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Weekly Market Outlook

Weekly Market Outlook: US NFP, PMIs & More Rate Hikes

Weekly Market Outlook — This week will see the release of manufacturing and services PMI data for the first month of the third quarter, which will provide an insight into growth, inflation, and labor market trends in key economies. The PMIs for June and their early July flash readings indicate a deteriorating economic environment, as business activity has fallen across the US and Eurozone because of the cost-of-living crisis and tighter monetary policies.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to move again, and to be followed by Bank of England later this week. Both are expected to deliver a 50 bp rate hike. US NFP report will be released on Friday.

USD All eyes are on the Non-Farm Payrolls

The US employment report for July will be released on August 5. Increasing weekly jobless claims indicate that US labor markets are losing momentum. Compared to 170.5k at the end of March, the four-week moving average has risen above 240k. It seems that the anecdotal press coverage focuses more on job losses than hiring, but the reports appeared to be widespread. Nonfarm payrolls are the residual of all secured and lost jobs. It is estimated that several million jobs are gained and lost every month due to the size of the workforce.  

Weekly Market Outlook

Economists expect US businesses to increase employment by 250k despite press reports. Assuming this is accurate, it would be the weakest job growth since December 2020, when 115k jobs were lost in the US. The number of nonfarm payrolls rose by an average of 375k in Q2 following an average of 539k in Q1 and 562k for all of last year. It’s partly about context, though. The 250k will be viewed as weak only due to the pandemic and response. The monthly average of nonfarm payrolls was never more than 200k in any of the four years before Covid. 

In last week’s meeting, the FOMC raised rates by 75 bps, bringing the Fed Funds rate from 1.75% to 2.50%. Despite softer spending and production, job gains remain strong. In spite of the softer data, the Fed anticipates continued increases in interest rates. According to Powell, however, rate decisions will be made based on the incoming data at each meeting. Powell cited the possibility of another “unusually large” interest rate hike, while at the same time stating that it could be appropriate to slow the pace of increases as rates increase. 

Furthermore, Powell said he doesn’t consider the US economy to be in a recession (despite its textbook definition as “two consecutive quarters of negative growth”). For now, the Fed is dependent on data. The Fed may continue to raise rates if the labor market remains strong. Nevertheless, if the labor market cracks, the Fed could slow down rate increases. 

EUR — Data in the spotlight after ECB’s decision

Over the past week, the Euro edged up against the US Dollar just slightly. A depreciating dollar allowed the single currency to capitalize on broad-based weakness in the Greenback. Economic news in the Euro-Area is relatively thin this week, so EUR will likely be influenced by external factors. It might make sense to take a look at what’s going on in the U.S. in this case. Nonetheless, recent comments from the European Central Bank have been increasingly hawkish. However, it’s still way behind the Fed. 

As far as central banks are concerned, this is quite an unusual situation. Although growth is slowing, inflation still runs hot, possibly because of tight labor markets. This may be considered stagflation by some. The US labor market continues to be robust despite the pandemic and unemployment is quite low. Does this mean the jobs market can withstand any deterioration in growth? Maybe. 

S&P Global Manufacturing PMIs will be released on Friday, alongside the industrial production figures for Germany, France, and Italy. According to the latest Flash PMIs, the eurozone economy is expected to have deteriorated in July across all three nations. After a year of surging inflation and growing uncertainty, the end-of-quarter retail sales figures will likely shed light on Eurozone spending trends. 

GBP BOE to hike rates to highest since 2008

The monetary policy committee meeting at the Bank of England is the most important central bank meeting this week. The BoE is set to hike interest rates again by 50 basis points in response to the rapid rise in consumer price inflation to a four-decade high of 9.4%. This would be the largest increase since 1995, taking the bank rate above 1.75% for the sixth time. Having already priced in a 50bp rate hike for August, the focus shifts to the future course of policy.  

Weekly Market Outlook,Inflation Market Analysis
BoE Interest Rate

Taking into account the anticipated stickiness of elevated inflation in the UK, S&P Global Market Intelligence expects there to be further hikes of 25 basis points in September, November and December, as well as in February 2023. PMI data indicate a tentative peak in price pressures, but energy prices are expected to spike sharply into the winter, raising the risk of wage-price spirals and keeping inflation uncomfortably above 2%.  

A mild recession in the UK is necessary to sustain this projected rate path. As a result of the government’s support package for households, GDP is expected to contract slightly in Q2 and Q3 2022. This week’s PMI data will be an important indicator of how likely that growth projection is. 

AUD — RBA likely to deliver third straight 50 bp hike

There is a possibility that the Reserve Bank of Australia will announce its third consecutive 50 bp rate hike on August 3 to bring the cash rate to 1.85%. During its last meeting, the Committee said it would do whatever it takes to reduce inflation. Members also noted that employment was at its highest level in 50 years. Therefore, more rate hikes were expected. Australia released its Q2 CPI data on July 26th. Overall inflation increased “only” 6.1% YoY as opposed to the 6.2% expected and 5.1% YoY in Q1. Additionally, the preliminary composite PMI for Australia fell from 52.6 to 50.6. In light of these data, previous predictions of a 75bps rate increase seem less likely. 


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