1. Why these PMIs are important
I'm sure you're all fully aware that the euro zone just emerged out of its longest recession in 40 years.Though it's definitely relieving to see the euro zone finally post positive growth, many are still unconvinced about its recovery. After all, growth remains uneven across the region and the economy still faces many headwinds. This partially explains why the markets hardly reacted to news that the economy had grown 0.3% in Q2 2013, exceeding forecasts for a 0.2% expansion.
Now more than ever, markets are interested in seeing how the economy will fair in the coming months. They want confirmation that the rebound we saw last quarter wasn't just a fluke, and the PMIs may just serve that purpose.
Unlike the GDP report, which is a lagging indicator, the PMIs are leading indicators of economic health. What this means is they have stronger implications on future growth and can provide more insight as to whether the recovery is gaining steam in Q3 or if what we saw in Q2 was nothing but a dead cat bounce.
2. How the markets may react
Obviously, if the PMIs out-perform forecasts across the board, it would paint a rosy outlook for the region and would suggest that the recovery has picked up its pace in Q3. That being the case, such results will likely be euro bullish.On the other hand, if all releases show disappointing results, we can reasonably expect the euro to weaken, as it would provide confirmation that the euro zone hasn't exactly gotten out of its rut.
There's also a chance that mixed results could also work against the shared currency if they show uneven growth across the region. For instance, if French and German PMIs show strong results but the euro zone-wide PMIs fail to impress the markets, it would imply highly uneven growth in the region, with weakness in the peripheral countries.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD drops to daily lows near 1.1630
EUR/USD now loses some traction and slips back to the area of daily lows around 1.1630 on the back of a mild bounce in the US Dollar. Fresh US data, including the September PCE inflation numbers and the latest read on December consumer sentiment, didn’t really move the needle, so the pair is still on course to finish the week with a respectable gain.
GBP/USD trims gains, recedes toward 1.3320
GBP/USD is struggling to keep its daily advance, coming under fresh pressure and retreating to the 1.3320 zone following a mild bullish attempt in the Greenback. Even though US consumer sentiment surprised to the upside, the US Dollar isn’t getting much love, as traders are far more interested in what the Fed will say next week.
Japanese Yen refreshes three-week high vs USD; seems poised to appreciate further
The Japanese Yen retains bullish bias as BoJ rate hike bets offset dismal Household Spending data. Dovish Fed expectations fail to assist the USD in attracting buyers and keep a lid on the USD/JPY pair. Traders keenly await the US PCE Price Index for Fed rate-cut cues and a fresh directional impetus.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD drops to daily lows near 1.1630
EUR/USD now loses some traction and slips back to the area of daily lows around 1.1630 on the back of a mild bounce in the US Dollar. Fresh US data, including the September PCE inflation numbers and the latest read on December consumer sentiment, didn’t really move the needle, so the pair is still on course to finish the week with a respectable gain.
GBP/USD trims gains, recedes toward 1.3320
GBP/USD is struggling to keep its daily advance, coming under fresh pressure and retreating to the 1.3320 zone following a mild bullish attempt in the Greenback. Even though US consumer sentiment surprised to the upside, the US Dollar isn’t getting much love, as traders are far more interested in what the Fed will say next week.
Gold makes a U-turn, back to $4,200
Gold is now losing the grip and receding to the key $4,200 region per troy ounce following some signs of life in the Greenback and a marked bounce in US Treasury yields across the board. The positive outlook for the precious metal, however, remains underpinned by steady bets for extra easing by the Fed.
Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP pare gains despite increasing hopes of upcoming Fed rate cut
Bitcoin is steadying above $91,000 at the time of writing on Friday. Ethereum remains above $3,100, reflecting positive sentiment ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy meeting on December 10.
Week ahead – Rate cut or market shock? The Fed decides
Fed rate cut widely expected; dot plot and overall meeting rhetoric also matter. Risk appetite is supported by Fed rate cut expectations; cryptos show signs of life. RBA, BoC and SNB also meet; chances of surprises are relatively low.
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