The US dollar has been unable to find any traction as US yields continue
to move lower. The US 10-year year is slipping below 2.03% in
European turnover, the lowest level in ten months. The risk, as we have
noted, is that without prospects of stronger growth and inflation impulses, the
yield returns to where was before the US election (~1.85%). The two-year
note yield, anchored more by Fed policy than the long-end, is also
soft. It yielded 1.25% today, the same as the upper end of the Fed funds
target range, and the rate that the Federal Reserve pays on all bank reserves
(not just excess reserves).
Moreover, the developments over the past 24 hours suggest that the divergence theme between the US and Europe remains
intact. Although Draghi indicated the level of concern about the euro
has increased since July (something that a few members cited in then compared
to "most" now), he also signaled a gradual process of
"calibrating" the adjustment of the program (within current parameters).
At the same time, comments from Fed officials this week, ahead of the
blackout period in front of the FOMC meeting, the consensus appears to remain
intact to begin allowing the Fed's balance sheet to be shrinking. The process will also begin slowly ($10 bln
a month), but in Q3 18, this will have been gradually ratcheted up to $40 bln a
month. The ECB's balance sheet may still be expanding.
The euro neared $1.2100 in late Asian turnover
but is trading a bit heavier in Europe, but it has mostly remained above levels
seen at the end of the North American session yesterday. There is a 585 mln euro option struck at
$1.2050 that may be in place. The $1.2165 area corresponds to a 50%
retracement of the euro's slide that began in mid-2014. Above there, and
some are already forecasting it, a move toward $1.25-$1.26.
Note that Draghi indicated that the euro had averaged around $1.18 when
the staff made its forecasts. The euro's continued appreciation will
impact the next set of forecasts. At the same time, it appears that the
staff forecast changes were less than one would have thought based on the
pass-through from the currency strength.
Whereas the euro strengthened despite the prospects for continued
divergence, the yen has extended its
gains despite a sharper than expected downward revision in Q2 GDP.
The revision is from spectacular growth (1% quarter-over-quarter) to solid
(0.6%). The culprit was a business
investment. It was revised to 0.5%
from the initial 2.4%. Consumption was
shaved to 0.8% from 0.9%. Part of these drags was blunted by an
increase in public investment (6.0% vs. 5.1%). The GDP deflator remained
at minus 0.4%.
The decline in US yields seems to
explain the bulk of the dollar's drop against the yen. It has broken
through JPY108 for the first time since last November. We have suggested
that a break of JPY108 would set up a test on the JPY106.50 area. This still seems reasonable, especially if the
US 10-year falls below 2.0%. The geopolitical uncertainty, with
fears that North Kora may have another missile launch over the weekend, may be a short-term factor,
discouraging much of a short-covering dollar bounce in North America
today.
Sterling has continued to advance. Yesterday it closed above
the 61.8% retracement of the pullback since the August 3 high near
$1.3265. That retracement (~$1.3080) is
now supported. We suggested the move above $1.3020 earlier in the
week generated a technical signal suggesting a near-term move toward $1.3200.,
but long-term, the $1.3430 area, may need
to be tested. It is the 50%
retracement of the decline since the referendum.
Today's UK industrial production figures for July were largely in line
with expectations with a 0.2% monthly advance. Within industrial
output, manufacturing was a bright spot. It rose 0.5% after a flat June
reading. Construction output was considerably weaker than expected (-0.9%
vs. median guesstimate of -0.2%). It is the fourth consecutive monthly
decline. Separately, the UK reported a somewhat smaller trade deficit,
but much of the improvement was due to revisions to the June series.
China reported August trade figures. Exports were less robust
and imports more, leading to a narrower
trade surplus. Export growth slowed to 5.5% from 7.2% (expectations
~6.0%). Imports accelerated to 13.3% from 11.0% (expectations
~10%). The trade surplus fell to $42 bln from $46.7 bln. Exports to
the US are up 8.4% from a year ago to $39.2 bln. Its bilateral trade
surplus of $26.2 bln is the largest in two years.
The dollar fell 1.5% against the yuan this week. The dollar has
not fallen 1% of more against the yuan in over a decade, and now it has done it for two weeks back-to-back. It
is the third consecutive weekly decline. In fact, here in Q3, the yuan
has only fallen in two weeks. The US dollar bottomed against the yuan in
early 2014 near CNY6.04. It peaked at the end of last year near
CNY6.9650. It shot through CNY6.50 this week, which is 50% marker. The 61.8% retracement objective is seen by CNY6.39.
Disclaimer
US Dollar Tracks Yields Lower
Reviewed by Marc Chandler
on
September 08, 2017
Rating: