EUROZONE DATA: EZ Retail Sales Index Slightly Higher Than Expected But M/M Miss
Eurozone retail trade volumes in February were two-tenths softer than consensus in M/M terms at 0.3% (vs 0.5% consensus), though January was revised up to flat from -0.3%. Overall these revisions saw the February 2025 index level at 101.7 (versus an unrevised 101.1 in January which was revised up to 101.4) so retail trade volumes were overall a little higher than imputed from both the M/M and Y/Y consensus data.
- These revisions saw Y/Y volume growth higher than expected at 2.3% Y/Y (vs 1.9% consensus), and above January's upwardly revised value of 1.8% from 1.5%.
- The monthly increase (albeit softer than expected) was driven by an increase in all sub components - though 'Food, drinks, and tobacco' sales rose at a slower pace than in January, increasing 0.3% M/M (after 0.5% in January, revised a tenth lower from 0.6%).
- Non-food products (ex-fuel) sales volume rose 0.3% M/M. This more than reversed January's decline of 0.2% M/M, which was a notable revision higher from -0.7% M/M.
- Automotive fuel sales edged up 0.2% M/M, after a flat reading in January (revised up from -0.3% M/M).
- Retail Confidence according to the European Commission weakened to -6.8 in March from -5.1 in February - the lowest since October 2024.
- The ECB staff forecast private consumption to increase 0.3% Q/Q in Q1-25. This data (including the revisions) probably makes that look a bit more achievable (albeit we still need a decent March).
Want to read more?
Find more articles and bullets on these widgets:
Historical bullets
CANADA: BoC Seen Cutting Another 25bps Next Week
- The Bank of Canada is expected to cut its overnight rate target another 25bp on Wednesday to 2.75%, with BoC-dated OIS showing it mostly priced but analysts not as clear cut with 19 of 27 forecasting a cut vs 8 looking for no change.
- It’s quite likely that a pause would have been seriously considered if going on recent trends alone, and even Friday’s labour report with disappointing jobs growth saw the unemployment rate surprisingly hold at 6.6% as it remains below November’s cycle high of 6.9%.
- Instead, a 25bp cut is seen as a prudent step to the mid-point of the BoC’s estimated neutral range of 2.25-3.25% amidst penal US trade policies under the second Trump administration. Tariffs have been threatened, deployed and then pared in a revolving cycle but the uncertainty is damaging. The latest in this ever-changing backdrop, Trump has said the US may do reciprocal tariffs on Canada as early as today (Friday) or Monday. It’s estimated that 38% of Canadian exports to the US are USMCA-compliant, a latest area of focus from Trump, although RBC estimate this could be over 90% relatively quickly.
- Governor Macklem in January talked on stepping up outreach activities with businesses and households and we watch for any guidance on how these real-time conditions might be developing.
US TSYS: Late SOFR/Treasury Option Roundup
Option desks reported heavy SOFR and Treasury option position unwinds and two-way vol trades Friday, underlying futures near late session lows after Chairman Powell stated the Fed can take its time before considering any further changes to interest rates as inflation is still above target and policy uncertainty out of Washington remains high. Projected rate cuts through mid-2025 cooled significantly vs. morning levels (*) as follows: Mar'25 at -1bp (-2.7bp), May'25 at -9.4bp (-13bp), Jun'25 at -26.3bp (-31.1bp), Jul'25 at -37bp (-42.2bp). Dec'25 had priced in three 25bp cuts this morning now show -69.1bp.
- SOFR Options:
- +10,000 SFRU5 95.50/95.62/95.75 put flys 2.0 ref 96.17
- over -100,000 SFRU5 96.25 calls, 24.0 vs. 96.26 to -.255/0.50%
- -5,000 SFRZ5 96.50/96.87/97.00/97.25 call condors, 6.0 ref 96.385
- +5,000 0QJ5 96.00/96.12/96.25/96.37 put condor, 3.0 ref 96.505
- 36,000 SFRN5 96.06/96.25 2x1 put spds ref 96.265
- 11,000 SFRM5 95.62/95.68 put spds ref 96.00 to -.005
- 9,000 SFRH5 95.68/95.75 1x2 call spds ref 95.725
- 2,000 SFRU5 96.50/97.00 call spds ref 96.25
- 5,500 SFRH5 95.75/95.81 call spds
- 3,000 SFRQ5 95.75 puts ref 96.245
- 2,000 0QK5 95.50/95.75/95.87/96.12 put condors ref 96.485
- 1,500 SFRZ5 95.50/95.75 put spds
- Treasury Options:
- +20,000 TYJ5 112 calls, 9
- Block, +9,000 Monday wkly 10Y 111 call, 4
- -9,000 TYJ5 110 puts, 10
- 5,000 TYJ5 112 calls, 19 ref 111-01 to -06 (total volume over 40.8k)
- 3,500 FVJ5 107.25/109 strangles, 16 ref 107-30.25
- +7,500 TYJ5 110 puts, 13-14
- -10,000 TYJ5 110/112.5 strangles, 23, appr 6.98% implied vol
- +10,000 TYJ5 110.5 straddles, 117-119 vs. 111-03/0.32% (implied appr 6.67-.87
- 5,000 USK5 122/126 call spds ref 117-22
- 3,000 TYJ5 110/112 strangles, 29 ref 111-05.5
- 50,000 FVJ5 108.25/108.75 call spds 10 ref 108-00.75
- over 5,000 TYJ5 109/110 put spds ref 110-30 to 111-00
- 2,000 TYK5 111/112/113.5 broken call flys ref 111-00.5
- 2,500 TYJ5 108.5/109.5 put spds ref 110-28
- 4,500 wk1 TY 110/110.5 2x1 put spds, 6 ref 110-29 (exp today)
- 1,750 FVK5 109.25/110.25/111.25 call flys ref 107-27.5
- over 7,000 wk2 TY 112/113 call spds ref 111-01 to 110-28.5
US TSY FUTURES: BLOCK: Late 2Y/10Y Ultra Flattener
Late Flattener Block, posted at 1604:32ET, appr DV01 $375,000
- -9,419 TUM5 103-15.25, sell through 103-15.5 post time bid vs.
- +4,166 UXYM5 113-18.5, post time bid
