UKRAINE: PM-US Aid "Critical", "Will Do Everything" To Restore US Co-operation
Reuters reports comments from Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal. Asked about the pause in US aid to Ukraine, Shmyhal says "We will continue diplomatic work with the US via all available channels." Says Kyiv "will do everything to keep cooperation with the US at previous levels." The PM calls US aid "critical", but in the context of any peace talks (the US is demanding concrete signs from Ukraine that it is moving towards negotiations before aid is restored), Shmyhal vows that there will be no territorial concessions from Kyiv.
- After the withdrawal of US aid overnight, the EU (and other non-EU European nations) have reiterated their commitment to Ukraine's defence. The longer-term aims of shifting European defence and security in favour of higher spending and less reliance on the US will take years. In the short term, though, the ability of the EU to bolster Ukraine remains vulnerable. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has already nixed the latest EUR20B package.
- Shmyhal reiterates President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's comments made in London on 2 March that Ukraine is ready to sign the minerals deal with the US.
- PM says that Kyiv is working to attract financing for domestic weapons production. Shmyhal claims that domestic production covers 30% of Ukraine's needs at present. Shmyhal claims that the Ukrainian military "has the tools to maintain the frontlines" amid the pause in US support. Given the slow and costly but ultimately steady advances by Russian forces in the Donbas in recent months, the PM's claims will be tested severely in the weeks ahead.
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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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