CEE: MOLDOVA-Pro-Russia Parties Form Alliance Ahead Of Crucial Election
Four pro-Russian parties have formed an electoral coalition ahead of parliamentary elections in Moldova. Former President Igor Dodon announced that his Party of Socialists would run alongside the Heart of Moldova, Future of Moldova and Communist parties in the 28 September legislative election. Speaking on 22 July, Dodon said, "We are in favour of re-establishing strategic ties with Russia. We want peace, not war ... Our bloc will put an end to foreign interests and NATO". Opinion polling shows a close race between the pro-Russian parties, and the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) of President Maia Sandu.
- The announcement of Dodon's alliance comes three days after the electoral commission banned another pro-Russian alliance led by pro-Kremlin fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor from contesting the vote.
- Should pro-Russian parties secure a majority, it would spark geopolitical and security concerns well beyond the country's borders. A pro-EU president with a pro-Russian parliament would be a recipe for political chaos in a country with which Brussels has recently sought to bolster ties.
- The Carnegie think tank notes, "This year, the EU handed over €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion) in financial assistance [EUR1.5bn in loans]. The EU’s thinking isn’t hard to guess. If PAS loses in the September elections, this will not only cancel out all the benefits of Sandu’s presidential win last year, but also mean the bloc is obliged to forge an entirely new relationship with Chisinau. That would be particularly difficult if pro-Russian parties come to power."
Want to read more?
Find more articles and bullets on these widgets:
Historical bullets
USDCAD TECHS: Corrective Cycle
- RES 4: 1.4111 High Apr 4
- RES 3: 1.4016 High May 12 and 13 and a key resistance
- RES 2: 1.3832/1.3920 50-day EMA / High May 21
- RES 1: 1.3747 High Jun 19
- PRICE: 1.3733 @ 16:23 BST Jun 20
- SUP 1: 1.3540/3521 Low Jun 16 / 1.0% 10-dma envelope
- SUP 2: 1.3503 1.618 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
- SUP 3: 1.3473 Low Oct 2 2024
- SUP 4: 1.3410 1.764 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
The trend needle in USDCAD points south and this week’s recovery is considered corrective. Resistance at the 20-day EMA, at 1.3710, has been pierced. A continuation higher would signal scope for a stronger retracement and expose pivot resistance at the 50-day EMA, at 1.3832. For bears, a reversal lower and a resumption of the downtrend would pave the way for an extension towards 1.3521, envelope-based support.
LOOK AHEAD: Next Week's Key US Data Releases
US data is headlined by Thursday’s Q1 GDP revisions and Friday’s PCE report for May although there are plenty of other releases that will be watched with interest throughout the week.
- Q1 GDP data will be “stale”, especially being a third release, but it will nevertheless help the Fed assess whether its previous view on the economy is playing out. Recall that Powell at the May FOMC press conference said he expected consumption and inventories to have increased more strongly than first reported in the flash release. Last month’s second release showed that only partly played out, with inventories revised even higher but consumption revised down from 1.8% to 1.2%. Nevertheless, Powell at Wednesday’s June FOMC press conference still described the downward revised 2.5% for PDFP as “solid”.
- The May PCE report should be more impactful for clues on latest consumer momentum amidst strong income growth. Retail sales saw the largest monthly drop since March 2023 although the closely-watched control group was stronger than expected. As for inflation metrics, core PCE is seen around 0.15% M/M in May judging by unrounded estimates after the usual CPI, PPI and import price inputs, after 0.12% M/M in April.
- As for the other releases to watch, Monday’s preliminary June PMIs will give timely updates on wider activity after Empire and Philly Fed manufacturing surveys remained in contractionary territory. We also expect greater than usual focus on housing data (existing home sales Mon, new home sales Wed) after what have been some troubling releases across both construction and sentiment. Tuesday then sees the Conference Board consumer survey for an alternative look at the improvement since the de-escalation in trade policy before Wednesday’s advance trade data for the latest post tariff front-running update.
US TSYS: Tsys Narrow/Higher Range, Trump Been "Speaking to Iran"
- Treasuries look to finish higher Friday, top half of narrow range. Early risk-on tone followed unscheduled comments from Fed Governor Waller on the possibility of a rate cut in July and headlines that Iran was ready to discuss limitations on uranium enrichment plans.
- No market reaction to late Pres Trump comments to reporters & social media posts: "WILL MAKE TRADE DEAL WITH INDIA, PAKISTAN," "BEEN SPEAKING TO IRAN," "IRAN WANTS TO SPEAK TO US, NOT EUROPE" - Bbg posts. Trump adds Europe is not going to help with Iran, nor will China; Trump "might" support Israel/Iran ceasefire
- The price details of the Philly Fed manufacturing survey for June showed a pullback from elevated rates for both prices paid and prices received in the current period. Six-month ahead expectations for prices paid pushed higher again though, and at 68.9 is getting closer to the high of 77.8 from Jan 2022, although prices received isn’t quite as relatively elevated.
- Tsy Sep'25 10Y futures trades +5 at 110-30.5 vs. 111-03 high, remains below key resistance and its recent high of 111-14+, a Fibonacci retracement and the Jun 5 high. Clearance of this hurdle would be bullish and highlight a stronger reversal. This would open 111-30, a Fibonacci retracement.
- Curves steeper, 2s10s +2.611 at 47.137, 5s30s +3.530 at 93.143. 10Y yield at 4.3791% vs. 4.3593% low. Projected rate cut pricing back to 50bp by December.
- Cross asset: Stocks mixed (DJIA +29.34 at 42,202.0, SPX eminis -20.75 at 6013.5), Gold mildly lower at 3365.05, Bbg US$ index little firmer at 1210.80 +1.10.
