Post date: 10/02/2020 09:01
Signs that the rate of spread of the coronavirus was slowing down in China fuelled a general rally in risk assets worldwide. The dollar benefitted from the rally, as did Asian currencies generally. Safe havens like the Yen suffered, and European currencies mostly fell as well. The dollar was also supported by a strong US payroll report that confirmed the longest economic expansion in US history still has legs.
This week the focus shall remain on the daily releases of coronavirus contagion figures in China and worldwide, the more so because data will be light. Fed Chair Powell semi-annual testimony before the US Congress on Tuesday will be important. UK fourth-quarter GDP growth on Tuesday, Eurozone industrial production data on Wednesday and US inflation Thursday will be the main data highlights. The New Hampshire democratic primary on Tuesday could also provide some fireworks, if it confirms that the left-wing of the party represented by Sanders is now ascendant.
GBP
Last week saw substantial upward revisions to the January PMI indices of business activity, which bodes well for growth in 2020. That didn’t help Cable, which fell in line with the general dollar rally. Expectations for this week’s GDP numbers are low, with the median economist expecting a flat reading. This is a backward-looking number that will be affected by the uncertainty over Brexit, which did not dissipate until the general election late in the quarter. However, the bar to an upward surprise looks lower than usual and Sterling is looking oversold, particularly against the US dollar.
EUR
Next week should be a quiet one in the Eurozone. The only data of note to be released will be industrial production for December, too backward looking to have meaningful market impact. While several ECB speakers are on tap, it is unlikely that they will share material information om the state of policy discussions in the central bank. For now, Euro moves will depend on news elsewhere.
USD
Fed Chair Powell testimony in front of Congress should reiterate the Fed’s modestly optimistic message that the US economy is currently doing well without inflationary pressures, and that the central bank remains on hold for the foreseeable future. CPI inflation on Thursday should confirm that it remains roughly in line with the Fed target and that no tightening is needed for now. In terms of impact on currency markets, the recent US rally against the Euro looks stretched and we think that there is room for the common currency to rally back towards the top of its recent range over the next few weeks.
