Week Ahead – Let the battles commence

Focus back on fiscal response

It appears we’re moving seemlessly from one major risk to another at the moment in the markets. The election is still technically live, Covid is spreading like wild fire and battles are commencing in Washington and Brussels as households and businesses line up for support to help them navigate through another brutal wave of Covid. A fitting end to a ridiculous 2020.

Fed minutes eyed for December stimulus hints

Brexit talks go virtual at critical point

Oil pushing highs on vaccine results

Country

US 

The focus in the US is all about the coronavirus and the release of the FOMC minutes.  The White House coronavirus task force is back and that is a sign the Trump administration realizes the current virus spread is expected to continue to rise.  Many states are seeing record new cases and their ICU’s are at risk of running out of capacity.  

The Fed’s minutes could provide further indications that policy-makers are ready to increase their asset purchases and possibly target purchases at the onger-end of the curve.  The virus spread has worsened and given the growing long-term risks to the labor market, investors will expect the December meeting to be a live one.    

US Politics

Many states are expected to certify their election results and Republican pressure should build for President Trump to concede the election.  President Trump’s refusal to concede the election is creating problems for Biden’s team to hit the ground running when they take over.  The peaceful transfer of power was supposed to provide the Biden administration access to federal funding, office space, and all types of stockpile and vaccine information that will allow them to outline their COVID strategy.  

EU

The EU 2021-27 budget and pandemic relief talks earlier this year were quite straightforward. Far too straightforward, in fact, if you’ve been following the EU for years. Nothing ever happens that easily. Yes, there was a battle over whether the funds should be given as grants or loans but in the grand scheme of things, that’s nothing and was easily resolved. Nothing is ever that easy when it comes to the EU and now we’re seeing what we’ve become accustomed to. A dispute over the “rule of law” condition for accessing the funds, a stipulation clearly targeted at Hungary and Poland, forcing vetoes from, obviously, Hungary and Poland. Let the battle commence. Although, like with Brexit, time is short.

Brexit

The only thing that’s changed since last week is that one official has been struck down with Covid forcing the negotiations to go virtual at a critical stage. Talks were perhaps heading for the “face-to-face” stage between the two leaders – Boris Johnson and Ursula Von Der Leyen – but unfortunately the British Prime Minister is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone that tested positive so even that may have to be conducted over video link. What a shambles. It should not change the outcome, rather bring a fitting end to a shambolic four years.

UK

The UK remains in lockdown and R has reportedly fallen to between 1 and 1.1, meaning some progress has been made these last two weeks. Whether that will be enough to significantly ease restrictions ahead of the holiday period is yet to be seen. Cases are steadying although fatalities continue to rise. The government and central bank have already undertaken major stimulus measures which means Brexit remains the only other major uncertainty. The pound has been a little sensitive to developments and while we may see a relief rally once a deal is announced, the major risk remains to the downside with an agreement now expected. Rishi Sunak’s spending review next week will be another closely followed event but I don’t expect an enormous amount of currently reaction to it.

Turkey

The lira is more than 12% off its lows, after paring some gains, after the CBRT more than lived up to expectations on Thursday, raising rates by 4.5% and setting itself on a course for a “permanent” fall in inflation. The move was in stark contrast to previous efforts to tighten via the back door and the currency is reaping the rewards. Under the past Governor, the central bank appeared to be crumbling under political pressure but this change suggests a return to a more sustainable approach. Whether that continues is another thing, given President Erdogan’s well-known views on the link between inflation and interest rates. 

China

China’s data calendar is quiet with just Industrial Profits on Friday which are expected to improve to minus 0.60% for October. The first week of December’s data releases will give more insight into whether China’s economic expansion is slowing due to slowdowns internationally.

China’s currency and stock markets should continue to remain firm with the Federal Reserve expected to ease in December and US stimulus talks resuming. Investors will be watching for signs of increased stress in the financial system after a number of corporate bond defaults this week. I do not believe though, that it is symptomatic of a deeper problem at this stage.

Hong Kong

No significant data this week. Hong Kong markets may be weighed down by a fresh outbreak of Covid-19 in multiple locations across the territory. That also jeopardises the new Singapore/Hong Kong travel bubble and may see leisure sector equities get marked down along with consumer discretionary.

Markets are ignoring the ongoing erosion of Hong Kong’s democracy.

India

India is in the grip of stagflation as it wrestles with the Covid-19 pandemic/recession. INR gained little benefit from Dollar weakness and remains the regional underperformer. Credit quality concerns and banks persist.The newly installed monetary policy team at the RBI may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel though, with WPI data easing. That may give the RBI room to cut rates in the coming quarter.

Covid-19 continues to torpedo the domestic economy and India is best avoided altogether at the moment from an investor standpoint.

New Zealand 

The New Zealand Dollar continues to outperform after the  RBNZ left rates unchanged. With a weaker US Dollar in prospect, the Kiwi could move through 0.7000 this week.

Q3 Retail Sales is old news and will be ignored by markets.

Australia 

Australia Retail Sales and Employment massively outperformed this week underpinning both the currency and the stock market. The resilience of the Australian data is showing zero effects from China’s export embargo, and suggests that the domestic economy is rapidly recovering to pre-Covid-19 levels. Resource prices continue to be high, strengthening the export sector.

PMI’s on Monday should reinforce the recovery outlook in an otherwise quiet week. Australian stock markets have been content to follow Wall Street slavishly and with US fiscal talks restarting, should remain supported on expectations of a positive outcome.

Australia remains vulnerable to further export boycotts from China, especially if the previously sacrosanct iron ore sector is targeted.

Japan

A quiet week for data releases before the start of December, with Tokyo CPI on Friday expected to show Japan is grappling with deepening deflation. That should be positive for the Yen which could test 103.00 next week. 

Japan equities continue to outperform as part of the vaccine rotation recovery play.

Covid-19 cases are spiralling in Japan, but the government is refusing to initiate lockdowns. That could erode and already deeply recessive domestic market, and could see Yen repatriation increase. The government keeps talking (a Japan speciality) about extra budgets and fiscal stimulus. We are yet to see any signs of concrete policy though.

Markets

Oil

Oil prices are once again pushing against major resistance but, as yet, failing to gather any momentum at the right time. WTI is sitting around $42 and Brent $44.50, right at the upper end of the range but once again they’ve failed to hold on slightly above here and pulled back. A breakout still looks more likely than not but it’s not giving way easily.

The vaccine news has been a gamechanger for the outlook. No longer is OPEC+ the only major upside risk and, in fact, the group may decide that further modifications are no longer warranted if prices manage to break to the upside ahead of the meeting on 17 December. If WTI could even break $45 before then, it may be hard to get the whole group on board with any significant tweaks unless they see an opportunity to push prices above $50 and provide a buffer. 

Gold

Gold continues to languish around its lows, piling pressure on the $1,850-1,860 support region that’s been so reliable over the last few months. It’s looking very vulnerable all of a sudden, with positive vaccine news having become a major downside risk for the yellow metal.

This is despite yields having given up the vaccine gains to trade back around pre-election levels and the dollar slumping around its lows as a result. It should be an interesting few weeks for gold which for much of this year has been driven by the greenback and aligned itself with positive risk appetite. Both of those relationships look fractured suddenly and instead it exists in a perennial state of fear of the vaccine.  

Should $1,850 fall, we could see a rapid move back towards $1,800, with any stops below current support likely accelerating any downside initially.

Bitcoin

New highs in bitcoin looks basically inevitable at this point. In fact, I’m a little surprised they haven’t hit them already. It’s been two days since it came close to $1,850. Dragging its feet a little, by its own standards. Given how the last month has gone and the hype that’s back with a bang, you can only imagine where it will go next if new highs are made. $25,000? Maybe $30,000 by year-end? The euphoria is back and while the ride to the top may be fun, the bit that follows has historically shown to be quite the opposite. No doubt it will be an interest end to the year for the crypto community.

Key Economic Events

Saturday, November 21st

– The Group of 20 Leaders’ 2-day Summit begins

– Brexit trade deal negotiations in focus

Sunday, November 22nd

– Hong Kong and Singapore test travel bubble that could allow reciprocal quarantine-free travel for anyone from either side.

Monday, November 23rd

– This week the U.K. and French governments reveal their coronavirus strategies

– San Francisco Fed President Daly speaks on pandemic impact and the future of cities. Chicago Fed President Evans takes part in a moderated Q&A, hosted by the Iowa Bankers Association.

– ECB Executive Board member Schnabel speaks at a money market conference.

– Bank of England chief economist Haldane participates in Charity Finance Week.

– Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Gravelle gives a speech

– The EU’s monthly MARS bulletin on weather and crop conditions is published.

Economic Data

U.S. Nov Markit Manufacturing: 52.5e v 53.4 prior

New Zealand retail sales ex inflation

Australia Markit PMIs

Singapore CPI, GDP

Taiwan unemployment, industrial production

Thailand trade

PMIs: Euro-area, U.K.

Tuesday, November 24th

– St. Louis Fed President Bullard takes part in a Bank of Finland monetary policy webinar hosted by Governor Rehn. ECB Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel also speaks.

– ECB Chief Economist Lane speaks at an IMF event.

– BOE policy maker Haskel speaks on a panel

Economic Data

U.S. FHFA house price index, Conf. Board consumer confidence

Mexico unemployment

Germany GDP components, Ifo business climate Nov 90.9e v 92.7 prior

France manufacturing confidence

Turkey capacity utilization

Hong Kong trade

Macau visitor arrivals

Wednesday, November 25th

– Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivers a long-awaited policy address that she postponed last month to consult China

– U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sunak reveals the government’s spending plans for the next year.

– Austria Central Bank Governor Holzmann presents Austria’s financial stability report.

– The ECB publishes its Financial Stability Review.

– The Federal Reserve releases the minutes from its last meeting. Investors will look to see if they provide any hints to increasing their asset purchases or if they are closer to adopting yield curve control.

– EIA crude oil inventory report

Economic Data

US wholesale inventories, GDP, initial jobless claims, durable goods, personal spending/income, University of Michigan sentiment, FOMC meeting minutes, new home sales

Mexico retail sales, Central Bank inflation report

Brazil current account balance

South Korea business survey

Japan PPI services

Australia construction work done

CPI: Malaysia, South Africa

Thursday, November 26th

– The US stock and bond markets are closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

– ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane speaks at Trinity College Dublin.

– Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol post-rate decision press conference

– The ECB publishes the account of its October monetary policy meeting.

Economic Data

Mexico GDP, Banxico meeting minutes

New Zealand trade

Australia private capital expenditure

Sweden rate decision: Expected to keep repo rate and asset purchases unchanged

Japan machine tool orders, leading index

Singapore industrial production

South Korea rate decision: Expected to keep rates steady at record low level

Friday, November 27th

– SIFMA recommends an early market close at 2 p.m. EST for U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income securities.

– In the US, Black Friday kickoffs the holiday buying season for many Americans.

– ECB Executive Board member Panetta speaks at a Bundesbank conference.

– ECB Executive Board member Schnabel speaks at the Destatis conference.

– BOE policy maker Silvana Tenreyro speaks at a Bank of France event.

Economic Data

Colombia rate decision: Expected to keep Overnight Lending Rate unchanged at 1.75%

Japan Tokyo CPI

China industrial profits

GDP: Taiwan, India, France, Finland, Sweden

Euro-area economic confidence

France CPI

Italy consumer, manufacturing confidence

Retail sales: Spain, Sweden

Sovereign Rating Updates

– Ireland (S&P), 

– Belgium (Moody’s), 

– Switzerland (Moody’s)

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