Week Ending on Mixed Note as Year of Rooster Begins

The Lunar New Year celebration thinned participation in Asia, where several centers are closed.  Although the MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped slightly, it rose 1.5% on the week, the fourth weekly gain in the past five weeks.  The Nikkei advanced 0.35%, the third rise in a row.  The 1.75% gain for the week snaps a two-week decline. 

The pullback in the yen this week lent support to Japanese equities.  The yen is off about 0.5% today against the dollar, which is trying to establish a foothold above JPY115.00.  If the greenback holds today's gain, it will be the second consecutive weekly gain and the third in the past four weeks. 

With the 10-year JGB yield near 10 bp, it is not surprising that the BOJ entered the market to buy bonds earlier today, according to reports.  Earlier, Japan reported CPI figures.  Although in absolute terms, the numbers were soft, they were a little better than had been expected and reinforces ideas that the worst of deflation has passed.   Headline CPI rose 0.3% year-over-year, down from 0.5% in November and better than the 0.2% consensus.  Excluding fresh food, prices were off 0.2%.  Excluding food and energy, CPI was off 0.2% compared with -0.4% in November.  Tokyo, which reports CPI with a smaller lag saw better than expected January readings.  

The BOJ meets next week.  Although it most likely will not change policy, it will review its economic assessment.  The yen's pullback over the past few months and higher oil prices, coupled with stronger exports may encourage guard optimism.   There is scope for it to tweak higher its outlook for both growth and inflation.

We have been tracking the potential double bottom in the dollar near JPY112.50  forged over the past two weeks.  The neckline is near JPY115.60.  If and when it is taken out, the measuring objective is near JPY118.60.  The dollar has not closed above the 20-day moving average since January 4.  It is found today just below JPY115.10.

European equities are trading with a heavier bias.  The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is off around 0.4% near midday in London and is poised to snap a three-day advance.  It is holding on to almost a 1% gain on the week, which would be the fourth weekly advance in the past five.  The push lower today filled the gap created with yesterday's sharply higher opening, but the gap from Wednesday may still attract prices.  It is found between 362.42 and 363.04.  

The ECB reported December money supply and lending figures.  After year-over-year growth slowed below a 5% pace in October and November, it accelerated back to 5% in December.  Lending also improved slightly.  Credit extension to non-financial businesses rose 2% from 1.9%.  Lending to households increased to 2.3% from 2.1%.  Improving credit conditions and rising price pressures may keep the hawks pressing for more tapering soon.  

Next week's preliminary January CPI may provide more ammunition.  Recall that the aggregate headline rate jumped to 1.1% in December from 0.6% in November.  It is expected to have risen toward 1.5% in January.  However, the increase is largely a function of energy prices.  The core rate is expected to remain at 0.9%.  The trough was near 0.6%.  

After testing yesterday's low (a little below $1.0660) in late Asia turnover, the euro turned bid in Europe.  The fate of the euro's five-week uptrend will depend on the North American session. The euro finished last week a little above $1.07.  The high yesterday' afternoon in the US was almost $1.0705.  The intra-day technical readings suggest that if that area is violated it is unlikely to spur a strong advance.  

There are three highlights from the North American session today.  First, investors will receive the first estimate of US Q4 GDP.  After yesterday's inventory and trade data,  the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow estimate ticked up to 2.9%.  The New York Fed tracker is for 2.1%, while the Bloomberg consensus is for a 2.2%.  This compares with a 3.5% pace in Q3.  It is not just the pace, but the composition of growth changed.  There were a bit less consumption and a larger drag from the external sector.  The core PCE deflator may have eased to 1.3% from 1.7%.  

Second, the University of Michigan provides its final consumer confidence reading for January and the results of its inflation expectations survey. The preliminary report showed the 5-10 year inflation expectation at 2.5% vs., 2.3% in December.  The 12-month average is 2.5%, and the 24-month average is 2.6%.  

The third highlight is UK Prime Minister May's meeting with US President Trump.  The most May can hope for are some friendly words about the potential for a free-trade agreement with the US.  It does fit in with Trump's seemingly antipathy toward the EU and his support for Brexit.  Trump also favors bilateral agreements over the multilateral efforts.  However, such an agreement is hardly imminent.  The UK is still a member of the EU  and cannot negotiate a bilateral agreement.  The new US Administration's trade focus is on NAFTA.   Ironically, May is embracing global trade and international cooperation as the US seems to be distancing itself from such goals.  Although she shares the criticism of the liberal internationalist interventionism, she recognizes that if the UK and US take a step back, others (like Russia and China) take a step forward.  

Tensions between the US and Mexico may be the worst since 1920 were when US President Coolidge threatened to invade.  Trump has some discretion as US President but the idea of a 20% tariff on Mexican imports to pay for the wall is bluster.  First, it violates the NAFTA agreement. Second, if there were not NAFTA, it would violate the WTO.  Third, the President would need Congressional support.  He can impose a 15% temporary tariff claiming a balance of payments emergency, but this is extreme.  Fourth, Mexico could retaliate.  

Trade between the two countries is very complex.  Some goods may cross the border several times before final good is finished.  Research suggests that as much as 40% of the content of Mexico's exports originate in the US.  Several European and Japanese automakers have production facilities in Mexico.  If new tariffs become onerous, their production may not be moved to the US, but it could go home or to a third country.  

Earlier in the week, we noted the potential double top in the dollar near MXN22.00. The neckline near MXN21.50 was violated.  The minimum measuring objective was near MXN21.00, which has been marginally surpassed (yesterday's low was near MXN20.86). The peso has fared well despite the escalation of tensions. The peso is trading with a lower bias today,  but it is poised to snap a six-week slide.  Even with the small losses showing now, the peso is up a little more than 1.6% on the week.  

The Canadian dollar is up nearly as much as the peso this week, making it the strongest of the majors.  The Canadian dollar has been helped by three considerations. First, it is not the target of new US Administration, and to the contrary, Trump's support for the pipelines was seen as favorable. Second, the 10-year rate differential has moved in Canada's favor this week, and the two-year is stable.  Third, oil prices are firm for the second consecutive week.  It is the sixth advance in seven weeks.  Important support is seen near CAD1.30.  A move now above CAD1.3135 could spur a push into the CAD1.3185-CAD1.3220 area.  




Disclaimer