The Fed and The Bank of Japan are
holding their respective policy meetings today. I see a Fed rate hike as being highly
improbable, given that recent data – while on balance okay – doesn’t seem to be
threatening enough relative to the signals the voting members have been sending. Plus, the dollar’s been rallying lately (first chart) and the Fed is clearly concerned
about bringing back the strong currency scenario that some would say has
tempered the recovery over the past couple of years: click charts to enlarge
holding their respective policy meetings today. I see a Fed rate hike as being highly
improbable, given that recent data – while on balance okay – doesn’t seem to be
threatening enough relative to the signals the voting members have been sending. Plus, the dollar’s been rallying lately (first chart) and the Fed is clearly concerned
about bringing back the strong currency scenario that some would say has
tempered the recovery over the past couple of years: click charts to enlarge
Therefore, assuming they don’t hike,
it’ll be all about the post-meeting commentary. Given the recent hawkish tone among an
increasing number of voting members, I suspect that the announcement and Janet Yellen’s press conference may yield a sterner warning to
the market that a hike is on the near-term horizon. If so, we may see the
dollar rally anyway. It was actually up during equity market trading today:
Although it’s trading a little
lower as I type:
lower as I type:
Of course other forces will push
the dollar around as well. The Bank of Japan for instance has resorted to very
aggressive measures to devalue the yen (and, as a consequence, boost the dollar
[relative to the yen]), but to little avail. I had expected the BOJ to take yet
further measures of late, however, I believe that as the Fed rhetoric has
become more hawkish, Kuroda (BOJ’s head) is hoping that the U.S. Central Bank
will do the job for him. I.e., were the fed to hike, amid such an aggressive
Japanese monetary policy,surely presumably that would do a number on the yen.
the dollar around as well. The Bank of Japan for instance has resorted to very
aggressive measures to devalue the yen (and, as a consequence, boost the dollar
[relative to the yen]), but to little avail. I had expected the BOJ to take yet
further measures of late, however, I believe that as the Fed rhetoric has
become more hawkish, Kuroda (BOJ’s head) is hoping that the U.S. Central Bank
will do the job for him. I.e., were the fed to hike, amid such an aggressive
Japanese monetary policy,
The yen/dollar cross was all over
the map during the U.S. equity trading session today:
the map during the U.S. equity trading session today:
Trading higher since the close:
Clearly, currency traders are
expecting the BOJ to hold pat. If correct, that means the central bank is content
to risk somewhat of a Japanese equity market selloff if the Fed doesn’t deliver
on a rate hike tomorrow (again, unlikely) or on more aggressive language
(likely). It’ll then be keenly focused on the Fed’s December meeting. If the
Fed softens its language between now and then, I look for the BOJ to go deeper
into uncharted monetary easing territory.
expecting the BOJ to hold pat. If correct, that means the central bank is content
to risk somewhat of a Japanese equity market selloff if the Fed doesn’t deliver
on a rate hike tomorrow (again, unlikely) or on more aggressive language
(likely). It’ll then be keenly focused on the Fed’s December meeting. If the
Fed softens its language between now and then, I look for the BOJ to go deeper
into uncharted monetary easing territory.
One other central bank on the
docket this week is the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. They have a quandary of
their own — which is virtually the same as Japan’s. The New Zealand dollar has
been on a tear of late despite ongoing rate cuts:
docket this week is the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. They have a quandary of
their own — which is virtually the same as Japan’s. The New Zealand dollar has
been on a tear of late despite ongoing rate cuts:
Fold in the easy monetary stance
of virtually the rest of the world’s central banks, and you have a higher U.S.
dollar risk that I don’t suspect the Fed is ready to exacerbate at this
juncture, particularly while U.S. (PCE) inflation remains below the Fed’s target.
of virtually the rest of the world’s central banks, and you have a higher U.S.
dollar risk that I don’t suspect the Fed is ready to exacerbate at this
juncture, particularly while U.S. (PCE) inflation remains below the Fed’s target.
All that said, their recent
rumblings smack of impatience. Could very well happen in December.
rumblings smack of impatience. Could very well happen in December.
As for the stock market this
week, it’s been early morning rallies that get sold as the day progresses. The near-term
range for the S&P has been tight between 2150 and 2120. I think – if we get
a near-term upside breakout – it’ll see stiff resistance at 2200. If it breaks
lower, 2100 could be fairly strong
support.
week, it’s been early morning rallies that get sold as the day progresses. The near-term
range for the S&P has been tight between 2150 and 2120. I think – if we get
a near-term upside breakout – it’ll see stiff resistance at 2200. If it breaks
lower, 2100 could be fairly strong
support.
Of course anything can happen one day to the next. Which is perfectly okay for the prudent, patient, long-term investor! 🙂