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FOMC Preview For May 1: Signaling Concern on Inflation, Tapering Quantitative Tightening
April 25, 2024 7:04 PM UTC
Bottom Line: The FOMC meets on May 1 and rates look sure to remain at the current 5.25%-5.50% target range. The statement is likely to see some adjustments to reflect recent disappointment on inflation while repeating that more confidence on inflation moving towards target is needed before easing. I
Bank of Canada Minutes Look to Gradual Easing, Divided on When to Start
April 24, 2024 6:44 PM UTC
Bank of Canada minutes from the April 10 meeting confirm a greater confidence on inflation falling, though there is disagreement within the Governing Council over when policy easing will become appropriate. There was agreement that easing would probably be gradual given the risks to the outlook and
U.S. March Retail Sales allow Q1 to come in marginally positive despite a weak start in January
April 15, 2024 12:56 PM UTC
March retail sales with a 0.7% increase have exceeded expectations despite an expected negative contribution from autos, with sales up by 1.1% both ex autos and in the control group that contributes to GDP, and by 1.0% ex autos and gasoline. This suggest continued consumer momentum entering Q2.
Banxico Minutes: Hawkish Cut and Different Views
April 5, 2024 2:18 PM UTC
Banxico's recent meeting minutes reveal a split among board members regarding monetary policy, with a 25bps rate cut to 11.0%. Despite progress in curbing inflation, differing views on policy direction persist. Inflation expectations deviate from targets, with potential risks in fiscal policy and wa
Canada March Employment - A weak month after two solid ones
April 5, 2024 1:35 PM UTC
Canada’s 2.2k decline in March employment is weaker than expected though needs to be seen alongside strong gains of 40.7k in February and 37.7k in January. The 3-month average of 25k is above the 6-month average of 22k. However with the labor force rising unemployment is trending higher, March’s
Asset Allocation: Pausing for Breath
April 2, 2024 9:00 AM UTC
Into Q2, data and policy (actual and perceived) will dominate DM markets. The ECB will likely take the spotlight with a 25bps cut on June 7, as the Fed face a better growth/more fiscal policy expansion and a tighter labor market than the EZ but also with a better productivity backdrop and outlook to
Preview: Due April 16 - Canada March CPI - Correction after two soft months
April 15, 2024 1:22 PM UTC
We expect March Canadian CPI to move higher to 3.0% yr/yr from 2.8% in February and 2.9% in January, with the monthly data likely to look quite firm after two soft months. However we do expect some modest progress lower in two of the three BoC’s core rates.
FOMC Still Waiting For Data to Justify Easing
May 1, 2024 7:58 PM UTC
The May 1 FOMC statement, and Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference, while noting recent inflation disappointment, did not deliver a strong pivot in tone. The Fed is still waiting for data to allow easing to take place, but still expects inflation to slow, and looks ready to respond once data
South Africa’s Fiscal Outlook Under Spotlights as the Elections Are Approaching
May 1, 2024 6:45 PM UTC
Bottom line: South Africa policy makers remain concerned about government debt trajectory, large domestic and international financing needs and elevated country risk premium before fast-approaching elections on May 29. We think South Africa’s general government fiscal balance and debt trajectory w
FOMC Notes Lack of Further Inflation Progress, QT to be Tapered in June
May 1, 2024 6:27 PM UTC
The FOMC has left rates at 5.25%-5.50% as expected and added to its statement that in recent months there has been a lack of further progress towards the 2% inflation objective. Otherwise the changes to the statement were fairly minor other than announcing a slowing in the pace of balance sheet redu
U.S. March JOLTS report weaker, as is April ISM Manufacturing, but Prices Paid rise
May 1, 2024 2:30 PM UTC
March’s JOLTS report has seen a sharp decline in job openings, to 8488k from 8813k (the latter a modest upward revision from 8756k). This with a slightly slower ISM manufacturing index if 49.2 from 50.3, hints at slowing activity in early Q2, though ISM prices paid at 60.9 from 55.8 are worryingly
Preview: Due May 2 - U.S. March Trade Balance - Deficit to increase on weaker goods exports
May 1, 2024 12:59 PM UTC
We expect March’s trade deficit to see a marginal increase to $69.2bn from $68.9bn, with a 2.0% decline in exports and a 1.5% decline in imports. This would be the fourth straight increase in the deficit to its highest level since April 2023.
U.S. April ADP Employment - Trend looking stronger, payroll implications unclear
May 1, 2024 12:39 PM UTC
ADP’s April estimate for private sector employment growth of 192k is on the high side of expectations though not quite as strong as the revised March gain of 208k (revised from 184k). ADP trend has picked up in the last three months but this may be catch up with strength in non-farm payrolls.