Investors eye Spring Statement & US Inflation numbers

The FTSE is trading mildly lower as it traces losses from Asia and weak sentiment from Wall Street. Whilst the Dow and the S&P 500 ended the overnight session in negative territory, the Nasdaq extended its rally reaching fresh intra day and closing highs, boosted by a surge in demand for tech stocks. Whilst Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs continue to weigh on heavyweight industrials and trade war fears in general kept sentiment weak, tech stocks have bounded higher, up 10% since the beginning of the year.

Spring Statement – what to watch

This morning we are seeing subdued trading, with no high impacting economic data to inspire traders early on. As a result, market participants are likely to at least cast an eye towards Philip Hammond’s Spring Statement, even if it is expected to be a bland affair. With no tax or spending announcements, the potentially most interesting area to watch will be the updated OBR economic and public spending forecasts. These figures could provide some volatility for pound; however, this could be minimal as no major surprises are expected. UK GDP is expected to come in at 1.7% marginally higher that the 1.5% forecast by the OBR back in the Autumn. Public spending is expected to have fallen to around £43 billion as Hammond will have to fight off calls to rack up spending to help Britain through Brexit.

US inflation under the spotlight

US inflation is back on the radar this Tuesday, as investors look towards US CPI data. The mood in the market is quite different today to January’s CPI release. Just prior to the January release the jobs report had shown a sudden, sharp uptick in wage growth, which ignited concerns that the Fed would need to increase the pace at which it would hike rates through the year; the market panicked as it moved to pricing in four hikes, sending the dollar higher and US indices into correction territory.

Today’s report comes hot on the heels of disappointing wage growth numbers in Friday’s report which has eased fears of a significantly more aggressive Fed. The market is still expected to show sensitivity to the numbers, however we are not expecting a repeat of last month.

Analyst are forecasting a 0.2% increase in inflation month on month, down from 0.5% in January. On an annual basis CPI is forecast to tick higher to 2.2% from 2.1%. Meanwhile core inflation, which strips out more volatile items such as food and fuel is expected to remain constant at 1.8% year on year.

GBP/USD back to $1.38

GBP/USD consolidated at $1.39 overnight and is seen just slipping lower on the stronger dollar on anticipation of the CPI this morning. A CPI surprise to the downside could see GBP/USD target $1.40, meanwhile a better than forecast reading is likely to give a strong boost to the dollar, pulling GBP/USD back towards $1.38.

Apple acquire Texture

Apple was trading marginally lower in the pre-market this morning, after hitting a fresh all time high in the previous session and despite the announcement that it will buy Texture a digital magazine service. With the magazine world moving increasingly online, this acquisition of the Netflix of magazines by Apple makes perfect sense. Apple’s desire to continue pushing the boundaries in product innovation and scope continues to capture the markets attention, despite sometimes lacklustre iPhone sales.