FOREX: USD Index Awaiting Tier-One Data, CAD Notably Outperforms
Nov-18 19:45
- Initially, the US dollar was under pressure following the release of a weaker-than-expected US ADP jobs release. However, given the uncertainty surrounding further US data this week, the greenback subsequently recovered, as market participants assess whether data surprises might be viewed through a policy or growth lens.
- The Japanese yen remained immune to the recent weakness for major equity benchmarks and the more forceful verbal warnings from Japanese officials on one-sided adjustments for the currency.
- Additionally, the ongoing tensions between Japan/China, disappointing Q3 GDP data and fiscal related uncertainty continues to provide a pessimistic domestic backdrop, helping USDJPY reach fresh cycle highs above 155.50.
- In similar vein, the Swiss Franc underperforms today, assisting EURCHF further away from the recent false break below medium-term support at 0.9200.
- The Canadian dollar is notably outperforming today, allowing USDCAD to gather downside momentum below the 1.40 mark and breach last week’s lows. Spot has tested the 50-day EMA, intersecting around 1.3970, of which the pair has not closed below since September.
- Price action bolsters the short-term bearish outlook, as the pair continues to trade inside a bull channel drawn from the Jul 23 low. The respect of the channel top on Nov 11, and the subsequent move south highlights scope for a bear extension towards the base of the channel at 1.3893.
- Australian wage price index data will cross Wednesday, before UK CPI for October. Later in the session, the FOMC minutes are due.
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LOOK AHEAD: US Week Ahead Headlined By Delayed CPI Report On Friday
Oct-17 20:51
- The September US CPI report will be released on Friday, delayed amidst the government shutdown but with the BLS making a special exception on social security payment considerations.
- Bloomberg consensus looks for headline CPI inflation at a rounded 0.4% M/M after 0.38% back in August and for Y/Y inflation to firm two tenths to 3.1% for what would be its highest since May 2024.
- Core inflation is seen at a rounded 0.3% M/M after 0.35% in August (exceeding the median unrounded estimate of 0.31%) and 0.32% in July. It’s expected to see core CPI inflation hold at 3.1% Y/Y having in August increased to its highest since February.
- Core details should see focus on both goods and services angles: underlying goods inflation has clearly firmed in recent months on tariff pressures although the median increase has currently seen a peak back in June, whilst services will be watched for any spillover after some strong recent non-housing readings.
- The report will come within the FOMC blackout period ahead of the Oct 28-29 decision, with a 25bp cut fully priced and likely needing a large surprise to alter this.
- As for broader inflation details, Fed Chair Powell this week confusingly suggested that we will have the September PPI report but the BLS had previously said “No other releases will be rescheduled or produced until the resumption of regular government services”.
US DATA: Latest Jobless Claims Estimates During The Shutdown
Oct-17 20:30
As noted earlier, MNI estimates initial jobless claims at a seasonally adjusted 218k in the week to Oct 11 and continuing claims at a seasonally adjusted 1929k in the week to Oct 4.
- To give a better idea of sensitivity around these estimates, which rely on estimates for some missing states, we note the below analyst estimates:
- Goldman Sachs have a central estimate of 217k for initial claims in a range of 211-225k, whilst they see continuing claims at 1917k in a range of 1885-1930k.
- JPMorgan meanwhile also see 217k for initial claims whilst they see continuing claims as having held constant at 1927k.
NATGAS: Venture Global in Talks with Ukraine for more LNG Deliveries, Reuters
Oct-17 20:28
Ukraine is seeking more cargoes from Venture’s Plaquemines facility as the embattled nation approaches the winter heating season, according to Reuters sources
- Venture is in talks with Ukraine’s DTEK to procure more LNG cargoes after a year of gas infrastructure attacks by the Russians.
- Venture Global CEO Michael Sabel met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday October 16.
- DTEK signed an agreement in 2024 for an undisclosed amount of LNG from the facility, as well as 2 mtpa from Calcasieu Pass Phase 2 currently under construction.
- Plaquemines currently has spare capacity to deliver more cargoes to Ukraine on the spot market, per Reuters.
- Plaquemines now sends out the second highest LNG volume in the US, with feedgas demand averaging 3.45 bcf/d according to MNI figures.
