Rate expectations hold GBP back
Quote of the day: “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it”
January 18th: Highlights
- Sterling down over 3% so far this year
- USD posts disappointing data
- Inflation data due for UK / US
Sterling Comment
The market remains concerned over economic growth stability, delays in raising interest rates and the EU referendum.
CPI inflation data, expected tomorrow, are a reason for caution towards Sterling. Despite forecasts for a marginal increase – inflation is expected to increase to 0.2% from 0.1% for December – but as this is well below the BoE target (2%), any positive reaction to the data is likely to be short-lived as rate expectations will remain unchanged.
As well as CPI, on the calendar this week, we have BOE Governor Carney talking tomorrow, UK average earnings on Wednesday and UK Retail Sales rounds things off on Friday.
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Global Comment
Today is Martin Luther King Day – a public holiday in the US – so trading volumes could be fairly low in the afternoon. There is also no significant data expected ahead of CPI data, on Wednesday
On Friday, US Retail Sales fell 0.1% and PPI data came in at -0.2%. Poor data continued with Industrial Production falling -0.4% (worse than the -0.2% forecast). The data so far this year has affected rate expectations. Currently the market is only pricing in a 40% probability of another rate rise in March and 60% for June.
Sentiment is fairly negative on the open today as the Oil price dominates the markets. The sanctions on Iran were lifted over the weekend, which will release additional supply (of around 500k barrels a day initially, which could easily grow to 1m in the short-term) into an over supplied market. Brent crude has touched as low as $27 this morning.
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