FX Update: Pressure mounts on Fed to surprise hawkish. FX Update: Pressure mounts on Fed to surprise hawkish. FX Update: Pressure mounts on Fed to surprise hawkish.

FX Update: Pressure mounts on Fed to surprise hawkish.

Forex
John Hardy

Head of FX Strategy

Summary:  The Powell Fed was probably hoping that it could fly under the radar at today’s FOMC meeting, giving itself the luxury of two more data cycles as inputs before providing fresh guidance and forecasts at the mid-December FOMC meeting. But no such luck, given the recent significant easing of financial conditions and yesterday’s very hot September jobs opening survey.


FX Trading focus: Powell in the hot seat at tonight’s FOMC, needing to surprise hawkish

The US September JOLTS jobs openings release yesterday was a shocker, as August data was revised up 250k and the September release was nearly a million more than expected at 10.72M. This jolted US yields and the US dollar back higher, keeping the greenback largely in the tactical neutral zone ahead of tonight’s FOMC meeting. It is the latest data point to suggest that the Fed will have a hard time pre-committing to any slowdown in the pace of its policy tightening after the 75-basis-point hike that is fully priced in for tonight. The December 14 FOMC meeting odds have not shifted much over the last couple of weeks, as investors still favor the idea of a downshift to a 50-basis-point hike at that meeting, followed by another 50 basis points of tightening early next year over the space of a couple of meetings. (An interesting psychological block for this market appears to be the 5.00% level for the Fed Funds rate – markets have been unwilling to project the Fed to hike above this level – which is about where we are now for the March-May FOMC meetings)

As I outlined in yesterday’s update, if the Fed merely keeps quiet and endorses current expectations and punts on further guidance until December, we might see an extension of the melt-up in risk sentiment and see another wave of USD weakness. But yesterday’s JOLTS data point raises the odds that the Fed will want to push back against that outcome or at least against complacency on its potential policy path in general. To surprise hawkish today, Powell and company will have to make it very clear that the Fed is willing to continue tightening beyond current expectations. At the same time, that task will be difficult if they are reluctant to pre-commit to another large hike in December. One possible tactic to keep maximum forward potential for hawkishness would be for the Fed to indicate very high reactivity to further incoming data and openness to continuing with large hikes as long as necessary if the data supports doing so.

It's hard to tell how the market would treat such a stance at tonight’s meeting if that is what the FOMC delivers, but in coming days and until the December 14 FOMC meeting, it would certainly mean extreme volatility on the next bits of Incoming data, starting with the ISM Services tomorrow and then especially the October jobs report this Friday. Then we’ll have the October JOLTS survey, the November jobs report, and the October and November CPI releases before that meeting.

Chart: EURUSD
EURUSD is perched between the important parity level to the upside and perhaps 0.9875-0.9850 support to the downside, an important level on the way up, awaiting today’s FOMC meeting. Downside risk for a test of the cycle lows below 0.9600 if the Fed manages to surprise hawkish and lift rate expectations, while we’ll have to close north of parity and see a continued improvement in risk sentiment and perhaps some weak US data through Friday to sustain a new upside leg.

Source: Saxo Group

Bank of Japan minutes surprise. It’s been a while since we got a surprise from the BoJ, and normally we don’t look for them in the minutes, which are not released until after the following meeting. But last night’s minutes from the September BoJ meeting generated a few waves and JPY strength as they showed considerable signs of member discomfort with rising price pressures and even brought up the subject of an eventual policy shift, even if not suggesting one is imminent: one member said that “when the appropriate time comes, it’s important to communicate to markets an exit strategy”. This won’t sustain a JPY rally if US treasuries run back higher after the FOMC today and/or in the wake of the key US data through Friday.

NZD strength getting stretched after the strong jobs report overnight extended the NZD rally against the Aussie and even keeping the currency near the top of the recent range versus the US dollar. Not sure how much more the little kiwi can get out of this run of strength here – a turn in broad sentiment could suddenly see vulnerability. The RBNZ is concerned about the impact on the policy tightening on the country’s financial system in its financial stability report released yesterday. I don’t see any meaningful ability for policy to diverge from here from Australia’s for example. Bloomberg put out an interesting article on the globally weather-stressed dairy industry. New Zealand is the world’s largest dairy exporter and combined, milk, beef, butter and cheese make up some 30% of New Zealand’s exports in physical goods. The article mentions climate-linked legislation possibly limiting future output – worth watching.

Table: FX Board of G10 and CNH trend evolution and strength.
CNH weakness still prominent, sterling’s relative strength fading, kiwi strength looking overdone and USD at maximum indecision here.

Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

Table: FX Board Trend Scoreboard for individual pairs.
EURCHF making a bid at a reversal of the uptrend that was established more than four weeks ago if it drops through the 0.9850-0.9800 zone in coming days. Look at AUDUSD ready to possibly tilt lower again if the USD can get a leg-up post-FOMC. EURUSD is also close to flipping lower again after its uptrend attempt didn’t extend very far from its launching point, which was near the current rate.

Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

Upcoming Economic Calendar Highlights

  • 1215 – US Oct. ADP Employment Change
  • 1800 – US FOMC Meeting
  • 1830 – US Fed Chair Powell Press Conference
  • 2000 – New Zealand RBNZ Governor Orr before Parliamentary Committee
  • 0145 – China Oct. Caixin Services PMI

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.