Market begging for FOMC mercy Market begging for FOMC mercy Market begging for FOMC mercy

Market begging for FOMC mercy

Forex 7 minutes to read
John Hardy

Head of FX Strategy

Summary:  Another weak session on Wall Street saw the S&P 500 close at the lowest level since October 2017. Will the Federal Reserve prove willing to pull a dove or two out of its hat, or is Powell determined to hit neutral?


The US S&P 500 suffered the lowest close for the year yesterday, just two days ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting and the rate hike Powell and company are expected to deliver. 

Weak risk appetite was the dominant theme yesterday as US equities suffered another soft session. The S&P 500 index probed below the prior 2018 intraday lows before closing at the lowest level since October of last year. The US dollar, however, failed to find a safe haven bid – perhaps as the market has recently priced out the majority of the further policy tightening from the Fed that was priced in for 2019.

Adding to the mix is the government shutdown that now appears imminent after the end of this week as Trump hasn’t been able to wrest support for his border wall from Democrat party leaders.

Over 40 basis points of rate hike expectations have been priced out of the December 2019 Fed Funds future since early November. The yen, on the other hand, is finally waking up to the declining US yields all along the curve and weak risk appetite and USDJPY is staring down interesting levels (see chart below) ahead of tomorrow’s pivotal FOMC meeting.

There are many ways to signal a dovish hike but the only very clear dovish signal for now would be a decision not to hike at this meeting. The cherry on top would be a shifting attitude toward the Fed’s quantitative tightening regime, which Powell inherited on autopilot. The Fed could ease significantly by merely reducing the rate of its balance sheet reduction. 

Elsewhere, markets are in a nervous holding pattern on the intense uncertainty on the FOMC’s move tomorrow, but as we await the next steps for Brexit from mid-January (vote on the deal expected for week starting Jan 14 now rather than the week after) and the ongoing US-China trade negotiations. There is considerable focus on China’s celebration of the 40-year anniversary of “opening up”, but there were no new hints in Xi Jinping’s speech yesterday of new initiatives, with the speech largely centered on celebrating the CCP’s achievements and defending China’s attitude on the world stage.

NOK is twisting in the wind after the Norges Bank carried out its final NOK purchases for the year on Friday and crude oil prices continue to crater. Note the action in EURNOK at the end of last year for a possible repeat – though a recovery in risk sentiment and energy prices may be necessary ingredients as well.

Chart: USDJPY

USDJPY once again having a look at the Ichimoku support with which the pair has been playing cat-and-mouse over the last few months. If animal spirits pick up sharply in the wake of an FOMC meeting that manages to surprise on the dovish side, USDJPY could survive a test of support once again, even if the USD is weaker against riskier currencies – in any case, a strong risk-on response to the FOMC meeting is far less interesting for JPY volatility potential. On the other hand, if risk appetite craters further despite a dovish hike scenario (in which the Fed confirms the markets forward expectations that no further hikes will be forthcoming for the foreseeable future) and the aggressive bid in US long Treasuries continues, USDJPY could tumble through the local supports for a run into 110-111.00.
USDJPY
Source: Saxo Bank
The G-10 rundown

USD – the charts leaning back toward USD weakness at the moment – hard to see the Fed delivering a message that is USD-supportive unless it blasts confidence with a cold shoulder, indicating it won’t be cowed by the latest trends in markets and financial conditions.

EUR – EURUSD stuck in a narrow sideways box and ready to spring through either side post-FOMC.

JPY – our model suggests two moving parts for the yen: the direction of yields and the direction of risk appetite, both of which we assume will move in the same direction and correlate negatively with JPY. Risk-off and lower yields most supportive post-FOMC and risk-on and higher (long) yields the most negative.

GBP – expecting a holding pattern centered on 0.9000 for EURGBP until we see new developments on the next steps for the Brexit process. The vote on the current deal is less relevant than the endgame that ensues on whether a second referendum can be agreed and/or a Brexit delay and the terms for the UK during the delay period.

CHF – fading safe haven bid suggests CHF upside potential constrained or that market doesn’t want to fight the Swiss National Bank, which will likely continue to signal that it will defend the franc from further weakness at Thursday’s SNB announcement

AUD – AUDUSD likely a high-beta pair to the USD reaction in the wake of the FOMC meeting. A sufficiently dovish surprise together with a risk-positive market action the most supportive. Still, the stuck-in-the-mud USDCNY rate and wait for news on the US-China negotiations front could mean a muted reaction.

CAD – fresh lows below $50/barrel in WTI weigh on the CAD crosses – it appears that CAD rather strongly tracks USD direction in those crosses and this may persist.

NZD – kiwi jumps higher again, looking ready to challenge the cycle highs versus the AUD – but AUDNZD looks long-term cheap at these levels.

SEK – market divided on the prospects for a Riksbank hike this week, with most now believing that the hike won’t arrive until February. Weak risk appetite and NOK tumbling into the abyss at the moment are not helping the SEK’s case, but SEK could yet rally after Thursday, even if the Riksbank doesn’t hike, provided global markets are in a better mood post-FOMC.

NOK – NOK running away to the downside after the Norges bank halted its purchases Friday. Note the price action late last year that saw a similar dynamic, with the 9.98+ high posted in the last half of December even as oil prices were rising steadily.

Upcoming Economic Calendar Highlights (all times GMT)

• 1330 – Canada Oct. Manufacturing Sales
• 1330 – US Nov. Housing Starts/Building Permits
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.