Macro Events & News

FX News Today

Asian stock markets are sharply down and Australian bonds posted the sharpest gains since July, as China’s exports fell for a fifth month and a sharper than expected decline in foreign exchange reserves fuelled fears about the health of the Chinese economy. Oil prices are little changed and close to the lowest level since 2009. U.S. stock futures are also lower, but U.K. stock futures are managing slight gains. Eurozone markets stabilized yesterday, with yields coming off and the DAX bouncing back from the sharp losses seen in the wake of last week’s ECB meeting. Released overnight, U.K. BRC retail sales came in much weaker than expected and should support bond futures. The calendar also has U.K. production and the final reading of Eurozone Q3 GDP.

China’s Exports fell 6.8% y/y in November, while the analysts expected for 5.0% contraction. Trade surplus narrowed to $54.1 bln in November,contrary to expectations for an increase relative to the $61.6 bln surplus in October. Exports fell 6.8% y/y in November after the 6.9% drop in October. Imports contracted at a 8.7% y/y clip in November following the 18.8% pull-back in October. The report confirms the ongoing challenges for China’s trade outlook. China’s equities are lower, with the Shanghai Composite down 1.5%. The Nikkei is down 1.0%, while the Hang Seng is off 1.7%, as Asia’s stock markets key off the declines in the US

Japan’s real GDP was revised to a 1.0% gain in Q3 (q/q, saar) from the previous 0.8% drop. An upward revision was expected, but to a very modest gain. Hence, Japan’s economy did not fall into recession after all, with contraction confined to the revised 0.5% drop in Q2 (was -0.7%). Capital spending was revised to a 0.6% gain in Q3 from the initial 1.3% drop. The improvement in Q3 growth, notably the gain in capital spending, trims the chance that the BoJ will implement further stimulus early next year. The yen is little changed, with USD-JPY holding in the 123.3 region.

US consumer credit rose $16.0 bln in October after surging $28.6 bln in September (revised from $28.9 bln), with the August increase nudged down to $14.6 bln from $16.0 bln. Non-revolving credit continued to lead the strength, rising $15.8 bln versus the $21.9 bln jump previously (revised from $22.2 bln). Revolving credit was up $0.2 bln versus September’s $6.7 bln gain.
 
Main Macro Events Today

EU GDP: The final reading of Eurozone Q3 GDP is out today and should confirm growth rates of 0.3% q/q and 1.6% y/y, with the breakdown expected to show that growth remains driven by consumption and domestic demand.

Canada Housing Permits: are released today and are seen dipping 1.0% in October after the 6.7% tumble in September and 3.6% pull-back in August.

BoC Governor: The Bank Of Canada governor Poloz will be speaking today on “The Evolution of Unconventional Monetary Policy. The most recent policy announcement remained cautiously optimistic regarding the expected recovery in growth and acceleration in underlying inflation through 2017.