These positive economic nuances along with the USA treasury auctioning its longer duration bonds, as it does every 2nd week of the month, saw global yields move higher, trying to discount the supply and pricing in the better economic outcomes. Even the Fed Chair’s dovish speech – US labour market far from strong, and new lockdowns in both Auckland and the state of Victoria in Australia could not hold yields down.
In Japan, the Nikkei is now above its ‘90s high in USD terms. The BoJ’s reflation process is finally having an effect, therefore at some stage change should be expected. BoJ board member Nakamura-san gave a speech outlining his own views supporting more flexibility on the Bank’s ETF purchases. With holdings now amounting to 7% of the TSE, flexibility infers buying less, unless of course the economy weakens. This change combined with the expected widening of the 10y yield target band alludes to a form of BoJ taper.
It was the political arena that provided the week’s entertainment with Mitch McConnell, the most senior Republican, speaking on how bad Trump was, only to vote against convicting him in impeachment proceedings. Additionally, in Italy, M5S – the once fiercely anti-establishment party – endorsed the exact opposite in a Draghi led government. Whilst good for short term stability in Italian politics, this move is reminiscent of the UK Liberal-Democrat party’s U-turn on student financing. It is also worrying for those who wonder which party the orphaned voters will now turn to, the ground for political popularism in Italy remains fertile.
North America
US: January core CPI dropped to 0.0% MoM (0.2% exp., 0.1% rev.) and 1.4% YoY (1.5% exp., 1.6% rev.) The University of Michigan sentiment measures were lower than expected and 1yr inflation expectations higher at +3.3% (3.0% rev.) with the longer term at +2.7% (2.7% rev.) Initial claims, the high frequency measure of the US jobs market, was notable as it was weak but the previous week’s data revised higher, so it was taken as positive news..
Canada: Jan Manufacturing PMI was expansionary at +54.4 (57.9 rev.) Jan employment figures were shockingly weak at -212.8k (-40.0k exp., -62.6k rev.) pushing the unemployment up rate to +9.4% (8.9% exp., 8.6% rev.) along with a drop in the participation rate to +64.7% (64.9% exp., 64.9% rev.) there was no optimism hiding in the data. This move was driven by lockdowns in Ontario and Quebec, so the market ignored the data and priced in higher forward rates.
Europe
Eurozone: Italian industrial production and French December industrial and manufacturing production was very weak, reflecting COVID restrictions. German industrial production also disappointed, albeit less so.
Sweden: Sweden’s Riksbank kept policy rates unchanged, at 0.0% (0.0% exp., 0.0% rev.) and downplayed any thoughts of a brighter outlook. The unemployment rate was stable at +4.6% (4.6% rev.)
Norway: Norwegian January core CPI surprised higher at +0.1% MoM (-0.2% exp., -0.1% rev.) and +2.7% YoY (2.4% exp., 3.0% rev.) and 4Q GDP was, much like eery other Q4 GDP, stronger than expectations +1.9% QoQ (1.3% exp., 5.2% rev.)
Japan
December wages were weak -3.2% YoY (-4.8% exp., -2.2% rev.) reflecting lower overtime and bonus payments and economic surveys pointed to a weaker outlook. However, machine tool orders continued their uptick at +9.7% YoY (9.9% rev.)
UK
December construction contracted by -2.9% MoM (0.5% exp., 1.9% rev.), however industrial and manufacturing production expanded. Services expanded strongly, at +1.7% MoM (1.0% exp., -3.4% rev.) and Q4 GDP was, like everywhere else, better than expected at + 1.0% QoQ (0.5% exp., 16.0% rev.)
Australasia
Australia: February inflation expectations move higher to +3.7% (3.4% rev.)
New Zealand: Consumer inflation expectation rose to +1.89% (1.59% rev.) and retail spending dropped a little at -0.4% MoM (-0.6% rev.) Manufacturing PMI rose strongly to +57.5 (48.7 rev.) while the ANZ Truckometer took a summer break, dropping to -3.8% MoM (0.4% rev.). The NZ data is gradually painting a picture of growth that, all else equal, will force the RBNZ’s hand into a rate hike at some point.
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