July 2023 Monthly

<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVkewZPtbCLWL0AO2Kg3qYPbrOjLteQ1h_69jGYysg36iTxZYSG58F-EJ0s1NHwuvdsGFDxiUFTRz7dfGYLgObRFDKzAUbkzkp3ryxTB3T05-YBZATPPnpmTLE2HZbUcjxj7Ayh-EoHI1CJ8dopDgkNWxEz3ILsM8aGu5nMkjENeD_tWHjzy_H_OWBA/s645/July%20Monthly%202.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="645" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVkewZPtbCLWL0AO2Kg3qYPbrOjLteQ1h_69jGYysg36iTxZYSG58F-EJ0s1NHwuvdsGFDxiUFTRz7dfGYLgObRFDKzAUbkzkp3ryxTB3T05-YBZATPPnpmTLE2HZbUcjxj7Ayh-EoHI1CJ8dopDgkNWxEz3ILsM8aGu5nMkjENeD_tWHjzy_H_OWBA/s400/July%20Monthly%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Price pressures
remain elevated but economic momentum slowed as Q2 wound down. Many market
participants think this poses a dilemma for policymakers and are skeptical that
the hikes signaled will be delivered because of economic weakness or financial
strains. These developments are thought to limit the tightening cycle before
the inflation genie can be stuffed back into the bottle.<o:p></o:p>Yet, this may underestimate the resolve of most of the
major central banks in tackling inflation. Many seem willing to risk a shallow
downturn if necessary to bring price pressures. Only if there are signs of a
significant downturn or heightened financial stress, beyond what was seen
earlier this year, would central banks not extend the tightening cycle into Q3,
and possibly Q4. The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are likely
to hike rates in July. The Bank of Canada may also move again after ending the
conditional pause it announced in January and the surprise hike in June. The
odds of hikes by the central banks of Australia and New Zealand seem slimmer.
The Scandinavian central banks and the Bank of England do not meet in July, but
they have not reached their terminal rates either. <o:p></o:p>The undervaluation of the euro and yen remain stark
and near historically extreme levels. According to the OECD's model of purchasing
power parity, the euro and yen are roughly 50% and 48% undervalued,
respectively. Compared to the Plaza Agreement in September 1985 that saw the G5
coordinate efforts to drive the dollar down, a highwater mark of concerted
action, the undervaluation now is greater. In January 1985, the undervaluation
of the yen peaked near 24.5% and the German mark around 36%. For dollar-based
investors, the price of EMU and Japanese assets, revenue streams, wages, and
products are cheap. It is not about market timing, but the recognition that the
extreme misalignment offers opportunities for some businesses and investors and
that overtime it will correct. This adjustment could offer a significant
contribution to total returns over the medium and longer-terms. <o:p></o:p>Intervention is best conceived of as an escalation
ladder. Among the highest rungs is the coordinated intervention, like arranged
by the Plaza Agreement. The low rungs on the escalation ladder are different
types of verbal intervention. At least three Japanese officials from distinct
parts of the government discussed the exchange rate last month. However, it is
difficult to say that the yen's weakness is not fundamentally driven given the
divergence in monetary policy. With updated forecasts to be presented, the July
Bank of Japan meeting could offer an opportunity to adjust the settings of
monetary policy. There may be scope for a modest step, like changing the policy
bias to neutral from easing. The 10-year yield is near 0.40%, indicating that
the yield curve control cap is not under pressure. On a trade-weighted basis,
the yen fell below last year's low in June to levels not seen since before
2000, which warns of the risk of another wave of imported inflation. Arguably
the yen's weakness is more significant for developing Asia that the yuan's
weakness. <o:p></o:p>Intervention by the Bank of Japan, authorized by the
Ministry of Finance, typically occurs after warnings about excessive
volatility. Implied three-month vol reached nearly 8.8% in the first half June,
the lowest in more than a year. It finished the month near 10.5%. When the BOJ
intervened last September and October, three-month implied volatility was
12%-15%. It reached almost 14.5% this past January and above 14.1% in March
without official comments about excessive volatility. It is probably wrong to
think that the BOJ is defending a particular level. Japanese officials
recognize the typically strong correlation between the dollar-yen exchange rate
and the 10-year Treasury yield. Its last bout of intervention was on October 21
last year, the same day, the US 10-year yield peaked.<o:p></o:p>While the risk of a snap election in Japan has receded,
a cabinet reshuffle remains a distinct possibility. There is another risk for
Japan in the month ahead. Following NATO's decision to open an office in Japan,
Prime Minister Kishida has been invited to the NATO gathering (July 11-12).
Beijing has expressed concern as these plays on its fears of an Asian NATO. It
could find ways to express its disapproval. <o:p></o:p>Policy divergence has also weighed on the Chinese
yuan. Some observers seem to suggest that the mere fact that it has a large
trade surplus means that the yuan should be appreciating. Yet, it seems too
simple, and after all, the US, with the chronic trade and current account
deficit has experienced a strong dollar. Instead, we suggest financial
variables are more important than trade in explaining the yuan's weakness.
Simply put, Beijing is easing monetary policy when the most of the G10 are
tightening policy. Interest rate differentials have moved against it. The US
10-year premium rose to more 120 bp at the end of June, last month, the most in
seven months. The US two-year premium over China tested the year's high
slightly above 275 bp. It has not been above 2.65% since 2007. Chinese equities
have also under-performed. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong and the China's CSI 300
are among the few large bourses that have not risen in H1 23.<o:p></o:p>There are three changes that will be implemented in US
in July that will impact business and investors. First, the Federal Reserve
will launch a new instant payment infrastructure for financial institutions. It
will operate all the time, including weekends and holidays. It will facilitate
private sector innovations that allow for payment and transfers in real time.
The program will be rolled out in phases starting in July. Over time, the <a href="https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/fednow/about.html" target="_blank">FedNow</a> service
will allow banks and credit unions to address the growing demand for safe and
near-instantaneous account-to-account transfers and bill payment, among other
use-cases. This is not the same thing, of course, as a digital currency, but it
is a step toward providing some of the functionality associated with it.<o:p></o:p>Second, the exemption given to US brokers from
Europe's regulations that require financial institutions to separate research
costs from trading fees will expire July 3 for European clients. Europe adopted
the regulations as part of what is called "MiFID II" five years ago.
An industry survey found 71% of US brokers do not plan on offering research as
advisers. Some academic studies have found that that MiFID II reduced the
overall amount of research generated, the research that is provided has more
accurate forecasts. Regardless of the merits of the regulation, the timing
could not be worse, the European Parliament is considering a major revision of
the "unbundling" rules. The new proposal would allow investment firms
to only inform their clients whether the paying for trading and research
together and record the allocation. In a letter to the Securities and Exchange
Commission last month, the European Commission, the UK Treasury, and several
industry associations, called for the extension of the MiFID II exemptions until
the changes are implemented, but to no avail.<o:p></o:p>Third, as has been well telegraphed, USD LIBOR will be
officially replaced by SOFR (Secured Overnight Funding Rate). It is a broad
measure of the cost of borrowing overnight, collateralized by Treasury securities.
In contrast LIBOR was uncollateralized and therefore embedded credit risk.
LIBOR would often rise during times of financial stress, amplifying the
volatility. SOFR is more stable and typically is near the effective (weighted
average) of Fed funds. There are futures contracts and other derivatives that
allow SOFR to be used as a benchmark for contracts, a hedging vehicle, and
helpful for price discovery. Meanwhile, new bank capital requirements and
changes to US bank supervision rules are awaited. <o:p></o:p>The JP Morgan Emerging Market Currency Index fell for
the third consecutive month to its lowest level since last October. However,
the index is debt issuance weighted and overstates the weakness of the emerging
market currency complex. Most of the losses could be traced to a handful of
Asia Pacific currencies (China, Malaysia, and Thailand account for about 25% of
the JP Morgan index). We note that despite (or because) of a new and more
orthodox economic team in Turkey, the lira depreciated by more than 20% last
month. <o:p></o:p>Meanwhile, most of the other emerging market
currencies rose. Latin American currencies (Colombian peso, Brazilian real, and
Mexican peso) led the charge, and accounted for three of top four performing
emerging market currencies last month and were joined by the South African
rand. Five central European currencies were in the top 10 EM performers last
month. The MSCI Emerging Market equity index snapped a two-month decline and
its roughly 3.0% gain recouped most of the loss recorded in April and May.<o:p></o:p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPsv8vF3LO_y_cJugTlOPJUh2Z89hAZ88f2hQ6iw3j8nMrmullUQ-WRGtCnhbX49ovjWw3Stp1t4srSr06kb3ZfEB_oCl6mGrHbE3cNqIYXskN5tzrTUeSlcRbMSgEC-MoGzsQwipOIUnwx2XwlxxT7r4yZVX7PpVkpRLV7L-EIJNFjzTRahCwsDNOoXc/s1112/bbgfx.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPsv8vF3LO_y_cJugTlOPJUh2Z89hAZ88f2hQ6iw3j8nMrmullUQ-WRGtCnhbX49ovjWw3Stp1t4srSr06kb3ZfEB_oCl6mGrHbE3cNqIYXskN5tzrTUeSlcRbMSgEC-MoGzsQwipOIUnwx2XwlxxT7r4yZVX7PpVkpRLV7L-EIJNFjzTRahCwsDNOoXc/s400/bbgfx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bannockburn's World Currency Index, a GDP-weighted
basket composed of the currencies are the 12 largest economies was virtually
flat in June after falling in April and May. Only three currencies in the index
fell: Japanese yen (-3.5%), Chinese yuan (-2.1%), and Russian rouble (-8.5%).
However, those three currencies account for nearly half of the non-US dollar
part of the BWCI. The Brazilian real (+4.6%) and the Mexican peso (3.7%) were
the strongest, but together they account for less than 4% of the overall
basket. Among the major currencies, the Canadian dollar was the best performer,
with a 2.2% gain (2.4% weighting) followed by the Australian dollar's 2.1% gain
(1.9% weighting). <o:p></o:p>Barring a significant shock, we expect that the market
convergence toward the Federal Reserve's forward guidance will help lift the
dollar. The Bannockburn World Currency Index unwound the gain in the first half
of June and returned toward the six-month low set in May (~95.00). We envision
another 1.00%-1.25% decline and do not expect it to take out last year's
multi-year low set near 93.20. In the bigger picture. The monetary tightening
cycle we expected to have been largely completed by in H1 23, now looks to
extend, possibly for some countries, like the Great Britain, into the end of
the year. Meanwhile, Brazil (and Chile) seems well positioned to begin cutting
rates in Q3, and Mexico in Q4.<o:p></o:p>There are many moving pieces and countless
developments that put this view at risk. Anything that risks the markets
converging with the Fed would weigh on the dollar. Either a broadening of the
war in Ukraine or a ceasefire could have dramatic economic and financial
consequences. There is talk of a regime change in coming months in Russia after
the recent turmoil, but this seems more like wishful thinking. Even then, it
seems politically naive to think that things cannot get worse. US bank stress
appears to have eased, and while share prices snapped a four-month decline,
they lost momentum in last few weeks. Commercial real estate exposure is major
concern. Flows from the Fed's reverse repo facility and foreign demand appears
to be helping cushion the tightening that rebuilding the Treasury's General
Account could inflict if it came exclusively from bank reserves. However,
rising rates may cause new financial stress, and many households may begin
pulling back consumption to prepare to begin re-servicing student loans. Even
though senior US officials have been or will go to Beijing, it is hard to say
that the relationship has improved, and risks of an accident always looms.<o:p></o:p>Dollar:  The market has resisted the Fed's
forward guidance. Earlier this year, the Fed funds futures were implying 3-4
rate cut this year. Fed Chair Powell was adamant that it was not going to
happen. Reluctantly, and encouraged by the resilience of the US economy, firm
underlying measures of inflation, the market converged with the Fed. This
helped the dollar recover from the bank-stressed induced sell-off. We thought
the interest rate adjustment was largely complete in late May, leaving the
dollar vulnerable in June. The Dollar Index fell from the three-month high at
the end of May (~104.70) and briefly dipped below 102.00 in late May. However,
a new gap has opened between the markets and the Fed. The Summary of Economic
Projections, released at June's FOMC meeting upgraded growth and inflation
forecasts while the median forecast for unemployment was shaved. The median
"dot" now looks for two more quarter point hikes in the Fed funds
rate. Only two officials thought the Fed ought to be done. The market has about
an 80% chance of hike when the next FOMC meeting concludes on July 26, which
would bring the top of the target band to 5.50%. At the end of last year, the
terminal rate was seen near 5.0%. Still, the market is suspicious about a
second rate hike and the year-end effective rate is seen near 5.38%. Fair value
assuming a two quarter-point hikes is about 5.57%. With little progress on the
core inflation, and a strong labor market, we expect the market to further converge
toward the Fed, which may give the dollar traction in July. Meanwhile, the
replenishing of the Treasury's General Account and the ongoing Quantitative
Tightening, there is some pressure on bank reserves. At the same time, the
tightening of credit conditions following the bank stress that erupted in
March, appears less than expected. <o:p></o:p>Euro: A hike at the European Central Bank's July 27
meeting is nearly a foregone conclusion. A quarter-point hike would bring the
deposit rate to 3.75%. The battle at the ECB is over next move. Data-dependency
is weak forward guidance when the regional economy is showing poor growth
momentum and inflation remains elevated. There may be scope for a compromise to
pause in September, with a low bar for an October hike. The implication of this
is that ECB President Lagarde may sound somewhat less hawkish at post-meeting
press conference. Within the EU, the debate is over the Stability and Growth
Pact fiscal rules, which were suspended during Covid and again after Russia's
invasion of Ukraine. The forbearance is to end with the 2024 budgets. The EC
has proposed reforms that would allow a more flexible and tailored for
individual countries. Germany, and ten other EU countries (including Denmark,
Austria, Czech Republic, and the Baltic states) pushed back in favor of
stricter fiscal discipline and less EC discretion. While the Bundesbank looks
sees the Germany economy expanding in Q2 after two quarters of contraction, the
risk to the regional economy seems to be on the downside. The ECB shaved its
growth forecast by 0.1% for this year (to 0.9%) and next year (1.5%) and lifted
its inflation forecast by the same amount to 5.4% this year and 3.0% in 2024. 
  
(As of June 30, indicative closing prices,
previous in parentheses) 
  
Spot: $1.0910 ($1.0725) 
Median Bloomberg One-month Forecast $1.0945 ($1.0890) 
One-month forward $1.0925 ($1.0740)   One-month
implied vol 6.6% (6.8%)  
  
  
Japanese Yen: The divergence of policy pressed the yen lower in June.
While it fell to new lows for the year against the US dollar, it fell to a
record low against the Swiss franc, 15-year lows against the euro, and more
than a seven-year low against sterling. In the trade-sensitive Asia Pacific
region, it is the weakest currency and has slumped to its lowest level against
the South Korean won since 2015. While the yen's weakness is fundamentally
driven, the speculators in the CME futures have amassed their largest gross
short yen positions in five years. Previously, most observers expected the Bank
of Japan to adjust policy in June, but Governor Ueda is still talking patience.
At the July 28 meeting, the BOJ will update its macroeconomic forecasts and
that could provide the cover to adjust monetary policy. Still, expectations
seem to have mostly been pushed into the second half of the fiscal year, which
begins October 1. The prospects of a snap election have diminished and instead
the political focus is on cabinet shuffle. The correlation between changes in
the dollar-yen exchange rate and US Treasuries remain high but could be
disrupted in the run-up to the BOJ meeting.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> 
Spot: JPY144.30 (JPY140.60)     
Median Bloomberg One-month Forecast JPY140.85 (JPY133.45) 
One-month forward JPY143.60 (JPY139.95) One-month
implied vol 10.7% (10.8%) 
  
  
British Pound: Sterling gained about 2.0% against the dollar in June to
bring the gain in the first half of the year to around 5.0%. Stubborn price
pressure spurred the Bank of England to reaccelerate its tightening by
delivering a 50 bp hike last month that brought the base rate to 5.0%. The
swaps market has the terminal rate in Q1 between 6.0% and 6.25%. At the end of May,
the terminal rate was seen near 5.25%. Rate hike expectations helped lift the
UK's two-year yield to around 5.32%, up from 3.0% in late Q1. The 10-year yield
reached 4.50%, a little shy of the panic peak last September-October near
4.65%. Moreover, the UK budget deficit in the first two months of the fiscal
year is running at more than twice what was recorded last year. Supported by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Bank of England is willing to risk a
recession to bring inflation under control. The 10-year breakeven (the
difference between the yield of the inflation-linked and the conventional Gilt)
rose to new highs for the year last month near 3.90%. In comparison, Germany's
10-year breakeven is near 2.30%, and Italy's around 2.15%. Sterling reached our
$1.2750 objective in June and stretched momentum indicators before
consolidating in the second half of June. Support in July may be seen ahead of
$1.2500, the next important chart area on the upside is closer to $1.3000.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Spot: $1.2705 ($1.2345)    
Median Bloomberg One-month Forecast $1.2630 ($1.2400)  
One-month forward $1.2710 ($1.2355) One-month
implied vol 7.8% (8.0%) 
  
  
Canadian Dollar: Encouraged by the end of the Bank of Canada's
"conditional pause" announced in January and the prospects of additional
rate hikes, the Canadian dollar rose by more than 2.5% to its best level since
last September. It was the second best performing G10 currency in June behind
the Norwegian krone (3.2%). The swaps market leans in favor of a hike at the
July 12 Bank of Canada meeting (~52%), and it is fully discounted by the end of
Q3. Excluding mortgage interest costs, Canada's CPI rose by 2.5% year-over-year
in May from 3.7% in April. The headline measure put it at 3.4% (and 4.4% in
April). The three-month average of the underlying measures, which the Bank of
Canada singled out, slowed slightly (3.72% vs. 3.83%). In what is bound to be a
close call, the June employment data on July 7 may be a decisive consideration.
Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar is trading less as a risk currency (the 60-day
rolling correlation of changes in the exchange rate and the S&P 500 has
fallen to 15-month lows) and more in line with broader moves of the US dollar
(proxy Dollar Index). The June rally left the Canadian dollar overbought on a
technical basis. A correction could lift the US dollar back toward CAD1.3300-30
before the downtrend resumes, which we expect to bring it CAD1.3000 later in
the year. <o:p></o:p>  
Spot: CAD1.3240 (CAD 1.3615)  
Median Bloomberg One-month Forecast CAD1.3265 (CAD1.3405) 
One-month forward CAD1.3235 (CAD1.3605)  One-month implied vol 5.9% (6.0%)  
  
  
Australian Dollar: After pausing in April, the Reserve Bank of Australia
resumed the tightening cycle by lifting the overnight cash target rate by 25 bp
in both May and June. The futures market sees it pausing in July but hiking one
in Q3 and probably once in Q4. The Australian dollar rose by about 2.4% in June
to snap a four-month losing streak. The rally had carried it to about $0.6900
in the middle of June before corrective forces cut the gains in half, and a new
base was forged near $0.6600. The central bank will be watching developments in
the labor market and the evolution of prices. We suspect that stimulus from
China (or indeed the lack thereof) could impact the Australian economy and
Australian dollar through commodity and especially metal prices. RBA Governor
Lowe's seven-year term expires on September 17. A decision was expected by the
end of June, and Treasurer Chalmers has delayed an announcement into July.
Although Lowe's immediate predecessors were given three-year extensions and
Lowe express the desire to remain. However, the substance of policy and the
communication has been broadly criticized. Moreover, the central bank is
expected to adopt several recommendations following an independent review that
may include a separate committee for the conduct of monetary policy proper,
fewer policy meetings, and followed by a press conference. To lead those
changes, a new leader is desired. Yet, the delay in the announcement suggests a
suitable candidate has not been found, which would seem then to favor an
insider, a former or current official at the central bank or Treasury.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Spot: $0.6665 ($0.6515)  
   
Median Bloomberg One-month Forecast $0.6695 ($0.6785)  
  
One-month forward $0.6670($0.6525)    One-month
implied vol 9.7% (10.3%)<o:p></o:p> 
  
Mexican Peso:  The dollar extended its downtrend against the Mexican
peso in the first half of June, and nearly met our MXN17.00 objective cited
here last month. It is the lowest level since the end of 2015. It spent
the second half of June consolidating. A significant low does not appear to be
in place. The drivers of the peso's strength, like the carry with relatively
low vol, the strength of and independence of the central bank and Supreme
Court, and favorable external position remain intact. This suggest additional
peso gains are likely. Despite the peso's nearly 20% appreciation over the last
18 months, exports are booming. In May, exports were up 5.8% from a year ago
(to almost $53 bln) and were the second largest ever. This in part is the
result of near-shoring/friends-shoring. Mexico's non-oil shipments to the US
were up nearly 11.5% in annual terms, while exports to the rest of the world
fell 3.5%. Banxico is done raising rates as inflation is clearly falling.
However, it is unlikely to cut rates before Q4, while Chile and Brazil appear
likely to cut rates in Q3.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Spot: MXN17.1250 (MXN17.6250)  <o:p></o:p>Median Bloomberg One-Month Forecast
MXN17.3650 (MXN18.1675)  One-month
forward MXN17.23 (MXN17.74)  One-month implied vol 9.1% (11.4%) Chinese Yuan: Policy divergence was main weight on the
Chinese yuan, which fell by about 2% against the dollar in June. It brings the year-to-date
loss to almost 5.0%. Last year, the yuan depreciated by nearly 9% against the
greenback. The US 2-year premium over China grew by about more than 25 bp in
June to the most since 2007 (~265 bp). In H1 23 China's CSI 300 is one of the
few large equity markets that have not risen this year. With low inflation
(0.2% year-over-year CPI in May and PPI -4.6%), the weakness of the yuan does
not seem to be a particularly urgent problem for Beijing. The PBOC did signal
cautionary signals for a few days in late June via its daily dollar fix. After
a 10 bp cut in key lending rates in June, many look for a cut in reserve
requirements. The Politburo meeting in late July has become the new focus for
new economic measures. The dollar reached a multi-year high near CNY7.3275 in
November 2022. There seems to be little to stand in the way of a retest if the
market convergences with the Federal Reserve's forward guidance, as we
suspect. <o:p></o:p>Spot: CNY7.2535 (CNY7.0645) 
Median Bloomberg One-month Forecast CNY7.1750 (CNY6.8625)  
One-month forward CNY7.2255 (CNY7.0500) One-month
implied vol 5.9% (5.4%)  <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p></o:p>

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