CANADA DATA: Manufacturing PMI Suggests Poor Activity, Softer Price Pressures
Canadian Manufacturing PMI softened in September, to 47.7 (no consensus) from 48.3 prior in what was an overall weak report. August had marked a 7-month high for the index, with the latest move lower keeping it below the 50 mark for an 8th consecutive month.
- The report showed poor demand, production, exports, and employment in the month, suggesting that a nascent pickup in activity over the summer (highlighted by better-than-expected GDP in July followed by anticipated flat growth in August) lacks momentum, at least in the beleaguered manufacturing sector. Per the S&P Global report:
- "Both output and new orders contracted in September, and at quicker rates than in August. Panellists continued to bemoan the adverse impact on demand of tariffs and wider economic uncertainty. Production and new orders have now fallen for eight months in a row. New export sales were again especially hard hit due to tariffs, with firms again pointing to continued weakness in sales to the United States. The lack of overall new orders and cuts to production meant firms generally chose to not replace leavers at their plants. Some firms also reported enforced layoffs. The net result was a decline in employment for an eighth successive month, although the rate of contraction was modest and the softest since February."
- While "Tariffs meanwhile remained an ongoing source of cost pressures in September and "Input prices again rose sharply", "the rate of inflation eased noticeably since August and was the second-lowest of the year so far." And importantly for the BOC's consideration, "Manufacturers struggled to pass on their higher input costs
to clients in the form of increased selling prices during the month. This was highlighted by the latest data on output charges, which increased only modestly in September and to the softest degree in nearly a year. Panellists attributed their lack of pricing power to market competition and a soft demand environment." - We get the Services/Composite PMI figures on Friday.
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EGBS: Limited Benefit To Bunds From OAT Weakness
Goldman Sachs note that “although French assets have been under pressure, spillovers to the rest of Europe - and to EGBs in particular – have been contained. Ongoing declines in rates volatility help to contain risks to other sovereign spread markets. And there has been limited richening in Bunds vs. swaps compared to last year’s snap elections”.
- They provide two possible explanations:
- “Uncertainty in France has not reached the same level as last year, with parliamentary elections likely not yet widely expected and less speculation about President Macron resigning. In the same vein, markets may be drawing some comfort from having witnessed the relatively smooth transition from the Barnier to the Bayrou government last November”.
- “With the ECB cutting cycle now over, German fiscal easing underway, and a more challenging duration backdrop globally, the prospect of substantial Bund outperformance is dimmer”.
- Ultimately, Goldman continue to “expect Bunds to cheapen, both in outright terms and against swaps. That said, to the extent that we expect the cheapening in Bunds vs. swaps to be gradual, the increased tail risk in France and lack of reaction in swap spreads so far diminish the risk reward for tighteners, in our view”.
US: Trump Says India Offers 0% Tariffs, But Getting Late
U.S. President Trump posts the following to Truth Social "What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest “client,” but we sell them very little - Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades. The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!"
GBP: Cable tests the immediate resistance
- The Pound is finding some wider demand, at a new intraday high against the Dollar, EUR and JPY.
- Cable is testing the immediate resistance right here at 1.3544 High Aug 22, and Continued upside traction would open back to 1.3595, 14th Aug high.
