AUD: A$ Sinks As US Imposes 20% Tariffs On China, RBA Minutes Later
US President Trump has signed an order for 20% tariffs on China rather than the 10% announced. This has driven risk- and China-exposed Aussie lower with AUDUSD falling from a peak of 0.6254 to 0.6199, a drop of 0.9%. It is recovering and currently 0.2% higher on the day and around 0.6223 having found support at 62c. AUDUSD rose earlier driven by disappointing US ISM data which weakened the US dollar. The USD index is off its intraday low but is still down 0.4%.
- AUDUSD has remained above support at 0.6193, 28 February low. A break of 0.6171 would strengthen a bearish theme. Initial resistance is at 0.6309, 50-day EMA.
- The yen has done well in the heightened risk environment leaving AUDJPY down 0.5% to 93.07 but off the recent low of 92.54.
- AUDNZD is down 0.1% to 1.108 after falling to 1.1070 following a high of 1.1107.
- The euro had strengthened following slightly higher-than-expected inflation data. AUDEUR is down 0.8% to 0.5936 after a trough of 0.5924. AUDGBP is 0.7% lower at 0.4900 off the low of 0.4891.
- Equities were mixed with the Euro stoxx up 1.4% but S&P down 1.8%, which was already trending down before the tariff news but slid further afterwards. Oil prices are lower with Brent -2.0% to $71.34/bbl. Copper rose 0.9%, while iron ore is lower at $101.50/t.
- Today the February RBA minutes are published. Q4 current account data including the net export contribution to GDP, which is forecast to be -0.1pp, and January retail sales print. The public demand contribution to Q4 GDP is also released.
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FED: Powell To Deliver Semi-Annual Testimony In Mid-Feb
The House Financial Services Committee's website confirms that Fed Chair Powell will deliver his semi-annual Monetary Policy Report on Wednesday Feb 12 at 1000ET.
- The Semi-annual testimony will be closely eyed as Powell's first scheduled appearance since the January FOMC - and the House testimony on the 12th is the same day as the release of January CPI (and the week after nonfarm payrolls and benchmark revisions) so will be of particular interest.
US OUTLOOK/OPINION: Nonfarm Payrolls, Revisions Highlight Next Week In US Macro
Friday’s nonfarm payrolls for January highlights the US macro week. It's a highly anticipated report that could alter recent trends considering it will include annual benchmark revisions along with seasonal factors and an updated birth-death model.
- The preliminary estimate for the benchmark revision pointed to the level of payrolls being some 818k lower than currently reported for back in March 2024. There’s a broad expectation from what we can gather that the hit seen next week won’t be as large but it could still be significant. We also watch the seasonal revisions closely, as whilst they should have a zero-sum impact over the calendar year, we’ve noted some particularly favorable seasonal factors in recent months that have biased seasonally adjusted jobs growth higher.
- With these considerations in mind, the early days of the Bloomberg consensus points to nonfarm payrolls growth of 150k after a solid three-month average of 170k. Note that the unemployment rate from the separate household survey won’t be affected by these revisions, having already seen its own seasonal factor revisions last month. A population control will complicate month-on-month changes in the levels of employment and unemployment but shouldn’t be significant for the rate, which is seen unchanged at 4.1% having surprised lower with 4.09% in December. The recent high is technically 4.23% in November having first popped to 4.22% back in July.
- Two other special mentions for the week are: 1) rare remarks from FOMC Vice Chair Jefferson speaking on the economic outlook and monetary policy late on Tuesday with both text and Q&A, having last spoke on Oct 9. 2) ISM services on Wednesday after its priced paid series jumped 5.9pts to 64.4 in December for the highest since Feb 2023.
- Away from macro but still material, the coming week brings the US Treasury's quarterly refunding process - our preview is here.
MACRO ANALYSIS: MNI US Macro Weekly: Uncertainty Vindicates Fed’s Patience
In a largely positive week for economic activity data, including in core durable goods and MNI Chicago PMI, the Q4 GDP accounts stood out by showing a very strong end to 2024 for the consumer.
- As we go to press, though, President Trump has confirmed that tariffs would be imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China beginning this weekend – while also threatening further action against the likes of the European Union and across various import categories.
- The combination of solid growth and policy uncertainty, along with stubborn “supercore” PCE inflation for December, seemingly vindicated the Federal Reserve’s “hawkish hold” at its January meeting.
- A March rate cut is still a possibility but the bar for such an outcome has been set high.
- That gets us to the first key release between now and then: Friday’s nonfarm payrolls for January is the highlight of the US macro week, and could alter recent trends considering it will include annual benchmark revisions along with seasonal factors and an updated birth-death model.
- Other highlights in the upcoming week include ISM Services and the Treasury’s quarterly Refunding announcement (Wednesday), while FOMC Vice Chair Jefferson delivers commentary on the economic outlook and monetary policy Tuesday.
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