IC Markets Asia Fundamental Forecast | 26 March 2024
What happened in the US session?
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic participated in a panel discussion about equitable economic development at the University of Cincinnati where he stated that he only expects one interest rate cut in 2024, compared to market expectations of three cuts.
Meanwhile, new home sales in the US continue to highlight the weakness in the residential construction sector as home sales for the month of February missed the market forecast of 675K by coming in at 662K, which was also lower than the previous month’s reading of 664K. Higher mortgage rates have forced many buyers out of the market and thus dampened home sales in recent months.
The dollar index (DXY) pulled back from yesterday’s high of 104.47 to fall towards 104.10 during the US trading hours. Strength for the dollar is waning as the new trading week gets underway, causing the DXY to extend its pull back as Asian markets came online.
What does it mean for the Asia Session?
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) will release its core CPI reading for the month of February which is expected to show the inflation remaining relatively unchanged, rising at an annual rate of 2.5%, compared to 2.6% in January. Should this data point surprise to the upside and come in hot, it is likely to nudge the BoJ to a second successive rate hike at the next monetary policy meeting and also create strong demand for the Japanese yen. This could potentially cause USD/JPY and the other yen crosses to pull back this morning.
The Dollar Index (DXY)
Key news events today
Durable Goods Orders (12:30 pm GMT)
CB Consumer Confidence (2:00 pm GMT)
What can we expect from DXY today?
Durable goods orders have been mixed since mid 2023, swinging between large monthly declines and relatively weak gains. After declining 6.1% in January, orders are expected to pick up by 1.2% for the month of February. Should goods orders disappoint market expectations and print lower than its estimate, the dollar could face some headwinds.
The Conference Board will release its findings on consumer confidence for the month of March which is likely to remain unchanged from the previous month’s reading. Following a three-month rise in consumer confidence. This index declined in February as uncertainty surrounding the US economy grew amongst consumers. Should the latest results point to a further loss of confidence for the second month in a row, the dollar could come under additional downward pressure during the US session.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Federal Funds Rate target range remained unchanged at 5.25% to 5.50% for the fifth meeting in a row.
- The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2% over the longer run and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are moving into better balance.
- The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee remains highly attentive to inflation risks; inflation has eased over the past year but remains elevated.
- Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace while job gains have remained strong, and the unemployment rate has remained low.
- In considering any adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks and does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%.
- In addition, the Committee will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities, as described in its previously announced plans.
- Next meeting runs from 30 April to 1 May 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bearish
Gold (XAU)
Key news events today
Durable Goods Orders (12:30 pm GMT)
CB Consumer Confidence (2:00 pm GMT)
What can we expect from Gold today?
Durable goods orders have been mixed since mid 2023, swinging between large monthly declines and relatively weak gains. After declining 6.1% in January, orders are expected to pick up by 1.2% for the month of February. Should goods orders disappoint market expectations and print lower than its estimate, the dollar could face some headwinds.
The Conference Board will release its findings on consumer confidence for the month of March which is likely to remain unchanged from the previous month’s reading. Following a three-month rise in consumer confidence. This index declined in February as uncertainty surrounding the US economy grew amongst consumers. Should the latest results point to a further loss of confidence for the second month in a row, the dollar could come under additional downward pressure during the US session, thus creating further lift for gold.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bullish
The Australian Dollar (AUD)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from AUD today?
The Aussie rebounded quite strongly yesterday to bounce as high as 0.6540. After last week’s heavy sell-off, this currency pair looks to have stabilized and could continue to grind higher as the day progresses.
Central Bank Notes:
- The RBA kept the cash rate target unchanged at 4.35%, marking the seventh pause out of the last eight board meetings.
- The headline monthly CPI indicator was steady at 3.4% over the year to January, with momentum easing over recent months, driven by moderating goods inflation. Services inflation remains elevated, and is moderating at a more gradual pace.
- The central forecasts are for inflation to return to the target range of 2–3% in 2025, and to the midpoint in 2026.
- While recent data indicate that inflation is easing, it remains high. The Board expects that it will be some time yet before inflation is sustainably in the target range.
- The path of interest rates that will best ensure that inflation returns to target in a reasonable timeframe remains uncertain and the Board is not ruling anything in or out.
- Next meeting is on 7 May 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bullish
The Kiwi Dollar (NZD)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from NZD today?
After falling sharply last week, the Kiwi found strong support around 0.5990 yesterday before retracing slightly higher overnight. This currency pair climbed as high as 0.6010 as Asian markets came online but overhead pressures remain.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Monetary Policy Committee kept the OCR unchanged at 5.50% for the fifth meeting in a row.
- The Committee remains confident that the current level of the OCR is restricting demand. However, a sustained decline in capacity pressures in the New Zealand economy is required to ensure that headline inflation returns to the 1 to 3% target.
- Core inflation and most measures of inflation expectations have declined, and the risks to the inflation outlook have become more balanced.
- However, headline inflation remains above the 1 to 3% target band, limiting the Committee’s ability to tolerate upside inflation surprises.
- The outlook for the China economy, New Zealand’s top trading partner, remains particularly weak relative to recent historical norms, with structural factors constraining long-term growth.
- Next meeting is on 22 May 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bullish
The Japanese Yen (JPY)
Key news events today
BoJ Core CPI (5:00 am GMT)
What can we expect from JPY today?
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) will release its core CPI reading for the month of February which is expected to show the inflation remaining relatively unchanged, rising at an annual rate of 2.5%, compared to 2.6% in January. Should this data point surprise to the upside and come in hot, it is likely to nudge the BoJ to a second successive rate hike at the next monetary policy meeting and also create strong demand for the Japanese yen. This would potentially cause USD/JPY and the other yen crosses to pull back this morning.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Bank considers that the policy framework of Quantitative and Qualitative Monetary Easing (QQE) with Yield Curve Control and the negative interest rate policy to date have fulfilled their roles. With the price stability target of 2%, it will conduct monetary policy as appropriate, guiding the short-term interest rate as a primary policy tool.
- The Bank of Japan decided on the following measures:
- The Bank will encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0 to 0.1% while continuing its JGB purchases with broadly the same amount as before.
- In addition, the Bank will discontinue purchases of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and Japan real estate investment trusts (J-REITs) and will also gradually reduce the amount of purchases of CP and corporate bonds and will discontinue the purchases in about one year.
- Underlying CPI inflation is likely to increase gradually toward achieving the price stability target of 2%, as the output gap turns positive and as medium- to long-term inflation expectations and wage growth rise.
- Japan’s economy is likely to continue recovering moderately for the time being, supported by factors such as the materialization of pent-up demand, although it is expected to be under downward pressure stemming from a slowdown in the pace of recovery in overseas economies.
- Next meeting is on 26 April 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bearish
The Euro (EUR)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from EUR today?
The Euro found support around the region of 1.0800 yesterday before rebounding higher overnight. This currency pair rose above 1.0820 during the US trading hours and it continued its ascend at the beginning of the Asia session, climbing towards 1.0850.
Central Bank Notes:
- The ECB kept the three key interest rates unchanged for a fourth consecutive meeting, keeping the main refinancing rate on hold at 4.50%.
- Since the last Governing Council meeting in January, inflation has declined further while the latest ECB staff projections show inflation has been revised down, in particular for 2024, which mainly reflects a lower contribution from energy prices.
- The projections for inflation excluding energy and food have also been revised down and average 2.6% for 2024, 2.1% for 2025 and 2.0% for 2026. Although most measures of underlying inflation have eased further, domestic price pressures remain high, in part owing to strong growth in wages.
- Financing conditions are restrictive and the past interest rate increases continue to weigh on demand, which is helping push down inflation. Staff have revised down their growth projection for 2024 to 0.6%, with economic activity expected to remain subdued in the near term.
- The Governing Council will continue to follow a data-dependent approach to determining the appropriate level and duration of restriction. In particular, the Governing Council’s interest rate decisions will be based on its assessment of the inflation outlook in light of the incoming economic and financial data, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission.
- Next meeting is on 11 April 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bullish
The Swiss Franc (CHF)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from CHF today?
The Swiss franc continues to remain weak and prop up USD/CHF. This currency pair hovered around 0.8970 yesterday before rising towards the 0.9000-threshold as Asian markets came online.
Central Bank Notes:
- The SNB eased monetary policy by lowering its key policy rate by 25 basis points, going from 1.75% to 1.50% in March.
- For some months now, inflation has been back below 2% and thus in the range the SNB equates with price stability.
- According to the new forecast, inflation is also likely to remain in this range over the next few years.
- The forecast puts average annual inflation at 1.4% for 2024, 1.2% for 2025 and 1.1% for 2026, based on the assumption that the SNB policy rate is 1.5% over the entire forecast horizon.
- Swiss GDP growth was moderate in the fourth quarter of last year and it is likely to remain modest in the coming quarters.
- Overall, Switzerland’s GDP is likely to grow by around 1% this year.
- Next meeting is on 20 June 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Weak Bullish
The Pound (GBP)
Key news events today
No major news events.
What can we expect from GBP today?
The Pound rebounded to climb above 1.2640 overnight as demand for the dollar waned yesterday. With no major news events during the European trading hours, GBP/USD could continue to retrace higher today.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 8-to-1 to maintain its Official Bank Rate at 5.25% for the fifth consecutive meeting.
- One member preferred to reduce the Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 5.0%.
- Twelve-month CPI inflation fell to 3.4% in February from 4.0% in January and December while Services consumer price inflation has declined but remains elevated, at 6.1% in February.
- CPI inflation is projected to fall to slightly below the 2% target in 2024 Q2, marginally weaker than previously expected owing to the freeze in fuel duty announced in the Budget.
- In the February Report projection, CPI inflation had been expected to fall temporarily to the 2% target in 2024 Q2 before increasing again in Q3 and Q4, to around 2.75%.
- Having declined through the second half of last year, UK GDP and market sector output are expected to start growing again during the first half of this year while the fiscal measures in Spring Budget 2024 are likely to increase the level of GDP by around 0.25% over coming years.
- Next meeting is on 9 May 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bullish
The Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Key news events today
Gov Council Member Rogers Speaks (12:00 pm GMT)
What can we expect from CAD today?
Bank of Canada (BoC) Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers is due to speak about the urgent need to improve Canadian productivity at the Bank of Canada Breakfast in Halifax where audience questions are expected. Her remarks could potentially inject a higher level of volatility for the Loonie during the US session.
Central Bank Notes:
- The Bank of Canada held its target for the overnight rate at 5.0% for the fourth meeting in a row while continuing its policy of quantitative tightening.
- Canada’s economy grew in the fourth quarter by more than expected, although the pace remained weak and below potential.
- CPI inflation eased to 2.9% in January as goods price inflation moderated further but shelter price inflation remains elevated and is the biggest contributor to inflation.
- Underlying inflationary pressures persist: year-over-year and three-month measures of core inflation are in the 3.0% to 3.5% range, and the share of CPI components growing above 3.0% declined but is still above the historical average. The Bank continues to expect inflation to remain close to 3.0% during the first half of this year before gradually easing.
- The Governing Council is still concerned about risks to the outlook for inflation, particularly the persistence in underlying inflation and wants to see further and sustained easing in core inflation and continues to focus on the balance between demand and supply in the economy, inflation expectations, wage growth, and corporate pricing behaviour.
- Next meeting is on 10 April 2024.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bearish
Oil
Key news events today
API Crude Oil Stock (8:30 pm GMT)
What can we expect from Oil today?
The API stockpiles have declined more than anticipated over the last couple of weeks to signal higher demand for crude oil in the US. Should there be another round of a relatively large drawdown, it could potentially provide another tailwind for this commodity. In addition, global crude supplies could get tighter as Russia is reportedly set to cut oil output as Ukraine continues to target Russia’s refineries. WTI oil rebounded strongly overnight to rise above $82.50 per barrel – this commodity is likely to remain elevated today.
Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bullish
