EUR
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: NEUTRAL
BASELINE
The EUR has had a bumpy ride over the past few months. At the onset of the war in Ukraine the EUR tumbled across the board. However, in recent weeks, the persistently high inflation has seen the ECB take a more hawkish turn with the bank confirming at least a 25bsp hike for July and possibility of a 50bsp hike in September. Despite the hawkish policy shift, the concerns over fragmentation in bond spreads like the BTP\Bund spread as well as fears of growing stagflation risks has seen the EUR struggled to hold onto any real hawkish ECB momentum. The ECB did try to comfort spread concerns last week with an ad-hoc meeting and decided to use PEPP reinvestments as a way to calm fragmentation. But this wasn’t enough to calm concerns as reinvestment would amount to about €20 billion per month. However, the bank’s decision was enough to push the BTP\Bund down 50bsp, and if that trend can continue lower it should be supportive for the EUR. The bank did back up their attempts at calming fragmentation fears after their ad-hoc meeting by saying they are looking at introducing an additional ‘tool’ as quick as possible, so markets will be focused on any insights into what that tool might be. Even though growth data has been surprisingly resilient in the past few months, the recession fears ramped up this past week when EU Flash PMIs showed a material deceleration in growth. Incoming growth data will be watched carefully after this and any further signs that the deterioration in growth is gaining momentum should weigh on the EUR.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
Geopolitics remains a focus for the EUR, where any possible de-escalation or cease fire in the Ukraine war would open up a lot of appreciation for the EUR. Stagflation fears are high right now for the Eurozone, with growth expected to slow while inflation stays persistently high. Recent PMI data has invigorated recession fears, which means any materially better-than-expected growth data could spark some upside for the single currency. Inflation remains a key focus, which means the incoming Flash PMI prints on Friday will be important for interest rate expectations. A big upside surprise should be positive for the EUR, but there are risks that further upside in inflation which leads to higher rates also leads to further fragmentation risks.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
Spread fragmentation remains in focus, and if ECB speak in the week ahead fails to calm fears or walks back on recent hawkish comments it could trigger bearish reactions in the EUR. Flash PMIs confirmed growth risks in the EU is very much alive, we expect growth concerns to continue weighing on the EUR and means German & French retail sales will be in focus for the week ahead. Even though we expect EUR upside on big upside surprises for Friday’s flash CPI data, the secondary reaction might be negative. A CPI surprise that sparks further stagflation or spread fragmentation fears could see an initial upside reaction followed by immediate downside afterwards (which means be careful with this one)
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamental outlook for the EUR remains neutral with positive and negative forces in play. On the negative side we have geopolitics, stagflation and spread fragmentation acting as negative drivers. But we also have hawkish ECB policy as a supportive driver. That means our preferred way of trading the EUR right now is taking short-term plays which are driven by clear shortterm bearish or bullish catalysts. The disappointing PMI data does open up a potential narrative change for EURGBP and we are currently positioned for some potential downside in the pair.
USD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: BULLISH
BASELINE
Hawkish Fed policy remains a key driver for Dollar strength. With headline inflation >8%, the Fed has been pressured to tighten policy aggressively, hiking rates by 75bsp at their June meeting, and continuing with Quantitative Tightening. STIR markets suggests aggressive policy action pricing a terminal rate of >3.6% by 2Q23 which have been a positive input for the US Dollar . Safe haven flows have also supported the USD as it’s usually inversely correlated to the global economy and global trade, appreciating when growth & inflation slows (disinflation) and depreciates when growth & inflation accelerates (reflation). Expectations of a cyclical slowdown, accompanied by multi-decade high inflation and synchronized removal of monetary policy stimulus from major economies has seen investors shun risk assets and even bonds (usually considered a safe haven), and the USD has been a key benefactor of the rush to safety as economic prospects have deteriorated. Even though US bonds are considered safe havens, the current high inflation has seen a strong stock-to-bond correlation and has caused big bond outflows. With bonds not fulfilling its usual save haven role the USD has benefited from the rush to safety.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
As aggressive Fed policy has been supporting the USD, any incoming data (especially inflation ) that sparks further hike expectations, or additionally any comments from FOMC members that signals even more aggressive policy could trigger bullish reactions in the USD. As the cyclical outlook for the global economy is very bleak, and the USD is considered a safe haven, it means any incoming data that exacerbates fears of recession and triggers a big rush to safety could trigger bullish USD reactions. 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 CPI and PCE data could also trigger further USD bullish reactions.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
More recently the USD has reacted more cyclically to incoming data which could suggest markets is shifting from safe haven focus to the rising risks of recession. The worse growth data slows, the higher likelihood of a ‘Fed Put’ in the months ahead. Thus, extremely bad ISM Manufacturing PMI data on Friday could trigger bearish reactions in the USD. Tactically the USD is trading at cycle highs, and aggregate CFTC positioning is close prior highs which acted as local tops for the USD. Thus, stretched positioning could make the USD vulnerable to mean reversion in the short-term. With a lot already priced for the Fed, it won’t take much for the Fed to disappoint markets on the dovish side. Thus, any FOMC comments that suggests more concern about the economy than inflation could trigger bearish reactions in the USD
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamental outlook for the USD remains bullish as long as the Fed stays aggressive and cyclical concerns put pressure on risk assets. But we do want to be mindful that lots has been priced for the USD, and as growth deteriorates, we are expecting that the weigh on the USD if markets start pricing in a higher likelihood of a less hawkish Fed due to higher recession risks. Furthermore, given tactical and CFTC positioning, we would prefer much deeper pullbacks for new med-term USD longs, and would look for short-term catalyst that offer shorter bearish sentiment trades against the current strong bull trend.
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: NEUTRAL
BASELINE
The EUR has had a bumpy ride over the past few months. At the onset of the war in Ukraine the EUR tumbled across the board. However, in recent weeks, the persistently high inflation has seen the ECB take a more hawkish turn with the bank confirming at least a 25bsp hike for July and possibility of a 50bsp hike in September. Despite the hawkish policy shift, the concerns over fragmentation in bond spreads like the BTP\Bund spread as well as fears of growing stagflation risks has seen the EUR struggled to hold onto any real hawkish ECB momentum. The ECB did try to comfort spread concerns last week with an ad-hoc meeting and decided to use PEPP reinvestments as a way to calm fragmentation. But this wasn’t enough to calm concerns as reinvestment would amount to about €20 billion per month. However, the bank’s decision was enough to push the BTP\Bund down 50bsp, and if that trend can continue lower it should be supportive for the EUR. The bank did back up their attempts at calming fragmentation fears after their ad-hoc meeting by saying they are looking at introducing an additional ‘tool’ as quick as possible, so markets will be focused on any insights into what that tool might be. Even though growth data has been surprisingly resilient in the past few months, the recession fears ramped up this past week when EU Flash PMIs showed a material deceleration in growth. Incoming growth data will be watched carefully after this and any further signs that the deterioration in growth is gaining momentum should weigh on the EUR.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
Geopolitics remains a focus for the EUR, where any possible de-escalation or cease fire in the Ukraine war would open up a lot of appreciation for the EUR. Stagflation fears are high right now for the Eurozone, with growth expected to slow while inflation stays persistently high. Recent PMI data has invigorated recession fears, which means any materially better-than-expected growth data could spark some upside for the single currency. Inflation remains a key focus, which means the incoming Flash PMI prints on Friday will be important for interest rate expectations. A big upside surprise should be positive for the EUR, but there are risks that further upside in inflation which leads to higher rates also leads to further fragmentation risks.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
Spread fragmentation remains in focus, and if ECB speak in the week ahead fails to calm fears or walks back on recent hawkish comments it could trigger bearish reactions in the EUR. Flash PMIs confirmed growth risks in the EU is very much alive, we expect growth concerns to continue weighing on the EUR and means German & French retail sales will be in focus for the week ahead. Even though we expect EUR upside on big upside surprises for Friday’s flash CPI data, the secondary reaction might be negative. A CPI surprise that sparks further stagflation or spread fragmentation fears could see an initial upside reaction followed by immediate downside afterwards (which means be careful with this one)
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamental outlook for the EUR remains neutral with positive and negative forces in play. On the negative side we have geopolitics, stagflation and spread fragmentation acting as negative drivers. But we also have hawkish ECB policy as a supportive driver. That means our preferred way of trading the EUR right now is taking short-term plays which are driven by clear shortterm bearish or bullish catalysts. The disappointing PMI data does open up a potential narrative change for EURGBP and we are currently positioned for some potential downside in the pair.
USD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: BULLISH
BASELINE
Hawkish Fed policy remains a key driver for Dollar strength. With headline inflation >8%, the Fed has been pressured to tighten policy aggressively, hiking rates by 75bsp at their June meeting, and continuing with Quantitative Tightening. STIR markets suggests aggressive policy action pricing a terminal rate of >3.6% by 2Q23 which have been a positive input for the US Dollar . Safe haven flows have also supported the USD as it’s usually inversely correlated to the global economy and global trade, appreciating when growth & inflation slows (disinflation) and depreciates when growth & inflation accelerates (reflation). Expectations of a cyclical slowdown, accompanied by multi-decade high inflation and synchronized removal of monetary policy stimulus from major economies has seen investors shun risk assets and even bonds (usually considered a safe haven), and the USD has been a key benefactor of the rush to safety as economic prospects have deteriorated. Even though US bonds are considered safe havens, the current high inflation has seen a strong stock-to-bond correlation and has caused big bond outflows. With bonds not fulfilling its usual save haven role the USD has benefited from the rush to safety.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
As aggressive Fed policy has been supporting the USD, any incoming data (especially inflation ) that sparks further hike expectations, or additionally any comments from FOMC members that signals even more aggressive policy could trigger bullish reactions in the USD. As the cyclical outlook for the global economy is very bleak, and the USD is considered a safe haven, it means any incoming data that exacerbates fears of recession and triggers a big rush to safety could trigger bullish USD reactions. 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 CPI and PCE data could also trigger further USD bullish reactions.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
More recently the USD has reacted more cyclically to incoming data which could suggest markets is shifting from safe haven focus to the rising risks of recession. The worse growth data slows, the higher likelihood of a ‘Fed Put’ in the months ahead. Thus, extremely bad ISM Manufacturing PMI data on Friday could trigger bearish reactions in the USD. Tactically the USD is trading at cycle highs, and aggregate CFTC positioning is close prior highs which acted as local tops for the USD. Thus, stretched positioning could make the USD vulnerable to mean reversion in the short-term. With a lot already priced for the Fed, it won’t take much for the Fed to disappoint markets on the dovish side. Thus, any FOMC comments that suggests more concern about the economy than inflation could trigger bearish reactions in the USD
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamental outlook for the USD remains bullish as long as the Fed stays aggressive and cyclical concerns put pressure on risk assets. But we do want to be mindful that lots has been priced for the USD, and as growth deteriorates, we are expecting that the weigh on the USD if markets start pricing in a higher likelihood of a less hawkish Fed due to higher recession risks. Furthermore, given tactical and CFTC positioning, we would prefer much deeper pullbacks for new med-term USD longs, and would look for short-term catalyst that offer shorter bearish sentiment trades against the current strong bull trend.