FX market outlook
Posted on Tuesday, August 7 2018 at 8:25 am GMT+0000British pound suffers “Brexit blues”
Here are the latest developments in global markets:
- FOREX: The US dollar index is lower by a little more than 0.1% on Tuesday, giving back some of the gains it posted yesterday. Meanwhile, the British pound retreated across the board on Monday, as speculation intensified that the UK could exit the EU without any deal. Elsewhere, the aussie ticked up after the RBA was perceived to be a little more optimistic, on the margin, upon completion of its policy meeting earlier today.
- STOCKS:US markets closed higher on Monday as investors cheered strong earnings results from firms like Berkshire Hathaway (+2.34%), and amid a rally in Facebook (+4.45%) on reports the company is planning new services. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.61%, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones inched higher by 0.35% and 0.16% respectively. The S&P specifically closed at its highest level since late January, and not far below its all-time highs. Futures tracking the S&P, Dow, and Nasdaq 100 are all pointing to a higher open today. Asia was mostly in the green on Tuesday as well, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix advancing by 0.69% and 0.76% correspondingly, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong surged by 1.45%. All major European benchmarks are set for a higher open today too, futures suggest.
- COMMODITIES:In energy markets, oil prices rose on Monday and are higher today as well, as investors digested the actual introduction of US sanctions on Iran, which took effect at 0401 GMT on Tuesday. WTI is higher by 0.30% at $69.10 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 0.51% to $74.16. In precious metals, gold prices are nearly 0.50% higher on Tuesday, recovering some of the losses recorded in the previous session. The yellow metal continues to trade around the $1,211 per ounce mark, unable to post any material rebound with the US dollar trading near its highs for the year. Since gold is denominated in dollars, a stronger US currency renders the metal less attractive for investors using foreign currencies.
Major movers: Sterling suffers the “Brexit blues”; aussie ticks up after RBA
The British pound touched a fresh 11-month low against the dollar yesterday, pressured by renewed speculation that a no-deal Brexit is becoming increasingly more likely. The currency’s drop followed some remarks from UK international trade secretary Liam Fox that the chance of a no-deal exit from the EU has become more likely than leaving with a deal, in his view. Then on Monday, a UK government spokesperson reiterated the mantra that “no deal is better than a bad deal”, likely amplifying market worries.
The next round of Brexit talks is scheduled for August 16th. However, considering that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier implicitly rejected the UK’s latest Brexit plan by saying it “undermines” the single market, it remains doubtful whether meaningful progress can be made at a pace rapid enough to allow for a smooth exit by March next year. Combined with the latest dovish tilt by the Bank of England, these suggest that the sources of support for sterling over the coming weeks may be scarce.
The US dollar posted another day of advances on Monday, even as yields on longer-term US bonds dropped amid concerns over escalating trade tensions with China. The trade narrative is likely to remain at the forefront, especially after the signals from China that it will not give in to US pressure. The safe-haven Japanese yen could remain the barometer for the trade standoff – gaining when tensions intensify and retreating on any signs that a negotiated solution may still be achievable.
Elsewhere, aussie/dollar is higher by 0.37% today, after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its policy unchanged earlier but appeared slightly more optimistic. Specifically, policymakers appeared confident that despite some shortfalls in inflation this year, price pressures are expected to be higher in 2019 and 2020.
In EM, the Turkish lira touched another fresh record low as USDTRY rose to 5.425 yesterday, after the US administration said on Friday that it is reviewing Turkey’s duty-free access to the US market.
Day ahead: Job openings and consumer credit data due out of the US
Among Tuesday’s releases are jobs openings and consumer credit data out of the US.
The Halifax house price index that measures housing prices in the UK will be made public at 0730 GMT. Prices are anticipated to grow by 0.2% m/m in July, after rising by 0.3% in June, a month during which prices eased to a four-month low in annual terms.
June’s JOLTS job openings report out of the US is due at 1400 GMT and is expected to show job openings standing at 6.646 million, slightly above May’s 6.638m and not far below April’s record high of 6.84m. Also out of the US, will be consumer credit data for June. Those are slated for release at 1900 GMT.
Canada’s Ivey PMI for July will be hitting the markets at 1400 GMT.
The outcome of the bi-weekly milk auction will be known later today; the relevant print lacks a specific time of release. The kiwi will be generating attention as the data are made public given that dairy products are New Zealand’s largest goods export earner.
In the meantime, geopolitics are at play as well: the Trump administration is proceeding with re-imposing sanctions on Iran, while there appears to be some confusion as regards how a denuclearized Korean peninsula will come to fruition.
In equities, Disney will be reporting quarterly results after the US market close.
In energy markets, API weekly data on US crude oil stocks are due at 2030 GMT.
