Economists are notorious for sitting on the fence and Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Yellen is no different: her latest speech spent part of the time focussing on the possibility that the Fed underestimated the weakness of the price and labour market dynamics and the other part highlighting that policy shouldn’t move too slowly to offset potential inflation pressure. However, the more hawkish tone of Chair Yellen’s comments underpinned a rise in bond yields and the US Dollar (USD): two trends which we expect to continue. Is dovishness dead at the Fed?
We believe that on balance, that the Federal Reserve’s policy stance is becoming more skewed towards tighter policy. Chair Yellen highlighted that ‘low inflation is probably temporary’ and that ‘we should…be wary of moving too gradually’ in moving rates higher. She even made the case that higher rates are beneficial as it gives the central bank more firepower to support the economy in the event of a recession. Indeed, the Fed appears to be becoming more proactive with Chair Yellen noting that ‘it would be imprudent to keep monetary policy on hold until inflation is back to 2 percent.’
US real interest rates are continuing to trend higher, as nominal rates are outpacing the rise in consumer prices, as the market increasingly prices a greater potential a rate hike in 2017. We expect that this trend will remain supportive of a grind higher in the USD in Q4.
64% chance of a rate hike
Currently the market is pricing in a 64% chance of a rate hike in December, up from 37% at the beginning of September. Indeed, there appears to be more upside for the USD, as investors remain somewhat pessimistic about the currency, despite the potential for higher rates (both real and nominal). Futures market positioning shows that net speculative positioning is at the lowest level in over three years, and well below longer-term averages. Moreover, options pricing indicates that only commodity currencies (Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Dollars’) are expected to be weaker than the USD over the coming month.
Dovishness is certainly not dead at the Fed, but the hawks are circling their prey. Accordingly, we expect that the changing policy stance at the Fed will see the USD bottom and grind higher against G10 currencies in coming months.
Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities
Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.
ETF Securities FX Research: Market underpricing UK rate hike risk
Highlights
Upside potential for GBP despite the mixed message from the Bank of England (BOE) keeping volatility elevated. The market is underpricing the chance of rate hikes.
Rising real interest rates will continue to be supportive of Sterling (GBP) in coming months.
Positioning for GBP against the USD has rebounded to historical averages, but remains depressed against the Euro, which is an overcrowded trade.
One year on from the last rate cut, the Bank of England (BOE) has kept rates on hold, with the MPC voting 6-2 in favour of the decision (roughly the same as last month). Although policy remains unchanged, GBP should remain supported by what is expected to be a tighter policy path in 2017/2018. Indeed, Governor Carney has indicated that policy may need to be tightened at a faster rate than the market is currently pricing.
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Currency volatility has made a persistent move upward in recent weeks, largely to the detriment of the Pound. A relatively more hawkish policy stance by the UK central bank will support the Pound as Brexit negotiation outcomes remain obscure. As we believe inflation will remain stubbornly high, real interest rate differentials will become an increasingly important indicator for FX markets. Rising real interest rate differentials in the US continue will remain a supportive influence for GBP.
Cautious Bank of England
While a decidedly cautious tone was struck by Governor Carney at the BOE press conference last week, tighter policy is coming: if UK economic growth continues at the rate the BOE has forecast, the market is underpricing the amount of policy tightening that is necessary. The market is only pricing in a 50% chance of a rate hike by end March 2018.
The UK economy remains somewhat mixed after the EU Referendum, with the unemployment rate at pre-crisis levels and evidence that both the manufacturing and services sector are growing in a robust manner. However, negative real wage growth and plummeting consumer confidence remain a constraint for the household sector.
The reason for the additional BOE stimulus (a rate cut and additional asset purchases) a year ago was appropriately forward looking, as Governor Carney quoted; ‘the weaker medium-term outlook for activity…[will lead to] an eventual rise in unemployment’. The UK central bank seems to have become less proactive since then, highlighting that the UK is currently ‘in the teeth’ of the squeeze for households and both consumption growth and business investment will improve further in coming months.
Inflation pressure mounts
Meanwhile, inflation remains elevated in the UK and well above the BOE’s target. The longer this continues, the greater the chance of expectations becoming unanchored, especially if energy price gains are sustained. While inflation hasn’t surprised to the upside in recent months, market implied inflationary expectations remain elevated (well above a year ago), and above other major economies. Inflation is expected to remain above the BOE target for the entire BOE forecast horizon, a period of three years. The BOE’s credibility is on the line, because it appears to be becoming less proactive with policy and reacting to events that have, and may not, occur i.e. a hard Brexit.
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Current BOE policy remains extremely accommodative. There may be uncertainties around the Brexit negotiations, but we believe emergency interest rate settings do not seem appropriate. Indeed, Governor Carney notes that there are limits to what monetary policy can do relating to the Brexit situation. We expect that negotiations surrounding Brexit will remain in flux and given there is unlikely to be significant progress made, the worst-case scenario has already been digested by the FX market. In turn, the BOE is likely to unwind their Brexit induced rate cut from last year in H2 2017.
The key sentence in the BOE’s Monetary Policy Summary report is ‘The combination of high rates of profitability, especially in the export sector, the low cost of capital and limited spare capacity, supports investment by UK firms over the forecast period, offsetting the effect of continued uncertainties around Brexit’. Surely if the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit is offset, then the 2016 rate cut and additional stimulus should be unwound…if not in 2017, then when?
Just a day after the meeting, the mixed messages to the market continued: Deputy Governor Broadbent, who voted to keep rates unchanged, commented that ‘there may be some possibility for interest rates to go up a little bit’. This is reminiscent of the previous meeting that was interpreted dovishly by the market, only for the ‘doves’ to signal tighter policy was an issue that needed discussion only days later. Mixed messages are an impediment for economic stability and consumer and business confidence.
Meanwhile, gradually tighter Fed policy is already priced into the USD. Although we expect the broad USD index is in a bottoming process, a move higher will be gradual and predicated on political risks fading, something that will take time given investor focus on the incompetence of the Trump administration. Accordingly, the more hawkish policy that we expect from the BOE will bring forward expectations of a rate hike in the fourth quarter and forcing GBP higher in H2 2017.
How the market is positioned
GBP positioning has rebounded against the USD, in line with the recent more bullish performance and is now at levels consistent with longer-term historical averages.
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Against the Euro, GBP looks extremely attractively priced – hovering around record low levels. We feel that the Euro strength is at risk of an unwind as the ECB remains conservative in its policy approach in the face of the elevated Euro. Compared to historical long-term averages, positioning for the Euro highlights a very overcrowded trade.
The bottom line…
The mixed messages from the BOE are confusing investors and keeping GBP volatility elevated. We expect the BOE to unwind its Brexit-induced rate cut of 2016 in the second half of 2017, but not to remove its balance sheet stimulus from the economy. GBP will benefit from tighter policy settings. We believe that GBP will consolidate above the 1.30 level and potentially break to the upside, approaching 1.35.
For more information contact:
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com
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This communication has been issued and approved for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (“ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”).
The information contained in this communication is for your general information only and is neither an offer for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This communication should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investments may go down in value.
This document is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an advertisement or any other step in furtherance of a public offering of shares or securities in the United States or any province or territory thereof. Neither this document nor any copy hereof should be taken, transmitted or distributed (directly or indirectly) into the United States.
This communication may contain independent market commentary prepared by ETFS UK based on publicly available information. Although ETFS UK endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content in this communication, ETFS UK does not warrant or guarantee its accuracy or correctness. Any third party data providers used to source the information in this communication make no warranties or representation of any kind relating to such data. Where ETFS UK has expressed its own opinions related to product or market activity, these views may change. Neither ETFS UK, nor any affiliate, nor any of their respective officers, directors, partners, or employees accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication or its contents.
ETFS UK is required by the FCA to clarify that it is not acting for you in any way in relation to the investment or investment activity to which this communication relates. In particular, ETFS UK will not provide any investment services to you and or advise you on the merits of, or make any recommendation to you in relation to, the terms of any transaction. No representative of ETFS UK is authorised to behave in any way which would lead you to believe otherwise. ETFS UK is not, therefore, responsible for providing you with the protections afforded to its clients and you should seek your own independent legal, investment and tax or other advice as you see fit.
ETF Securities FX Research: Central bank policy key for FX direction in H2
Summary
USD dollar in a bottoming process as the US Federal Reserve becomes more proactive with monetary policy.
Euro primed for decline as investor positioning is extremely overcrowded despite measured European Central Bank (ECB) rhetoric. Upside potential for GBP despite the mixed message from the Bank of England (BOE) keeping volatility elevated.
New directional driver for FX
Currency volatility has made a persistent move downward in recent weeks, back towards longer-term averages and in line with the trends in other asset classes. We believe that the fade in European political uncertainty has been a key factor in the reduction in FX volatility.
We expect that the changing policy stance amongst major central banks will once again be the main driver of FX direction in H2 2017, as the investor focus on political risks diminishes. In turn, as inflation becomes evident, real interest rate differentials will become an increasingly important indicator for FX markets.
USD in a bottoming process
The more hawkish stance from the Fed in recent weeks is key to the beginning of an H2 USD rally. The Fed’s commentary post its June rate hike appears to be more proactive, suggesting a tighter policy stance by year-end. Historically the Fed has been very reactive with its interest rate settings. However, it is a welcome development that the Fed is taking its mandate of price stability more seriously, with the jobs market near full employment and alongside a continued improvement in growth. Such a change in stance shows its commitment to mitigating the adverse effects of unanchored inflation expectations on growth. As a result of the Fed becoming a more credible inflation fighter, the USD will be buoyed against other G10 currencies, particularly the EUR and JPY – two of the largest weights in USD indices.
We expect that, although gradual, the Fed’s rate hikes in 2017 and early 2018 will buttress the USD as real rate differentials rise. In turn, the USD should reverse its recent course and trade towards the top of its six-month range by year-end – a potential gain of around 3%.
Euro looks extremely stretched
We feel that the Euro strength is at risk of a rapid unwind as the ECB continues to be conservative in its policy prescriptions. Compared to historical long-term averages, positioning for the Euro, particularly against GBP is extremely stretched. Investor optimism is at odds with market pricing in the options market, which is neutral and in line with historical averages. Investors appear to be pricing in action that may not occur in the near-term from the ECB, namely a strident discussion on tapering the size of the balance sheet.
Central bank policy has historically been conservative – the ECB has been very careful not to spook the market. Draghi’s very balanced comments suggest stimulus will remain in place for some time yet, and could disappoint market expectations for tapering in the near-term. Draghi noted that ‘our policy needs to be persistent, and we need to be prudent in how we adjust its parameters to improving economic conditions’. These comments were misinterpreted, boosting the Euro, despite only a 75% chance of a rate hike priced in by September 2018.
Is Carney losing control?
Similarly, there is a 75% chance of a rate hike for August 2018 for the UK. The sharp swing in the Monetary Policy Committee voting from 7-1 to 5-3 (at its June meeting) in favour of not raising rates has supported GBP. It also suggests the Governor is losing control of the Committee members. However, it is difficult to have a strong consensus when the policy message is so inconsistent. To begin, the BOE’s Chief Economist Andrew Haldane (who voted to keep rates on hold) noted that ‘the dangers of moving too late outweighed those of moving too soon’, the first signal of a change in the MPC mind-set. Deputy Governor Cunliffe followed up with the suggestion that ‘domestic inflation pressures…gives us a bit of time…’, indicating a relatively neutral policy outlook, in line with the Governor’s supposed view. However, Governor Carney then surprised the market stating ‘some removal of monetary stimulus is likely to become necessary’.
The mixed messages from the BOE are confusing investors and keeping GBP volatility elevated. We expect the Bank of England to unwind its Brexit-induced rate cut of 2016 in the second half of 2017, but not to remove its balance sheet stimulus from the economy. GBP will benefit from tighter policy settings.
No light at end of the JPY tunnel
With the risks to the global economic recovery falling, we expect that the JPY should remain a funding currency as we expect the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) Quantitative and Qualitative Easing program to be expansive throughout 2017. Accordingly, we feel that the ongoing stimulus from the BOJ will keep yields low and force domestic money offshore to search for yield. Such investment outflows will lead to a persistent decline in JPY. The only thing that could give upward impetus to the Yen would be a sharp ‘repricing of risk premia’ (in the words of the European Systemic Risk Board), in turn prompting a risk asset correction.
The bottom line…
As currency volatility continues to moderate, GBP will again test the 1.30 level and potentially break to the upside, targeting 1.35. We expect that the Euro – the best performing G10 currency in H1 2017 – will be one of the laggards in H2. The USD will grind higher but the Yen will remain at the foot of the G10 currency pile.
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This communication has been issued and approved for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (“ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”).
The information contained in this communication is for your general information only and is neither an offer for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This communication should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investments may go down in value.
This document is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an advertisement or any other step in furtherance of a public offering of shares or securities in the United States or any province or territory thereof. Neither this document nor any copy hereof should be taken, transmitted or distributed (directly or indirectly) into the United States.
This communication may contain independent market commentary prepared by ETFS UK based on publicly available information. Although ETFS UK endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content in this communication, ETFS UK does not warrant or guarantee its accuracy or correctness. Any third party data providers used to source the information in this communication make no warranties or representation of any kind relating to such data. Where ETFS UK has expressed its own opinions related to product or market activity, these views may change. Neither ETFS UK, nor any affiliate, nor any of their respective officers, directors, partners, or employees accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication or its contents.
ETFS UK is required by the FCA to clarify that it is not acting for you in any way in relation to the investment or investment activity to which this communication relates. In particular, ETFS UK will not provide any investment services to you and or advise you on the merits of, or make any recommendation to you in relation to, the terms of any transaction. No representative of ETFS UK is authorised to behave in any way which would lead you to believe otherwise. ETFS UK is not, therefore, responsible for providing you with the protections afforded to its clients and you should seek your own independent legal, investment and tax or other advice as you see
Investors sell gold as hawkish Fed sends the price lower. There was US$96.3mn of outflows from long gold ETPs last week, marking the first weekly outflow in five weeks. Following hawkish rhetoric from the Federal Reserve last week, investors changed their view about the timing of the central bank’s next rate move. The Fed Fund futures implied probability of a rate rise this month went from 40% at the beginning of the week to 90% by the end of the week. Better-than-expected ISM manufacturing, consumer confidence, durable goods orders and core PCE inflation data released last week was seen to provide the Fed ammunition. A strong reading in this week’s payroll data may give another reason for the Fed to move higher at its March 15th meeting. While gold held steady in the first half of the week amid the burgeoning political risks around Europe, Macron’s announcement of his policy platform unwound part of the ‘fear trade’ as markets cheered on his centrist appeal. Gold ended the week 1.8% down. We still believe that even if the Fed raises rates this month, elevated inflationary pressure will keep a lid on real interest rates, which will be gold price supportive in the first half of the year.
Technology themed equity ETPs continue to gain favour. Inflows into robotic and cybersecurity themed equity ETPs continued unabated last week with US$7.9mn into robotics and US$16.2mn into cybersecurity ETPs. Inflows into cybersecurity were at their highest since inception.
Buying crude oil on price dips. We saw the first weekly inflows into crude oil ETPs in five weeks as investors bought US$20.9mn of long oil ETPs on a price dip of 1.2%. Despite OPEC’s efforts to cut production, US oil continues to grow and inventories are elevated, weighing on oil price.
Investors diversify within industrial metals. While investors sold US$15.5mn of nickel and US$12.5mn of zinc ETPs, they bought US$15.9mn of diversified industrial metal basket ETPs. Picking the individual winners in industrial metals appears more difficult when prices are so volatile, but the broad theme of tightening supply and rising demand is set to benefit the commodity sub-sector.
Largest inflows into short FTSE ETFs since July 2016. Inflows into short FTSE ETFs of US$5.8mn were the highest since the post-referendum month of July 2016. As the House of Lords rejected certain parts of the Brexit Bill, the market is preparing for continued tussles between the government and the second chamber of parliament.
Video Presentation
Nitesh Shah, Director, Commodity Research at ETF Securities provides an analysis of last week’s performance, flow and trading activity in commodity exchange traded products and a look at the week ahead.
For more information contact
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com
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The products discussed in this communication are issued by ETFS Commodity Securities Limited (”CSL”), ETFS Hedged Commodity Securities Limited (”HCSL”), ETFS Hedged Metal Securities Limited (”HMSL”), Swiss Commodity Securities Limited (”SCSL”), ETFS Foreign Exchange Limited (”FXL”), ETFS Metal Securities Limited (”MSL”), ETFS Oil Securities Limited (”OSL”), ETFS Equity Securities Limited (”ESL”), Gold Bullion Securities Limited (”GBS” and, together with CSL, HCSL, HMSL, SCSL, FXL, MSL, OSL and ESL, the ”Issuers”) and GO UCITS ETF Solutions Plc (the ”Company ”). Each Issuer (apart from SCSL) is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. The Company is an open-ended investment company with variable capital having segregated liability between its sub-funds (each a ”Fund”) and is organised under the laws of Ireland. The Company is regulated, and has been authorised as a UCITS by the Central Bank of Ireland (the ”Financial Regulator”) pursuant to the European Communities (Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2003 (as amended).
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United Kingdom: Each Fund is a recognised scheme under section 264 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and so the prospectus may be distributed to investors in the United Kingdom. Copies of all documents (i.e. the Key Investor Information Document, the prospectus, any supplements or addenda thereto, the latest annual reports and semi-annual reports and the memorandum of incorporation and the articles of association) are available in the United Kingdom from www.etfsecurities.com.
None of the index providers of the Funds referred to herein nor their licensors make any warranty or representation whatsoever either as to the results obtained from use of the relevant indices and/or the figures at which such indices stand at any particular day or otherwise. None of the index providers shall be liable to any person for any errors or significant delays in the relevant indices nor shall be under any obligation to advise any person of any error or significant delay therein.
ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis – Oil suffers worst weekly outflows in six years
Investors take profit on OPEC-led oil price rally.
Gold ETP outflows of US$274mn were highest since July 2015.
Profit-taking on long GBP, short EUR positions after Pound rallies on hopes of a softer Brexit.
Oil ETP outflows reach highest level since August 2010 as investors take profit on a 15% surge in prices. There were US$126mn of outflows from long oil ETPs. OPEC’s landmark deal to cut production for the first time in eight years drove the market euphoria as participants responded to the headline cut of 1.2 million barrels per day. However, anyone looking at the details can see that OPEC is not committing to cutting 1.2 million barrels from today’s levels. The reference figures from which they are cutting from are inflated (compare to what was produced in October). The main flaw of the agreement is that it exempts Nigeria, Libya and suspends Indonesia, but formulates a production target that includes them. It also contingent on non-OPEC countries cutting 0.6 mbd, which we consider very ambitious. ETP investors have taken profit as it is very likely that disappointment will sink in after the market has assessed the details.
Outflows from gold ETPs accelerated to US$274mn – the highest since July 2015 – as the Fed’s December rate hike looms. A string of positive economic data from the US including an upward revision to GDP, a surge in consumer confidence, ISM manufacturing reaching a 5-month high and positive labour market data makes a December rate hike a near certainty. Gold’s traditional inverse relationship with real rates saw its price drop 0.5% and investors sold out of long positions. However, we fear that many investors are missing a trick. Inflation is likely to surge in 2017 as prior weak commodity prices fall out of the index and the pro-growth policies that the market is so enthusiastic about start to generate price increases. A conservative Fed is likely to remain reluctant to hike too quickly to ward off these pressures, leading to low real rates. Moreover, the Italian referendum results highlight that political instability is rife and we expect as the US-centric focus of investors to changes in Europe, demand for haven assets will once again rise.
Pound climbed 1.3% against the euro, driving US$11.9mn of profit taking. Market hopes of a ‘softer’ exit helped the UK currency rally to a 12 week high after UK Brexit Minister mooted the potential to access the single market post-Brexit for a price. This week the Supreme Court will undertake its hearing to decide whether the British Government can trigger Article 50 without a parliamentary vote. Although the results will not likely be announced until the new year, the uncertainty about whether the High Court judgment will be reversed could be another source of volatility.
Second consecutive week of inflows into all-commodity ETPs underscores desire for diversification. As investors took profit on price surges across metals and oil, they built US$51.2mn of positions in diversified baskets.
What to watch this week. The ECB may announce whether it is going to extend its QE programme beyond March at its meeting this week. Chinese PMIs, FX reserves, trade and lending data will be assessed to gauge how the world’s largest commodity consumer is faring.
Video Presentation
Nitesh Shah, Director, Commodity Research at ETF Securities provides an analysis of last week’s performance, flow and trading activity in commodity exchange traded products and a look at the week ahead.
For more information contact
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com
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Funds
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Netherlands: Each Fund has been registered with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets following the UCITS passport-procedure pursuant to section 2:72 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act.
United Kingdom: Each Fund is a recognised scheme under section 264 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and so the prospectus may be distributed to investors in the United Kingdom. Copies of all documents (i.e. the Key Investor Information Document, the prospectus, any supplements or addenda thereto, the latest annual reports and semi-annual reports and the memorandum of incorporation and the articles of association) are available in the United Kingdom from www.etfsecurities.com.
None of the index providers of the Funds referred to herein nor their licensors make any warranty or representation whatsoever either as to the results obtained from use of the relevant indices and/or the figures at which such indices stand at any particular day or otherwise. None of the index providers shall be liable to any person for any errors or significant delays in the relevant indices nor shall be under any obligation to advise any person of any error or significant delay therein.
