FX Update: Can ECB meeting clear the bar of expectations? FX Update: Can ECB meeting clear the bar of expectations? FX Update: Can ECB meeting clear the bar of expectations?

FX Update: Can ECB meeting clear the bar of expectations?

Forex 4 minutes to read
John J. Hardy

Head of FX Strategy

Summary:  The market has ratcheted ECB tightening expectations up to new cycle highs just ahead of the ECB meeting today, making it difficult for Lagarde and company to exceed expectations on the hawkish side. EURCHF is at interesting resistance near 1.0500 ahead of the meeting, as peripheral EU spreads are also a focus on how the ECB signals what it will do about the risks of peripheral spread widening as it winds down balance sheet expansion ahead of the assumed July first rate hike.


FX Trading focus: Can ECB meeting clear the bar of expectations?

A few last thoughts on the ECB today: the key here is that expectations for this meeting are at the cycle peak and will require that the ECB delivers a lot to maintain the current pricing of the forward curve. Through the December ECB meeting, the market is pricing some 125 basis points of total tightening, meaning that, assuming there is no hike today (a real shocker if one is delivered), at least one of the four meetings after today and through the December meeting would have to be larger than 25 basis points.

The July meeting is trading at 50/50 odds for a 50 basis point move – this looks slightly aggressive, even if the ECB eventually gets to the +0.75% policy rate by year end. For example, Lagarde could repeat that the base case is for a 0% policy rate by end Q3 (after July and September meetings each see a 25-basis point hike), but could say that considering larger hikes beyond that could be appropriate if conditions dictate, etc.

Elsewhere, focus is on the staff projections – especially for inflation for 2023 and 2024, which were projected at 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively, in the March round of projections. A bump up to 2.0% for the inflation level for 2024 should be a given – anything higher would suggest a more hawkish lean. Also watch for exceptionally large downside GDP forecast revisions, which would indicate a “BoE-esque” concern for a stagflationary outlook and perhaps less willingness to hike aggressively beyond the first few hikes. The market is looking for modest downgrades for this year a next with a modest upward revision to the 2024 forecast (March projections for 2022-24 were +3.7%, +2.8% and +1.6%).

Finally, let’s see if the ECB spells out how it will address the “fragmentation” issue of peripheral sovereign yield spreads now that it is winding down its balance sheet expansion. Supposedly, a “new tool” is in the works for addressing this issue by shifting existing holdings to ensure even transmission of policy – but it will be important to track EU peripheral sovereign spreads in the wake of today’s meeting. 10-year Germany-Italy has settled near a spread of 200 basis points in recent weeks.

Bottom line – the ECB will have a hard time delivering a hawkish shock, which leaves the market to figure out what to do with an “as expected” outcome or something marginally dovish (strongly assuming we can rule out a dovish shocker). And don’t forget, the FOMC is up next week and we have a US treasury market that hasn’t chosen a direction of late.

Chart: EURCHF
EURCHF should prove one of the more reactive of the Euro pairs to the ECB meeting, both from a yield-spread perspective, depending on whether the ECB clears the bar of expectations as noted above, but also as the market will be watching EU peripheral debt markets closely as the ECB winds down its balance sheet. As well, the SNB has been rattling its cage on the need to tighten policy and has a long wait between its quarterly meetings – so the SNB meeting next week bears watching, as does the obviously important 1.0500 area on the EURCHF chart.

Source: Saxo Group

I brought up the importance of CNHJPY threatening the 20.00 level once again and now we have non other than Jim O’Neill, famed former Goldman Sachs Asset Management head, weighing in on the current JPY volatility, saying that “if you told me that yen [USDJPY] hits 150, this could be a rerun of the Asian Financial Crisis.” He suggests that further JPY weakening ratchets up the pressure on China “which might have the influence to force Japan to change its policy.” and that it was China that was partly responsible for bailing out Asia during the late 1990’s crisis by “signaling to the US Treasury to reverse its strong dollar policy or China would devalue its currency”.  O’Neill says that he can’t see Japan sticking with the YCC policy, even if “it will be painful for financial markets [for the BoJ to end the policy], but it’s the right thing to do.”

Table: FX Board of G10 and CNH trend evolution and strength.
The JPY reading is getting extreme again with the latest move – interesting to watch the direction of yields over the next week after today’s ECB meeting and next week’s FOMC meeting. Elsewhere, the euro is getting something started, will the ECB cement this development today?

Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

Table: FX Board Trend Scoreboard for individual pairs.
Watching USDCNH as a derivative of the CNHJPY and USDJPY situation and after the recent USDCNH new lows were rejected. USDCHF has also crossed back to positive and EURCHF is poised ahead of the 1.0500 area.

Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

Upcoming Economic Calendar Highlights (all times GMT)

  • 1100 – Mexico May CPI
  • 1145 – ECB Rate Announcement
  • 1230 – ECB President Lagarde Press Conference
  • 1230 – US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
  • 1300 – Poland Central Bank Governor Glapinksi holds news conference
  • 1400 – Canada Bank of Canada issues Financial System Review
  • 1500 – Bank of Canada Governor Macklem press conference
  • 1700 – US 30-year T-Bond Auction
  • 2245 – New Zealand May Card Spending

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article
Disclaimer

Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Limited prepares and distributes information/research produced within the Saxo Bank Group for informational purposes only. In addition to the disclaimer below, if any general advice is provided, such advice does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of trading any financial instrument as trading can result in losses that exceed your initial investment. Please refer to our Analysis Disclaimer, and our Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement. All legal documentation and disclaimers can be found at https://www.home.saxo/en-au/legal/.

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service. Access and use of Saxo News & Research and any Saxo Bank Group website are subject to (i) the Terms of Use; (ii) the full Disclaimer; and (iii) the Risk Warning in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group.

Saxo News & Research is provided for informational purposes, does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. No Saxo Bank Group entity shall be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information on Saxo News & Research.

To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, such content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication.

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments.Saxo Capital Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Capital Markets or its affiliates.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Full Disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-au/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
- Analysis Disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-au/legal/analysis-disclaimer/saxo-analysis-disclaimer)
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)

Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Limited
Suite 1, Level 14, 9 Castlereagh St
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Contact Saxo

Select region

Australia
Australia

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-au/about-us/awards

Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Limited ABN 32 110 128 286 AFSL 280372 (‘Saxo’ or ‘Saxo Capital Markets’) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms, Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Saxo Capital Markets does not provide ‘personal’ financial product advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Capital Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation. The Target Market Determination should assist you in determining whether any of the products or services we offer are likely to be consistent with your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website is not intended for residents of the United States and Japan.

Please click here to view our full disclaimer.