Federalreserve
Fed's Rate Hike Looms Over US30US30 is likely to remain volatile in the coming weeks, as investors assess the risks to the economy. The latest macroeconomic news is not good for the market, with consumer sentiment falling and inflation remaining high. Fed officials have signaled that they are likely to raise interest rates by 0.75% next week, which could further dampen economic activity. Technical traders should be aware of these risks and use fundamental analysis to make informed trading decisions.
Exploring the Weekly OptionsCME: E-Mini Nasdaq 100 Weekly Options ($Q1D-$Q5D)
When I first started trading two decades ago, I was overwhelmed by the amount of data that was available. I had a hard time correlating how data relates to price movement. While observing the stock market, I have one question in particular: why does the market often moves drastically immediately after the release of a major report?
Over time, I learnt that these reports provide insight into how the economy works. New data validates our assumptions about the future. Take the United States as an example:
• Consumers drive the U.S. economy;
• Consumers need jobs to be able to buy things and keep the economy going;
• The ebb and flow between the degree of joblessness and full employment drive economic activity up or down;
• How easy or difficult for households and businesses to get credit affects consumption, jobs, and investment.
The following reports have an outsized impact on global financial markets:
• The Nonfarm Payroll Report, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS);
• The Consumer Price Index, also published by the BLS;
• Personal Income and Outlays, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA);
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP), also by the BEA;
• Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, this is where the Federal Reserve sets the Fed Funds interest rates, ten times a year;
• Interest rate actions by other central banks, including European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and the People’s Bank of China.
Binary Outcomes: Ideal Setting for Options Trading
For these highly anticipated reports, investors usually reach a consensus on the expected impact of the new data prior to its release. Market price tends to price in such investor expectations.
The next FOMC meeting is on September 20th. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, the futures market currently expects a 94% probability that the Fed would keep the Fed Funds rate unchanged at the 5.25%-5.50% range.
The September contract of CME Fed Funds Futures (ZQU3) is last settled at 94.665. This implies a Fed Funds rate of 5.335%, right in the middle of the target range.
When new data is released, investors focus less on the actual data, but more on how it compares to the consensus. Because the prevailing price already reflected market expectation, new data serves to either confirm or dispute it. We could use a range of -1 to +1 to categorize these outcomes:
• Well Below Expectations, -1;
• Meet Expectations, 0;
• Well Above Expectations, +1.
The sign of the outcome does not necessarily correspond to a positive or negative price movement. It differs by the type of data and the respective financial instrument.
We could further simplify the results into binary outcomes:
• Within Expectation: 0, where actual data approximates previous expectation;
• Beyond Expectation: 1, either below or above expectation by a pre-defined margin.
Both human and computer think in binary terms: Light switch On or Off, Price goes Up or Down, Risk turns On or Off. In derivatives market, we could buy a Call Options if we expect the price to go up, and a Put Options if we think the price will decline.
Weekly Options for Event-Driven Strategies
The FOMC meeting is the most significant event that affects global markets. Market may stay calm if the Fed keeps rate unchanged (within expectation). However, if the Fed raises rate unexpectedly, you could hear investors screaming all around the world!
To trade the Fed decision, investors could form different strategies using a wild variety of instruments, such as stock market indexes, Treasury bonds, forex futures, gold, WTI crude oil, and even bitcoin. Today, we focus on the Nasdaq 100 index. Here are some alternatives to consider:
• Nasdaq 100 ETF: many asset managers offer them, including Invesco, iShares and ProShares. From a trader’s perspective, ETFs offer no leverage. A $100K exposure requires $100K upfront investment. If the market moves up 1%, you also gain 1%, minus the fees.
• Nasdaq 100 Futures: CME Micro Nasdaq 100 ($MNQ) has a notional value of 2 times the index, valuing it at $31025, given the Nasdaq’s last close at 15512.5. Each contract requires initial margin of $1680. The futures contract is embedded with an 18.5-to-1 leverage.
• Nasdaq 100 Options: As the nearby September contract expires on the 3rd Friday, or the 15th, ahead of the FOMC meeting date, we could not use it for our strategy. Instead, we could apply it with the December contract ($NQU3). On September 1st, the 15800-strike Call is quoted $541.50, and the 15400-strike Put is quoted $535.
• Weekly Options: On September 1st, the 15800-strike Call to expire in one week is quoted $14.25, while the 15400-strike Put to expire in one week is quoted $54.50.
Premiums for the standard American-style Options are expensive. They come with quarterly contracts and quarterly expirations. While our target date is September 20th, we have to use the December contract and acquire 3-1/2-month worth of time value.
Weekly options, on the other hand, offer more precise trading and risk management with more expirations. Investors pay low premium to get the exposure they need and avoid the unnecessary and costly time value.
For E-Mini Nasdaq 100, the weekly options that expire on Wednesday, September 20th will be listed on the prior Thursday, September 14th. If an investor forms an opinion about the FOMC decision, he could implement it with a weekly call or put next week.
Nasdaq Weekly Options are deliverable contracts. If an investor owns a call and it expires in the money, he will settle the contract with a long position in E-Mini Nasdaq 100 futures. Likewise, if he owns an in-the-money put, he will get a short futures position.
If the market moves in favor of an investor’s expectation, the potential payoff could be significant due to the leverage in weekly options. If the investor is incorrect, he could lose money, up to the amount of the entire premium. However, the low-premium nature in weekly options helps contain such loss at a tolerable level.
Happy Trading.
Disclaimers
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
Cracking the Fed Rate-Setting CodeCME: Micro Russell 2000 ( CME_MINI:M2K1! )
On August 25th, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered his annual policy remark, “Inflation: Progress and the Path Ahead”, at the Jackson Hole Symposium.
The message is very clear: It is the Fed's job to bring inflation down to the 2% policy goal. The Fed is prepared to raise rates further if appropriate and intends to hold policy at a restrictive level until inflation is moving sustainably down toward its objective.
In my opinion, there is a constraint when the Fed considers its policy choices. If monetary tightening pushes the US economy into a recession, it will likely pause or pivot. The Fed aims to cool the economy, not to put the flame out.
The Fed Chair maintains that he iterates his decision at each FOMC meeting based on latest available data. I liken this process to a “For Loop” and an “If Statement” in computer programming. Below is my pseudo code in human readable form:
• for (i = 0; i < n; n++), where n is the number of FOMC meetings;
• if (inflation goes down to 2%), then execute “End Rate Hikes”;
• else if (the US economy tanks), also execute “End Rate Hikes”;
• else, execute “Continue with Restrictive Monetary Policy”);
In other words, the only two conditions that could trigger the end of rate hikes are:
• Rate hikes successfully bring the inflation down to 2%; or
• Rate hikes break the US economy.
To crack the code of the Fed rate-setting decisions, we need to gain some understanding of the US inflation trajectory and the economic growth potential.
Inflation Outlook: Coming Down but Still Too High
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the US Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% in July to 3.2% on an annualized basis.
• CPI peaked at 9.1% in June 2022. The declining inflation in the past year is a welcome development and signals that the Fed tightening policy is working;
• The key driver of low CPI reading is the double-digit decline in energy cost when compared to the record gasoline price last year. This is misleading and lagging data. Gasoline and diesel prices are both on the way up for months;
• The Core CPI, excluding energy and food, is 4.7%. Compared to 5.9% in July 2022, the decline is not fast enough, and it is still too high;
• At 7.7%, Shelter leads all categories and has the highest price increases. Higher interest rates pushed up mortgage payments and rents. This could lift overall inflation higher in the coming months.
The Fed’s preferred inflation metric is the PCE price index. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), PCE price index for June increased 3.0% on an annualized basis. Excluding food and energy, the core PCE increased 4.1% from one year ago.
The BEA is scheduled to release July PCE data this week. The new reading would influence the Fed as it debates whether to pause or continue raising rates in the September 20th FOMC meeting.
US Economic Outlook: Very Resilient
According to the BEA, US real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.4% in the second quarter of 2023. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 2.0%.
• Current‑dollar GDP increased 4.7% at an annual rate, or $305.2 billion, in the second quarter to a level of $26.84 trillion;
• After the US central bank aggressively raised interest rates from 0.25% to 5.50% in a year and a half, the US economy shows remarkable strength.
According to the BLS, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 187,000 in July, and US the unemployment rate changed little at 3.5%. Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, financial activities, and wholesale trade.
As long as unemployment remains low, American consumers would continue to buy goods and services, pay their bills, and service their debts.
• US mortgage delinquency rate was 1.72% in Q2, the lowest in 17 years (vs. 1.74% in Q3 2006), according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis;
• Auto loan delinquency rates have risen from Q1 2021's 1.43% to 1.69% in Q1 2023, according to a recent Credit Industry Insight Report (CIIR) by TransUnion.
• US credit card loan delinquency rate was 2.77% in Q2, up from 2.43% in Q1 and 1.59% from year-ago quarter;
Why are we seeing different trends? I think that most homeowners locked into low 15- or 30-year fixed mortgage rates before the Fed rate hikes.
Auto loans have shorter duration, usually between 4 to 7 years. Since last year, car buyers now were hit by both higher prices and higher interest rates.
Credit card default is elevated, but still low from a historical perspective. In the 1990s and early 2000s, delinquency rates hovered around 3-5%. It peaked at 6.77% in 2009 after the financial crisis. Credit card companies charge floating interest rates. In January 2022, before the rate hikes, interest rates averaged around 16%. They are now above 24%.
My takeaways
Overall, my assessment is that US inflation is not likely to go down to 2% by 2024. While consumers are under stress, it’s not enough to push the US economy into a recession.
Therefore, I believe that the Fed would keep higher interest rates for a longer period. At each meeting, it would iterate whether to raise or to pause, but not to cut rates.
Impacts to US Stock Market Valuation
Up to now, investors were obsessed with the unrealistic assumptions of Fed cutting rates three to four times in 2024. The Jackson Hole speech is a wake-up call. Stock market valuation will have to be repriced based on new long-term interest rate assumptions.
Higher interest rates raise the cost of capital for all US corporations. Using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) stock valuation method, a company’s present value will decline as a higher rate discounts all future cash flows by a greater percentage.
The S&P 500 index has gained 14.75% year-to-date. In recent weeks, it has retreated 200 points (-4.4%) from its 52-week high. The prospect of higher long-term interest rates could put further pressure on the Blue-chip US stock market index.
The Nasdaq composite index has gained 29.85% year-to-date. It has a drawdown of 850 points (-5.9%) from its 52-week high. Even a blowout quarterly profit from chip giant Nvidia failed to lift the leading technology stock index higher last week.
Trade Ideas
On August 11th, 2022, I published a trade idea, “A Tale of Two Americas”. In assessing the impact of Fed rate hikes, I concluded that smaller companies would be hit harder than their larger counterparts. I explored the idea of shorting the lofty valued Russell 2000.
At the time, the Russell was quoted at 1,974 and had a trailing Price/Earnings Ratio of 68.96. Fast-forwarding to August 25th, Russell was settled at 1,853 (-6.1%) and the P/E has collapsed to just 27.61, according to Birinyi Associates and Dow Jones Market Data.
Today, I still favor the idea of shorting the CME Micro Russell 2000 ( FWB:M2K ). Why?
A year ago, the US Corporate BBB Effective Yield was 5.04%. It rose 112 basis points to 6.16% last week, according to Fed data.
After the Jackson Hole speech, I expect the bond yield to move up with the new assessment of higher long-term interest rate. Therefore, Russell 2000 would face further downward pressure.
The March Rusell 2000 contract (M2KH4) was settled at 1,888 last Friday. Each contract is $5 x Index and has a notional value of $9,440 at current market price. CME requires an initial margin of $620.
While shorting a futures contract, an investor could consider setting a stop loss. Hypothetically, a stop loss at 1,800 would limit the loss to $440 (= (1888-1800) * 5).
Happy Trading.
Disclaimers
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
DWAC Trump Ai Worldcoin Digital Acquisition TwitterThis one is a total crapshoot. ticker is historically pumped and dumped, my guess is that another catalyst is delivered this week to churn up mania buying again.
Then itll be out of gas for a while
be cautious if attempting to invest long term in Trump proxy-grifter corporations like this.
Weaker China Data and Fed Interest Rate Rumors Trigger Oil PriceIntroduction:
In recent weeks, the global oil market has experienced significant turbulence, with oil prices plummeting due to weaker-than-expected economic data from China and mounting rumors surrounding the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions. As traders, it is crucial to exercise caution and carefully evaluate the potential risks associated with oil investing in light of these developments.
1. Weaker China Data
2. Fed Interest Rate Rumors
Call-to-Action: Pause Oil Investing and Assess Risks
Given the current market conditions and the uncertainties surrounding both China's economic performance and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions, it is prudent for traders to exercise caution when considering oil investments. Here are a few steps to help you navigate this challenging environment:
1. Evaluate Your Risk Tolerance: Assess your risk appetite and consider the potential impact of further oil price drops on your investment portfolio. Diversify your holdings to mitigate potential losses and explore alternative investment opportunities that may be less susceptible to oil market volatility.
2. Stay Informed: Stay abreast of the latest developments in the Chinese economy and the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies. Monitor vital economic indicators, such as China's GDP growth, industrial production, retail sales figures, and any official statements or actions from the Federal Reserve.
3. Seek Professional Advice: Consult with financial advisors or industry experts who can provide personalized guidance tailored to your investment goals and risk tolerance. Their insights and expertise can help you make informed decisions in this uncertain market environment.
Conclusion:
The oil market is facing considerable volatility in light of weaker China data and the ongoing speculation surrounding the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions. As traders, it is crucial to exercise caution and carefully assess the potential risks associated with oil investing. By pausing and reevaluating your investment strategy, diversifying your portfolio, staying informed, and seeking professional advice, you can navigate this challenging environment more effectively and safeguard your investments.
Is the Market Deluding Itself with a Soft Landing Fantasy?As markets surge against expectations, many are starting to believe that the impossible might unfold. The unusually low fund allocation to equities reflects a market sentiment plagued by fear, yet mega caps are continuing to rise against expectations, making some investors feel left behind. With GDP figures beating expectations and headline inflation plummeting, markets are now starting to believe the soft landing narrative. Can the Federal Reserve, after decades of economic engineering, finally dodge a recession? The bond market remains skeptical.
When the yield curve inverted, everyone thought a recession was imminent. However, many overlook the lag between the onset of the inversion and an actual recession. Depending on historical context, a recession can either hit while the yield curve remains inverted or much later, once it has normalised. Thus, relying solely on the yield curve as a recession indicator can be misleading.
Nevertheless, history has consistently shown that a recession follows the inversion at some point. However, the human psyche is notoriously impatient. If a predicted event doesn't manifest promptly, the market tends to discount its possibility. Remember, most people buy at tops and sell at bottoms. So, the real question isn't whether a recession will happen, but rather when.
Why and When Could a Recession Happen?
The Federal Reserve holds significant influence over this timeline. As long as interest rates hover around 5.5%, the recession clock ticks faster. With headline inflation plummeting (orange line) and inflation expectations paralleling this descent (blue line), we must understand what caused inflation initially to gauge where it's headed.
The inflationary surge was mostly driven by the excessive expansion of the money supply. Examining the first derivative of the US money supply (M2) shows a rapid expansion followed by a subsequent decline. Comparing the growth rate of the money supply (yellow line) with the CPI year-over-year (orange line) reveals a 16-month lag. If this lag remains consistent, there's significant potential downside to inflation.
Yet, the Fed continues to hike rates, despite projections of disinflation and deflation. This is because the Fed's job isn't to predict the future, but to respond to current data. Indicators showing a robust labor market and elevated Core PCE caution against prematurely reducing rates. It would be wise for the Fed to await signs of weakening in these indicators before contemplating rate cuts.
This could potentially take a while to materialise, especially since unemployment doesn't seem poised to weaken in the immediate future. Unlike previous business cycles, the current situation stands out due to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data. There remains a significant number of job openings for every unemployed individual. This bolsters the resilience of the labor market, making rate cuts less probable.
Furthermore, the Core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) - a lagging indicator - remains historically high and resilient. Powell has emphasised the Fed's intent to avoid repeating the same mistakes made in the '70s, suggesting we should expect higher rates for longer in order to permanently get Core PCE to 2%. He's also highlighted the relative ease of stimulating the economy out of a recession compared to raising rates, implying it might be more straightforward for the Fed to rein in Core PCE by inducing a recession.
Similarly, the government can't afford the risk of the Fed raising rates later on. Considering the government's dependency on low-cost borrowing to manage interest payments on existing debts, higher future rates could pose a big challenge. Fortunately, the Fed uses the Reverse Repo (blue line) as a strategic tool to bypass any potential liquidity crisis until they are able to finance the government's balance sheet (orange line) with cheap debt once again.
Given that interest expenses are nearing 1 trillion USD, the Fed will inevitably have to cut rates to zero and initiate Quantitative Easing (QE) in the future. Remember, the sole limitation to Keynesian economics is inflation. Hence, it's logical for the Fed to avoid risking a resurgence of inflation. In essence, a recession might be essential for the Fed's future assistance to the government.
Deciphering the Stock Market's Puzzle
Despite Powell's frequent emphasis on a 'higher for longer' stance, the market remains skeptical. This is alarming, especially as the full implications of a 5.5% rate haven't been fully experienced by the economy. Once they manifest, job openings will plummet, unemployment figures will surge, and the 'soft landing' illusion might crumble. Historically, such scenarios are common when real rates reach unsustainable levels.
Fortunately for investors, there seems to be room for the AI bubble to continue. Markets typically peak about a month before a sustained increase in unemployment. Hence, forward-looking unemployment indicators like job openings, initial claims (blue line), and continued claims (orange line) are crucial for those wishing to divest before a potential market downturn.
In the current scenario, it might be wise for investors to stay away from higher-risk assets like small caps and cryptocurrencies. Historically, these haven't performed as well as mega caps during liquidity crunches. Investors might want to reconsider taking on additional risks unless there's a sustained surge in global liquidity (yellow line).
Conclusion: A Time for Caution and Opportunity
In conclusion, even though a recession seems inevitable, mega caps may continue their upward trend until the labor market reveals signs of distress. Therefore, it's crucial for investors to closely watch leading unemployment indicators and central bank balance sheets to ensure they're well-positioned for both the upcoming market downturn and the subsequent recovery.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and you should conduct your own research when making a decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
The Overnight Reverse Repo Facility Looks to be Bottoming OutMoney that has been parked at the Fed's Reverse Repo Facility due to the attractively high interest rates the Fed has set for money parked there has been on a steady decline since late 2022, and recently, this year we confirmed a breakdown of a Bearish Dragon, which led to a BAMM move down to complete a Harmonic M-shape.
This then represented an influx of liquidity exiting the facility and effectively hitting circulation, which led to that money chasing assets and commodities. This chasing of assets and commdoities effecctively backed the 2023 Stock Market Rally.
The target I had set for this move was down to the 0.886 of a Bullish Bat and now months later we can see that we came very close to it, but it would seem that rather than getting a full 0.886 retrace we are instead getting a confirmation-styled RSI reaction as price Bounces from the 1.618 Extension, which just so happens to align with an AB=CD formation it's made on the way down.
I see this as an indication that the liquidity will soon stop flowing out from the facility and that liquidity will now begin to flow back to the facility, effectively taking money out of circulation, which would likely result in a decline in asset prices and a decline in the trading of Short Term Debt on the open market, which could then lead to Short Term Yields rising overall along with the US Dollar as institutions once again begin to lock up their dollars in this facility and chase yield rather than assets.
Recently, I have been seeing a lot of weakness in the banking sector. That weakness may act as a catalyst for these institutions to once again park their money with the Fed, just as it did before. As always, my target for an ABCD is back to the Level of C, so we should see this rising back up about 30% before we can start looking for signs of this topping out again.
TMF Bull Treasuries Triple Leveraged LONGTMF as shown on a 15 minute chart shows TMF in consolidation at the beginning of the weeks
followed by a downtrend when the fed news of the rate hike came out. Today the general
market dropped after some federal financial data came out and a treasury auction was a dud
with little buyers confounded by Bank of Japan actions inconsistent with the path of the US Fed.
The mass index indicator has signaled a reversal as the signal rose above the reversal zone
and then dropped below the zone thus triggering. The Relative Trend Index documents
the end of the downtrend with the signal line nearly returning above zero. Overall, I think
this leveraged ETF overreacted to the federal news and the catalyst from Japan. I believe
this to be an good point to enter long using the pivot low as the stop loss. Targets are 7.20
just below the mean anchored VWAP and 7.45 just below the lower boundary of the high
volume area of the intermediate term volume profile. This offers modest potential profile
for a relatively low risk.
GOLD TO TEST SUPPLY AT $1980Gold price is higher above $1970 during early New York trading session ahead of the Fed. Fed Powell’s speech will be crucial for gold buyers as 0.25% rate hike priced in. XAUUSD tested 1950 support and bounced yesterday which opened the path to $1970. However, a supply zone from May, around $1983 - 1987, appears a tough nut to crack for the XAUUSD bulls. We will be looking for Fed Powell press conference later today for trading opportunities.
BluetonaFX - DXY US Dollar Fragile After FOMCHi Traders!
The US dollar is showing signs of fragility after the expected 25 basis point interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve and the FOMC press conference today due to the ongoing high inflation issues in the US economy.
This was reflected in the price action on the DXY 1D chart. The market hit the 50% Fibonacci retracement level at 101.590 to continue the bearish impulsive wave, and the US dollar index might continue down and go back under the 100 level to target the support level at 99.578.
There is further data out of the US tomorrow, and if we get further bad news from the US tomorrow, we might possibly get the break below 100.
Please do not forget to like, comment, and follow, as your support greatly helps.
We appreciate your support.
BluetonaFX
dxy after federal Fund ratehi dear trader my road map for dollar curency index ...
One more Fed rate hike at least and a narrowly softer dollar outlook
The forthcoming Federal Open Market Committee meeting may be a relatively subdued gathering, leaving exciting loose ends for September. Meanwhile, the dollar could trade around current ranges with a modest softening bias over the rest of the year.
July FOMC meeting
The FOMC meets on 25-26 July and a 25-basis point hike in the Fed Funds rate is inevitable. The ‘skip’ from the last meeting foreshadowed a hike in July – and potentially another in September. Markets unanimously expect a July hike and Federal Reserve officials haven’t pushed back.
Since the June FOMC meeting, and in view of favourable inflation prints and softer employment data, markets no longer anticipate a September hike. While that may prove right, they might be getting ahead of themselves. One month’s data doesn’t make a trend. Further, core inflation remains too high for the Fed and labour markets are still quite resilient. Expectations of a US recession or hard landing continue to fade – ‘soft landing’ is the buzzword of the day.
More data will come in after the July FOMC meeting and data dependence will shape the September decision. Perhaps the Jackson Hole symposium in August will shed some light on Fed thinking.
The key challenge for the July meeting will be communications. Regardless of the September outlook, the Fed has won its months-long struggle, convincing markets that, at least for now, the FOMC is on hold for the rest of 2023. The July meeting should be wary of any statements that might imperil this victory.
Foreign exchange outlook
Predicting exchange rates is a fool’s errand. With that disclaimer, what is the dollar’s outlook for the remainder of the year?
The dollar is off its peak from last autumn, but it remains strong (Figure 1). The dollar’s upside may be limited as the Fed’s rate hiking cycle is nearing an end. Improving inflation may inject a downward bias to note and bond yields. However, the downside may also be limited given anticipation that the FFR, after peaking, will be on hold for the rest of 2023 and services price will be sticky.
Figure 1. Dollar remains strong despite falling from peak
Source: Federal Reserve; through June 2023
A soft landing scenario would comport with muted dollar sentiment and modest volatility, unlike a sharp risk-off or risk-on environment. Decent dollar selling could emerge when markets perceive with certainty the Fed will start embarking on rate cuts, but that isn’t priced in at this juncture until early next year.
The base case faces two-sided risks. If US inflation comes down more sharply than anticipated, major financial instability emerges or the economy sharply stagnates, the Fed could begin cutting rates earlier than expected, yields could fall and the dollar tumble. On the upside, more inflation persistence or greater than expected vigour in the US economy could sustain demand, as could a heightening in geopolitical risks.
Of course, the dollar will also be impacted by what is happening abroad.
Markets are discounting two more European Central Bank hikes this year – though there is increased debate about a September hike. The euro area economy has already stagnated and the outlook is for continued weakness. Absent further inflationary impulse, this weakness will curb the ECB’s hiking appetite and limit euro appreciation.
The Japanese yen’s course will be sensitive to finance ministry concerns about yen weakness and yield curve control policy expectations. Further yen weakness will be limited by market concerns over official jawboning or intervention. Meanwhile, markets expected a quick abandonment of YCC after Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda stepped down earlier this year, but his successor Kazuo Ueda has taken a cautious approach. However, YCC adjustment seems more a question of when than if. Altering YCC could significantly boost the yen.
There may be modest renminbi upside against the dollar. It’s a managed currency, and opaquely so. It has depreciated against the dollar by some 4% this year, mainly reflecting divergent monetary policy stances in the US and China. Capital inflow to China has sharply ebbed over the last year. The authorities are resisting depreciation, though not through formal People’s Bank of China intervention, and increasingly signalling stronger aversion to renminbi weakness. .
The Chinese growth surge expected after reopening has fallen short of expectations given strong headwinds. The PBoC has only run slightly more accommodative policies and the fiscal authorities have so far eschewed significant stimulus given the economy’s high indebtedness. The renminbi will remain soft overall, unless authorities embark unexpectedly on stepped up fiscal stimulus – a topic increasingly debated.
With the UK facing continued inflation challenges, the Bank of England may need to stick with relatively high rates, undergirding sterling.
One quarter of the dollar’s trade-weighted basket consists of the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar. Mexico moved preemptively to raise interest rates ahead of the Fed, hiking by nearly six percentage points since early 2022, and Banco de México is holding rates high, given elevated inflation. The peso took off this year, rising by 16%. Further upside is limited. The Canadian dollar through ups and downs has been fairly flat this year.
The picture facing emerging market currencies varies. But good performers that raised policy rates preemptively relative to the Fed, such as Brazil, have experienced good capital inflows this year.
Putting it all together, the dollar may trade narrowly with a softening bias for the rest of 2023. Next year may prove more interesting.
Mark Sobel is US Chair of OMFIF.
source passage : Federal Reserve
US500 - Time for consolidation?Hi Traders,
we have a busy week ahead. We have 3 central bank interest rate decisions and a few other fundamentals coming up.
Week 30/2023
Monday: Purchasing managers' indices DE🇩🇪 , UK 🇬🇧and USA 🇺🇸
Tuesday: ifo business climate index🇩🇪, CB consumer confidence🇺🇸
Wednesday: FED interest rate decision🇺🇸
Thursday: ECB interest rate decision 🇪🇺
Friday: BOJ interest rate decision🇯🇵, CPI DE🇩🇪, PCE core rate 🇺🇸
Some Infos about the Central Banks
FED🇺🇸: The Fed is expected to raise rates by 25 basis points to between 5.25% and 5.50% at its July meeting, with traders looking for clues as to whether this will be the central bank's last rate hike of the cycle or whether it will deliver another rate hike at a future meeting that is in line with its own forecasts.
ECB🇪🇺: Again, a 25 basis point rate hike is a foregone conclusion. However, the wording will be crucial here. Because currently, a further increase in September is priced in by around 50% of market participants. The other 50% do not expect any further increase. Depending on which way the wording goes, there is definitely a lot of upside or downside potential for the euro.
BOJ🇯🇵: The Bank of Japan's interest rate and monetary policy is still expected to remain loose. This could be very exciting, especially after the last correction against the USD.
So we can expect at least on Thing... Volatility!
From Technical point of view a consolidation in the stock market would not be a surprise.
If the SP500 moves back to first Support Level this would be a possible zone for new long entry. But we should wait for the FED and their outlook.
Wish you a great Trading week!
Team tegasFX
Harmonically, US Interest Rates are Headed Toward 35%The US Interest Rate chart has been trading within a Descending Broadening Wedge and has recently broken out of the wedge. The target for a pattern like this is typically back to the inception of the pattern, which in this case would be 20%; but we also have an additional variable here, and that's the Potential Logscale Harmonic Formation we've made here. If we are to treat the action of this chart as we'd treat any other chart, then we'd expect that once B gets broken, we'd get an accelerated move all the way up to the Harmonic Completion of a Bearish Shark, which would land us at the 1.13/1.618 Harmonic Confluence Zone up at around 34-35%
There have been previous instances where Harmonics have had a predictive quality over data like this, such as the accelerated liquidity exit out of the reverse repo facility, the bond yield charts on multiple occasions, and the US Inflation Rate Charts. Which can all be seen in the related ideas tab if you are skeptical of my use of Harmonic Patterns in this context.
BluetonaFX - DXY US Dollar Outlook for Fed AnnouncementHi Traders!
The US dollar index has bounced back and is trading again above the 100 level ahead of next week's interest rate announcement from the Federal Reserve.
Analysing the technical price action on the 1D chart, we had a huge impulsive bearish wave from the 103 level to break the long-term support level at 101.921 and close below the psychological 100 level to finish at 99.578.
The market has since bounced off 99.578, and we are now currently in a retracement wave of the bearish move. The price action looks bullish, but we must be careful here due to next week's interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve.
Rates are expected to be increased by 25 basis points to 5.50%. If rates are not increased, this will be massively bearish for the US dollar, as this will be seen as weakness, and we are very likely to get new waves of bears to push the market back under 100 again and test 99.578. If rates are increased as expected, we can expect a further push to the upside to test the 101.921 resistance level. There is also a 61.8% Fibonacci level just above 101.921 at 102.046, which we have marked on the chart.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING? ⚡️ SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN LOCKSTEP 😢In this video I explain the current state of the Bitcoin market as seen through the lens of the latest pattern found in the forecast model, "The Lightning Volume". The Federal Reserves interest rate policy continues to create considerable headwinds for the Bitcoin price. When could it end? Watch this video and let me know your thoughts? Thanks for watching!