Powers that be plead for Powell pause Powers that be plead for Powell pause Powers that be plead for Powell pause

Powers that be plead for Powell pause

Forex 5 minutes to read
John Hardy

Head of FX Strategy

Summary:  White-knuckle equity market declines, a hedge fund legend and President Trump are all begging Fed chair Jay Powell to cease and desist with further rate tightening ahead of today’s pivotal FOMC. Will he pause or plough ahead?


US equity markets put in another weak session yesterday, though the S&P 500 ended the day more or less unchanged before rebounding again overnight. US treasuries remain firm, with a Bloomberg article noting that the recent portfolio shifts into government debt have been the largest ever measured.

In FX, the USD was firm yesterday, but eased back lower into this morning as we all await today’s pivotal Federal Open Market Committee meeting and the market reaction. USD volatility has been pent up by the cross-fire of themes that work with opposing effects as well as the unknown of China’s intentions for its currency.

What will the FOMC deliver and how will the market react?

Two important resources to consult before tonight’s meeting. First of these is hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller’s long interview with Bloomberg, in which he lays out a very sober and compelling case against the Fed hiking rates tonight based on the risk that we are suffering some sort of liquidity event that could get out of hand and then force an ugly over-correction of course. The timing of this interview and his recent op-ed together with former Fed official Kevin Warsh are no coincidence: it is a cry for the Fed to ceases and desist before causing irreparable damage. The second is an excellent rundown of scenarios on what the Fed may do and how the market will read it from Bloomberg’s John Authers.

The market is supposedly pricing a dovish hike scenario, but sufficient uncertainty is creeping into the pricing of Powell’s rate hike conviction and expectations may be more finely balanced than the purported odds show (in other words, hot money may be pricing 50/50 or higher that the Fed pauses here). My impression is that the Fed needs to both pause and second guess its forward guidance regime to bring significant relief to global markets.

How the Fed alters guidance via the dot plot and in discussion of the autopilot levels of quantitative tightening are key factors here. Some suggest a tweaking of dot plot levels is significant while I would argue that Powell likely detests the dot plot and would like to do away with it entirely, so a simple shift in Fed forecasts wouldn’t look terribly compelling, given that the market has virtually removed all expectations for further hikes in 2019.

Then on to the market’s reaction in the wake of the meeting. We discuss this a bit below under the USD blurb for the G10 rundown, and the reaction could play out in multiple legs, from the initial hike/no hike decision to how the Fed puts its decision in context with guidance from here. We suspect that a relatively robust downshift is in the making from Powell and company and the chief question will be whether the market finds that this adjustment has cleared the bar and can provide relief from the gathering clouds of the last couple of months.

The scariest situation for global markets will be one in which the Fed has clearly exceeded expectations on shifting to a more dovish stance, and yet global asset markets are unable to find solace and continue to sell-off. This would then bring forward our Steen Jakobsen’s feared Policy Panic scenario.

Chart: EURUSD

EURUSD may offer a more straightforward response to the post-FOMC market response, now that the Italian budget situation has receded (though the euro still faces the big question of Brexit in coming weeks and, dare we say, months). A sufficiently dovish Fed together with an enthusiastic response from global equity markets should see the pair launching a stout rally focused on taking down the 1.1500 resistance and poking into the higher range. 
Source: Saxo Bank
The G-10 rundown

USD – markets this morning seem hopeful that Powell will deliver a dovish shift today, though we won’t take the price action at face value and will await the FOMC verdict. Liquidity conditions could be terrible and the kneejerk reaction extreme on the headline of the hike/no hike decision and before the market has a chance to digest the statement and accompanying materials, much less Powell’s press conference. A very cautious stance warranted.

EUR – another new low in short BTP yields as Italy and the EU move toward a deal on the budget for this cycle. EURUSD just needs FOMC relief now and a risk on response to that relief to jump .

JPY – if the issue at the heart of weak risk sentiment is USD liquidity, then the traditional safe haven response in the JPY will likely prove rather weak in USDJPY terms if Powell can’t bring relief to global markets in whatever message he delivers today. And if a dovish shift powers strong risk sentiment, the USDJPY pair may offer low beta to a weaker USD as the market prefers riskier currencies.

GBP – strategic sterling positions are likely locked and loaded in the options market as we await developments hinting at the odds of a second referendum, a delay of the Brexit delay or new elections on a failure of May’s government after the mid-January vote on the ill-fated deal she agreed with the EU.

CHF – we appear on the cusp of a full resolution for next year’s Italian budget, helping EURCHF back higher. Swis National Bank up tomorrow.

AUD – we have strong concerns for Australia’s housing market triggering the first Australian recession in a generation, but for now, AUD only a bit weak in the crosses. Regulators easing up on mortgage lending standards on interest only mortgages looks like rank desperation.
 
CAD – the oil plunge is doing the Loonie no favours and it is one of the few currencies managing to match the greenback’s weakness overnight.

NZD – we are sceptical on whether the kiwi can manage its relative strength in the crosses here – let’s see how the Q3 GDP numbers come in tonight.

SEK – EURSEK is squeezing back towards resistance on the fear that the Riksbank doesn’t hike tomorrow, frustrating the attempted break lower.

NOK – another runaway crude oil sell-off on top of the cessation of Norges Bank NOK purchases powered an ugly extension in NOK lower. This could get worse before it gets better if oil markets don’t quickly stop the bleeding.

Upcoming Economic Calendar Highlights (all times GMT)

0930 – UK Nov. CPI
1500 – US Nov. Existing Home Sales
1530 – US Weekly DoE Crude Oil, Product Inventories
1900 – US FOMC Meeting
1930 – US Fed Chairman Powell Presser
2145 – New Zealand Q3 GDP, Nov. Trade Balance
0030 – Australia Nov. Employment Data
n/a – Bank of Japan Meeting
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.