FX Week Weekly 3 March 214 D at key levels as important events loom The dollar closed at important levels last week, suggesting that it could be on the cusp of breaking significantly higher. At 1.37 against the EUR and 12.8 against the JPY, the D looks to be on course to meet our 1.36 and 14 one-month targets respectively, en route to 1.34 and 16 over 3-months. Events in the coming week will have an important bearing on whether this actually plays out. employment data, an ECB policy meeting, global ISM and PMI data, as well as a Japanese Tankan survey will all be seen in the coming days, and the impact of the much awaited VAT rate hike in Japan will also be significant in determining whether the Bank of Japan eases monetary policy again in coming months. The easing in tensions in Ukraine over the weekend, with Russia indicating that it will not invade Ukraine, and with the IMF extending financial support to the country, may also help sentiment especially in relation to D/JPY and D/CHF, with both the JPY and the CHF having been principal beneficiaries of safe-haven flows throughout the crisis. Eurozone inflation to add more pressure on the ECB As ever, the ECB meeting on Thursday looms as one of the key events of the week, but before then critical inflation data for the Eurozone will be seen on Monday. For some technical reasons the chances are that inflation will decline from the current.7% in February to.5% in March. This will mostly be caused by annual base effects related to the timing of Easter, and for this reason it may not be enough to force the ECB to ease monetary policy further. However, more underlying pressures are also growing as demonstrated by the fall in Spanish prices in March (-.2%) and the softer profile of German inflation which declined to 1.% in March from 1.2% in February. Other surveys released last week, while showing a slight pick-up in economic momentum did nothing to suggest that the Eurozone recovery will be anything other than tepid, with Q1 GDP growth expected to be only a fraction above Q4 s.3% pace. Given the ECB s famed stubbornness to ease monetary policy, the latest data does not appear to provide a huge amount of encouragement that the outcome will be any different at this week s meeting. However, it is worth noting that ECB rhetoric has begun to turn more dovish recently, with even Bundesbank President Weidmann appearing to soften his stance towards Quantitative Easing. EUR/D appears poised to break lower 1.4 1.39 Tim Fox Chief Economist +971 4 23 78 timothyf@emiratesnbd.com 1.38 1.37 1.36 1.35 1.34 1.33 1.32 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 EUR/D exchange rate 1-day MA 3-day MA 2-day MA Source: Bloomberg, Emirates NBD Research
Other officials, including President Draghi, have begun to reference the strong EUR as having an impact on inflation, with references to the possibility of introducing negative interest rates also beginning to be heard more often. As such, we would not be surprised to see the ECB send a more dovish message to the markets, with particular emphasis on the EUR exchange rate. Combined with an expected strong increase in non-farm payrolls in March due out on Friday, the effect should be EUR/D bearish, as expectations that the Fed will move to raise interest rates in early-mid 215 would be enhanced just as the ECB is appearing more prone to ease. The spread between -EU two-year yields has widened considerably in the D s favour in recent days, suggesting that there are increasing downside risks to EUR/D (see page 5). Japan s VAT to rise, Tankan report also due D/JPY also faces an important week, with key drivers coming not just from jobs data but also from two significant local developments. On the 1st April Japan will release its bellwether Tankan survey of large and medium sized Japanese companies, which will be looked at to gain an insight into investment plans and into the prospects for inflation over the rest of the year. Inflation remained unchanged at 1.3% in February, but the danger is that it could now fall as the depreciation effect of the weak JPY a year ago appears to have run its course. If inflation is to rise further another dose of Quantitative Easing may be necessary to weaken the JPY further. On the same day Japan will also raise the consumption tax, or VAT, from 5.% to 8.%, the first time it has been raised since 1997. In the run-up to the tax increase the Japanese economy has been recovering, as consumers bring forward spending into Q1, with retail sales having risen by 1.6% and.3% in January and February respectively. A survey of small businesses also jumped in March to its highest level since 1989. However, the fear is that the tax hike will cause Q2 growth to deteriorate, especially as surveys of consumer confidence have been declining just as retail activity has been going up. The last time that Japan raised its consumption tax in 1997 the economy fell into a deep recession, with voters ultimately punishing the ruling party and forcing the Prime Minister to resign. Most expectations are indeed that the economy will slow in Q2 as a result of the tax hike, but what is uncertain is how deep the plunge will be and how quickly the economy will recover in H214. The Bank of Japan also appears split on the likely impact, with some of it officials openly advocating more monetary easing in Q2, while others appear to believe the Bank has done enough for now. Certainly any fall-off in growth in Q2 is likely to be met by calls for more monetary stimulus which is likely to keep D/JPY supported on dips. GBP benefits from improving macro picture GBP has rebounded on the crosses over the last week, benefiting from stronger UK economic data, with retail sales up 1.7% in February, and with Q413 GDP growth confirmed at 2.7%. However, relatively soft inflation data of 1.7% in February has also reduced pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates anytime soon, even as the recovery continues to build. UK PMI data this week should maintain optimism towards the British economy on the whole, but we still feel that GBP strength is likely to be more consistent against the EUR and the JPY over the course of the year rather than against the D, which we see rallying further as the recovery in the becomes stronger. Commodity FX pull back The commodity currencies all rallied last week, benefiting from recovering commodity prices. In the coming week the main events for the AUD and the CAD will be the Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting and the Canadian employment report for March. While the likelihood is that the RBA will leave policy rates on hold at 2.5% on Tuesday, the possibility is that it will also be a little more concerned with the AUD s strength given its appreciation over the last month. In terms of the CAD, the Page 2
employment report is expected to show a recovery in the labour market in March, but this may not be as strong as in the which will leave the D as more likely to outperform relative to the CAD. Page 3
FX Forecasts - Major Forwards Spot 28.3 1M 3M 6M 12M 3M 6M 12M EUR/D 1.3752 1.36 1.34 1.3 1.28 1.37 1.37 1.3755 D/JPY 12.83 14. 16. 19. 112. 12.7812 12.7225 12.5455 D/CHF.8868.9.93.96.98.8862.8853.8833 GBP/D 1.6638 1.66 1.65 1.63 1.64 1.6627 1.6615 1.6583 AUD/D.9247.88.87.85.8.919.9133.918 D/CAD 1.161 1.1 1.11 1.13 1.15 1.185 1.119 1.1156 EUR/GBP.8265.82.81.8.78.827.8276.8294 EUR/JPY 141.4 141 142 142 143 141.3992 141.3983 141.3964 EUR/CHF 1.2194 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.25 1.2184 1.2173 1.2149 EUR/NOK 8.263 8.25 8.2 8. 7.75 8.2883 8.3172 8.3754 EUR/SEK 8.9417 8.8 8.7 8.6 8. 8.9534 8.9649 8.995 NZD/D.8661.83.83.83.82.8597.8525.837 FX Forecasts - Emerging Forwards Spot 28.3 1M 3M 6M 12M 3M 6M 12M D/SAR* 3.73 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.74 3.78 3.7518 D/AED* 3.673 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.6723 3.672 3.6714 D/KWD.2819.282.285.282.28.2929.31.321 D/OMR*.38.38.38.38.38.3847.3838.3819 D/BHD*.377.376.376.376.376.3789.387.3842 D/QAR* 3.6423 3.64 3.64 3.64 3.64 3.644 3.6458 3.6 D/EGP 6.9668 6.89 6.89 6.89 6.89 7.1815 7.4115 7.9115 D/INR 59.89 6. 59. 58. 57. 59.9 59.9114 59.9335 D/CNY 6.2125 6.15 6.18 6.2 6.2 - - - Source: Bloomberg, Emirates NBD Research *Denotes D peg Page 4
Major Currency Pairs and Interest Rates Interest Rate Differentials - EUR Interest Rate Differentials - GBP. 1.4.4 1.7 -.2 1.35 1.3 1.25.2. 1.65 1.6 1.55 1. -.4 1.2 -.2 1.45 German 2yr yield - 2yr yield GBP 2yr yield - 2yr yield Interest Rate Differentials JPY Interest Rate Differentials - CHF.4 11..8 1..3 15. 1..5.2 95..1 9. 85..3.9. 8...85 2yr yield - JPY 2yr yield 2yr yield - CHF 2yr yield Interest Rate Differentials - CAD Interest Rate Differentials - AUD. 1.15 3.8 1.1 -.4 -.8 1.1 1.5 1. 3.3 2.8 2.3 1.5 1..9-1.2 1.8.85 2yr yield - CAD 2yr yield AUD 2yr yield - 2 yr yield Source: Bloomberg, Emirates NBD Research Page 5
Major Currency Positions CFTC Speculative Positions - EUR 1 1. 1 1.45 1.4-1.35-1 1.3-1 -2 1.25-2 1.2 long short net long (lhs) CFTC Speculative Positions - GBP 75 1.7 1.65 25 1.6-25 1.55 - -75 1. -1 1.45 long short net long (lhs) CFTC Speculative Positions - JPY CFTC Speculative Positions - CHF 1 8.75 - -1 85 9 95 1 15 25-25.85-1 11 long short net long (lhs) - 1.5 long short net long (lhs) CFTC Speculative Positions - CAD 1 1.9 1. 1.5 - -1-1 1.1 1.15 long short net long (lhs) CFTC Speculative Positions - AUD 1 1.1 125 1 1.5 75 1. 25-25.9 - -75.85 long short net long (lhs) Source: Bloomberg, Emirates NBD Research Page 6
Economic Calendar Date Country Event 31-Mar Japan Industrial Production Japan Housing Starts France GDP UK Money Supply Eurozone CPI Italy CPI Canada GDP Chicago Purchasing Manager Dallas Fed Mfg Activity Egypt GDP Morocco GDP Russia GDP 1-April Japan Tankan Survey China Manufacturing PMI Australia RBA Cash Target Rate India RBI Rate Decision Switzerland PMI Manufacturing Germany Unemployment Rate Italy Unemployment Rate Eurozone Unemployment Rate Markit Manufacturing PMI ISM Manufacturing Brazil Trade Balance 2-April UK Nationwide House Prices MBA Mortgage Applications Russia CPI Brazil Industrial Production ADP Employment Change Factory Orders Brazil Selic Rate 3-April Australia Retail Sales Australia Trade Balance China Non-Manufacturing PMI Egypt HSBC Egypt PMI UAE HSBC PMI Page 7
3-April Eurozone Retail Sales Eurozone ECB Rate Decision Trade Balance Initial Jobless Claims ISM Non Mfg Composite Index 4-April Germany Factory Orders Change in Non-farm payrolls / Unemployment Rate Canada Unemployment Rate Source: Bloomberg Page 8
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Emirates NBD Research& Treasury Contact List Emirates NBD Head Office 12th Floor Baniyas Road, Deira P.O Box 777 Dubai Aazar Ali Khwaja Group Treasurer & EVP Global Markets & Treasury +971 4 69 3 aazark@emiratesnbd.com Tim Fox Head of Research & Chief Economist +971 4 23 78 timothyf@emiratesnbd.com Research Khatija Haque Senior Economist +971 4 9 365 khatijah@emiratesndb.com Jean-Paul Pigat MENA Economist +971 4 23 787 jeanp@emiratesnbd.com Irfan Ellam Head of MENA Equity Research +971 4 9 364 Mohammedie@emiratesnbd.com Aditya Pugalia Analyst +971 4 23 782 adityap@emiratesnbd.com Sales & Structuring Head of Sales & Structuring Sayed Sajjid Sadiq +971 4 23 7777 sayeds@emiratesnbd.com London Sales Lee Sims +44 () 2 7838 224 simsl@emiratesnbd.com Saudi Arabia Sales Numair Attiyah +966 1 282 5625 numaira@emiratesnbd.com Egypt Shahinaz Foda +2 22 726 shahinaz.foda@bnpparibas.com Singapore Sales Supriyakumar Sakhalkar +65 65785 627 supriyakumars@emiratesnbd.com Group Corporate Communications Ibrahim Sowaidan +971 4 69 4113 ibrahims@emiratesnbd.com Claire Andrea +971 4 69 4143 clairea@emiratesnbd.com Page 1