Week ahead – ECB set to cut, BoC might pause as Trump U-turns on tariffs [Video]

ECB puts rate pause on the back burner

The European Central Bank meets on Thursday to set monetary policy amidst a turbulent time for financial markets as US President Trump’s trade policies continue to wreak havoc. Having already lowered its deposit rate by 150 basis points to 2.50%, the ECB was contemplating a pause in April to assess the impact of the previous easing. But the economic outlook has deteriorated markedly since the beginning of April when Trump launched his reciprocal tariffs, targeting virtually all of America’s trading partners.

Whilst it is too soon to gauge the immediate hit on businesses, the scale of the market fallout suggests investors are in panic mode. For the ECB, the outlook is complicated by German’s massive fiscal stimulus, as it’s uncertain whether this will be enough to cushion the entire Eurozone from Trump’s trade salvos.

Nevertheless, with inflationary pressures across the euro are subsiding once again, playing it safe and cutting rates further is probably the better option for the ECB. Traders are convinced policymakers will lower rates by 25 bps at the April meeting and have priced in further two cuts before the year end. 

The dovish expectations haven’t been a huge drag on the euro, however, as the Eurozone’s large trade surplus with the rest of the world has been providing the currency with some safe-haven attributes during this tumultuous period. And with the US dollar coming under pressure again, the euro has jumped above the $1.13 level.

Unless President Christine Lagarde surprises with a very dovish rhetoric in her press briefing, the euro is unlikely to react much. In fact, a greater risk is if Lagarde disappoints the markets by not sounding dovish enough.

On the data front, Germany’s ZEW economic sentiment index will be watched on Tuesday, along with the Eurozone’s final CPI estimate for March on Wednesday.    

Is a BoC cut a coin toss?

A day of before the ECB, the Bank of Canada will announce its decision but it’s doubtful if it will cut rates again. The minutes of the BoC’s March meeting revealed that policymakers would have kept rates unchanged at 3.0%, instead of cutting them, had it not been for Trump’s tariffs. Trade tensions have only intensified since the last meeting, but investors see only a 40% chance of a 25-bps reduction.

Canada has obtained a temporary reprieve from the White House, with the 25% tariffs on pause for the goods that fall under the USMCA agreement. Yet, the high degree of uncertainty about what level of duties Canadian exporters will be facing in the months and years ahead is likely to weigh on the economy.

The problem for the BoC, however, is that it’s already slashed rates by a total of 225 bps, and more importantly, CPI readings have started to pick up again. With Canada imposing its own retaliatory tariffs on some US goods, inflation will probably rise further in the coming months.

Hence, investors will be watching Tuesday’s CPI report very closely, as there’s a reasonable chance the BoC may opt for another rate cut the following day. 

If that turns out to be the case, the Canadian dollar might suffer a mild pullback against the US dollar.

UK CPI and wage growth on pound’s radar

The pound initially benefited from the dollar’s weakness but as the stock market selloff accelerated, the bulls ran out of steam and cable took a tumble. Aside from the risk-off sentiment and worries about the impact of tariffs on the UK economy, rising gilt yields have also been weighing on sterling as this would make it more difficult for Keir Starmer’s government to respond to an economic slowdown with looser fiscal policy.

The primary strain on sterling, however, is the expectation that the Bank of England will need to reduce rates more aggressively this year amid the worsening outlook. A 25-bps rate cut is 90% priced in for the May meeting, but those expectations could change next week if the incoming employment and CPI data fuel concerns about persisting inflation.

The headline rate of CPI fell more than forecast in February to 2.8% y/y and may ease further in March before edging up again. The CPI report is out on Wednesday, while ahead of that on Tuesday, the latest employment stats will come to the fore. In particular, wage growth will be key for the BoE decision.

Stronger-than-expected numbers could dampen rate cut bets, potentially giving the pound a leg up. 

China GDP growth to remain within target, for now

China will publish its latest GDP estimate on Wednesday as it refuses to give in to Trump’s demands for fairer trade treatment, escalating the war. The Chinese economy grew by 5.4% y/y in the fourth quarter of 2024 but is projected to have slowed to 5.1% in Q1.

Industrial production and retail sales numbers for March will also be released on the same day. The data is unlikely to spur much reaction even if there’s a significant surprise either to the downside or upside as investors will be more concerned about how China navigates itself through Trump’s trade storm.

With Chinese exports now being charged 125% levies and US goods facing similar tariffs, trade between the world’s two largest economies could shrink drastically in the coming months. The government may therefore choose to accompany the GDP press conference with a fresh stimulus announcement as it tries to boost domestic consumption to counter Trump’s tariffs.

Aussie jobs, New Zealand and Japanese CPI on tap

The Australian dollar would be the biggest beneficiary from any significant stimulus update out of Beijing, as speculation grows about whether or not the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut rates at its next meeting on May 20. A 25-bps rate cut has become fully priced in following the spike in trade frictions and next week’s employment report, due on Thursday, may not necessarily change those bets much.

The New Zealand dollar has also endured quite a bit of volatility since Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were unveiled, as risk-sensitive currencies have been caught between the swings in equity markets, hopes of more stimulus by China, and expectations of steeper domestic rate cuts.

However, the focus for the kiwi on Thursday will be the quarterly CPI prints. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand just trimmed its cash rate to 3.5% and another 25-bps cut is almost fully baked in for the May meeting.

A hotter-than-expected CPI figure could dent those expectations slightly but probably not too significantly.

Staying in the region, Japan will also be publishing CPI numbers. Prior to the market turmoil, the Bank of Japan was expected to deliver nearly two rate increases in 2025. But the odds have now fallen to less than one hike. If the March CPI readings out on Friday show that inflation in Japan is not going to dissipate quickly, the yen could stretch its latest advance against the greenback.

US data might get overshadowed by trade mayhem

Finally, retail sales figures will be the highlight in the United States where it’s going to be a relatively lighter agenda. Tariff headlines are bound to dominate, however, as the uncertainty sparked by Trump’s erratic decisions is making markets nervous even as he rows back on some of the measures.

Trump’s position on China is in particular focus as neither side appear to be easing up on their defiant stance. 

Still, an upbeat retail sales report on Wednesday could lift sentiment on Wall Street and provide support to the US dollar by lessening the risk of a recession.

Retail sales are forecast to have risen by 1.3% m/m in March, compared to a 0.2% increase in the prior month.

Industrial production figures are also due on Wednesday. Other data will include the Empire State manufacturing index on Tuesday, as well as building permits, housing starts and the Philly Fed index on Thursday.

Most Western markets will be shut on Friday for the Easter celebrations.