ECB Governing Council member Klaas Knot urged that risk must be reduced before the Eurozone banking union is shared more widely among member states. The measures under the union include bank deposit insurance scheme and streamlining liquidity provision for banks under resolution. Knot argued that “these elements all imply more public risk-sharing in (the European Monetary Union) as liability for bank failures in other countries is shared at the European level.” And he emphasized that ” risk-sharing should be preceded by sufficient risk-reduction.”
Separately, another Governing Council member Vitas Vasiliauskas reiterated the call for an “EU-wide banking union”. And he said that “allow for a centralized supervisory approach for all of the EU’s largest systemically important banks, regardless of host-country membership in the monetary union.” Also, he added that “we need to do a better job at convincing decision-makers in non-euro area countries to enter into the “close cooperation” regime (with the ECB).”
China PPI slowed from 8.8% yoy to 8.3% yoy, but still beat expectation of 7.9% yoy. However, the monthly rise of 1.1% mom in PPI was the fastest in five months, driven by surges in oil prices and non-ferrous metals.
CPI accelerated from 0.9% yoy to 1.5% yoy in March, above expectation of 1.2% yoy. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 1.1% yoy, unchanged from February’s reading. Prices of some food like flour, vegetable oil, fresh vegetables and eggs rose and were “affected by the rise in international prices of wheat, corn and soybeans and the domestic [coronavirus] outbreaks”, noted senior NBS statistician Dong Lijuan.
Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said yesterday that “I do expect unfortunately that the economy is going to remain weaker than many had hoped through the summer and fall”. He added the Fed’s Main Street Lending program could grow over time and the program will be “an important way to make sure that firms don’t close.”
Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said “businesses like construction had pretty good pipelines and kept going”. But “new orders are not coming on line in the same way. We have fiscal payments … that are coming to an end and it is not clear what is going to replace them.”
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said he’s “still pretty optimistic in my base case about the recovery”. “Masks will become ubiquitous throughout the economy and… fatalities will go way down.” He expected unemployment rate to drop to “maybe even 7%” by year end.
US all-item CPI accelerated from 6.8% yoy to 7.0% yoy in December, matched expectations. The annual rate was the largest increase since June 1982. Core CPI accelerated from 4.9% yoy to 5.5% yoy, above expectation of 5.4% yoy. That’s the highest level since February 1991. The energy index rose 29.3% yoy while food index rose 6.3% yoy.
US retail sales fell -0.8% mom to USD 700.3B in January, well below expectation of -0.2% mom. Ex-auto sale fell -0.6% mom to USD 567.9B, much worse than expectation of 0.1% mom rise. Ex-gasoline sales fell -0.8% mom to USD 647.9B. Ex-auto, gasoline sales fell -0.5% mom to USD 515.5B.
In the three months to January, sales were up 3.1% from the same period a year ago.
Gold’s rebound attempt last week once again faltered after rejection by 4 hour 55 EMA. Yet, it’s still resiliently holding on to 61.8% retracement of 1682.60 to 1833.79 at 1740.35. The price structure of the fall from 1833.79 is slightly favoring the case that it’s just a corrective move.
Firm break of 1787.02 will argue that such pull back has completed and bring stronger rise back to retest 1833.79/97 structural resistance zone. Such development would be in line with the case that whole correction from 2074.84 has completed after drawing support from long term fibonacci level of 38.2% retracement of 1046.27 to 2074.84 at 1681.92. However, sustained trading below 1740.35 would put focus back to this 1681.92 key fibonacci support level.
Reuters reported that Trump’s push for some form of NAFTA “agreement” before the Summit of the Americas in Lima could fail. It’s widely rumored that Trump would at least want to have something “symbolic” to sign this week. But there are still many fundamental differences between the US with its NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico.
A source was quoted saying that even a symbolic agreement needs to contain “everything defined in black and white” and key issues could not be left open for negotiation afterwards. The source noted that a deal could be possible by the end of April or early May if discussions keep advancing.
It should be noted that CAD has been strongest one this month as seen in the monthly top movers table, as well as the M heatmap. It’s mainly due to optimism that a certain form of NAFTA agreement could be delivered at the Summit of the Americas on April 13-14, or before. There is firstly, risk of sell-on-news, if the agreement is delivered. There is now secondly, risk of selloff on disappointment that it’s not delivered. So, CAD traders, beware.
France PMI Manufacturing was finalized at 55.9 in November, up from October’s 53.6. That’s the first increase since May. Markit noted that output volumes were broadly unchanged during the month. Demand improved, but remained subdued amid supply-related constraints. Output price inflation reached new high.
Joe Hayes, Senior Economist at IHS Markit, said: “Tentative signs of stabilisation were seen in the French Manufacturing PMI during November, with the growth slowdown seen since post-pandemic growth peaked back in May finally coming to a halt. The headline PMI posted its first increase for six months as trends improved in output, new orders and employment.
“That said, beyond this positive direction change, the latest data continued to show intense supply-related constraints impeding manufacturing production, denting order book volumes and adding further pressure on margins. As a result, output prices were raised to the greatest extent since this data were first published back in 2002. While demand conditions have slowed, anecdotal evidence has thus far suggested this to be a symptom on component shortages, causing firms to postpone and cancel orders until supplies improve. We’re not seeing much evidence that higher prices are a factor in causing demand to soften, which means elevated rates of inflation may not prove so transitory as many anticipate.”
Ethereum plummets further today and the post “merge surge” decline extends. Deeper fall is expected as long as 1474.00 minor resistance holds. Next near term target is 100% projection of 2028.90 to 1418.47 from 1787.45 at 1177.02. Firm break there could bring downside acceleration through 878.5 to 161.8% projection at 799.77.
Bitcoin’s development is even worse. Deeper decline is expected as long as 20167 resistance holds, for 17575 low. Break there will target 100% projection of 25198 to 18518 from 22764 at 16084.
As BoC meets today, many observers anticipate the bank will maintain its pause, leaving interest rates untouched at 4.50%. However, recent economic developments have injected a dose of doubt into the mix. Market speculation reveals that there is approximately a 45% probability of a 25-basis point adjustment, making this rate decision look more like a coin toss.
The prevailing viewpoint among economists is that BoC might defer any rate changes until its July meeting. Two crucial reasons fortify this standpoint. First, the July assembly aligns with the release of a fresh batch of economic projections, offering BoC ground to justify any rate recalibrations. Second, the subsequent press conference would grant Governor Tiff Macklem the opportunity to explain their decision to a watchful audience.
However, if the central bank is indeed leaning towards a rate adjustment in July, then today’s announcement might carry a hint of hawkishness. If so, this shift could be a strategic move to prepare the markets for potential changes ahead, and give Canadian Dollar a lift.
CAD/JPY has been losing upside momentum as seen in 4H MACD, even though the rally from 94.04 extended. Such rise is seen as the second leg of the corrective pattern from 110.87. It’s now pressing an important fibonacci resistance of 61.8% retracement of 110.87 to 94.04 at 104.44.
Decisive break of 104.44, as prompted by hawkish BoC, could trigger upside re-acceleration to retest 110.87 high. But for now, firm break there is not expected yet.
On the other hand, break of 102.12 support will indicate rejection by 104.44. More importantly, the pattern from 110.87 might have then started the third leg. Sustained trading below 55 D EMA (now at 100.88) would bring deeper fall back towards 94.04.
China’s import unexpectedly contracted by -8.5% yoy in May. That’s the large contraction since July 2016, indicating underlying weakness in the economy. Exports did unexpectedly rose 1.1% yoy. But that was likely because of front-loading ahead of new US tariffs. Trade surplus, thus, widened to USD 41.7B. Meanwhile, trade with US continued to deteriorate. From January to May, imports dropped US dropped -29.6% yoy while, exports dropped -8.4% yoy, leaving a surplus at USD 110.5B.
In May, in USD term:
Exports rose 1.1% yoy to USD 213.9B.
Imports dropped -8.5% yoy to USD 172.2B.
Total trade dropped -3.4% yoy to USD 386.0B.
Trade surplus came in at USD 41.7B, above expectation of USD 23.2B.
Good morning. I’m pleased to be here with you to discuss today’s policy announcement and the Bank of Canada’s Monetary Policy Report (MPR). I am especially pleased to have Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers here for her first press conference. She has joined the Governing Council at an important time.
Our message today is threefold.
First, the emergency monetary measures needed to support the economy through the pandemic are no longer required and they have ended.
Second, interest rates will need to increase to control inflation. Canadians should expect a rising path for interest rates.
Third, while reopening our economy after repeated waves of the COVID-19 pandemic is complicated, Canadians can be confident that the Bank of Canada will control inflation. We are committed to bringing inflation back to target.
Let me take each of these in turn.
The Bank’s response to the pandemic has been forceful. Throughout, our actions have been guided by our mandate. We have been resolute and deliberate, communicating clearly with Canadians on our extraordinary measures to support the economy and on the conditions for their exit. When we introduced emergency liquidity measures to support core funding markets, we said they would end when market functioning was restored. And they did. When we launched quantitative easing (QE), we said it would continue until the recovery was well underway. As the recovery progressed, we began tapering QE and ended it in October. Today marks the final step in exiting from emergency policies. We said exceptional forward guidance would continue until economic slack was absorbed. With the strength of the recovery through the second half of 2021, the Governing Council now judges this condition has been met. As such, we are removing our commitment to hold our policy rate at its floor of 0.25%.
Second, we want to clearly signal that we expect interest rates will need to increase. A lot of factors are contributing to the uncomfortably high inflation we are experiencing today, and many of them are global and reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic. As the pandemic fades, conditions will normalize, and inflation will come down. However, with Canadian labour markets tightening and evidence of capacity pressures increasing, the Governing Council expects higher interest rates will be needed to bring inflation back to the 2% target.
Finally, Canadians can be assured that the Bank of Canada will control inflation. Prices for many goods and services are rising quickly, and this is making it harder for Canadians to make ends meet—particularly those with low incomes. Prices for food, gasoline and housing have all risen faster than usual. We expect inflation will remain close to 5% through the first half of 2022 and then move lower. There is some uncertainty about how quickly inflation will come down because we’ve never experienced a pandemic like this before. But Canadians can be assured that we will use our monetary policy tools to control inflation.
Let me turn to the economic outlook that we’ve outlined in our MPR.
Globally, the pandemic recovery is strong but uneven and continues to be marked by supply chain disruptions. Robust demand for goods combined with these supply problems and higher energy prices have pushed up global inflation. With this rise in inflation, expectations that monetary stimulus will be reduced have been pulled forward and financial conditions have tightened from very accommodative levels.
In Canada, growth in the second half of 2021 was even stronger than we had projected, and a wide range of measures now suggest economic slack is absorbed. With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, first-quarter growth is likely to be modest, but we expect the impact on our economy to be less severe than previous waves. We forecast annual growth in economic activity will be 4% this year and about 3½% in 2023 as consumer spending on services rebounds and business investment and exports show solid growth.
CPI inflation is currently well above our target range and core measures have edged up. Global supply chain disruptions, weather-related increases in agricultural prices and high energy prices have put upward pressure on inflation in Canada, and that is expected to continue in the months ahead. These pressures should ease in the second half of 2022, and inflation should decline relatively quickly to around 3% by year end. Further out, we expect demand will moderate and supply will increase as productivity improves. This will ease price pressures and bring inflation gradually back close to the 2% target over 2023 and 2024.
Let me now say a few words about the Governing Council’s deliberations.
Of course, we discussed the impact of Omicron. Renewed restrictions and household caution about this highly infectious variant have temporarily slowed economic activity. Once again, high-contact services sectors have been hardest hit. But with many more Canadians getting infected in this wave, worker absences have been more widespread. Our high rates of vaccination and adaptability to restrictions should limit the downside economic risks of this wave.
The Governing Council also spent considerable time assessing the overall balance of demand and supply in the economy. In October, we projected the output gap would close sometime in the middle quarters of this year. While measuring the output gap is always uncertain and pandemic-related distortions make assessing supply more complicated, a broad range of indicators clearly suggest economic slack has been absorbed more quickly than expected. Employment is above pre-pandemic levels, businesses are having a hard time filling job openings, and wage increases are picking up. Unevenness across sectors remains, but taking all the evidence together, the Governing Council judges the economy is now operating close to its capacity.
We debated the most likely path for inflation. The resolution of global supply bottlenecks has important implications for inflation in Canada. There is some evidence that supply disruptions may have peaked, but the spread of Omicron is a new wildcard that could further disrupt global supply chains. We also considered the potential for some reversal of the large price increases for goods. This would pull inflation down more quickly than we forecast. Overall, we judged the risks around our inflation projection are reasonably balanced.
We also assessed more domestic sources of inflationary pressures. While global goods price inflation is expected to ease, the tightness in Canadian labour markets, rising house prices and evident capacity pressures suggest that if demand continues to grow faster than supply this will put upward pressure on inflation.
We noted that measures of inflation expectations are broadly in line with our own forecast, with longer-term expectations remaining well anchored on the 2% target. We agreed it is paramount to ensure that higher near-term inflation expectations don’t migrate into higher long-term expectations and become embedded in ongoing inflation.
Putting all this together, we concluded that, consistent with our forecast, a rising path for interest rates will be required to moderate spending growth and bring inflation back to target.
Of course, we discussed when to begin increasing our policy interest rate. Our approach to monetary policy throughout the pandemic has been deliberate, and we were mindful that the rapid spread of Omicron will dampen spending in the first quarter. So we decided to keep our policy rate unchanged today, remove our commitment to hold it at its floor, and signal that rates can be expected to increase going forward. As we indicated in our press release this morning, the timing and pace of those increases will be guided by the Bank’s commitment to achieving the 2% inflation target.
We take our communication with Canadians very seriously. For almost two years now we have told Canadians we would keep our policy rate pinned at its floor until economic slack is absorbed. With slack absorbed more quickly than expected, it is time to remove our extraordinary forward guidance. This ends our emergency policy setting and signals that interest rates will now be on a rising path. This is a significant shift in monetary policy, and we judged that it is appropriate to move forward in a deliberate series of steps.
Let me say a final word about another important monetary policy tool—our balance sheet. The Bank will keep the holdings of Government of Canada bonds on our balance sheet roughly constant at least until we begin to raise the policy interest rate. At that time, we will consider exiting the reinvestment phase and reducing the size of our balance sheet by allowing maturing Government of Canada bonds to roll off. As we have done in the past, before implementing changes to our balance sheet management, we will provide more information on our plans.
With that, Senior Deputy Governor Rogers and I will be happy to take your questions.
US retail sales rose 17.7% to USD 465.5B in May, wall above expectation of 7.6% mom. Ex-auto sales rose 12.4% mom, above expectation of 5.1% mom. Ex-gasoline sales rose 18.0% mom. Ex-auto, ex-gasoline sales rose 12.5%. For the period Mar through May, headline sales dropped -10.5% yoy from the same period a year ago.
Swiss GDP contracted -2.6% qoq in Q1, worse than expectation of -2.2% qoq. “Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the measures to contain it, economic activity in March was severely restricted. The international economic slump also slowed down exports.”
By production approach, manufacturing dropped -1.3% qoq. Construction dropped -4.2% qoq. Trade dropped -4.4%. Accommodation and food dropped -23.4% qoq. Business services dropped -1.9% qoq. Health and social activities dropped -3.9% qoq. Arts, entertainment and recreation dropped -5.4% qoq. On the other hand, finance and insurance rose 1.5% qoq. Public administration rose 0.8% qoq.
By expenditure approach, private consumption dropped -3.5% qoq. Equipment and software investment dropped -4.0% qoq. Construction investment dropped -0.4% qoq. Export of services dropped -4.4% qoq. Import of goods dropped -1.1% qoq while imports of services dropped -1.2% qoq. On the other and, government consumption rose 0.7% qoq. Exports of goods rose 3.4% qoq.
US CPI rises 0.3% mom in January, above expectation of 0.2% mom. CPI core (all items less food and energy) rise 0.4% mom, above expectation of 0.3% mom. Index for shelter rose 0.6% mom, contributing over two thirds of the monthly all item increase. Food index rose 0.4% mom while energy index fell -0.9% mom.
For the 12-month period, CPI slowed from 3.4% yoy to 3.1% yoy, above expectation of 2.9% yoy. CPI core was unchanged at 3.9% yoy, above expectation of 3.8% yoy. Energy index fell -4.6% yoy while food index rose 2.6% yoy.
Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said that “interest rates continue to rise this year and into next year through the first half and maybe by then we can pause and we can start bringing them back down.” She would “pencil in going a bit above four as appropriate”.
As for September meeting, she said, “it’s not unreasonable to think we might have to do a 75 (basis point move) but I can imagine it could be a 50. We’ll just have to look at the data as it comes in.”
Eurozone (EA19) GDP growth came in at to 0.2% qoq in Q4, matched expectations. it’s also the same rate as in Q3. That’s also the lowest rate in four years since Q2 of 2014. Annual rate slowed to 1.2% yoy, down from Q3’s 1.6% yoy. The year-on-year rate is a five year low.
European Union (EU28) GDP growth came in at 0.3% qoq. Annual rate slowed to 1.5% yoy, down from 1.8% yoy.
Also released, Italy GDP contracted -0.2% qoq in Q4, worse than expectation of -0.1% qoq. Italian was in technical recession with two consecutive quarters of contraction.
The NIESR said UK is on course to post zero growth in Q4, with 1.4% growth in 2019 as a whole. Recent surveys suggest that economic activity was little changed in December, though there is some evidence of an improvement in business sentiment after the election.
Dr Garry Young, Director of Macroeconomic Modelling and Forecasting, said: “The latest data confirm that economic growth in the United Kingdom had petered out at the end of last year. GDP was virtually flat in the three months to November and the latest surveys point to further stagnation in December. While there is some evidence of an improvement in business optimism following the general election, it is doubtful that this will do much to change the short-term economic outlook of further lacklustre growth.”
Japan PMI Manufacturing was finalized at 50.1 in June, up from May’s 38.4. Markit noted that firms still operate full capacity due to slow-moving order books. Export demand declines as coronavirus disruptions linger on. But business confidence rebounds into positive territory.
Joe Hayes, Economist at IHS Markit, said: “The chance of a V-shape recovery in the manufacturing sector appears slim at this stage, which opens up the possibility of a two-speed economy if the domestic-focused service sector shows more signs of activity.”
BoJ board member Hitoshi Suzuki said today that there is “absolutely no need” to ramp up monetary easing. He added, “if the momentum for hitting the price target is lost, the BOJ will consider taking appropriate action. But many board members, including myself, believe the momentum is sustained.”
Nevertheless, Suzuki noted it’s the current massive stimulus program is still needed. He said “there’s a risk inflation won’t accelerate much for a prolonged period, as companies remain cautious of raising wages and households are sensitive to price rises.
ECB Vasiliauskas pushes banking union, but Knot said risk reduction first
ECB Governing Council member Klaas Knot urged that risk must be reduced before the Eurozone banking union is shared more widely among member states. The measures under the union include bank deposit insurance scheme and streamlining liquidity provision for banks under resolution. Knot argued that “these elements all imply more public risk-sharing in (the European Monetary Union) as liability for bank failures in other countries is shared at the European level.” And he emphasized that ” risk-sharing should be preceded by sufficient risk-reduction.”
Separately, another Governing Council member Vitas Vasiliauskas reiterated the call for an “EU-wide banking union”. And he said that “allow for a centralized supervisory approach for all of the EU’s largest systemically important banks, regardless of host-country membership in the monetary union.” Also, he added that “we need to do a better job at convincing decision-makers in non-euro area countries to enter into the “close cooperation” regime (with the ECB).”