German ZEW economic sentiment rose to 31.7, but current situation dropped to 12.5

    Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment rose to 31.7 in November, up from 22.3, well above expectation of 20.3. That’s also the first rise since May. Current Situation, however, worsened again and dropped sharply from 21.6 to 12.5, well below expectation of 19.4.

    Eurozone ZEW Economic Sentiment rose from 21.0 to 25.9, above expectation of 20.6. Current situation dropped -4.3 pts to 11.6. Inflation expectations for Eurozone dropped very sharply by -31.4 pts to -14.3. This shows that the experts expect the inflation rate in the eurozone to decline over the next six months.

    “Financial market experts are more optimistic about the coming six months. However, the renewed decline in the assessment of the economic situation shows that the experts assume that the supply bottlenecks for raw materials and intermediate products as well as the high inflation rate will have a negative impact on the economic development in the current quarter. For the first quarter of 2022, they expect growth to pick up again and inflation to fall both in Germany and the eurozone,” comments ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach on current expectations.

    Full release here.

    Australia NAB business confidence rose to 21 in Oct, conditions rose to 11

      Australia NAB business confidence rose sharply from 10 to 21 in October. Business conditions rose from 5 to 11, back above long-run average. Trading conditions rose from 10 to 17. Profitability conditions rose from 2 to 8. Employment conditions rose from 1 to 6.

      “The large improvement in forward orders provides further evidence of the strong rebound in economic activity that is underway,” said NAB Chief Economist Alan Oster. “Businesses can see that conditions are improving and that momentum should continue over coming months.”

      “We are starting to see some price pressures, but these remain largely in the form of pressure on input costs,” said Oster. “These pressures should pull back as global supply chain disruptions ease and labour markets normalise, although this process may take some time yet.”

      Full release here.

      BoE Bailey: We will have to act on interest rates if evidence becomes clear

        BoE Governor Andrew Bailey there was “a risk of more bottlenecks in the economy, especially in demand for labour which could fuel expectations of higher inflation.”

        And, “once you start to get an increase in inflation of this sort we want to stop it becoming generalized in the economy.”

        “That’s why we would, and will, have to act on interest rates if we see that evidence becoming clear,” he said.

        Fed Evans: Inflation to stay more elevated in 2022

          Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said, “inflation will stay more elevated in 2022”, but “we have time to be patient”. In his own view, Fed will not need to raise interest rates until 2023.

          Nevertheless, in a speech, he said there are signs that inflation pressures could build up more broadly. “These developments deserve careful monitoring and present a greater upside risk to my inflation outlook than I had thought last summer.”

          Separately, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said, “housing supply issues are unlikely to reverse materially in the short term, which suggests that we are likely to see higher inflation from housing for a while.”

          Fed Harker: No rate hike before tapering is complete

            Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said yesterday “I don’t expect that the federal funds rate will rise before the tapering is complete.” But he added, “we are monitoring inflation very closely and are prepared to take action, should circumstances warrant it.”

            Harker expected the economy to grow by around 5.5% this year and 4% next, provided that there is no further wave of COVID-19 infections. Then growth was slow to 2-3% in 2023.

            Fed Bullard: May have to act sooner to keep inflation under control

              St. Louis Fed President James Bullard told Fox Business network, that supply chain disruption is expected to extend through 2022. “if inflation is more persistent than we are saying right now, then I think we may have to take a little sooner action in order to keep inflation under control,” he added.

              But he said, “we’ve done a lot to move the policy in a more hawkish direction.” And, “if we had to, we could end the taper somewhat sooner than June”.

              He penciled in two rate hikes in 2022.

              Fed Clarida: Necessary conditions for rate hike to be met by 2022 end

                In a speech, Fed Chair Vice Clarida said the US is “a ways away from considering raising interest rates”. However, if outlook for inflation and unemployment realized over time, the “three necessary conditions for raising the target range for the federal funds rate will have been met by year-end 2022”.

                Clarida also said his individual projections for GDP growth, the unemployment rate, inflation and the policy rate path were quite close the the September median projections. Real GDP would return to its prepandemic trend growth trajectory by Q4 this year, representing “one of the most rapid such recoveries in 50 years.” The 4.2 “employment gap” relative to the previous cycle peak will be eliminated by the end of 2022.

                Realized PCE inflation so far this year was “much more than a ‘moderate’ overshoot” of the 2% target. But ” I would not consider a repeat performance next year a policy success”. Also, risks to inflation outlook are “to the upside”.

                Full speech here.

                Eurozone Sentix investor confidence rose to 18.3, mid-cycle slowdown coming to an end

                  Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence rose to 18.3 in November, up from 16.9, slightly below expectation of 18.6. That also the first rise since July. However, current situation index dropped from 26.3 to 23.5, lowest since June. Expectations, on the other hand, rose from 8.0 to 13.3.

                  Sentix said, the economic slowdown is “coming to an end”. Economic expectations suggested that the latest declines were just a “mid-cycle slowdown”. “This thesis seems to be con-firmed by the November data. The threat of an economic turnaround is thus off the table.”

                  Full release here.

                  ECB Lane: There’s still a lot of momentum in the system

                    In an interview with El PaĂ­s, ECB chief economic Philip Lane said “we don’t think the recovery process is over”, and “growth will be pretty strong in 2022”. Tourist season will be “better next year” and bottlenecks “ultimately will be resolved.” Also, other factors include savings accumulated during the pandemic, the Next Generation EU fund, and the high vaccination rates.

                    The headaches about bottlenecks and higher energy prices are “not going to wipe out the underlying momentum of the recovery”. He added, “it is not only about getting back to where we were before the pandemic – it’s also about catching up to the growth that we should have had in 2020 and 2021. So there is still a lot of momentum in the system.”

                    “Inflation is unexpectedly high at the moment, but we do think it is going to fall next year,” he said. “we did talk about ‘inflation, inflation, inflation’, but this period of inflation is very unusual and temporary, and not a sign of a chronic situation. The situation we are in now is very different from the 1970s and 1980s.”

                    Full interview here.

                    Bitcoin rises above 65k, Ethereum hits new record high

                      Bitcoin jumps above 65k handle today and rebound from 57762 finally picks up momentum after some setback. We’re slightly favoring the case that it’s ready to resume larger up trend to through 66982 record high. In that case, next target will be 161.8% projection of 29261 to 52922 from 39559 at 77842. However, break of 61613 support will delay the bullish case and extend the corrective pattern from 66982 with another falling leg.

                      A the same time, Ethereum also rises to new record high today as up trend extends. It’s so far channeling well with steady upside momentum. Next target should be 100% projection of 1715.62 to 4025.10 from 2647.30 at 4956.78, which is close to 5k handle. For now, outlook will stay bullish as long as 4327.15 support holds, in case of retreat.

                      BoC Macklem: High inflation is transitory but not short-lived

                        BoC Governor Tiff Macklem said in in TV interview over the weekend that current high inflation will be “transitory but not short-lived”.

                        I think transitory, to economists, means sort of not permanent,” he said. “I think to a lot of people, transitory means it’s going to be over quickly. … I don’t know exactly what the right word is, but it’s probably something like, ‘transitory but not short-lived.'”

                        Macklem pointed to the latest economic projections, which indicated that inflation would rise further from current 18-year high of 4.4% to 5%, then gradually drop back to 2% by the end of next year. And that’s what he meant by “transitory but not short-lived”.

                        BoJ opinions: Important to persistently continue with extremely accommodative monetary policy

                          In the Summary of Opinions of BoJ’s October 27-28 meeting, it’s noted that because of low inflation, it’s important to persistently continue with extremely accommodative monetary policy even when pent-up demand increases.” Also, BoJ should “persistently continue with the current monetary easing” so that “a rise in corporate profits leads to wage increases and the virtuous cycle from income to spending intensifies.”

                          To “alleviate the effects of deterioration in the terms of trade”, it’s necessary to improve economic activity and raise inflation expectations so that “firms can smoothly pass on the rise in raw material prices to domestic selling prices.” It’s important to “improve the output gap” so that “the pass-through of price rises will be promoted..

                          Yen’s depreciation reflected “differences in inflation rates and monetary policy stances among economies.” It’s important to consider the impact of rise in international commodity prices and Yen’s depreciation. But, it is necessary to keep in mind that their effects on each economic entity are uneven depending on industry and size.

                          Full Summary of Opinions here.

                          US NFP grew 531k in Oct, unemployment rate dropped to 4.6%

                            US non-farm payroll employment grew 531k in October, better than expectation of 425k. Prior month’s figure was also revised sharply higher from 194k to 312k. Thus far this year, monthly job growth averaged 582k. Total non-farm employment was still -4.2m, or -2.8% from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

                            Unemployment rate dropped from 4.8% to 4.6%, below expectation of 4.7%. Labor force participation rate was unchanged at 61.6%. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% mom, matched expectations.

                            Full release here.

                            Eurozone retail sales dropped -0.3% mom in Sep, EU down -0.2% mom

                              Eurozone retail sales dropped -0.3% mom in September, versus expectation of 0.2% mom. Volume of retail trade decreased by -1.5% for non-food products, while it rose for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.7% and for automotive fuels by 1.1%.

                              EU retail sales dropped -0.2% mom. Among Member States for which data are available, the largest monthly decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Germany (-2.5%), Finland (-1.9%) and the Netherlands (-1.2%). The highest increases were observed in Estonia (+7.1%), Slovakia (+2.9%) and Luxembourg (+2.3%).

                              Full release here.

                              Dollar index awaits NFP to guide range breakout

                                US non-farm payroll employment is again a major focus. Markets are expecting 425k job growth in October. Unemployment rate is expected to tick down by 0.1% to 4.7%. Average hourly earnings are expected to grow 0.4% mom.

                                Looking at related data, ISM manufacturing employment rose from 50.2 to 52.0. But ISM services employment dropped from 53.0 to 51.6. ADP private jobs grew 571k, rose slightly from prior month’s 523k. Four-week moving average of initial jobless claims continued to trend down, notably, from 344k to 285k.

                                All in all, today’s NFP will likely be a solid one, affirming Fed’s tapering plan. The main question ahead is whether wage growth would continue in a strong trend, the pushes up inflation, and force Fed for an earlier hike. Strong wage growth could push Dollar index out of the near term range.

                                Dollar index is now  sitting in range below 94.56 short term top. The support from 55 day EMA is a bullish sign. Yet, it will have to break through key long term fibonacci resistance at 94.46 (38.2% retracement of 102.99 to 89.20) decisively to confirm medium term bullishness. In the case, we’d probably seen upside acceleration ahead to 61.8% retracement at 97.72. However, break of 93.27 support will suggest rejection by 94.46, and turn near term outlook bearish for deeper pull back.

                                RBA SoMP: Inflation forecasts upgraded across horizon

                                  As seen in RBA’s Statement on Monetary Policy, 2021 year-average GDP growth forecasts was downgraded from 4.75% to 4.25%. 2022 GDP year-average GDP growth forecast was left unchanged at 5%. 2023 year-average growth forecast was upgraded from 2.75% to 3%.

                                  Headline CPI inflation forecasts were raised across the horizon, with 2021 year-end increased from 2.5% to 3.25%, 2022 year-end increased from 1.75% to 2.25%, 2023 year-end increased from 2.25% to 2.5%. Trimmed mean inflation forecasts were also raised, with 2021 year-end increased from 1.75% to 2.25%, 2022 year-end from 1.75% to 2.25%, 2023 year-end from 2.25% to 2.5%.

                                  2021 year-end unemployment rate forecast was lowered from 5% to 4.75%. 2022 year-end and 2023 year-end unemployment rate forecast was left unchanged at 4.25% and 4% respectively.

                                  Full SoMP here.

                                  Australia AiG services rose to 47.6 in Oct, third month in contraction

                                    Australia AiG Performance of Services rose 1.9 pts to 47.6 in October, marking a third month in contraction. Sales rose 13.8 to 55.2. Employment rose 4.8 to 56.8. New orders dropped -1.0 to 38.8. supplier deliveries dropped -7.5 to 39.5. Finished stocks dropped -13.7 to 39.8. Capacity utilization dropped -1.7 to 74.5. Input prices rose 9.1 to 73.6. Selling prices rose 7.8 to 61.7. Average wages rose 9.1 to 68.3.

                                    Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said: “The Australian services sector reported mixed fortunes in October… Across the services sector, sales and employment were higher in October while new orders were discouragingly low. A more robust recovery was inhibited by lingering activity restrictions, barriers to interstate movement and the same disruptions to the supply of inputs that are being felt in other parts of the economy… Services companies reported further strong rises in input prices and wages with selling prices also rising although not by enough to prevent additional pressure on margins.”

                                    Full release here.

                                    US initial jobless claims dropped to 269, continuing claims down to 2.1m

                                      US initial jobless claims dropped -14k to 269k in the week ending October 30, better than expectation of 277k. That’s the lowest level since March 14, 2020. Four-week moving average of initial claims dropped -15k to 285k, lowest since March 14, 2020 too.

                                      Continuing claims dropped -134k to 2105k in the week ending October 23, lowest since March 14, 2020. Four-week moving average of continuing claims dropped -156k to 2357k, lowest since March 21, 2020.

                                      Full release here.

                                      BoE stands pat, but sees it’s necessary to hike in coming months

                                        BoE kept Bank Rate unchanged at 0.10% by 7-2 vote today. Known hawks Dave Rasmden and Michael Saunders voted for a hike to 0.25%. The MPC also voted by 6-3 to continue with government bond purchase with GBP 875B. Catherine Mann, Dave Rasmden and Michael Saunders voted to cut bond purchases by GBP 20B.

                                        In the forward guidance, BoE said if incoming data, particularly on the labor market, are inline withe central projections in the Monetary Policy Report, it will be “necessary over coming months to increase Bank Rate in order to return CPI inflation sustainably to the 2% target.”

                                        Full statement here.

                                        Eurozone PPI rose 2.7% mom , 16.0% yoy in Sep, well above expectations

                                          Eurozone PPI rose 2.7% mom, 16.0 yoy in September, above expectation of 1.9% mom, 15.2% yoy. For the month, Industrial producer prices, increased by 7.7% in the energy sector, by 1.0% for intermediate goods, by 0.5% for capital goods, by 0.4% for durable consumer goods and by 0.3% for non-durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy increased by 0.6%.

                                          EU PPI rose 2.7% mom, 16.2% yoy. The industrial producer prices increased in all Member States, with the highest monthly increases being registered in Ireland (+23.2%), Denmark (+8.4%) and Greece (+5.8%).

                                          Full release here.