USD
FUNDAMENTAL BIAS: BULLISH
1. Monetary Policy
The Jan FOMC decision was hawkish on multiple fronts. The statement signalled a March hike as expected, but the press conference from Chair Powell portrayed a very hawkish message. Even though Powell said they can’t predict the rate path with certainty, he stressed the economy is in much better shape compared to the 2015 cycle and that will have implications for the pace of hikes. Furthermore, the Chair explained that there is ‘quite a bit of room’ to raise rates without dampening employment, which suggests upside risks to the rate path, especially coming from Powell. A big question markets wanted an answer for was whether the Fed was
concerned about recent equity market volatility . However, the Chair explained that markets and financial conditions are reflecting policy in advance and stressed that in aggregate their measures they look at is not showing red lights. This was a clear message to markets that any ‘Fed Put’ is much further away and that inflation is the biggest focus point for the Fed right now. The Chair also didn’t rule out the possibility of hiking 50bsp in March or possibly hiking at every meeting this year, which was seen as hawkish as it means the Fed is looking for optionality to move more aggressive if they need to. On the balance sheet , we didn’t really get new info and the Chair reiterated that they are contemplating a start of QT after the hiking cycle has begun but also reiterated that they will discuss this in coming meetings. Overall, the tone and language used by the Chair were a lot more hawkish than the Dec meeting and more hawkish than some were hoping for.
2. Global & Domestic Economy
As the reserve currency, the USD’s usage around the world means it usually has an inverse correlation to the health of the global economy and global trade. The USD usually gains strength when growth & inflation both slow (disinflation) and loses ground when growth & inflation accelerates (reflation). Thus, with expectations that both growth and inflation will decelerate this year, both in the US and the globe, that should be a positive input for the USD in the med-term . However, incoming data will also be important in relation to the ‘Fed Put’. There are many similarities between now and 4Q18, where the Fed were also tightening aggressively going into an economic slowdown. So, incoming data will be crucial to watch. As long as growth data slows and the Fed stays aggressive that would be a positive environment for the USD, but if it causes the Fed to pivot more dovish and causes a rate repricing in money markets it would be seen as a negative input for the USD.
3. CFTC Analysis
Latest CFTC data showed a positioning change of +427 with a net non-commercial position of +36861. The shortterm unwinding of stretched USD longs played out as expected at the start of the year but was also short-lived in the midst of the recent strong risk off sentiment in certain parts of the market and of course the continued hawkish stance from the Fed.
4. The Week Ahead
In the week ahead the party starts all over again with a new month which means we’ll get new ISM PMI releases as well as the Jan NFP report. It’s important to keep the current economic climate in mind when looking at possible reaction functions for the USD. Usually, positive data should be USD positive and negative data USD negative when the Fed is busy with a hiking cycle, but right now there are growing fears that economic data has been slowing much faster than expected and means the Fed could be on its way to make the same mistake it did back in the end of 2018. As long as those fears persist, we might see the USD having two different reaction functions to growth and inflation data. Reacting inverse to growth data but acting correlated to inflation data. That makes this week’s incoming ISM data very interesting as the Dec data decelerated much faster than expected on the growth side, and a further miss might spark more fears about a faster slowdown. The tricky part for the USD in the week ahead is that both the ISM prints as well as the NFP report has inflation components with the ISM priced paid components and the Average Hourly Earnings on the NFP side. If growth data slows very fast that could be USD positive, but if inflation data starts decelerating much faster that could also be USD negative as it means less need for aggressive Fed policy. A tricky one for the week ahead.
CAD
FUNDAMENTAL BIAS: NEUTRAL
1. Monetary Policy
Despite STIR markets pricing in close to an 80% chance of a 25bsp hike, the BoC chose to leave rates unchanged at their Jan meeting. However, the bank removed its extraordinary forward guidance and said they now think the economic slack has been absorbed (previously expected to occur somewhere in the middle quarters of 2022). The bank also explained that they expect rates will need to rise based on the progress of inflation, and Gov Macklem explained their only reason for not hiking was uncertainty surrounding Omicron. The statement gave a clear signal that a March hike is on the table. Furthermore, on the balance sheet the bank delivered on expectations by noting they will likely exit the reinvestment phase as rates begin to rise. Even though 2022 inflation projections were upgraded, the bank also downgraded growth forecasts (which in our view remains a key reason why current STIR market expectations are not realistic). Thus, the meeting had both dovish and hawkish elements to it, and thus means we are still happy to hold to a neutral bias for the CAD.
2. Intermarket Analysis Considerations
Oil’s massive post-covid recovery has been impressive, driven by various factors such as supply & demand (OPEC’s production cuts), strong global demand recovery, and of course ‘higher for longer’ than expected inflation. Even though Oil has traded to new 7-year highs, we think the current Russia/Ukraine tensions are the biggest contributor to the upside as our cautious going into the first two quarters of 2022 remain intact. The drivers keeping us cautious are A hawkish Fed targeting demand, slowing growth and inflation, lower inflation expectations (due to the Fed), a possible supply surplus in 1Q22, and a consensus that is very
long oil (growing call for $100 WTI). If our concerns do materialize into downside for oil prices it should put pressure on the CAD and other Petro-currencies like the NOK.
3. Global Risk Outlook
As a high-beta currency, the CAD usually benefits from overall positive risk sentiment as well as environments that benefit pro-cyclical assets. Thus, both short-term (immediate) and med-term (underlying) risk sentiment will always be a key consideration for the CAD.
4. CFTC Analysis
Latest CFTC data showed a positioning change of +4825 with a net non-commercial position of +12317. We think the recent price action and positioning data has seen the CAD take a very similar path compared to April and Oct 2021 where markets were way too aggressive and optimistic to price in upside for the CAD only to see majority of it unwind. We think the CAD is setting up for a similar disappointment with money markets too aggressive on rate expectations for 2022, but oil prices remain a big supporting driver to keep in mind.
5. The Week Ahead
Main events for the CAD in the upcoming week will be the Jan Jobs report on Friday, OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday and of course any further Russia/Ukraine developments that affects Oil prices. On the OPEC side, the cartel is widely expected to continue with their current plans of increase supply by 400K BPD per month, with March currently expecting to be the same. It will be interesting to see whether OPEC provides any comments on the current Russia/Ukraine issues as Russia holds over 30% market share in Europe for both gas and oil. Furthermore, we also have Jobs data coming up on Friday where markets expect the recent Omicron restrictions to catch up with the labour market with consensus looking for a contraction of -125K and the Unemployment Rate inching up to 6.2% from the prior of 5.9%. A bigger-than-expected miss on the labour front could see markets stepping down from their current aggressive policy path expectations. The one big caveat to the labour print is that the forecast distribution is extremely wide for this print, ranging between - 10k and -175K, which means there are plenty of disappointment to be had in the event of a surprise, both higher and lower. On the Russia/Ukraine front we’ll be watching for any de-escalation or escalation in tensions, where de-escalation is expected to be a negative driver for oil and escalation expected to be a positive driver.
FUNDAMENTAL BIAS: BULLISH
1. Monetary Policy
The Jan FOMC decision was hawkish on multiple fronts. The statement signalled a March hike as expected, but the press conference from Chair Powell portrayed a very hawkish message. Even though Powell said they can’t predict the rate path with certainty, he stressed the economy is in much better shape compared to the 2015 cycle and that will have implications for the pace of hikes. Furthermore, the Chair explained that there is ‘quite a bit of room’ to raise rates without dampening employment, which suggests upside risks to the rate path, especially coming from Powell. A big question markets wanted an answer for was whether the Fed was
concerned about recent equity market volatility . However, the Chair explained that markets and financial conditions are reflecting policy in advance and stressed that in aggregate their measures they look at is not showing red lights. This was a clear message to markets that any ‘Fed Put’ is much further away and that inflation is the biggest focus point for the Fed right now. The Chair also didn’t rule out the possibility of hiking 50bsp in March or possibly hiking at every meeting this year, which was seen as hawkish as it means the Fed is looking for optionality to move more aggressive if they need to. On the balance sheet , we didn’t really get new info and the Chair reiterated that they are contemplating a start of QT after the hiking cycle has begun but also reiterated that they will discuss this in coming meetings. Overall, the tone and language used by the Chair were a lot more hawkish than the Dec meeting and more hawkish than some were hoping for.
2. Global & Domestic Economy
As the reserve currency, the USD’s usage around the world means it usually has an inverse correlation to the health of the global economy and global trade. The USD usually gains strength when growth & inflation both slow (disinflation) and loses ground when growth & inflation accelerates (reflation). Thus, with expectations that both growth and inflation will decelerate this year, both in the US and the globe, that should be a positive input for the USD in the med-term . However, incoming data will also be important in relation to the ‘Fed Put’. There are many similarities between now and 4Q18, where the Fed were also tightening aggressively going into an economic slowdown. So, incoming data will be crucial to watch. As long as growth data slows and the Fed stays aggressive that would be a positive environment for the USD, but if it causes the Fed to pivot more dovish and causes a rate repricing in money markets it would be seen as a negative input for the USD.
3. CFTC Analysis
Latest CFTC data showed a positioning change of +427 with a net non-commercial position of +36861. The shortterm unwinding of stretched USD longs played out as expected at the start of the year but was also short-lived in the midst of the recent strong risk off sentiment in certain parts of the market and of course the continued hawkish stance from the Fed.
4. The Week Ahead
In the week ahead the party starts all over again with a new month which means we’ll get new ISM PMI releases as well as the Jan NFP report. It’s important to keep the current economic climate in mind when looking at possible reaction functions for the USD. Usually, positive data should be USD positive and negative data USD negative when the Fed is busy with a hiking cycle, but right now there are growing fears that economic data has been slowing much faster than expected and means the Fed could be on its way to make the same mistake it did back in the end of 2018. As long as those fears persist, we might see the USD having two different reaction functions to growth and inflation data. Reacting inverse to growth data but acting correlated to inflation data. That makes this week’s incoming ISM data very interesting as the Dec data decelerated much faster than expected on the growth side, and a further miss might spark more fears about a faster slowdown. The tricky part for the USD in the week ahead is that both the ISM prints as well as the NFP report has inflation components with the ISM priced paid components and the Average Hourly Earnings on the NFP side. If growth data slows very fast that could be USD positive, but if inflation data starts decelerating much faster that could also be USD negative as it means less need for aggressive Fed policy. A tricky one for the week ahead.
CAD
FUNDAMENTAL BIAS: NEUTRAL
1. Monetary Policy
Despite STIR markets pricing in close to an 80% chance of a 25bsp hike, the BoC chose to leave rates unchanged at their Jan meeting. However, the bank removed its extraordinary forward guidance and said they now think the economic slack has been absorbed (previously expected to occur somewhere in the middle quarters of 2022). The bank also explained that they expect rates will need to rise based on the progress of inflation, and Gov Macklem explained their only reason for not hiking was uncertainty surrounding Omicron. The statement gave a clear signal that a March hike is on the table. Furthermore, on the balance sheet the bank delivered on expectations by noting they will likely exit the reinvestment phase as rates begin to rise. Even though 2022 inflation projections were upgraded, the bank also downgraded growth forecasts (which in our view remains a key reason why current STIR market expectations are not realistic). Thus, the meeting had both dovish and hawkish elements to it, and thus means we are still happy to hold to a neutral bias for the CAD.
2. Intermarket Analysis Considerations
Oil’s massive post-covid recovery has been impressive, driven by various factors such as supply & demand (OPEC’s production cuts), strong global demand recovery, and of course ‘higher for longer’ than expected inflation. Even though Oil has traded to new 7-year highs, we think the current Russia/Ukraine tensions are the biggest contributor to the upside as our cautious going into the first two quarters of 2022 remain intact. The drivers keeping us cautious are A hawkish Fed targeting demand, slowing growth and inflation, lower inflation expectations (due to the Fed), a possible supply surplus in 1Q22, and a consensus that is very
long oil (growing call for $100 WTI). If our concerns do materialize into downside for oil prices it should put pressure on the CAD and other Petro-currencies like the NOK.
3. Global Risk Outlook
As a high-beta currency, the CAD usually benefits from overall positive risk sentiment as well as environments that benefit pro-cyclical assets. Thus, both short-term (immediate) and med-term (underlying) risk sentiment will always be a key consideration for the CAD.
4. CFTC Analysis
Latest CFTC data showed a positioning change of +4825 with a net non-commercial position of +12317. We think the recent price action and positioning data has seen the CAD take a very similar path compared to April and Oct 2021 where markets were way too aggressive and optimistic to price in upside for the CAD only to see majority of it unwind. We think the CAD is setting up for a similar disappointment with money markets too aggressive on rate expectations for 2022, but oil prices remain a big supporting driver to keep in mind.
5. The Week Ahead
Main events for the CAD in the upcoming week will be the Jan Jobs report on Friday, OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday and of course any further Russia/Ukraine developments that affects Oil prices. On the OPEC side, the cartel is widely expected to continue with their current plans of increase supply by 400K BPD per month, with March currently expecting to be the same. It will be interesting to see whether OPEC provides any comments on the current Russia/Ukraine issues as Russia holds over 30% market share in Europe for both gas and oil. Furthermore, we also have Jobs data coming up on Friday where markets expect the recent Omicron restrictions to catch up with the labour market with consensus looking for a contraction of -125K and the Unemployment Rate inching up to 6.2% from the prior of 5.9%. A bigger-than-expected miss on the labour front could see markets stepping down from their current aggressive policy path expectations. The one big caveat to the labour print is that the forecast distribution is extremely wide for this print, ranging between - 10k and -175K, which means there are plenty of disappointment to be had in the event of a surprise, both higher and lower. On the Russia/Ukraine front we’ll be watching for any de-escalation or escalation in tensions, where de-escalation is expected to be a negative driver for oil and escalation expected to be a positive driver.