USD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: BULLISH
BASELINE
With headline inflation >9%, the Fed has been pressured to tighten policy aggressively, hiking rates by 75bsp at their July meeting, and continuing with Quantitative Tightening. However, as a result of increasing fears of a growth slowdown (as evidenced by recent econ data), the Fed confirmed a more data-dependent stance at their July meeting, explaining that the pace of hikes is likely to slow as rates get more restrictive and as more data becomes available. STIR markets have repriced lower to reflect this, and the USD also took a bit of a knock on the back of the policy decision. With the Fed signalling data-dependence, the incoming growth, inflation and jobs data will be a key driver for USD price action where we expect a cyclical reaction to incoming data (good data being good and bad data being bad for the USD). Even though high inflation saw investors shun traditional safe havens like US bonds, the price action in the past few weeks saw US yields push lower as the growth story is starting to matter mor. That means, even though the bias for the US Dollar remains bullish (especially as a safe haven during cyclical slowdowns), the incoming data will be the biggest driver as markets will use it to assess the timing and length of the Fed’s current hiking cycle.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
With the Fed’s data-dependent messaging pushing rates lower, any incoming data that sparks further aggressive hike expectations, or comments from the FOMC that signals even more aggressive policy could trigger bullish reactions. As the cyclical outlook continues to weaken, the USD’s safe haven status still matters. Any incoming data that exacerbates fears of recession and triggers a big flush in risk assets and triggers a rush to safety should be positive for the USD. Any further outflows in US bonds means more USD safe haven appeal. So, watching key triggers for further upside in bond yields like rising commodity prices, rising inflation expectations and upside surprises in inflation data could also trigger further USD bullish reactions.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
With the Fed signalling a data dependent policy stance, we expect a cyclical reaction from the USD with incoming US data. Thus, extremely bad growth, inflation or jobs data is expected to trigger short-term bearish reactions in the USD. The USD is trading close to cycle highs while aggregate CFTC positioning is close to levels that previously acted as local tops. Stretched positioning could make the USD vulnerable to shortterm corrections, especially with bad US data points. With a lot still priced for the Fed, it won’t take much to disappoint on the dovish side. Any FOMC comments that suggests more concern about growth than inflation could trigger bearish reactions in the USD, but with inflation so high any major dovish pivots seem a while away.
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamental outlook for the USD remains bullish as long as the Fed stays hawkish and cyclical concerns put pressure on risk assets. However, the data dependence stance from the Fed means we want to be mindful that lots has been priced for the USD, and as growth deteriorates, it should impact the USD negatively, even though current inflation suggests any dovish pivot seems a while away. Also, as the safe haven of choice, any further recession focused downside in risk assets could continue to prove supportive for the USD. In the short-term though, with positioning in mind, and a dual-growth narrative (one being good for the USD and the other being bad for the USD) we prefer short-term catalysts that offer short-term sentiment-based trades.
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: BULLISH
BASELINE
With headline inflation >9%, the Fed has been pressured to tighten policy aggressively, hiking rates by 75bsp at their July meeting, and continuing with Quantitative Tightening. However, as a result of increasing fears of a growth slowdown (as evidenced by recent econ data), the Fed confirmed a more data-dependent stance at their July meeting, explaining that the pace of hikes is likely to slow as rates get more restrictive and as more data becomes available. STIR markets have repriced lower to reflect this, and the USD also took a bit of a knock on the back of the policy decision. With the Fed signalling data-dependence, the incoming growth, inflation and jobs data will be a key driver for USD price action where we expect a cyclical reaction to incoming data (good data being good and bad data being bad for the USD). Even though high inflation saw investors shun traditional safe havens like US bonds, the price action in the past few weeks saw US yields push lower as the growth story is starting to matter mor. That means, even though the bias for the US Dollar remains bullish (especially as a safe haven during cyclical slowdowns), the incoming data will be the biggest driver as markets will use it to assess the timing and length of the Fed’s current hiking cycle.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
With the Fed’s data-dependent messaging pushing rates lower, any incoming data that sparks further aggressive hike expectations, or comments from the FOMC that signals even more aggressive policy could trigger bullish reactions. As the cyclical outlook continues to weaken, the USD’s safe haven status still matters. Any incoming data that exacerbates fears of recession and triggers a big flush in risk assets and triggers a rush to safety should be positive for the USD. Any further outflows in US bonds means more USD safe haven appeal. So, watching key triggers for further upside in bond yields like rising commodity prices, rising inflation expectations and upside surprises in inflation data could also trigger further USD bullish reactions.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
With the Fed signalling a data dependent policy stance, we expect a cyclical reaction from the USD with incoming US data. Thus, extremely bad growth, inflation or jobs data is expected to trigger short-term bearish reactions in the USD. The USD is trading close to cycle highs while aggregate CFTC positioning is close to levels that previously acted as local tops. Stretched positioning could make the USD vulnerable to shortterm corrections, especially with bad US data points. With a lot still priced for the Fed, it won’t take much to disappoint on the dovish side. Any FOMC comments that suggests more concern about growth than inflation could trigger bearish reactions in the USD, but with inflation so high any major dovish pivots seem a while away.
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamental outlook for the USD remains bullish as long as the Fed stays hawkish and cyclical concerns put pressure on risk assets. However, the data dependence stance from the Fed means we want to be mindful that lots has been priced for the USD, and as growth deteriorates, it should impact the USD negatively, even though current inflation suggests any dovish pivot seems a while away. Also, as the safe haven of choice, any further recession focused downside in risk assets could continue to prove supportive for the USD. In the short-term though, with positioning in mind, and a dual-growth narrative (one being good for the USD and the other being bad for the USD) we prefer short-term catalysts that offer short-term sentiment-based trades.