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May 13, 2024
China RRR and Rate Cuts
May 13, 2024 7:54 AM UTC
The latest China money supply and lending figures show that private household and business lending is very subdued. More need to be done to boost credit demand as well as credit supply. However, the authorities desires to avoid too much Yuan weakness will likely mean that the next move is a 25bp
Watts at Stake: India's Looming Power Shortage
May 13, 2024 6:58 AM UTC
India's power sector faces rising demand and power shortages, sparking fears of the most significant power shortfall in a decade. With coal imports continuing to rise and hydropower generation declining, India's aim to become a manufacturing hub could become challenging. Energy transition is likely
May 10, 2024
Preview: Due May 21 - Canada April CPI - Headline stable but BoC core rates falling
May 10, 2024 2:44 PM UTC
April CPI will be closely watched as the last CPI release before the June 5 Bank of Canada meeting. We expect the yr/yr pace to be unchanged from January at 2.9% which was also the pace in January before February saw a brief dip to 2.8%. However we expect continued steady downward progress in the Bo
U.S. May Michigan CSI - Lowest since November, inflation expectations highest since November
May 10, 2024 2:12 PM UTC
May’s preliminary Michigan CSI of 67.4 from 77.2 is the weakest since November 2023 and hints at a loss of momentum in the economy, but with higher inflation expectations, the 1-year view up significantly to 3.5% from 3.2% and the 5-10 year view up marginally to 3.1% from 3.0%.
Asset Allocation 2024: Tricky Seven Months Remaining
May 10, 2024 1:06 PM UTC
Fed easing expectations for 2025 and 2026 can shift from a terminal 4% Fed Funds rate towards 3%, as the U.S. economy slows due to lagged tightening effects. Combined with Fed easing starting in September this should mean a consistent decline in 2yr yields. However, 10yr U.S. Treasury yields wil
Canada April Employment - Trend still solid, suggesting no urgency for BoC easing
May 10, 2024 12:58 PM UTC
Canada’s 90.4k increase in April employment is well above expectations and raises doubt over the case for a June rate cut, this being the last employment report the Bank of Canada will see before its June 5 meeting. Unemployment was unchanged at 6.1% but wage growth (hourly wage fir permanent empl
Banxico Review: Hold Rates
May 10, 2024 12:44 PM UTC
Banxico's decision to maintain the policy rate at 11% reflects a cautious stance amidst rising inflation and a slowing economy. Despite external volatility, the MXN remains resilient. The main concern is services inflation being stickier. With a revised inflation forecast indicating a longer period
Benign Inflation Allows BNM to Hold Rate
May 10, 2024 9:24 AM UTC
In its latest decision, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) opted to keep the overnight policy rate (OPR) steady at 3.0%, marking the seventh consecutive meeting without a change. This decision aligns with market projections and underscores BNM's commitment to support g
UK GDP Review: Clearer Growth Momentum But Mainly Import Led?
May 10, 2024 6:26 AM UTC
The economy may have been in only mild recession in H2 last year, but the ‘recovery’ now evident is much clearer than any expected with GDP growth notably positive. Indeed, coming in more than expected, and despite industrial action, GDP rose by 0.4% m/m in March accentuating the upgraded boun
May 09, 2024
BoE Review: Data Dependent Easing Bias Clearer?
May 9, 2024 12:52 PM UTC
There was little surprise that Bank Rate was kept at 5.25% for the sixth successive MPC meeting, nor that the dissent in favor of an immediate rate cut doubled to two as a result of Dep Gov Ramsden confirming more dovish leanings. The updated projections at least validated the rate path discounted
CBRT Lifts End-Year Inflation Forecast to 38%
May 9, 2024 10:22 AM UTC
Bottom Line: Central Bank of Turkiye (CBRT) released the second quarterly inflation report of the year on May 9, and lifted end-year inflation prediction from 36% to 38% citing that the rebalancing process for demand will be more delayed compared to what was projected that in the first inflation rep
May 08, 2024
U.S. Q2 GDP to Increase by 2.0% Annualized Before Slowing In the Second Half
May 8, 2024 1:36 PM UTC
In our quarterly outlook on March 22 we looked for Q1 US GDP to rise by 2.4% annualized followed by growth of near 1.0% in the remaining three quarters. While Q1 at 1.6% came in weaker than expected details were constructive for Q2 for which we now expect a 2.0% annualized gain. We continue to expec
Sweden Riksbank Review: Biting the Bullet
May 8, 2024 8:24 AM UTC
It very much seemed to be a question of when, not if, as far as policy easing is concerned for the Riksbank. In this regard, albeit surprising in terms of timing, the Riksbank delivered, cutting its policy rate by 25 bp (to 3.75%), despite clear concerns it has flagged about recent and continued k
May 07, 2024
Indonesia Q4 GDP Review: Robust Start to 2024
May 7, 2024 1:22 PM UTC
Bottom line: Indonesia's Q1 GDP — released on May 6 — saw growth rebound to 5.1% yr/yr from 4.90% yr/yr in Q4 2023. While private consumption continued its ascent, government expenditure emerged as the key driver of Indonesia's growth narrative. Private consumption was supported by festive deman
Banxico Preview: Continuing at 25bps
May 7, 2024 12:43 PM UTC
Banxico will convene on May 9 to decide on the policy rate, having initiated a possible cutting cycle. Despite concerns, the MXN remains stable. The 25bps adjustment aims to maintain tight monetary policy while mitigating inflation. The board may split over this decision, but Banxico is likely to co
May 06, 2024
Fed SLOOS on Bank Lending mostly resilient
May 6, 2024 6:27 PM UTC
The Fed’s Q2 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on bank lending practices generally sustains a less negative tone seen in the last survey for Q1, and does not suggest that the Fed need to have any serious concerns about the business investment outlook.
BCB Preview: 25bps or 50bps cut?
May 6, 2024 1:02 PM UTC
The Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) convenes on May 8 to set the policy rate. Previous forward guidance hinted at a 50bps cut in May, but recent statements from BCB President Roberto and some weakness in the BRL have shifted expectations to a 25bps cut. However, we anticipate the BCB maintaining a 50bp
May 03, 2024
Preview: Due May 15 - U.S. April Retail Sales - Pause after a strong month
May 3, 2024 5:00 PM UTC
After a 0.7% increase in March, we expect April retail sales to rise by only 0.3%. Ex autos we expect a 0.2% increase to follow a 1.1% rise in March, while ex autos and gasoline we expect sales to be unchanged after a 1.0% increase in March which was the strongest since October 2022.
U.S. April ISM Services - Weakness may be overstated
May 3, 2024 2:24 PM UTC
April’s ISM services index of 49.4 from 51.4 has fallen below neutral for the first time since December 2022. That dip was explained by bad weather. There is no obvious erratic factor here to explain the weakness, but the details suggests that weakness may be overstated.
U.S. April Employment - On the weak side in all key details, following strength in March
May 3, 2024 1:18 PM UTC
April’s non-farm payroll is on the low side of consensus across the board, with a 175k increase (though the 167k private sector rise is only modestly below consensus), with a 0.2% rise in average hourly earnings, a fall in the workweek and a rise in unemployment to 3.9% from 3.8%. The data should
EMFX: Diverging On Domestic Forces Not Less Fed Easing Hopes
May 3, 2024 10:45 AM UTC
While U.S. economic developments, plus Fed policy prospects, will be important in terms of EM currency developments, domestic politics and fundamentals will also be decisive. These can keep the South Africa Rand volatile in the remainder of 2024, given the risk of a coalition government and African
Norges Bank Review: Even More Caution?
May 3, 2024 8:46 AM UTC
Surprising few, the Norges Bank Board left the policy rate at 4.5% for a third successive meeting at its latest Board meeting. It also retained the thinking first aired at the December meeting, namely ‘policy to stay on hold for some time ahead’ rhetoric, this more formally evident in what wer
Turkiye’s Inflation Continues to Jump in April with 69.8%
May 3, 2024 7:40 AM UTC
Bottom Line: Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) announced on May 3 that Turkish CPI ticked up 69.8% annually and 3.2% monthly in April due to increases in transportation, restaurant & hotel and education prices, coupled with the lingering impacts of the wage hikes on the services sector. We feel u
May 02, 2024
Moody’s Improves Outlook Perspective Due to Higher Growth
May 2, 2024 2:27 PM UTC
Moody’s upgraded Brazil's outlook to positive from stable, maintaining its Ba2 rating, signaling a potential move to Ba1 soon. Strong growth prospects, attributed to institutional reforms, drove this shift. Despite lingering doubts, improved fiscal conditions and anticipated tax reform are bolster
Preview: Due May 3 - U.S. April ISM Services - A correction after two straight slowings
May 2, 2024 2:14 PM UTC
We expect April’s ISM services index to see a modest increase to 52.0 from 51.6, pausing after two straight declines, leaving the index with no clear trend, and continuing to imply modest expansion.
Preview: Due May 3 - U.S. April Employment (Non-Farm Payrolls) - Still strong if a little less so, earnings may be above trend
May 2, 2024 2:03 PM UTC
We expect a 255k increase in April’s non-farm payroll, still strong if the slowest since November, with a 195k increase in the private sector. We expect an unchanged unemployment rate of 3.8% and a slightly above trend 0.4% increase in average hourly earnings, lifted by a minimum wage hike in Cali
U.S. Unit Labor Costs and Initial Claims suggest inflationary risk from labor market strength
May 2, 2024 12:56 PM UTC
Initial claims at 208k are unchanged at a very low level while continued claims at 1774k are also unchanged, the preceding data revised from 207k and 1781k respectively. The labor market remains tight while unit labor costs saw a significant bounce to 4.7% annualized in Q1.
BoE Preview (May 9): Easing Bias Clearer?
May 2, 2024 11:06 AM UTC
In flagging no need to be dominated by Fed policy, we think that the BoE is not only moving towards rate cuts but the MPC majority may be overtly advertising such a likelihood. But we do not see any move at the looming May 9 verdict, with Bank Rate again likely to remain at 5.25%. But the accompan