Continuum Daily
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May 16, 2024 1:07 PM UTC
Unprecedented floods in Rio Grande do Sul, a state that contributes 6.4% to Brazil's GDP and 13.3% to its agricultural production, have submerged several cities. The immediate halt in economic activity may reduce Brazil's Q2 GDP by up to 0.4%. The federal government is increasing aid, potentially ra
May 16, 2024 10:30 AM UTC
Most of the surge in debt/GDP in Japan and 40% in France is due to higher government debt and this should not be a binding constraint provided that large scale QT is avoided – we see the ECB slowing QT in 2025 and are skeptical about BOJ QT in the next few years. The adverse impact of higher deb
May 15, 2024 1:14 PM UTC
April CPI has provided some relief by coming in lower than expected at 0.3% on the headline and while the 0.3% core is on consensus, it is on the soft side at 0.292% before rounding. Retail sales have also lost some momentum in April, unchanged overall, up 0.2% ex autos but down 0.1% ex autos and ga
May 15, 2024 12:18 PM UTC
Argentina's April CPI dropped to 8.8% after six months above 10%, with Y/Y CPI at 289%. Key rises included housing (+36%) and communication (+14.2%). Javier Milei's program and fiscal adjustments have reduced monetary emissions to zero, easing inflation. The Central Bank cut the policy rate to 40%.
May 15, 2024 10:34 AM UTC
Revised national account data confirmed the upside surprise in the preliminary data with EZ GDP rising 0.3% q/q. The question is whether this emergence from the modest H2 2023 recession is the start of more sustained momentum. We think not, mainly due to what are still weak consumer fundamentals
May 15, 2024 9:55 AM UTC
While part of corporate debt is quasi government (SOE and LGFV’s) and China creditors can be pursued to rollover by the authorities for larger borrowers, households and part of the private sector are focused on the previous buildup of debt. With China authorities reluctant to aggressive ease fis
May 14, 2024 2:35 PM UTC
The Brazilian Central Bank's latest meeting revealed a shift in forward-guidance, reducing the cut from 50bps to 25bps. While no immediate actions were taken, the minutes highlighted worsening conditions in three key areas: External Environment, Fiscal, and Economic Activity. Despite split votes on
May 14, 2024 2:02 PM UTC
After a 0.7% increase in March, we expect April retail sales to rise by only 0.3%. Ex autos we expect a 0.2% increase to follow a 1.1% rise in March, while ex autos and gasoline we expect sales to be unchanged after a 1.0% increase in March which was the strongest since October 2022.
May 14, 2024 1:48 PM UTC
We expect April CPI to rise by 0.4% overall for a third straight month but with the ex food and energy pace slowing to 0.3% after three straight months at 0.4%. We expect the strong start to the year to fade as the year progresses, though April PPI strength was disappointing and inflationary pressur
May 14, 2024 8:40 AM UTC
As we have underscored repeatedly, the BoE has come to regard the official ONS average earnings data with some suspicion given response rates to the surveys that have fallen towards just 10%. But the BoE will not be able to dismiss the latest earnings data given that alternative (and more author
May 14, 2024 12:00 AM UTC
In "The Aussie", we will look into the "well-known "correlation among the Aussie and well-known benchmark to give our readers a closer look towards factors that have been affecting the movement of the Australian Dollar. In Chapter 3, we will look into the performance of the Aussie against major equi
May 13, 2024 12:10 PM UTC
It is very clear that labor market and CPI data are crucial to BoE thinking about the timing and even existence if any start to an easing cycle. But perhaps the CPI data is the most crucial making the looming April data all the more important for markets as they weigh the chances of an initial rat
May 13, 2024 7:54 AM UTC
The latest China money supply and lending figures show that private household and business lending is very subdued. More need to be done to boost credit demand as well as credit supply. However, the authorities desires to avoid too much Yuan weakness will likely mean that the next move is a 25bp
May 10, 2024 1:06 PM UTC
Fed easing expectations for 2025 and 2026 can shift from a terminal 4% Fed Funds rate towards 3%, as the U.S. economy slows due to lagged tightening effects. Combined with Fed easing starting in September this should mean a consistent decline in 2yr yields. However, 10yr U.S. Treasury yields wil
May 10, 2024 6:26 AM UTC
The economy may have been in only mild recession in H2 last year, but the ‘recovery’ now evident is much clearer than any expected with GDP growth notably positive. Indeed, coming in more than expected, and despite industrial action, GDP rose by 0.4% m/m in March accentuating the upgraded boun
May 9, 2024 6:11 PM UTC
April's CPI data, despite a 0.2% m/m growth, reveals a significant y/y uptick to 4.6% from March's 4.4%, challenging norms due to electricity tariff adjustments. Core CPI maintained stability with a 0.2% increase, while Core Goods CPI rose by 0.3% and Services CPI by 0.1%, accumulating a 5.2% y/y gr
May 9, 2024 1:11 PM UTC
The Brazilian Central Bank convened, opting against a 50bps cut, reducing it to 25bps, lowering the policy rate to 10.5%. A split vote ensued, with 25bps winning 5x4. The communique, vague possibly due to board division, noted labor market and economic activity surpassing expectations. Foreign marke
May 9, 2024 12:52 PM UTC
There was little surprise that Bank Rate was kept at 5.25% for the sixth successive MPC meeting, nor that the dissent in favor of an immediate rate cut doubled to two as a result of Dep Gov Ramsden confirming more dovish leanings. The updated projections at least validated the rate path discounted
May 9, 2024 10:22 AM UTC
Bottom Line: Central Bank of Turkiye (CBRT) released the second quarterly inflation report of the year on May 9, and lifted end-year inflation prediction from 36% to 38% citing that the rebalancing process for demand will be more delayed compared to what was projected that in the first inflation rep
May 8, 2024 2:20 PM UTC
China equities can see a tactical bounce of 5-10% in the coming months. Cheap valuations and underweight global fund positions means that the scale of pessimism only has to get less bad on the economy and China authorities attitude towards businesses. While we see a tactical opportunity, we do
May 8, 2024 1:36 PM UTC
In our quarterly outlook on March 22 we looked for Q1 US GDP to rise by 2.4% annualized followed by growth of near 1.0% in the remaining three quarters. While Q1 at 1.6% came in weaker than expected details were constructive for Q2 for which we now expect a 2.0% annualized gain. We continue to expec
May 8, 2024 12:06 PM UTC
Bottom Line: The offensives at the front lines started to pick up steam after March/April as the Russian forces plan for their larger summer 2024 offensive operation, aiming to seize more territory before the U.S. presidential elections in November. In the meantime, U.S. approved a $61 billion warti
May 8, 2024 8:24 AM UTC
It very much seemed to be a question of when, not if, as far as policy easing is concerned for the Riksbank. In this regard, albeit surprising in terms of timing, the Riksbank delivered, cutting its policy rate by 25 bp (to 3.75%), despite clear concerns it has flagged about recent and continued k
May 7, 2024 1:10 PM UTC
Current real yields in the U.S. government bond market already large reflect the large government deficit trajectory. Even so, H1 2025 could see some extra fiscal tensions that add 30-40bps to 10yr U.S. Treasury yields as the post president election environment will either see a reelected Joe Bide
May 6, 2024 6:27 PM UTC
The Fed’s Q2 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on bank lending practices generally sustains a less negative tone seen in the last survey for Q1, and does not suggest that the Fed need to have any serious concerns about the business investment outlook.
May 6, 2024 1:02 PM UTC
The Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) convenes on May 8 to set the policy rate. Previous forward guidance hinted at a 50bps cut in May, but recent statements from BCB President Roberto and some weakness in the BRL have shifted expectations to a 25bps cut. However, we anticipate the BCB maintaining a 50bp
May 3, 2024 5:00 PM UTC
After a 0.7% increase in March, we expect April retail sales to rise by only 0.3%. Ex autos we expect a 0.2% increase to follow a 1.1% rise in March, while ex autos and gasoline we expect sales to be unchanged after a 1.0% increase in March which was the strongest since October 2022.
May 3, 2024 2:14 PM UTC
Bottom Line: According to the figures announced by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Russia's GDP grew by 4.2% YoY in March owing to strong fiscal stimulus, high military spending, invigorating consumer demand and investments. We now foresee Russian economy will expand by 2.6% in 2024
May 3, 2024 1:18 PM UTC
April’s non-farm payroll is on the low side of consensus across the board, with a 175k increase (though the 167k private sector rise is only modestly below consensus), with a 0.2% rise in average hourly earnings, a fall in the workweek and a rise in unemployment to 3.9% from 3.8%. The data should
May 3, 2024 10:45 AM UTC
While U.S. economic developments, plus Fed policy prospects, will be important in terms of EM currency developments, domestic politics and fundamentals will also be decisive. These can keep the South Africa Rand volatile in the remainder of 2024, given the risk of a coalition government and African
May 3, 2024 8:46 AM UTC
Surprising few, the Norges Bank Board left the policy rate at 4.5% for a third successive meeting at its latest Board meeting. It also retained the thinking first aired at the December meeting, namely ‘policy to stay on hold for some time ahead’ rhetoric, this more formally evident in what wer
May 3, 2024 7:40 AM UTC
Bottom Line: Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) announced on May 3 that Turkish CPI ticked up 69.8% annually and 3.2% monthly in April due to increases in transportation, restaurant & hotel and education prices, coupled with the lingering impacts of the wage hikes on the services sector. We feel u
May 2, 2024 2:27 PM UTC
Moody’s upgraded Brazil's outlook to positive from stable, maintaining its Ba2 rating, signaling a potential move to Ba1 soon. Strong growth prospects, attributed to institutional reforms, drove this shift. Despite lingering doubts, improved fiscal conditions and anticipated tax reform are bolster
May 2, 2024 2:03 PM UTC
We expect a 255k increase in April’s non-farm payroll, still strong if the slowest since November, with a 195k increase in the private sector. We expect an unchanged unemployment rate of 3.8% and a slightly above trend 0.4% increase in average hourly earnings, lifted by a minimum wage hike in Cali
May 2, 2024 12:56 PM UTC
Initial claims at 208k are unchanged at a very low level while continued claims at 1774k are also unchanged, the preceding data revised from 207k and 1781k respectively. The labor market remains tight while unit labor costs saw a significant bounce to 4.7% annualized in Q1.
May 2, 2024 11:06 AM UTC
In flagging no need to be dominated by Fed policy, we think that the BoE is not only moving towards rate cuts but the MPC majority may be overtly advertising such a likelihood. But we do not see any move at the looming May 9 verdict, with Bank Rate again likely to remain at 5.25%. But the accompan
May 2, 2024 10:50 AM UTC
Politburo statement in late April suggests extra support for residential property. However, we see this as being incremental rather than any game changers and we still see residential investment remaining a negative drag on 2024 GDP growth.
May 1, 2024 7:58 PM UTC
The May 1 FOMC statement, and Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference, while noting recent inflation disappointment, did not deliver a strong pivot in tone. The Fed is still waiting for data to allow easing to take place, but still expects inflation to slow, and looks ready to respond once data
May 1, 2024 6:45 PM UTC
Bottom line: South Africa policy makers remain concerned about government debt trajectory, large domestic and international financing needs and elevated country risk premium before fast-approaching elections on May 29. We think South Africa’s general government fiscal balance and debt trajectory w
May 1, 2024 6:27 PM UTC
The FOMC has left rates at 5.25%-5.50% as expected and added to its statement that in recent months there has been a lack of further progress towards the 2% inflation objective. Otherwise the changes to the statement were fairly minor other than announcing a slowing in the pace of balance sheet redu
May 1, 2024 8:09 AM UTC
It seems to be a question of when, not if as far as policy easing is concerned. Even at it previous policy assessment in February it was clear(er) that the Riksbank accepted that it could and should make its policy stance less contractionary, at least in conventional terms. But its last decision
April 30, 2024 5:54 PM UTC
INEGI released Mexico's Preliminary GDP for Q1 2024, showing 0.2% growth, slightly above expectations. Annual GDP slowed to 2.0% from 2.8% in Q4 2023. The economy is losing momentum due to tight monetary policy and weakened U.S. demand. Agriculture contracted by 1.1%, Industry by 0.4%, while Service
April 30, 2024 5:15 PM UTC
We expect April CPI to rise by 0.4% overall for a third straight month but with the ex food and energy pace slowing to 0.3% after three straight months at 0.4%. We expect the strong start to the year to fade as the year progresses, though inflationary pressures will still look quite significant in A
April 30, 2024 2:19 PM UTC
The economy may have been in only mild recession in H2 last year, but the ‘recovery’ now evident is hardly much better with GDP growth only modestly positive. Admittedly, coming in as largely expected, and despite industrial action, GDP rose by 0.1% m/m in February accentuating the upgraded 0.
April 30, 2024 9:29 AM UTC
According to revised official national accounts data, the EZ economy was in recession in H2 last year, albeit modestly so and against a backdrop of marked, if not increasing, national growth divergences. This geographical variation continued into Q1 (Figure 1) where the flash GDP reading exceeded ex
April 29, 2024 2:02 PM UTC
The UK has faced a series of cost-of-living shocks in the last few years. Some such as the surge in food prices may even be reversing, while it now looks likely the BoE hiking cycle may also start to reverse, although rising market rates may mean little further fall in effective mortgage rates in
April 29, 2024 1:00 PM UTC
We feel that a devaluation of the Yuan is unlikely in 2024, both to avoid potentially politically destabilizing capital outflows but also to avoid upsetting the next U.S. president. Policy is geared more towards controlled depreciation to help competiveness but reduce other risks. The Yuan has a
April 26, 2024 5:52 PM UTC
The INDEC data for February reveals a 0.2% economic shrinkage, signalling a 5.1% drop since August 2023, potentially leading to a Q1 2024 recession. High inflation and fiscal adjustments are primary causes. Some foresee 0% April inflation due to price realignment and stable ARS. Despite low reserves
April 26, 2024 1:21 PM UTC
Despite the BCB's initiation of the cutting cycle, credit is anticipated to decelerate due to monetary policy lags. Enterprises face the most significant impact, with nominal growth dropping to 4.1% in February from 12.1% a year prior. While household credit growth slows to 10.4% annually from 17%,