Overview: The interest rate adjustment continues as the US 10-year Treasury yield firmed to test 1.90%, and the 2% target comes into view. The German 10-year yield poked above zero for the first time since May 2019 and is straddling the area now. A bigger than expected rise in UK inflation lifted the 10-year Gilt yield to 1.3%, its highest level since March 2019 before pulling back. Asia Pacific equities were a sea of red, led by a nearly 3% drop in Tokyo. It is the fifth consecutive losing session for the MSCI Asia Pacific Index. The Stoxx 600 is trying to stabilize after shedding almost 1% yesterday. It is up around 0.2% today, with consumer discretionary, and real estate performing best today. Financials and utilities are extending recent losses. US futures are posting small gains. Yesterday's dollar gains are being pared or reversed today against the major currencies. Emerging market currencies are more mixed, with the Turkish lira and a handful of East Asian currencies trading heavily. The JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index is recouping half of yesterday's 0.45% decline. Gold held the 200-day moving average yesterday (~1803.5) and is firm near $1818 now. The March WTI contract reached new highs around $86.40 before consolidating. US natgas is off about 0.6% after rising 0.5% yesterday, while Europe's benchmark is almost 7.5% lower. It rose 3.5% on Tuesday. Iron ore rose 2.3% yesterday and is up another 3.3% today. Meanwhile, copper is snapping a three-day drop with a 1.6% gain.
Asia Pacific
The Deputy Governor of the
PBOC has given among the strongest assurances so far that the central bank will
take more measures ("open the monetary policy toolbox wider") to
avoid a collapse of credit. Among other things, many see it as a signal that the loan prime
rate will be cut tomorrow. Recall that it is close to a market driven
rate (18 banks quotes on their best lending rate) for both a one-year and
five-year tenor. The one-year rate fell five basis points last month to
3.80%, but the five-year was left unchanged at 4.65%. There is talk
that it can fall around five basis points tomorrow. The PBOC official also acknowledged
space for another cut in the reserve requirement, though the space has
narrowed. Reserve requirements at 8.4%, he noted, were not high compared
with other developing countries, or China's experience.
Japan's Prime Minister
Kishida announced that 13 prefectures, including Tokyo and its surrounding
area, will be under new virus curbs starting Friday and running through
February 13. The
quasi-emergency measures are mild by international standards, including having bars
and restaurants close early, and in some cases, stop serving alcohol.
Three regions also imposed these restrictions, so in all, as of the end of the
week, 16 of 47 prefectures will be impacted, accounting for more than half of
the country's GDP. The restrictions could also soon be imposed on Osaka
as record infections are being reported.
The dollar was turned back
in Asia yesterday after pushing above JPY115.00. Today it stalled near JPY114.80 and
found new bids closer to JPY114.20. While rising US yields ought to
help the greenback, the equity volatility is neutralizing this
driver. After falling about 0.4% yesterday to a five-day low near
$0.7170, the Australian dollar is probing the $0.7200 area in the European
morning. Resistance is seen around $0.7230. Australia's December
labor report is due tomorrow and a more modest increase in jobs is expected after a
366k surge in November amid re-openings and following a four-month loss of
nearly as many jobs. The dollar closed above CNY6.35 yesterday
and reached CNY6.3555 today before coming back off. The
PBOC set the dollar's reference rate at CNY6.3624 today, which unusually was
slightly firmer than the market (Bloomberg survey) expected (~CNY6.3621).
Europe
UK December consumer
inflation rose more than expected. The preferred measure that includes
owner-occupied housing costs rose to 4.8% from 4.6%. CPI rose 0.5% on the
month. The median forecast (Bloomberg) was for a 0.3% increase. The year over-year rate rose to 5.4% from 5.1%, while the core measure edged up to
4.2% from 4.0%. Economists hoped for a small decline. On the other
hand, both input and output PPI prices were softer than expected. Output
prices rose 0.3% last month, half of what economists projected, while input
prices eased by 0.2%, the first decline since last August, but the impact was
muted by the upward revision in the November series to show a 1.5% gain instead
of 1.0%. The takeaway is that the market is more confident of a rate hike
at the February 3 MPC meeting. Four hikes are fully discounted, and the
swaps market has about a third of a fifth hiked priced in.
The eurozone reported a 23.6
bln euro November current account surplus. It was the largest since July's 30 bln
surplus. What makes it particularly notable is that last week, it was reported
that the November trade balance fell into deficit, which on a seasonally
adjusted basis, was the first shortfall since October 2011. But due to
the pandemic maybe the seasonal adjustments distort the data. On an
unadjusted basis, a 1.5 bln euro trade deficit was recorded, the first since
January 2013. While a one month print does not make a trend, many expected
that the new German government's priorities and larger demographic changes will
see the German surplus ebb.
The euro fell by nearly
0.75% yesterday, its biggest decline in nearly a month. It was the third consecutive decline
but halted above the $1.1300 area, which corresponds to the (61.8%) retracement
of the rally from last November that began from the year's low a little below
$1.12. It has climbed back to almost $1.1350 in the European morning,
which has stretched the intraday momentum indicators. An expiring option
for almost 350 mln euro is struck at $1.1375. Early North American
traders who were keen sellers yesterday may sell into today's
gains. Sterling is also snapping a three-day fall that took it
from about $1.3750 to about $1.3575. The $1.3640-$1.3660 area may cap
it today and its intraday momentum indicator is over-extended. A $1.36
option for GBP410 mln expires today.
America
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ
settled near their lows yesterday. The NASDAQ closed below its 200-day moving average for the
first time since April 2000. The dramatic rise in US rates is keeping the
"buy-the-dip strategies on the sidelines. The index is off a little
more than 10% from its November 22 record high. The S&P 500 record
high was set on January 4, and with yesterday's loss, it is off about
5.25%. The earnings season continues, and today's highlights include
BankAmerica, Morgan Stanley, and P&G.
The US reports December
housing starts and permits. Starts surged 11.8% in December, and the real issue is how
much of a pullback to expect. The median guesstimate (Bloomberg survey)
is for a 1.7% decline. The poor weather and rising prices warn of the
risk of another decline this month. Permits, a leading indicator, rose
3.9% in November and are also expected to have softened last month.
Still, outside of a possible headline reaction, the market has its sights set
elsewhere.
Canada reports December CPI figures
today. The headline
rate is expected to have ticked up to 4.8% (from 4.7%), and the underlying core
measures are expected to remain firm. The central bank meets next week
and the OIS suggests the market may not be as confident of a rate hike (~50%)
compared to the start of the week (72%). After today's CPI, the last big report
is November retail sales at the end of the week, and another strong gain is
expected after a 1.6% month-over-month increase in October.
The US dollar stalled
yesterday near CAD1.2565 and has come back offered today. It is trading around CAD1.2475 in
late European morning turnover. Last week's low was around CAD1.2455, and
given the stretched intraday momentum indicator, may be sufficient today.
Still, below there, support is seen by CAD1.2400. The measuring objective
of the head and shoulder pattern we are tracking is closer to
CAD1.2250. The greenback tested MXN20.45 yesterday, a five-day
high. It is being sold through MXN20.35 in Europe amid the wider
pullback in the US dollar. Support is seen around MXN20.28. Covid
is surging in Mexico City and hospital occupancy rates have doubled (58% from
27% on January 3). Of note, President AMLO has tested positive for the
second time in a year. Mexico City has among the highest vaccination
rates in the country (~95%).
Disclaimer
Reviewed by Marc Chandler
on
January 19, 2022
Rating:
