US recap: Retail sales rise boosts USD as Fed cut view ebbs
Repeat with no changes
Aug 15 (Reuters) -The USD index traded near the top of its Thursday range in NorAm's afternoon, rising 0.33% to 102.94. The catalyst for the dollar's rise coming after upbeat U.S. retail sales data tempered recent uber-dovish Fed rate expectations.
Today's above-forecast retail sales, and softer jobless claims, hinted the recent drop in U.S. payrolls may have been a one-off, and did not warrant over-the-top rate cut expectations.
UST yields rose significantly, with 2-5 year note yields rising 16-14bps and longer-end yields rose near 10bps. LSEG's IRPR also indicated a reduction in Fed rate cut expectations as futures show a 26% chance for a 50bp Fed cut in September and -94bps by year-end 2024, the December cut view was -104bps on Wednesday.
The higher yields provided a boost to the dollar, though the USD gain was not universal. A quick look at the FX leader-board shows high-yielders held a distinct advantage in today's performance and risk in general performed well.
EUR/USD fell 0.3% to 1.0979 in NorAm afternoon trading. Today's rise in German bunds, which did not keep pace with U.S. yields, put pressure on the euro. The lower yielding euro, and unwinding of recent haven flows amid the risk rally, added to the decline. EUR finds support at the rising 10-DMA near today's low at 1.0947.
USD/JPY rose 1.19% to 149.05 ahead of the NorAm close. The U.S.-Japan yield differential remains the primary driver of USD/JPY gains. Today's dialing back of dovish Fed expectations once again supported carry trades versus the yen. Resistance can be found at 149.42, the 38.2% Fibo of 161.96-141.68, and natural big-figure resistance at 150.
GBP/USD initially slid to 1.2798 after the USD positive data, but the weakness quickly reversed and the pound rallied to match its recent high at 1.2871 before dipping to 1.2852 ahead of the NorAm close.
The pounds high-yield and positive risk correlation providing the boost. Resistance is holding near 1.2870, the pound's 3-day high area. Friday's UK retail sales are in focus and if UK sales replicate the U.S. read, sterling bulls are likely to make a run toward 1.30.
Risk was well-bid across several markets. Equities shrugged off the higher rates as the retail sales rise indicates the consumer is doing well. The Nasdaq was trading 2.1% higher and the S&P 500 rallied 1.42% in NorAm afternoon trade.
Bitcoin gained 0.3% to $59.3k rallying off early NorAm lows by $58k. Ether bounced off session lows, but held to a -0.3% loss at $2,652. Gold eked out a 0.3% gain to $2,455, hovering near all-time-highs by $2,480. Silver rallied 2.65% to $28.33; silver's broad industrial demand reacting positively to the higher sales data.
For more click on FXBUZ
Editing by Terence Gabriel
Paul Spirgel is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
