Norwegian Krone: Norges Bank weighs inflation and growth – Commerzbank

FXStreet Insights Team FXStreet

Commerzbank’s Antje Praefcke highlights uncertainty over whether Norges Bank will hike in September or wait until December. Inflation remains above target despite a recent downside surprise, while growth is described as close to normal. The regional network survey is seen as decisive, with Oil prices and Middle East developments still the main drivers for NOK.

Norges Bank decision and NOK drivers

"Up in the far north, in Norway, things are also likely to be interesting whether Norges Bank will raise its policy rate as early as September or choose to wait and see."

"Furthermore, inflation remains well above the 2% target (the headline rate in July was 3% yoy, the core rate 2.7%), and the rapid rise in business costs in recent years will help keep inflation at elevated levels going forward."

"The big question, therefore, will be whether Norges Bank will look past this effect and revise its (new) inflation forecasts downward in September or not."

"If the report shows that businesses are anticipating solid demand, rising wages, and high capacity utilization, the rate hike could take place as early as next week."

"If companies sound less positive about the outlook for the next six months, Norges Bank is likely stand pat and wait for the December meeting; after all, it will have more information available by then."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

FXStreet

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

AUD/USD hangs close to monthly lows, still defends 0.7100 ahead of Fed decision

AUD/USD retains its negative bias for the third straight day, defending 0.7100 while trading close to a monthly low in Wednesday's Asian session on Wednesday. The US Dollar stands firm near a two-week high as the anticipated Fed rate hike and oil-driven inflation fears continue to push US bond yields to a multi-year high. Furthermore, escalating Middle East tensions benefit the safe-haven buck and weigh on the risk-sensitive Aussie.

USD/JPY holds firm above 155.00, awaits Fed policy announcements

USD/JPY climbs to a fresh one-week high above 155.00 in the Asian session on Wednesday amid a bullish US Dollar. Oil-driven inflation fears, along with the anticipated Fed rate hike, continue to support surging US bond yields. Moreover, rising US-Iran tensions underpin the USD's reserve currency status. The pair, however, remains below the mid-155.00s as bulls seem hesitant ahead of the Fed decision later today and the BoJ meeting, starting on Thursday.

Gold clings to recovery gains above $4,300, awaits Fed

Gold struggles to capitalize on its modest intraday move higher and remains below the $4,350 level in European trading on Wednesday. The US Dollar pauses for a breather after touching a two-week high and offers some support to the commodity. Traders, however, seem hesitant to place aggressive directional bets and opt to wait on the sidelines heading into the key Fed event risk.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple retreat as Fed rate decision looms

Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) remain under pressure and consolidate at the time of writing on Wednesday after falling more than 3%, 4% and 9%, respectively, as the Clarity Act failed to advance in the Senate on Tuesday.

Fed decision in focus

Starting with the most important, the Fed decision. Heading into the event, data showed a rather punchy US August jobs report, which, you will likely recall, triggered a hawkish Fed rate repricing in rates markets. However, the recent US August CPI print mattered more.

How Japan became the World's Banker and why that era may be ending

Japan's ultra-low interest rates helped finance trillions of dollars in global investments for more than a decade, making the Japanese Yen one of the world’s cheapest sources of funding. With the Bank of Japan expected to tighten policy again this week, that advantage may be entering a new phase. While most major economies raised interest rates, Japan remained the world's outlier.