GBP
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: WEAK BEARISH
BASELINE
The negative outlook for the UK economy has been a key source of Pound weakness. Stagflation risks remain high with CPI > 10% and recession expected in 4Q22 (lasting 5 quarters). It has kept pressure on Sterling despite ongoing BoE rate hikes. However, the new PM announced a much bigger than expected fiscal plan which will keep energy prices capped for 2 years for households and will also offer support for businesses. According to some estimates, that should keep inflation capped (as the main driver has been energy), and also means that the recession could be less severe than previously thought. Thus, even though the bias for the GBP remains bearish as a recession still seems likely, the fiscal news is a positive development for Sterling on balance, and with a lot of bad news already priced in we are expecting some reprieve for Sterling with asymmetric risk to incoming data (good news expected to have a bigger upside impact compared to the impact from bad news). That also means this week’s upcoming BoE meeting will be very interesting. After the dismal economic outlook delivered in the Aug MPR and the recent policy hearings, there could be some upside risk for GBP if the bank’s verdict of the new PM’s fiscal plan means lower price pressures and a less severe recession outlook.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any incoming data that surprises meaningfully higher could trigger relief for the GBP. With focus on stagflation, any downside surprises in CPI or factors that decrease inflation pressures are expected to support the GBP and not pressure it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any further support measures announced by the new PM should continue to ease stagflation fears. Given STIR pricing, a 50bsp could trigger initial GBP downside, but we could see upside if the bank sounds slightly more optimistic about the economy with the proposed fiscal plan.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any material downside surprises in growth data can still trigger short-term pressure. With focus on stagflation, any upside surprises in CPI or factors that increase more inflation pressures are expected to weigh on the GBP and not support it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any potential walk back from the new PM on the plans laid out last week would increase stagflation fears once again. Given STIR pricing, a 50bsp could trigger initial downside, but we could see further downside if the bank explains the medterm debt risk of the new fiscal plan outweighs the benefits.
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamentals for Sterling remain bearish , especially after the BoE’s recent forecasts of a 5-quarter recession in the UK. Furthermore, given the risks to growth, there is growing speculation that the BoE might not be too far away from pausing their current hiking cycle. Anything that exacerbates stagflation fears is expected to weigh on the Pound and anything that alleviates some pressure could see some reprieve. Since Sterling is trading at fresh new cycle lows, the risk to reward for chasing it lower looks unattractive, and we could see asymmetric reactions skewed to the upside on positive data & news. Furthermore, we think the new PM’s proposed fiscal plan has not received the bullish attention it deserves. What the BoE have to say about the proposed fiscal spending and how it’s likely to impact growth and inflation will be important this week.
CAD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: NEUTRAL
BASELINE
The CAD has enjoyed far more upside in the past few weeks than we anticipated. We’ve been cautious on the currency given Canada’s dependency on the US (>70% of exports) where the clear signs of a faster than expected slowdown and possible recession should deteriorate the growth outlook for Canada. Apart from that, the risks to the Canadian housing market can negatively impact consumer spending as interest rates rise higher at aggressive speed. Potentially damaging the wealth effect created by the rapid rise in house prices since covid. Despite markets still pricing in a favourable growth outlook for Canada, the recent jobs report saw the third consecutive contraction in employment, which is something the bank should start to take notice of. The market’s reaction after the 75bsp was fairly muted as the bank didn’t provide any important additional info in their statement that markets didn’t already know. With their frontloading, the bank is now just one 50bsp or two 25bsp hikes away from hitting terminal rate expectations, which means any upside from policy differentials should begin to fade. Either way, we remain cautious on the CAD and favour short-term catalysts that provide us with shorting opportunities. After the recent jobs report miss, a much bigger than expected miss in CPI could offer some great shorting opportunities.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Catalysts that see further upside in Oil (deteriorating supply outlook, ease in demand fears) could trigger bullish CAD reactions. The correlation has been hit and miss in recent weeks though. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk on sentiment could trigger bullish reactions in the CAD. After the bank’s frontloading, there is a very high bar to surprise on the hawkish side for the BoC, but if the bank were to say they think STIR market pricing for the terminal rate is too low that can provide upside for the CAD. An upside surprise in CPI is unlikely to change the bigger picture but could ease some of the post-job report downside.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Any catalyst that triggers meaningful downside in oil (deteriorating demand outlook, ease in supply shortage, less supply constraints) could be a negative catalyst for the CAD as well. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk off sentiment could trigger bearish reactions in the CAD. With the bank just 50bsp away from terminal rate expectations, it won’t take much to surprise on the dovish side, and any signals or comments from the BoC that they’ll pause hikes should be a negative for the CAD. A big enough CPI miss could see markets pricing in a sooner pause from the BoC, especially after the recent jobs report.
BIGGER PICTURE
The bigger picture outlook for the CAD remains neutral for now. Given the clear risks to the growth outlook due to the slowdown in the US, as well as rising risks to the consumer and the housing market, and potential negative impact for commodities like oil, we remain cautious on the currency (even though it’s moved much higher than we anticipated from the start of the year). With a lot of good news priced in, and the BoC close to terminal, and the recent miss in the jobs data, our preferred way of trading the CAD is lower on clear short-term negative catalysts. Incoming CPI data could give the markets an excuse to start contemplating a sooner pause by the bank since they are very close to terminal rate expectations.
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: WEAK BEARISH
BASELINE
The negative outlook for the UK economy has been a key source of Pound weakness. Stagflation risks remain high with CPI > 10% and recession expected in 4Q22 (lasting 5 quarters). It has kept pressure on Sterling despite ongoing BoE rate hikes. However, the new PM announced a much bigger than expected fiscal plan which will keep energy prices capped for 2 years for households and will also offer support for businesses. According to some estimates, that should keep inflation capped (as the main driver has been energy), and also means that the recession could be less severe than previously thought. Thus, even though the bias for the GBP remains bearish as a recession still seems likely, the fiscal news is a positive development for Sterling on balance, and with a lot of bad news already priced in we are expecting some reprieve for Sterling with asymmetric risk to incoming data (good news expected to have a bigger upside impact compared to the impact from bad news). That also means this week’s upcoming BoE meeting will be very interesting. After the dismal economic outlook delivered in the Aug MPR and the recent policy hearings, there could be some upside risk for GBP if the bank’s verdict of the new PM’s fiscal plan means lower price pressures and a less severe recession outlook.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any incoming data that surprises meaningfully higher could trigger relief for the GBP. With focus on stagflation, any downside surprises in CPI or factors that decrease inflation pressures are expected to support the GBP and not pressure it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any further support measures announced by the new PM should continue to ease stagflation fears. Given STIR pricing, a 50bsp could trigger initial GBP downside, but we could see upside if the bank sounds slightly more optimistic about the economy with the proposed fiscal plan.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any material downside surprises in growth data can still trigger short-term pressure. With focus on stagflation, any upside surprises in CPI or factors that increase more inflation pressures are expected to weigh on the GBP and not support it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any potential walk back from the new PM on the plans laid out last week would increase stagflation fears once again. Given STIR pricing, a 50bsp could trigger initial downside, but we could see further downside if the bank explains the medterm debt risk of the new fiscal plan outweighs the benefits.
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamentals for Sterling remain bearish , especially after the BoE’s recent forecasts of a 5-quarter recession in the UK. Furthermore, given the risks to growth, there is growing speculation that the BoE might not be too far away from pausing their current hiking cycle. Anything that exacerbates stagflation fears is expected to weigh on the Pound and anything that alleviates some pressure could see some reprieve. Since Sterling is trading at fresh new cycle lows, the risk to reward for chasing it lower looks unattractive, and we could see asymmetric reactions skewed to the upside on positive data & news. Furthermore, we think the new PM’s proposed fiscal plan has not received the bullish attention it deserves. What the BoE have to say about the proposed fiscal spending and how it’s likely to impact growth and inflation will be important this week.
CAD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: NEUTRAL
BASELINE
The CAD has enjoyed far more upside in the past few weeks than we anticipated. We’ve been cautious on the currency given Canada’s dependency on the US (>70% of exports) where the clear signs of a faster than expected slowdown and possible recession should deteriorate the growth outlook for Canada. Apart from that, the risks to the Canadian housing market can negatively impact consumer spending as interest rates rise higher at aggressive speed. Potentially damaging the wealth effect created by the rapid rise in house prices since covid. Despite markets still pricing in a favourable growth outlook for Canada, the recent jobs report saw the third consecutive contraction in employment, which is something the bank should start to take notice of. The market’s reaction after the 75bsp was fairly muted as the bank didn’t provide any important additional info in their statement that markets didn’t already know. With their frontloading, the bank is now just one 50bsp or two 25bsp hikes away from hitting terminal rate expectations, which means any upside from policy differentials should begin to fade. Either way, we remain cautious on the CAD and favour short-term catalysts that provide us with shorting opportunities. After the recent jobs report miss, a much bigger than expected miss in CPI could offer some great shorting opportunities.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Catalysts that see further upside in Oil (deteriorating supply outlook, ease in demand fears) could trigger bullish CAD reactions. The correlation has been hit and miss in recent weeks though. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk on sentiment could trigger bullish reactions in the CAD. After the bank’s frontloading, there is a very high bar to surprise on the hawkish side for the BoC, but if the bank were to say they think STIR market pricing for the terminal rate is too low that can provide upside for the CAD. An upside surprise in CPI is unlikely to change the bigger picture but could ease some of the post-job report downside.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Any catalyst that triggers meaningful downside in oil (deteriorating demand outlook, ease in supply shortage, less supply constraints) could be a negative catalyst for the CAD as well. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk off sentiment could trigger bearish reactions in the CAD. With the bank just 50bsp away from terminal rate expectations, it won’t take much to surprise on the dovish side, and any signals or comments from the BoC that they’ll pause hikes should be a negative for the CAD. A big enough CPI miss could see markets pricing in a sooner pause from the BoC, especially after the recent jobs report.
BIGGER PICTURE
The bigger picture outlook for the CAD remains neutral for now. Given the clear risks to the growth outlook due to the slowdown in the US, as well as rising risks to the consumer and the housing market, and potential negative impact for commodities like oil, we remain cautious on the currency (even though it’s moved much higher than we anticipated from the start of the year). With a lot of good news priced in, and the BoC close to terminal, and the recent miss in the jobs data, our preferred way of trading the CAD is lower on clear short-term negative catalysts. Incoming CPI data could give the markets an excuse to start contemplating a sooner pause by the bank since they are very close to terminal rate expectations.
