FX Update: Contested election ahead after Trump-quake, Part II?

The fall-out and reckoning from this election will echo for years, but the headline is that we have witnessed a second “Trump-quake” repeat from 2016, as least in terms of his strength in the polls relative to what the mainstream polling industry was predicting. Their methods deserve a quick and quiet death after this fatal error and soul-searching in the entire complex and former main-stream media that relies on them will abound. We still don’t know the outcome of the election, but the extremely close result almost guarantees that the apparent loser will not go down easy.

Today’s FX Trading focus:

Waiting for the result first and foremost
The result of the election is still unknown and looks like that may remain the case well into today in the US time zones. The chief uncertainty is the last portion of the counts in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the three key states that were the difference for Trump in 2016. Late mail-in votes there tilt Democratic and are still keeping a sense of suspense, as is the tight situation in Nevada. To make the situation even more fraught, US President Trump was out speaking in the middle of the night in the US and essentially declared victory and asked the Supreme Court to stop the counting, a shocking turn of events.

The menu of outcomes has narrowed
The only thing we have fully realized is that the menu of likely outcomes has narrowed severely, with all thoughts of a Democratic Blue Wave (much less Tsunami) completely out the window, although we still don’t know whether we face a split Congress as the Senate outcome is also up in the air. If the Senate is 50-50, the stakes for the presidency are that much greater (and one key seat in Georgia won’t be decided until a January 5 run-off as if the situation wasn’t dicey enough.)

For FX, what does it mean?
The situation is too fast developing to offer anything but a rough sketch here, but there are three possible outcomes and how currencies might treat them in coming days:

Contested election pointing to Trump eventual win: In this scenario, Senate control is largely irrelevant because the Dems retain the House. If Trump has the votes after the final tallies are in, there will no doubt be a challenge from the Democratic side and period of uncertainty, but the market will generally like this outcome and celebrate it with USD strength (less stimulus) and strong risk sentiment. The mood may change quickly on questions of how Trump and the Democratic House deal with the need for fresh stimulus, however, but Trump is no ideologue and will be happy to do what it takes as long as he can tilt more of the money toward his base rather than toward Dem state handouts, which he would like to starve. Social unrest is a big wildcard, however, but reflation narrative is potentially weakened for months under this scenario.

Contested election pointing to narrow Biden eventual win but with no Democratic control of the Senate (highest probability at present? But Trump won’t go down easy….) : this is more difficult to call on the dollar direction, but is very bad for risk sentiment as stimulus prospects would prove very dicey for lame duck session on frustrated Trump and early in Biden presidency on blocking Senate. Risk off is theoretically USD positive scenario but that reaction could stumble quickly. This scenario likely most positive for the JPY if global risk sentiment nosedives on the general uncertainty and risk of deflationary concerns. Longer term, however, I wouldn’t expect it to change the path to a reflationary narrative and weaker US dollar. Desperation would be in the driver’s seat eventually and keep stimulus forthcoming.

Contested election pointing to Biden and getting 50-50 in the Senate: To my non-expert eyes, the math for this outcome looks very challenging for the Democrats. But if this result somehow emerges, it will allow at least a weak version of the “Blue Wave” scenario as Biden would have the votes in Congress to push through major stimulus if there is total party discipline (and key independent Senators arms are twisted). This is a slightly more modest version of the risk-on, USD negative, especially EM- and commodity currency positive outcome the market was pricing in just ahead of the results rolling in.

This analyst will eat large helping of humble pie
Egg all over Yours Truly’s face after believing that Biden was entering this race with a commanding lead in the national polls. In retrospect, there were two mistakes I made in making my assessment for this cycle. The first was believing that the polls reflected the reality on the ground and in the electorate that would turn up on Election Day and that we might see a repeat of 2016, in which the broad polls for several days before the election actually proved very close to the final margin. This was very wrong in 2020!

The other narrative I mistakenly bought into was that turnout would prove almost universally Biden positive as the election was largely a Trump referendum and anti-Trump voices, especially among the young, would prove decisive. This does look to have been partially the case in some places (Georgia for sure – but Texas may prove far more "purple" (small R win) as well) but not elsewhere (Florida). I think the factors driving the final result and tilt far more in favour of Trump than was expected – even if we get a Biden win by the hair of his teeth – were outlined in my piece over the weekend on “What if I am totally wrong?” as Trump clearly won the enthusiasm and narrative game relative to expectations and among his base - an unbelievable feat given Covid-19 pandemic.

Upcoming Economic Calendar Highlights (all times GMT)

• 1315 – US Oct. ADP Payrolls Change
• 1330 – US Sep. Trade Balance
• 1500 – US Oct. ISM Services
• 1530 – EIA's Weekly Crude Oil and Fuel Storage report