Forex FOREX PRO WEEKLY, April 10 - 14, 2023

Sive Morten

Special Consultant to the FPA
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Fundamentals

Despite that recent week is short due Easter holidays, we have multiple important events and data releases. Speaking on the US domestic statistics - no drastic shifts but still, numbers in general were weaker than expected. Structural crisis stands under way showing slow but gradual progress. If in the beginning of the crisis process everybody were signing high inflation and watching for its trend, now inflation is replacing by production - it is dropping across the Globe, showing the next stage of the crisis.
On global economic background there are two events worth to mention - first is, formal, but still, D. Trump legal pursue and second - massive OPEC+ demarche with 1.5 mln bls extraction cut. At first glance, it has mostly political reasons. But it also has important consequences for global economy either. This situation looks like a vivid anti-American demonstration (especially in combination with the story with Trump), but, by and large, it is purely pragmatic.

The crisis in the global economy continues, private demand is falling, and the demand for oil is falling. In such a situation, reducing production is a completely natural policy, another thing is that it was difficult to implement it earlier in a situation of obvious opposition to the United States. But times are changing and the authority and political resource of this country are significantly reduced, in a sense, before the eyes of all mankind, and the objective needs of specific countries are beginning to come to the fore.

Of course, not all of them are adequate to the situation, who only today does not write about the lack of political subjectivity in most EU countries, but in general the trend is obvious. And as the crisis develops, it will manifest itself more and more brightly. Moreover, we assume that the relevant processes will develop faster and faster, while in any case, this trend is clearly noticeable.

Market overview

U.S. Treasury yields climbed and U.S. index futures closed modestly higher after employment data for March indicated the labor market remains tight, but was largely in line with market expectations. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 236,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said, compared with the 239,000 expectation of economists surveyed by Reuters. Data for February was revised higher to show 326,000 jobs were added instead of 311,000 as previously reported. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% from 3.6% in the prior month.

U.S. stock index futures erased losses and turned higher after the report, while the dollar strengthened and U.S. Treasury yields rose as expectations the Federal Reserve will hike rates at its May meeting increased. Still, the jobs report heightened expectations the Fed will raise rates at its next meeting, with the market pricing in a 69% chance for a 25 basis point rate hike, up from 49.2% on Thursday, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.

In the bond market, the Fed’s preferred recession indicator plunged to fresh lows in the past week, bolstering the case for those who believe the central bank will soon need to cut rates. The measure compares the current implied forward rate on Treasury bills 18 months from now with the current yield on a three-month Treasury bill.

Markets will also watch first-quarter earnings, which start in the coming week with major banks including JPMorgan and Citigroup due on Friday. Analysts expect S&P 500 earnings to fall 5.2% in the first quarter from the year-ago period, I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv showed.

"While the headline number of payrolls is still elevated, hours are being cut with the index of aggregate weekly hours falling two months in a row," said Brian Jacobsen, senior investment strategist at Allspring Global Investments in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The employment situation has gone from red hot to merely smoldering."

"Federal Reserve officials are likely to continue delivering their higher-for-longer message in the run-up to the May policy meeting, supporting expectations for a final rate hike and putting a floor under the dollar," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto. That said, recent data would suggest that the economic risk backdrop is turning more negative - if inflation and retail sales numbers disappoint in coming weeks, all bets are off," he added.

Analysts also said that while the jobs report showed strong gains, there are sectors that have seen moderate declines specifically the manufacturing and construction industries. (Structural crisis?!)

"(This) should be an encouraging sign to the Fed some effects of monetary policy are starting to take hold," said Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist, at Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis, in emailed comments.

With nonfarm payrolls out of the way, investors are now focused on the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) for the month of March. Economists polled by Reuters expect core CPI of 0.4% last month and 5.6% on a year-on-year basis. Tom Simons, U.S. economist, at Jefferies, wrote that he expects CPI "will continue to show uncomfortably high core inflation pressure."

“If (CPI) comes in hot, investors will start to price interest rates closer to where the Fed is and likely pressure asset prices,” said Tom Hainlin, national investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. The firm is recommending clients slightly underweight equities, expecting interest rate hikes to hit consumer spending and corporate profits.

The International Monetary Fund expects global economic growth to dip below 3% in 2023 and to remain at around 3% for the next five years, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, flagging increased downside risks. The IMF chief called on central banks to stay the course in the fight against inflation as long as financial pressures remained limited, but to address financial stability risks when they emerge through appropriate provision of liquidity.

"The key is to carefully monitor risks in banks and non-bank financial institutions, as well as weaknesses in sectors such as commercial real estate," she added. "Now is not the time for complacency. Clearly downside risks have increased. We now see some of the risks in the financial sector more exposed," she said, adding that she had "full confidence" that central banks and other relevant institutions were very vigilant of the dangers.

Rising geopolitical tensions and the resulting fragmentation of the global economy could increase financial stability risks, reducing cross-border investments, asset prices, payment systems and banks' ability to lend, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

"It could also drive up interest rates on government bonds, reducing the values of banks' assets and adding to their funding costs.This, in turn could lead to banks cutting lending, reducing economic growth in the real economy and feeding back into more financial instability, the fund said.

SLIGHTLY DEEPER VIEW ON RECENT DATA

First of all, take a look at production numbers and PMI's across the Globe - everywhere industrial production and manufacturing are dropping. In fact, recent US Durable Good orders data is another confirmation of this, and recent Manufacturing PMI drop as well. But when you're looking at data of other countries - the scale of crisis becomes more visible. That is, formally, the transition to a steady industrial decline has not yet occurred, then a negative trend is clearly taking place.

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Let's not close our eyes and hide our heads in the sand: there is a serious industrial recession in almost all major economies of the world! But situation with the US labor market seems even more interesting. Yes, most popular data shows good numbers, including recent upside Feb NFP revision. But, as we've mentioned in our reports few times - the methodology of calculation rises many questions on reliability of this data and on degree how correct it reflects the overall situation. Of course this is not some rough manipulation, but the details are hide in maths. The same as with CPI calculation method that we've discussed.

Meantime, if we take a look at "secondary" indicators, such as vacancies, average weekly hours, continues claims we could see that they are contradict to idea of economy and job market expansion:

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Taking together both bulk of data it is difficult to recognize upside momentum in the US (and Global) economy. Industry has taken over the baton from inflation, if a year ago each review was accompanied by record price growth, then recently we have noted a drop in industrial production indicators. At the same time, most likely, the process will continue for some time due to the state of the banking system, which is loosing deposits-
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There are other problems for banks, for example, the growth of debt. In conditions of higher rates, this increases risks, and a stop in tightening monetary policy will inevitably lead to a rapid increase in inflation. … In general, despite the fact that the banking crisis that took place a few weeks ago was man-made, it is possible that it will already receive an objective continuation.
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All this is happening against the backdrop of the rising cost of living. As an example, we can give a graph of the share of car sales that require monthly payments of more than $ 1,000 per month:
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Thus, overall picture doesn't look like absolutely "healthy". It seems that system has some margin of safety and situation has not reached yet the bifurcation point, but gradually is coming to it. In general, against the background of the clearly ongoing structural crisis, we have clearly unbalanced financial markets, the credibility of which is also falling for political reasons. Inflation data in the US will be released next week, and if they turn out to be not very good, we can already expect some sharp reactions, both from the markets and from the monetary authorities.

WHY WE THINK THAT BANKING CRISIS IS NOT OVER YET

In last few weeks it was seemed that Fed has taken situation under control and it was possible to plug the holes in time. Now situation is calming down a bit. But we think that this is just a temporal relief, because major problem of interest rates term inversion is not resolved. Banks still need to attract money at high rate while the bulk of investment portfolios stand with the low rates due because they were low in two recent decades. It means that interest rate margin continue to decrease which is major risk of banking system insolvency and Fed somehow should solve this problem. We think that they will go with printing machine.

First is, take a look at banking deposit momentum. It is a habit to talk about deposits since SVB crash, and that they have dropped for $450+Bln in recent four weeks. But this is only among small banks. In large banks however, the tendency lasts for months already and started for long time before hot stage of crisis. This tendency clearly reflects market society reaction on Fed policy:

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If one company defaults on a loan then the company that lent that money might not be able to repay its own creditors. This form of contagion can amplify the effect of credit losses from monetary policy tightening. Fear of loan delinquency caused interbank lending to dry up and ultimately led to a credit crunch during the GFC. To date, we have not seen a rapid rise in either corporate failures or loan defaults (although the delinquency rate on consumer loans has started to rise gradually).

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But monetary policy acts with long and variable lags, and so the possibility of defaults increasing further down the line cannot be ruled out. Indeed, as the chart below shows, there is a clear relationship between the rate of corporate failures and changes in the policy rate. This is to be expected — the reason that monetary tightening is expected to rein in inflation is that it slows aggregate demand. Corporate failures, though undesirable, are part of the transmission mechanism of monetary policy.

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For this reason, Fathom maintains that the US economy is likely to enter a recession later this year and that there is likely to be a rise in loan defaults and business failures. If this proves correct, banks could suffer significant losses and it is entirely possible that the US banking system will find itself under a second round of pressure, with talk of a systemic banking crisis rearing its head once more

The U.S. banking crisis is ongoing and its impact will be felt for years, JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon wrote in a letter to shareholders on Tuesday. The current crisis is not yet over, and even when it is behind us, there will be repercussions from it for years to come," Dimon wrote in a 43-page annual message covering a range of topics from JPMorgan's performance to geopolitics and regulation.

So, you do not need to be an economics professor to make the following conclusions.

The banking crisis (which, in fact, is financial one) will not be over until the tough financial conditions, manifested primarily in high rates, are normalized. It could be done only by two ways - either cut Fed rate or crash long-term bonds and hike long-term rates.
First way is impossible to use now due to immediate jump of inflation right after. So, Fed has no choice but to keep rate hike and use liquidity to plug the holes when somewhere something will break.
The extreme increase in the Fed rate leads to the realization of interest rate risk in the US banking system, roughly speaking, a sharp reduction in the interest margin of banks. This happens when the growth rate of interest expenses on liabilities begins to exceed the growth rate of interest income on assets, and when does this happen? Primarily because of the temporary structure of assets and liabilities. Due to the specifics of the loan portfolio, loan income has an inertial characteristic.

For example, many mortgage loans in their profile are long-term (15 or 30 years) and have a fixed rate, and this loan portfolio was formed during a 13-year period of low rates from 2009 to 2022. Deposits, on the contrary, are mostly short-term and rotate faster in accordance with current market rates.

Accordingly, competition for depositors, investors and rising rates are inevitable (interest costs will increase), especially against the background of fragmentation of the banking system, when there is a redistribution of the deposit base from small and medium-sized banks to large ones.

These processes will reduce banks profit margin (btw it is interesting what coming earning reports will show). To compensate for these processes, banks will have to raise interest rates on loans, which, on the one hand, will cool the demand for new loans, but also reduce the stability of borrowers in the framework of refinancing current loans under new conditions. This will lead to an increase in delays and write-offs, which, with low interest margins will significantly increase the cost of creating reserves for loan losses, further undermining the stability of banks.

As a result: market and interest rate risk (losses on securities due to rising rates and a reduction in net interest margin) - > credit risk (increased costs of credit losses) - > losses of banks - > new bankruptcies and cash gaps.

Speaking about recent outflow of deposits for $473Bln in four weeks - is absolute record. Most of the deposits – over 300 billion were distributed to money market funds and related structures, which supported the demand for bonds and allowed the Fed to resume sales - this is how Fed solves the problem of demand drop for national debt. Next step is to grab money from cryptocurrencies and stock market.
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Besides, the US themselves make situation worse with the chain of domestic political scandals. Why we've mentioned OPEC+ decision? Currently, both OPEC+ and the whole of Asia are shifting away from the US in their coalition agreements. And the main idea: you cannot keep your reserves in a currency that you do not control, do not issue, and you have big risks in this regard. As a result, US starts selling oil from SPR again. And now is a big problem to export inflation out to support the US Dollar, because new contracts are not in dollar.

Crude oil price seasonally starts to grow in the 2nd half of summer, and there we will see what consequences will be. The housing boom in G10 countries is over, problems with commercial real estate are already become visible. Until they form a critical point, and then one-two-three-four banks lay down. And so again another wave of negativity accumulates, and then a blow that will be more powerful.

And in this paradigm, they have no other choice but to start all support programs again, because without them the market will simply collapse. The Fed is the last resort, there will be no one in the United States to keep this system. Actually, the Fed is the whole system. The time of commercial banks is running out, they are not mobile. The model was brought money, placed it - it stops working in the digital world. The hostages of this system are commercial banks. And it turns out that the whole country of the USA is under attack, where commercial banks are the basis of the entire system.

Still, in short term perspective, at least until the May-June, July maybe (then there will be pause in August) market should keep driven by short-term factors - coming inflation reports and Fed meetings results. The turning point could come in June. As we've said - now majority is sure that May rate change will be the last one. We think that market is wrong and Fed will keep rate hike for 0.25% on every meeting.

It means that until May, EUR/USD could keep upside trend on disparity of expectations. Markets expect 0.5 rate change from ECB (and maybe more later) while are waiting "the last" 0.25% rate change from the Fed. Trend could change drastically and with a big screams on June, when these expectations will be broken. That's why we think that it is early totally deny long-term bearish scenario on EUR/USD.

Another risk factor for EUR is the same banking crisis. Hardly EU and the US banking system is significantly different. But it is totally uncertain by far in what way this crisis will reach EU and when. EU processes are the same - high inflation, drop of consumption, production etc. That's approximately what we think on nearest 1-3 months.
 
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Technicals
Monthly

On monthly chart EUR stands in some indecision that reflects overall fundamental background. Among the points in favor of the bulls we could mention MACD trend direction, stable standing above YPP. On the bearish side we could mentioned solid downside impulse and a kind of B&B "Sell" trade that we have in place, which is not cancelled, although price is a bit longer stands above 3x3 DMA and doesn't start downside action.

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Weekly

Here we have a little bit tricky moment guys. Mostly mess comes due holidays. The point is CME was closed on Good Friday, while FX market was keep working. As a result, we do not have bearish grabber on futures but we do have one on FX chart. Despite it is quite welcome in terms of possible DRPO "Sell" pattern that we're watching here - we still should treat it with suspicions.

The same is with the trend direction. On futures it has turned bullish, while here, dur Friday's performance and NFP report it remains bearish:
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Daily

The same stuff we have on daily chart. There is no Friday candle on futures price, but if would have it, we would get bullish grabber. While FX chart shows that we do not have it, at least on FX Choice charts. Anyway, daily context remains bullish, so, we do not consider any bearish positions by far:
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Intraday

Here is the pattern that we've discussed on Friday. Downside reaction on relatively strong NFP numbers has followed, but it was not strong enough to touch predefined K-area and complete AB-CD pattern. It is still a question how market will open on Monday, but in general there are only two things to keep an eye on. If price jumps above right arm's top - this will be the sign of upward continuation, as H&S will be erased. Second - completion of AB-CD pattern. In this case we're going with the plan of H&S pattern and consider 1.0860 K-support area as potential one for long entry:

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Morning everybody,

So, on daily chart everything most stands the same, except MACD direction - now it has turned down. So, formally daily context has turned to bearish. But, on intraday charts we need to get more confirmation
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Because of 4H chart price still stands inside triangle and has not formed bearish reversal swing by far, although it might happen today, if we get the grabber here:
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Our 1H H&S pattern has worked nice and supposedly everybody should be happy - as those who have traded it short as those who have bought at OP level that we've discussed on Friday. Indeed, pullback looks just nice but still we have concern on immediate upside continuation. Yes, everybody waits for soft CPI numbers that should be supportive for EUR, but - who knows?

Besides, from technical point of view - downside drop to OP was too fast. And together with possible 4H grabber, chances on moving to XOP look not too bad. So, currently probably it makes sense to wait a bit with taking new long positions, and watch for either action above "C" point or drop to XOP strong support area around 1.08
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Morning everybody,

So, yesterday we've concerned a bit with Tuesday's plunge, as it could push price lower, to XOP target around 1.08 area. Now market has taken this problem away as drop was erased by opposite reversal swing. It is too few sessions on daily chart by far, but, we could get bullish dynamic pressure signs if it keep going in the same manner. Trend is bearish, but price action is not, at least on intraday charts for now.

Also guys, we would like you to warn - be aware of CPI report today. Now concensus is very blur, and expectations are too different. For example JPM expects 0.5% jump in CPI. So, big volatility might be around.
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On 4H chart market stands above trend line support. If bullish scenario will be realized, next upside target should be around 1.1060. Here we could get another one upside butterfly with the same 1.618 extension:
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On 1H chart we haven't taken position yesterday. Still it is no reasons to upset. Here we could get reverse H&S pattern today, that also might be used for position taking. Supposedly around right arm's bottom of 1.0885 area. If CPI numbers will not crash anything... If you worry about it - it would be better to wait until its release.
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Morning everybody,

So, FOMC minutes have appeared to be even more important than CPI numbers. As minutes show - word "recession" has sounded for the first time on last meeting. Few members called to stop rate hike. For the truth sake - it is a lot of hidden stuff around the US inflation now and CPI is just a top of the iceberg. We will discuss this in our weekly report.

Meantime, EUR has got nice upside impulse that should support market for few days at least. Daily trend has turned bullish again - recall what we've talked about dynamic pressure yesterday ;)

On daily chart the nearest upside target is 1.1173, which is also Overbought level. So hardly EUR will break it up within just two session:
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On 4H chart market hits 1.27 extension and the border of narrowing consolidation. Still, upside momentum looks nice and action has good chances to continue to next, 1.618 extension around 1.1060 level. This is next upside target:
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On 1H chart price hits OP target of our reverse H&S pattern. After solid acceleration to OP, we probably should consider XOP as well that is around the same 1.1050-1.1060 area. If pullback happens, hardly it will be significant. We could keep an eye on 1.0960 K-area. Although no background is formed yet for the pullback...
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Morning everybody,

So, EUR feels confident with upward action. It is definitely big gap in sentiment now. While Fed minutes and recent statistics mostly suggest Fed's capitulation or at least shows big concern around overall situation, in EU markets and authorities talk that even 0.5% rate change is possible in May.

As a result, EUR has completed all intraday targets and now we have to increase the scale. Daily chart shows next upside target around 1.1170. I would consider this target for the next week already as short-term traders could book some result today. Only poor US banks' earnings reports later in the session could support EUR to reach it today:
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On 4H chart we have smaller scale AB-CD pattern but with very close target - 1.1130, which is mostly confirms the daily one:
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On 1H chart we could watch only for retracement. Supposedly the K-area around 1.10 level looks interesting. Besides, if you take a look at last upside swing on 4H chart - it is mostly suitable for DiNapoli directional patterns. So, it might be B&B 'Buy" for example. It looks small only on a background of whole upside action.
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