MACRO OUTLOOK: IMF Downgrades Global Growth Forecast By 0.5pp In Latest WEO
The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook sees a 0.5pp cut to global growth to 2.8%, including a 0.9pp reduction in the U.S. to 1.8%. The risk of a U.S. recession this year is 37% and the chance inflation rises above 3.5% is more than 30%, up from 13% in the IMF's October forecast.
- "Intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook. Ratcheting up a trade war, along with even more elevated trade policy uncertainty, could further reduce near- and long-term growth, while eroded policy buffers weaken resilience to future shocks".
- While higher inflation boosts the odds the Federal Reserve will need to tighten policy, other central banks must remain nimble against competing risks from faster inflation and slower economic growth, the IMF said. "In all cases, credibility of the monetary policy framework—and its cornerstone, central bank independence—will remain key."
- The baseline outlook was based on information up to Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs earlier this month but not the subsequent pause and higher tariffs on China. "This pause, even if extended indefinitely, does not materially change the global outlook compared to the reference forecast. This is because the overall effective tariff rate of the United States and China remains elevated even if some initially highly tariffed countries will now benefit, while policy-induced uncertainty has not declined," Economic Counsellor Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said in a blog.
- China's growth outlook was lowered 0.6pp to 4.0%. Other nations targeted by Trump saw major growth downgrades, with Mexico down 1.7pp meaning GDP shrinks 0.3% this year, and Canada's growth was reduced 0.6pp. Global trade volume growth was reduced 1.5pp to 2.5%.
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CANADA PM CARNEY TO MEET GOVERNOR GENERAL AT NOON
- CANADA PM CARNEY TO MEET GOVERNOR GENERAL AT NOON
- CARNEY EXPECTED TO SEEK ELECTION
US TSYS: Available "Extraordinary Measures" Pick Up Slightly From Lows
Treasury has $163B of "extraordinary measures" remaining for authorities to use to fend off hitting the debt limit as of March 19, per the latest release of Treasury data. That's up from $86B on Mar 17 and a low of $34B on Feb 24.
- That's a little under half of the $377B in measures available to Treasury, with most of the amount remaining ($143B) coming from the so-called "G Fund".
- This headroom is in addition to $416B in cash left in the TGA, at last count.
- We haven't seen any changes recently to "x-dates" by when Treasury will run out of cash until the debt limit is lifted.
- Consensus still centers around late July/early August, but much will depend on April's major mid-month tax take. Treasury wrote to Congress last week that they would be able to provide an update on the x-date in the first half of May, after the conclusion of tax season.
USDCAD TECHS: Short-Term Outlook Remains Bullish
- RES 4: 1.4793 High Feb 3 and key resistance
- RES 3: 1.4700 Round number resistance
- RES 2: 1.4641 76.4% retracement of the Feb 3 - 14 bear leg
- RES 1: 1.4452/4543 High Mar 13 / 4 and a bull trigger
- PRICE: 1.4345 @ 16:27 GMT Mar 21
- SUP 1: 1.4242 Low Mar 6 and a key near-term support
- SUP 2: 1.4151/4107 Low Feb 14 / 50.0% of Sep 25 - Feb 3 bull run
- SUP 3: 1.4011 Low Dec 5 ‘24
- SUP 4: 1.3944 61.8% retracement of the Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull cycle
USDCAD is trading closer to its recent lows. The bull cycle that started Feb 14 remains intact and moving average studies remain in a bull-mode position, highlighting a dominant uptrend. Note that the latest pullback has exposed a near-term key support at 1.4242, the Mar 6 low. Clearance of this level would undermine the bull theme and instead highlight potential for a test of 1.4151, the Feb 14 low and a bear trigger. The bull trigger is 1.4543, the Mar 4 high.
