The drop in USD this week seems to be linked to expectations that US data will come in soft. But hearing Fed speakers, the move seems a bit premature, even if it looks like we could get September payrolls data soon. In the UK, the government is scrapping its income tax hike plans. GBP downside risks have suddenly increased
Jobless claims dropped back sharply yesterday, a rare positive development for the US jobs market and the dollar. But we still think the greenback is due to give up its post-Fed gains in the near term. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan surprised with a hawkish vote split as it held rates unchanged today, raising the chances of an October hike and JPY outperformance
Investors are nervously waiting on the announcement of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. With reports that deliberations on the tariffs are still ongoing, even with hours left to their unveiling, as well as speculation about the form they will take, investors remain uncertain.
We are one week out from Japan’s financial year-end. An often-asked question is whether there is any seasonality in USD/JPY running into FY-end. The theory goes that Japanese companies may repatriate foreign earnings to dress up their balance sheets for the FY.
At the time of writing, UK rates markets are expecting the BoE to keep the bank rate unchanged at its March policy meeting and to ease a total of c.53bp by the end of 2025. The view is broadly consistent with our own view that foresees two additional BoE rate cuts in the coming months.
The Fed left its dot plot unchanged and revised down its growth forecasts while revising up its inflation forecasts. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that he still saw room for rate cuts given that the effect of tariffs on inflation will be transitory. He also said the probability of recession was not high.
• USD firmer as markets trade cautiously into Fed decision.
• CAD slips back from probe through upper 1.42s.
• EUR drifts lower after another failure around 1.0950 yesterday.
• GBP tracks peers, short-term price patterns may be tilting negative.
• JPY drops after BoJ holds policy rate at 0.50%, as expected.
• AUD, NZD lower in line with peers; Aus jobs, NZ GDP data due tonight.
• MXN softer on the day but holds gains back through 20.
As markets assess the implications of the Zelenskyy-Trump clash on Friday, the focus today is whether US tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go ahead. The FX market is not pricing in 25% duties as a base case, and still leans in favour of either smaller tariffs or another last minute deal. Downside risks for CAD and MXN are therefore sizeable.
While simmering trade tensions have been a key driver of FX markets this year, optimism about a potential ceasefire deal in Ukraine and stronger fiscal support, especially from defense spending, have also raised the prospects of a better outcome for European growth.
After a very quiet week, the local story is back in focus for markets. Today, we will see retail sales in Poland for January. Goods spending remains subdued, but has improved after a poor third quarter.
