October’s selloff was mainly attributed to fears of the Fed’s tightening policy. However, after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said rates are “just below” neutral, anxiety over higher interest rates is no longer justified.
The arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada, following a U.S. extradition request, have created serious concerns that the truce between the two Presidents may end before the 90 days agreed upon. This is occurring at a time when the global economy is experiencing a slowdown – and here comes the big threat. Bond markets have been more accurate than stock markets in predicting economic slowdowns. The short end of the U.S. Treasury yield curve already inverted last week and it looks like just a matter of time before the long end of the curve inverts too. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate a recession is imminent, it’s a bold warning signal.
When looking at latest U.S. economic data, it doesn’t look bad. Despite the U.S. NFP missing markets expectations coming in at 155,000, the unemployment remains at nearly a 50-year low. U.S. factory activity remains healthy according to the latest ISM figures, and similarly the service sector has reflected strong growth in November. However, the U.S. economy won’t be able to sustain its growth levels when everywhere else is experiencing a slowdown, and the real test will be next year when Trump’s fiscal policy goes into reverse.
Equities in Asia resumed their selloff from last week, while Europe along with U.S. markets are also set to open in the red according to futures.
This week is a big one for the UK with the European Court of Justice expected to rule on whether the UK can cancel Brexit unilaterally. UK Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to face defeat in a House of Commons vote on her Brexit deal on Tuesday. Today we will get to know whether May decides to delay the vote on her Brexit deal, but the biggest unknown is what happens if MPs vote down the deal. Are we going to see a second referendum, no-confidence vote, a hard Brexit, or even a general election? This will keep Sterling in a very volatile mode until the clouds clear.