Week Ahead – Who will lead the Fed?

And what next for Europe?

Lockdowns have returned in Europe and suddenly everyone is analysing the data to see which countries will be next. Germany may not be far behind as cases spiral out of control and others could follow in the weeks and months ahead.

Suddenly the topic of conversation may be about to change. From the consequences of not dealing with inflation to the economic hit from winter lockdowns. Of course, the two are very much linked as central banks are all too aware.

On the subject of central banks, we should soon learn who’s going to lead the Federal Reserve when Jerome Powell’s term as Chairman ends in February. Powell remains the favourite to secure another term, while Lael Brainard is also very much in the race. There are reasons to think she may be preferred among Democrats, not least as she’s viewed as being more dovish than Powell, which has its appeal. We’ll soon see who the President prefers.

Is Powell’s time as Chair coming to an end?

Who will follow Austria into lockdown this winter?

RBNZ to raise rates again as inflation soars

US

Wall Street will finally find out if President Biden wants to have a change at the head of the Fed.  Expectations are still for Fed Chair Powell to get renominated, but the odds have dropped over the past couple of months.  Powell is still around a 2 to 1 favourite and the market impact might be minimal if Biden nominates Lael Brainard.  Brainard running the Fed would be viewed as being slightly more dovish which could delay interest rates hikes.  The immediate impact in the markets may well be a drop in short-term interest rates.    

On Tuesday, the release of the November flash PMI readings should show a modest pickup in both the manufacturing and service sectors.  Wednesday is mostly about the release of the FOMC minutes from the November 3rd dovish taper announcement. Some traders will pay close attention to both personal income and spending data that should show increases from the prior month, bolstering the case that the US consumer is still in good shape.  With US bond and equity markets closed to observe Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, liquidity should be light for the remainder of the week.  This Black Friday will not draw its normal attention as many retailers will struggle to provide attractive deals given the strong demand and tight inventory situation that should last throughout the entire holiday season.     

EU 

Austria delivered the markets a shock to end the week. The country is going into full lockdown for up to (at least?) 20 days. With the case and fatality rates looking remarkably similar to Germany, will they and others follow? Investors seem to think so. Recently, all the talk has been about inflation. While lockdowns will surely exacerbate the problem in the months ahead, the topic of conversation may be about to change.

While all central banks are coming under the spotlight at the moment, the ECB by comparison is in a rather luxurious position. Inflation is running at more than double its target but that’s expected to fall at the turn of the year, much earlier than in other countries, and then back below target over the medium term. 

The ECB has spent the last decade fighting the risk of deflation more than inflation and a history of low price pressures will stand it in good stead in these troubling times. It’s not immune but it’s among the best positioned. 

The ECB accounts should reinforce the view that inflation is not expected to become a problem and should return below target without the need for rate hikes next year. President Christine Lagarde will likely reinforce this shortly after the minutes on Thursday, as she has repeatedly since the meeting. Flash PMIs are the standout economic releases next week, alongside the German Ifo, Gfk and GDP readings.

UK

The BoE has backed itself into a corner in recent weeks. First, it talked up a rate hike ahead of the November meeting, only to vote heavily against it. Then they blamed a lack of information on the end of the furlough scheme for holding off on raising rates. 

The first of the furlough data is out and it doesn’t look too bad at all. The next jobs report, which will give the full picture, will be released on 14 December, a day before the November inflation data and two days before the next MPC meeting. By then it may have run out of excuses, which is what the market is positioning for. 

There’ll be plenty of opportunities for policymakers to backtrack before then, if they wish, with many of them making appearances next week including Governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday. Flash PMIs on Monday are the only other noteworthy event next week.

Russia

A couple of notable economic releases over the next week including industrial production and PPI. The currency has fallen over the last week as oil has come off its highs and hit a six week low on Friday.

South Africa

After raising interest rates this week and starting the normalisation cycle, eyes will be on the PPI data next week for further signs of a build-up of inflationary pressures. More hikes are coming over the next couple of years, with the current level still well below its neutral rate. The economy is still in need of support and the process will be gradual. 

Turkey

The CBRT cut interest rates by 100 basis points to 15% and signalled it may do so again in December before evaluating its easing cycle. Erdogan’s promise to fight against interest rates is going well; if only he had the same disdain for inflation. 

Unsurprisingly, the market is not forgiving of such unconventional policies, or a central bank Governor that’s a puppet for the President, and the lira has once again been spiralling lower. The dollar is above 11 against the lira for the first time ever and there doesn’t seem to be much appetite to take the opposite view on the currency.

China

The one and five year Loan Prime Rates are expected to be left unchanged early next week even as the economy continues to face significant headwinds. The PBOC may opt for RRR cut in the coming months as an alternative way to stimulate the economy.

The property market is one of the primary areas of weakness for the Chinese economy as the restructuring of Evergrande continues to weigh heavily on the sector. The sale of its entire stake in streaming company HengTen for $273m will help to keep the wolf from the door for now but the debt repayments will keep on coming. 

The company is successfully buying time at a significant cost but a more sustainable solution is essential, for the rest of the industry and every other that relies on it, which combined accounts for around 25% of the economy. 

India

No major data or events next week for India. 

Australia 

The RBA continues to push back against market expectations for a rate hike next year, with the first currently priced in for next summer. This has been a constant theme recently for central banks in general but the RBA may have done itself no favours when it was bullied off its yield target policy days before a meeting. 

PMIs on Monday and retail sales on Friday are the standout data releases. We’ll also hear from Assistant Governor Michele Bullock on Wednesday.

New Zealand

The RBNZ is expected to continue its tightening cycle and raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, taking it to 0.75%. Higher inflation and a tighter labour market may tempt policymakers into a 50 basis point hike though, with the next meeting not due to take place until February. 

Retail sales are also due on Monday. 

Japan

The core Tokyo inflation reading is expected to rise to 0.4% next week, up from 0.1%, as higher imported oil and food lifted prices. The impact should be temporary though and won’t have any impact on the BoJ decision to keep rates at rock bottom levels.

Key Economic Events

Saturday, Nov. 20

US Secretary of Defense Austin and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speak at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue security conference 

Sunday, Nov. 21

Chile’s presidential election

Monday, Nov. 22

ECB members Holzmann, Kazaks and Kazimir, alongside Czech National Bank Governor Rusnok speak at the Austrian central bank conference on European economic integration.

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer delivers the keynote address at the nation’s business organization’s CBI 2021 Annual Conference

US trade representative Tai is in India for trade talks.

Economic Data/Events

US existing home sales

China loan prime rates

Eurozone consumer confidence

Turkey consumer confidence, foreign tourist arrivals

Spain trade

Poland PPI, industrial, construction output

Tuesday, Nov. 23

BOC Beaudry speaks to the Ontario Securities Commission.

BOE policymaker Haskel speaks at the Adam Smith Business School on “High inflation now and then.”

EU general affairs council meeting in Brussels.

Economic Data/Events

US Nov Prelim manufacturing PMI: 59.0e v 58.4 prior

European Flash PMIs: Eurozone, Germany, France, and the UK 

Mexico international reserves

Singapore CPI

Poland retail sales

Israel leading ‘S’ indicator

Wednesday, Nov. 24

Economic Data/Events

FOMC minutes

US consumer income, wholesale inventories, new home sales, Q3 GDP, initial jobless claims, durable goods, University of Michigan consumer sentiment

Germany IFO business climate

RBNZ Rate Decision:

France manufacturing confidence

Russia industrial production

New Zealand rate decision: Expected to raise cash rate 25 basis points to 0.75%.

Singapore GDP

South Africa BER business confidence

Turkey capacity utilization, real sector confidence

Russia industrial production, PPI, CPI

BOE policymaker Silvana Tenreyro speaks at the Oxford Economics Society.

Thursday, Nov. 25

US equity and bond markets closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day.

BOE Governor Bailey speaks at a Cambridge Union event.

ECB chief Lagarde and board members Elderson, Schnabel, Panetta and Lane speak at the ECB legal conference on continuity and change.

Economic Data/Events

Germany Q3 Final GDP

Mexico Q3 Final GDP; Minutes released

New Zealand Trade

Hong Kong Trade

Sweden Rate decisions: Expected to keep rates steady at 0.00%

Hungary Rate decisions: Expected to increase interest rates again.

Germany consumer confidence

South Africa PPI

Russia gold and forex reserves

Friday, Nov. 26

Economic Data/Events

Australia Retail sales

Sweden Retail sales

Tokyo CPI

Mexico trade

Singapore industrial production

Switzerland GDP

France Consumer confidence

Italy Consumer confidence

Russia money supply

BOE’s Pill speaks to CBI North East on the economic outlook.

Sovereign Rating Updates

Ireland (S&P)

Belgium (Moody’s)

Switzerland (Moody’s)

Poland (DBRS)

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