to 35% in March. Presumably, this is due to a substitution effect from the increase in energy imports since 2022.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

US Bond Yields Rise Despite Dovish Retail Sales Figures

The chances of the Federal Reserve keeping its policy unchanged in May have increased after the release of US production inflation data for March. Overall production inflation unexpectedly turned negative in March: prices fell by 0.5% in a month, although it was forecasted that they would remain at the same level:

The market enthusiastically received another signal that price pressure in the US economy is abating, and as a result, the probability that the Fed will abandon the idea of raising rates in May has increased. Key US stock indices gained more than 1% on Thursday, but Nasdaq stood out, closing the session with a 2% increase. Since growth stocks, which dominate the technology sector, have a longer duration, they should be more sensitive to changes in expected inflation. Therefore, the greater rise of the index yesterday suggests that investors are betting on further inflation reduction. Meanwhile, the bond market suggests that investors are not yet overly concerned about a recession in the economy: demand for bonds has not only not increased recently, but has even slightly decreased, as can be seen from the rise in Treasury yields. Even a 1% monthly decline in retail sales, as shown in the report on Friday, turned out to be unconvincing: bond yields rose, and the 10-year Treasury yield crossed the 3.5% mark. Apparently, the market does not fully share the Fed's concerns about an impending recession. Credit spreads, which reflect investors' preference for high-yielding bonds over protective bonds, although still higher than the March lows, continue to decline after the US banking sector shock:

There are still almost three weeks left before the Fed meeting, and futures on interest rates show that risk appetite may still increase: the chances that the Fed will still raise rates in May are almost 67%, but slightly decreased after yesterday's PPI report (from 71%):

However, there is still a growing weakness in the US labour market: initial jobless claims are consistently increasing, with yesterday's data showing an increase of 239K (forecast 232K). The situation with long-term claims has improved slightly, with the number falling to 1.81 million (forecast 1.814 million).

The inflation report in France pleased euro buyers as it contained another hawkish surprise: year-on-year inflation slowed in March, but not as quickly as the ECB would like - 5.7% versus a forecast of 5.6%.

In the near future, the market is likely to continue to expect no changes in the Fed's policy in May, which will provide additional support to the market, especially to the assets which offer higher yields. Dollar should remain under pressure, despite uptick after retail sales data. 

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

NY Empire State Manufacturing Index Surprises with Acceleration in April

The NY Empire State Manufacturing Index surprised with its acceleration in April, as the main index not only did not decrease according to the forecast from -11.5 to -18.0 points, but even jumped to 10.8 points, which is the highest point of expansion since July 2022:

The forecasts of 34 experts ranged from -25 to -11.5 points, with a median forecast of -18 points, so the change in the indicator became the second most unexpected in the history of observations (the first was in one of the post-COVID months).
The leading indicator of new orders changed the most sharply in a positive direction - from -21.7 to 25.1 points. In second place was the shipments index, which changed from -13.1 to 23.9 points.

The weak point of the report was the employment data - the hiring index remained at -8 points for the third month in a row, and the average workweek index fell by -6.4 points. The data confirmed the worrying trend that emerged in early March: at that time, the number of job openings sharply decreased (JOLTS data), and the growth of initial claims for unemployment benefits accelerated:

Yesterday was another positive day in risk asset markets, and today the rally continues, while the dollar is on the defensive. As expected, the upward correction of the dollar did not develop, and EURUSD found support near 1.09. Sentiments significantly improved after today's economic data from China exceeded expectations, pushing talks of a recession to the background for a while. China's GDP grew by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2023, which is significantly higher than the forecast of 4.0%, also indicating a sharp acceleration compared to the previous quarter (2.9%). Retail sales in March grew by 10.6% in annual terms, with a forecast of 7.4% (a two-year high), and the pace of industrial production growth was the highest in 5 months. Unemployment, according to a population survey, dropped to a 7-month low.

The UK labour market data significantly strengthened the position of the pound ahead of the upcoming Bank of England meeting. The number of employed increased by 169K in March, which was significantly higher than the forecast of 50K. However, the unemployment rate did not meet expectations and increased to 3.8% with a forecast of 3.7%. The key point of the report was the 5.9% increase in wage growth in annual terms, which was 0.8% higher than forecast. Taking into account that consumer spending correlates with income growth (there is a linear relationship between them, but the coefficient is less than 1, since a portion goes to savings), we can expect consequences for inflation, which means that the Bank of England may need to exert more effort to keep price pressure under control. GBPUSD strengthened by about half a percent today and buyers are likely to test the 1.25 zone again. From a technical point of view, the pair has broken out of the formed flag and has the potential to rise to the 1.265 level, where the trend line passes:

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Euro rises against dollar, technical chart signals new rally

On the US and European stock markets, there is a lull, with US index futures trading near Monday's opening levels, and European indices slightly weaker. The dollar has gone on the defensive, indicating a search for yield in the market. Moderate selling pressure has resumed in commodity markets, with oil prices falling. The yields on US Treasuries and German bonds, which stabilized last Friday, are fluctuating in a narrow range on Monday.

The euro has gained quite well today compared to other major currencies, almost 0.3%, and it seems that the 1.10 level will play a role as a foundation for a new rally. This is indicated by the technical picture of the dollar index. On the chart below, it can be seen that, after forming a double bottom at the level of 100.75, the price bounced back very uncertainly, pulling away a short distance from the level. This suggests that buyers did not particularly resist, which in turn may allow sellers to build up pressure more confidently. Buyers may therefore appear near the level of 100, where there will also be a short-term support level along the trend line:

The fundamental component of dollar expectations also points to the risk of a weaker dollar in the medium term. The Fed is leaning towards raising rates one last time and then announcing a "pause" (smoothly transitioning to a signal of the end of tightening and a discussion of when to start lowering interest rates). The inflationary challenge for the ECB is more serious, so it may not be limited to just one rate hike this year. If you look at the difference in short-term market rates between the US and Germany (which largely explains the EURUSD exchange rate), the indicator clearly leans towards lower levels and a potential turning point is seen at a spread of 1%:

If such a scenario is realized, the euro will obviously be more expensive relative to the dollar.

The news calendar today is quite boring. The business climate index in Germany from the IFO agency rose for the seventh month in a row, from 93.2 to 93.6 points. The change, while modest, was positive, and the absence of negative news was enough to boost euro buyers. Expectations of German firms improved once again, but remain below the historical average. The assessment of current conditions decreased.

Overall, the report indicated that the decreasing gas prices and the resuming expansion of China's economy, which is a trading partner with Germany, have positively affected the country's business climate. However, there is no talk of a strong expansion of the economy.
From a fundamental events perspective, this week will be interesting on Thursday when data on US GDP for the first quarter of this year will be released, and on Friday when the second most important consumer inflation indicator in the US (Core PCE) for March, Eurozone GDP for the first quarter, as well as the inflation report in Germany will be released.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Dollar rebounds but risk of a fresh slide persists

US and European stock indices are on the slippery slope, the Dollar index found enough buyers to rebound from 101 level after the dip on Monday. The selling catalyst was disappointing report from the Dallas Fed regarding activity in US manufacturing sector. The corresponding index dropped to -23.4 points missing the forecast of -14.6 points. This is the lowest reading since July 2022:

Investors apparently opted to reduce risk exposure ahead of earnings releases of major US companies this week, such as GOOG, META, AMZN and MSFT.

Comments of the ECB representative Schnabel supported European currency. According the official, it is still possible that the ECB will raise rates by 50 basis points next week.

US Treasury yields are gradually drifting lower, as the scenario of a significant slowdown in US growth in the second quarter (which the Fed also warned about) becomes more likely. The incoming data speaks in favor of these concerns. Of the latter - retail sales and the Dallas Fed index, which turned out to be significantly weaker than expectations.

Investors' attention today will be riveted to the data on consumer confidence from the Conference Board, as well as the index of activity in the manufacturing sector from the Richmond Fed. Risks on both indicators are shifted towards weaker prints, which may further constrain the activity of buyers in the US stock market and increase pressure on the Fed to provide the markets with a more friendly forecast for policy path at the upcoming meeting. Some interest may cause data on the real estate market in the US, in particular the price index from Case-Schiller. It is well known that consumer inflation, with a lag of several months, reacts to changes in housing prices (through changes in housing rental rates, from which, among other things, consumer inflation is calculated):

 

As for the Fed meeting next week, the main question is what the Fed will do after the May rate hike (which seems to be beyond doubt). And while future policy is once again heavily dependent on incoming economic data, shocks to the banking sector are back on the radar, with First Republic Bank reporting a larger-than-expected deposit outflow. The news pulled the US bank stock index down after five days of rally:

Tomorrow there is a risk of a fresh sell-off of the dollar after release of data on orders for durable goods in the US. After a 1% decline, a 0.7% rebound is expected, the market may not be prepared for a weak print and may shift Fed expectations towards a more dovish one in cases of a downbeat print. 

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.

High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

US GDP Falls Short of Expectations and Inflation Rises: A Closer Look at the Numbers

The risk appetite in global markets came under pressure while safe-haven demand has increased after US GDP and inflation data on Friday. The US GDP for the first quarter posted a big "bearish" surprise, rising by only 1.1% compared to the forecast of 1.9%. Looking at GDP separately for the four main components (consumption, investment, government purchases, and net exports), it is evident that it was the investment component that dragged down the headline reading while consumption and government purchases maintained a good positive momentum:

In annual terms, consumption grew by 3.7%, with a strong jump in January when unusually warm weather stimulated early activity rebound after December. Government purchases increased by 4.7% in annual terms, and net exports added 0.11% to the annual GDP growth rate.

Nevertheless, the weakness of the main indicator was hidden in downside momentum of investments (21% of GDP). It consists of three main components: investments in fixed assets, firm inventories, and households' residential investments. While firm investments in fixed assets grew by 0.7% (quite weakly), investments in housing decreased by 4.2%. In quarterly terms, this indicator has been decreasing for 8 consecutive quarters due to pressure from mortgage rates combined with sticky high housing prices that accelerated during the period of low rates after the pandemic. Firms also reduced their inventories in the first quarter (which is considered negative investment), which took away 2.26 percentage points from the GDP growth rate.

As for inflation, the core GDP deflator (one of the inflation metrics) increased by 4.9% on an annual basis, up from 4.4% in the previous quarter and above the consensus of 4.7%. Along with disappointment over the GDP data, the market was forced to reprice the risks of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy tightening in light of hawkish inflation data today. The rise in Core PCE exceeded expectations - 4.6% versus the forecasted 4.5%. The February figure was revised upward to 4.7%. Monthly inflation was in line with expectations at 0.3%.

In the next quarter, consumption is likely to make a less significant contribution to GDP, given recent consumer trends (decline in retail sales). Weak investments suggest a reduction in corporate optimism about the short-term prospects of the US economy. CEO surveys of US companies and the NFIB small business index indicate preparations for a downturn and recession, which will further depress hiring and investment in capital goods.

The consensus for Q2 GDP growth is shifting closer to 0, and the actions of the Fed, which is forced to fight inflation, will likely bring the onset of a recession in the US economy closer. Also, we cannot underestimate the possibility of new banking shocks, which could lead to a sharp tightening of credit conditions and further hit economic activity.

The dollar received a boost today due to increased demand for the US currency as a safe haven asset. Looking at the EURUSD pair, it can be seen that the price is consolidating around the lower boundary of the uptrend channel, which can be seen as a signal that the uptrend may be petering out and closer to the Fed meeting, there may be a break downward:

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

FOMC Indicates Possible Pause in Interest Rate Hikes, ECB Raises Rates Amid Inflation Concerns

The FOMC meeting on Wednesday indicated that the Fed is very close to announce a pause and the range-bound response in Treasury yields suggests that there was no significant shift in rate expectations:

FOMC members voted unanimously to raise interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing the federal funds rate to 5-5.25% range. Consensus before and after yesterday's meeting was for a pause in further rate hikes. To truly embody caution in line with FOMC expectations, the accompanying statement emphasized a "data-dependent approach," with attention to incoming economic data and credit availability (lending standards and market interest rates). There will also be greater focus on policy lags.

At the press conference, Powell tried to calm the markets by stating that the banking sector is gradually recovering from the shock and things are overall improving, even despite the defaults of SVB and FRC. The head of the Federal Reserve also stated that stress in the banking system and the resulting rise in borrowing costs and reduction in loan supply (increased bank requirements for borrowers) should put pressure on economic activity, hiring rates, and inflation. In my opinion, this aspect of policy is very important because a rate adjustment by the Federal Reserve will only work if banks want and are willing to take risks (increase lending). 

Next week, there will be a survey of U.S. banks on lending rates (Senior Loan Officer Survey), which will shed light on how much bank lending activity may have shrunk due to increased uncertainty. This variable is a leading indicator of changes in the unemployment rate. The graph below shows two curves: the share of banks tightening requirements for borrowers and the change in unemployment over the past 12 months. It can be seen that the unemployment rate responds with some lag to banks' tendency to seek yield, i.e., issue loans.

If the Federal Reserve leaves rates unchanged at the next meeting, given that historically, the period between the last rate hike and the first rate cut has averaged about 6 months, market participants, may start to expect a rate cut in November-December. The yield curve implies a 75-100 basis point policy easing next year. It should be reminded that according to the latest economic forecasts of the Federal Reserve, a soft recession is expected at the end of the year, i.e., two quarters of negative GDP growth in a row.

The European Central Bank also raised its rate by 25 basis points today and did not rule out further increases this year. The ECB expects high inflation to persist for some time. Nevertheless, the phrase "future decisions will provide a sufficiently restrictive policy" indicates that the ECB is also close to a pause. In the EURUSD pair, a bearish impulse appeared after the regulator's meeting, and sellers are likely planning to retest the lower bound of upward trend channel before the rally can resume:

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Inflation Report Boosts Dollar, Fed's Pause Looms: Market Insights

The inflation report gave the dollar a little boost, causing it to gain almost half a percent against the euro and Swiss franc on Thursday. Commodity currencies took a hit alongside the commodity market, with the Australian dollar dropping by 0.7% and the New Zealand dollar by 0.4%. Despite an overall decrease in consumer inflation in the US during April, core inflation remained steady at 5.5%. The dollar gains ground without the help from equity market corrections and with the solid likelihood of the Fed taking a break in June (chances are now almost 100%), suggesting that the factors driving its performance lie in worsening growth prospects outside the US.

Yesterday's inflation report showed a drop in consumer inflation overall, but core inflation remained stable. However, a significant sign of decreasing inflation in the upcoming months was the consistent weakening of shelter inflation:

This component carries significant weight in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is one of the most influential factors (as rental prices follow housing prices, and contract terms lead to price stickiness). Additionally, it affects future inflation through inflation expectations. This isn't surprising considering that a considerable portion of consumer spending goes toward rent and housing maintenance.

Treasury yields slip reflecting the market's growing confidence that the Fed will announce a pause in June:

The Producer Price Index (PPI) didn't meet expectations, with a monthly price increase of 0.2% compared to a forecast of 0.3%. This further indicates weakening consumer inflation since businesses will have fewer incentives to raise prices.

Today, the Bank of England raised interest rates by 25 basis points and stated that further increases are possible if inflation doesn't respond to policy changes. The central bank revised its economic growth forecast to higher values, and the "boost in optimism" is the strongest since 1997. Market participants suspect that the central bank won't stop and will raise rates up to 5%. Looking at the technical chart for GBPUSD, the price has approached a crucial bearish line. If it breaks through and consolidates above this line successfully, it could easily gain bullish momentum. The presence of a hawkish central bank, as revealed in today's meeting, serves as a foundation of bullish Pound outlook:

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Mixed US inflation data add odds to potential dollar reversal

After reaching a maximum level since the beginning of April last week, the dollar retraced on Monday, previously breaking upward from below a bearish channel that began in October 2022. An interesting idea now emerges of a bullish breakout as an early signal for the dollar reversal:

For EURUSD, a buy signal emerged, at least in anticipation of a short-term upward retracement: the price made a retest of the general ascending trendline, which should generate some bullish pressure. However, the rally of EURUSD since October 2022 is at stake:

Sellers are unlikely to give up so easily, and the price is likely to return to test levels below the trendline. Within this assumption, shorting the pair from 1.09 can be considered.

The US inflation report last week left a mixed impression. While overall inflation was below expectations, the more important core inflation from the Fed's perspective decreased reluctantly in line with expectations (5.5%). The US unemployment report two weeks ago had an inflationary bias (acceleration in wage growth, decrease in unemployment). The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index released last Friday was significantly below expectations (57.7 points against an expected 63 points), prompting a rise in the dollar index from 102.20 to 102.60. Market participants seemed to increase demand for the dollar as a safe haven asset, as weak consumer sentiment increased recession risks.

Two potential factors for a dollar rally this week are Powell's speech on Thursday and a sudden surge in volatility in the stock markets (VIX index near lows since the beginning of 2022). Although the FOMC meeting is still a few weeks away in June, markets are pricing in a high probability of a pause, which poses risks of a correction in case of hawkish data or corresponding Powell's comments. If expectations for interest rates correct, the dollar should strengthen. This week, investors may also pay attention to the final GDP and inflation estimates for the Eurozone for the first quarter and April, as well as the inflation report in Japan, which will be released on Thursday.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Mixed Economic Signals: Eurozone GDP in Line with Expectations, Weakened Sentiment, and Potential Dollar Surge

Second estimate of Eurozone GDP for the first quarter came in line with expectations, showing a modest quarterly growth of just 0.1% and a YoY output gain of 1.3%. However, the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index for the Eurozone and Germany fell more than anticipated, indicating worsened sentiment. With EURUSD nearing 1.09, buyers remain cautious as potential surprises loom ahead, including Powell's upcoming speech this week.

Despite lingering concerns over the US banking sector shocks, stock markets are holding up well, with the expected volatility index of the S&P 500 (VIX) near its lowest levels in two years. Market nervousness is also fueled by political games surrounding the issue of raising the US debt ceiling.

Today's focus lies on the US retail sales report and speeches by top Federal Reserve officials, Williams and Bostic. After a 0.6% decline in March, a rebound of 0.8% in total retail sales and 0.4% in retail sales excluding automobiles is expected. The Federal Reserve has emphasized its data dependence in deciding future rate actions, and with low chances of rate hikes (10-20%), strong retail sales data could shift the risks towards an increase in the dollar and bond yields.

Disappointing data from the Chinese economy, including retail sales, investment in fixed assets, and industrial production, came in below forecasts:

Demand for safe-haven assets increased following the release of the Chinese data, leading to a decline in yields of major world government bonds:

Considering that the VIX index is near the lower end of its historical range, the probability of a potential upward spike is growing, wherein stock indices would climb, and the role of the dollar as a safe-haven asset would come to the forefront once again.

Commodity markets also weakened after the Chinese data. Oil prices dropped by approximately a dollar, while commodity currencies such as the AUD, NZD, and CAD are trading near opening levels or on the defensive. Looking at the NZDUSD pair, a rising triangle pattern can be observed on the daily timeframe, indicating a slight bullish bias. The nearest resistance levels are at 0.64 and 0.655, while support is found in the 0.613-0.615 zone. It is expected that the price will continue to move within the triangle and, after a possible retest of 0.615, aim for 0.64:

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Dollar Index Surges to Highest Level in Months, US Equities Rally

The dollar index has risen to its highest level since the end of March, the rally yesterday was accompanied by a pickup in US equity market and bond rout (a signal that the Fed may be again behind the curve). Major US stock indices closed in positive territory, US futures extend the rise today, with the S&P 500 consolidating near 4200 points before a potential breakout. Interestingly, gold has left the $2000+ zone, trading near $1970 per ounce on Thursday. This is likely due to the increase in risk-free rates in the US, which represent opportunity costs for the yellow metal. When the real interest rate rises, the missed opportunity cost of investing in gold also increases, as gold is known to offer zero yield. The yield on the 2-year Treasury bond has surged to 4.16%, and the yield on the 10-year bond has reached 3.59%:

As seen in the chart above, yields are currently at their highest level since mid-April and are essentially reaching the resistance levels from early March (4.2% for the 2-year bond and 3.6% for the 10-year bond). Interestingly, within just one week, the bond market has apparently priced in another 25-basis-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve in June. Overall, it becomes clear where the dollar is gaining strength: higher expected interest rates in the US (relative to other countries) are stimulating capital inflows into US bonds.

The EURUSD pair, after bouncing back to the 1.09 level as expected, has retested the general ascending trendline. The price is likely to attempt to test the 1.08 level and seek support in the 1.07-1.08 area:

A similar situation is observed in the GBPUSD pair: the price has bounced off the key resistance line and may return to the upper bound of the short-term ascending channel, which will now act as support (1.235):

Tomorrow, Powell's speech is due, and judging by the bond market's near-term performance, the comments from the central bank's head will likely indicate a hawkish stance. However, the bar for surprising the market should be set high, as expectations for June decision have already been significantly revised.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

[tickmill-analytics]

Treasury Yields Rally And Recession Fears Abate. No Fed Pause in June?

The rally in Treasury yields is encountering minimal resistance, and mid-March levels have already been reached:

Recently, comments from top Federal Reserve (Fed) officials arrived with unusually unambiguous positions. The emphasis was on "no signs of significant decline" in certain service sectors (Jefferson) or that “a year is not long enough to feel the full effect of interest rate hikes so far” (Jefferson), that the fight against inflation remaining a "critical priority" (Logan), and that "data doesn’t yet show that pause in June is appropriate" (Logan). In less than a week, the market revised the odds of a June pause from 98% to 58%:

It should be noted that central bank officials rarely express their position on future monetary decisions clearly for two reasons: firstly, the market would immediately incorporate it into prices, rendering the future decision ineffective, and secondly, due to inherent future uncertainty, it is desirable to leave room for maneuver. The tone of the above comments, in my view, clearly indicates that officials are preparing the markets for a rate hike in June.

Even the centrist Powell needs to adjust his position; the market expects additional hawkish surprises in today's speech by the head of the Fed. Bowman and Williams, two other Fed officials, will also make verbal interventions today.

Market optimism was supported by data on the US labor market and the manufacturing sector: initial jobless claims interrupted their rising streak and decreased from 264K to 242K in the week ending May 13 (forecast was 254K). Continuing claims also declined, decreasing from 1.807 million to 1.799 million (forecast was 1.818 million). The Philadelphia Fed's Manufacturing Activity Index, an indicator with moderate significance for the market, also surprised on the upside. The overall index rose from -31.3 to -10.4 points (forecast was -19.8 points). The leading contributor to the positive change was the sub-index of new orders, which rose from -22.7 to -8.9 points (forecast was -25.7 points).

Increasing yields, strengthening dollar, and the surprisingly "carefree" position of investors in stocks (VIX near multi-year lows, another sharp decline yesterday) are observed in the absence of any significant news on the macroeconomic front, changes in fiscal policy, etc. The statements from Fed officials arrived slightly later, only this week when the market had already priced in most of the Treasury yield rally. In my opinion, the key to understanding what is happening in the market lies in the April NFP report. Wage growth turned out to be significantly higher than expected (0.5% vs. 0.3% forecast), and unemployment dropped to an extremely low 3.4%. Incoming data, judging by the market's reaction and the comments from central bank officials, should soon indicate an acceleration in inflation. However, this should already be priced in and have a minimal effect.

Disclaimer: The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual or company.
High Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% and 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.