The Week Ahead – COVID-19 , Economic Data, and the ECB in Focus

On the Macro

It’s quieter week ahead on the economic calendar, with 32 stats in focus in the week ending 23^rd July. In the week prior, 66 stats had also been in focus.

For the Dollar:

On Thursday, jobless claims will draw plenty of attention.

At the end of the week, prelim private sector PMIs for July will also be in focus.

Expect the services PMI and the initial jobless claim figure to be the key numbers of the week.

In the week ending 16^th July, the Dollar Spot Index rose by 0.60% to 92.687.

For the EUR:

It’s a relatively busy week on the economic data front.

Late in the week, business and consumer confidence figures will be in focus. With the ECB looking for consumption to fuel the economic recovery, the numbers will influence.

On Friday, prelim private sector PMIs for France, Germany, and the Eurozone will also be in focus.

The markets will be looking for any economic speed bumps following disappointing stats from Germany recently.

On the monetary policy front, the ECB is also in action on Thursday. With the policy revamp and some uncertainty over the economic outlook, it should be an interesting press conference…

For the week, the EUR fell by 0.59% to $1.1806.

For the Pound:

It’s a relatively quiet week ahead on the economic calendar.

CBI industrial trend orders will draw interest on Thursday.

At the end of the week, however, private sector PMI and retail sales figures will be the key stats of the week.

A pickup in spending and service sector activity would deliver the Pound with strong support.

The Pound ended the week down by 0.96% to $1.3767.

For the Loonie:

It’s a relatively quiet week ahead on the economic calendar.

House price figures are due out along with retail sales data.

Expect the retail sales figures to be key on Friday. With economic data on the lighter side, crude oil prices and market risk sentiment will also influence in the week.

The Loonie ended the week down 1.33% to C$1.2613 against the U.S Dollar.

Out of Asia

For the Aussie Dollar:

Retail sales figures are due out on Wednesday. With consumer spending key to a sustainable economic recovery, Wednesday’s stats will draw plenty of interest.

On the monetary policy front, the RBA monetary policy meeting minutes are due out on Tuesday.

Following the RBNZ’s surprise move last week, any talk of a tightening of monetary policy would give the Aussie Dollar a boost.

The Aussie Dollar ended the week down by 1.16% to $0.7401.

For the Kiwi Dollar:

It’s a particularly quiet week ahead, with no major stats to provide the Kiwi with direction.

A lack of stats will leave the Kiwi in the hands of market risk sentiment in the week.

The Kiwi Dollar ended the week up by 0.19% to $0.6999.

For the Japanese Yen:

Inflation and trade data on Tuesday will be the only stats of the week. Expect the trade data to garner the greatest interest.

On Wednesday, the BoJ’s monetary policy meeting minutes are due out for the June meeting. We don’t expect the dated minutes to have a material impact on the Yen, however.

The Japanese Yen rose by 0.06% to ¥110.070 against the U.S Dollar.

Out of China

It’s a particularly quiet week ahead, with no major stats to provide the markets with direction.

A lack of stats will leave chatter from Beijing in focus through the week.

In the week, the PBoC is in action, though the markets are expecting loan prime rates to be left unchanged.

The Chinese Yuan ended the week flat at CNY6.4792 against the U.S Dollar.

Geo-Politics

Russia and China continue to be the main areas of interest for the markets. Following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, news updates from the Middle East will also need continued monitoring…