UK: Weekly FX Market Update 3 July
GBP
Last week, GBPUSD started to decline when Bank of England Governor Bailey repeated that inflation would be controlled by higher interest rates.
The UK economy is growing very slowly, so more interest rate hikes could push it into a recession later this year.
However, with the Eurozone in recession already, GBPEUR managed to push higher.
This week, the ‘forward looking’ Purchasing Managers Index data is released. Will this confirm the weak picture for the UK economy?
Bank of England MPC Committee member Mann speaks on Friday, and with a lack of UK economic releases for direction, US and Eurozone data could push the pound around.
The weakening of the pound based on persistent inflation and interest rate hikes is a potential pivot moment, after all, it’s the same story and data that has supported the pound since the UK political crisis in September 2022. GBPUSD has rallied up to 25 cents higher since the low of 1.0350. To what extent could we see a retracement if the market punishes the pound going forward for further rate hikes?
EUR
The euro slipped 0.75% against the US dollar last week, driven lower by positive US GDP data.
We also saw a surprising Spanish CPI release, with inflation at 1.6%, lower than had been expected and below the 2% inflationary target that the ECB is working towards for the Eurozone.
The significant date release of the week is on Thursday, Eurozone Retail sales data, and Madame Lagarde rounds the week off on Friday.
ECB President Lagarde continues to repeat that Eurozone rates will be raised in July, however, Bloomberg suggests Eurozone interest rates will peak at 3.87%, which would mean that the July hike would be the last one of this cycle. With this in mind, if the ECB do decide to hike in September and beyond, are we in for a bout of euro strength?
USD
US GDP showed continuing economic strength, growing 2% annually and better than the 1.4% expected – a shot in the arm for the dollar.
The positive data continued, with the US consumer looking forward to the future as well. The confidence index was released at 109.7, nicely above the 104.0 expected.
FOMC meeting minutes are released on Wednesday evening. Will they confirm that committee members are as hawkish as Fed Chair Powell, or will there be dissent?
The week is rounded off by the release of Non-Farm Payrolls on Friday. Will the US dollar continue its recent strength or take a breather?
Events for the week ahead:
Mon Jul 3
All Day CAD holiday
07:30 CHF CPI
09:00 EUR Final Manufacturing PMI
09:30 GBP Final Manufacturing PMI
15:00 USD ISM Manufacturing PMI
Tue Jul 4
All Day US Holiday
05:30 AUD Cash Rate/Reserve Bank Australia Rate Statement
Wed Jul 5
02:45 CNY Caixin Services PMI
09:00 EUR Final Services PMI
09:30 GBP Final Services PMI
19:00 USD FOMC Meeting Minutes
Thu Jul 6
02:30 AUD Trade Balance
09:30 GBP Construction PMI
10:00 EUR Retail Sales
13:30 USD Unemployment Claims/Trade Balance
15:00 USD ISM Services PMI
Fri Jul 7
07:00 EUR German Industrial Production
13:30 CAD Unemployment Rate
13:30 USD Non-Farm Payrolls/Average Hourly Earnings/Unemployment Rate
15:30 GBP MPC Mann Speaks
17:45 EUR ECB President Lagarde Speaks