The Weekly Wrap – A Dovish FED and Weak Stats Left the Greenback in the Red

The Stats

It was a busy week on the economic calendar, in the week ending 30^th July.

A total of 71 stats were monitored, which was up from 33 stats in the week prior.

Of the 71 stats, 37 came in ahead forecasts, with 30 economic indicators coming up short of forecasts. There were 4 stats that were in line with forecasts in the week.

Looking at the numbers, 42 of the stats reflected an upward trend from previous figures. Of the remaining 29 stats, 27 reflected a deterioration from previous.

For the Greenback, disappointing economic data and a dovish FED left the Dollar in the red. The Dollar Spot Index fell by 0.79% to 92.174. In the previous week, the Dollar had risen by 0.24% to 92.906.

Out of the U.S

Consumer sentiment and durable goods orders drew attention early in the week.

In June, durable goods orders ex transportation rose by 0.3%, following a 0.5% increase in May.

More significantly was a pickup in consumer confidence in July. The CB Consumer Confidence Index rose from 128.9 to 129.1. Economists had forecast a decline to 126.0.

On Thursday, jobless claims and 2^nd quarter GDP numbers were in focus. The stats were skewed to the negative, however.

In the 2^nd quarter, the U.S economy grew by 6.5%. This fell well short of a forecasted growth of 8.5%.

Jobless claims also fell short of expectations, with initial jobless claims falling from 424k to 400k. Economists had forecast a decline to 370k.

At the end of the week, personal spending and inflation figures came in ahead of forecasts, however.

Personal spending rose by 1.0% in June, with the annual rate of inflation seeing a pickup from 3.4% to 3.5%.

While the stats were material, the FED monetary policy and press conference were the main events of the week.

In line with market expectations, the FED left policy unchanged. The FED Chair also looked to assure the markets that there would be no near-term moves, the guidance considered dovish.

Out of the UK

It was a particularly quiet week. There were no major stats for the markets to consider in the week.

The lack of stats left the Pound in the hands of IMF economic growth forecasts, which delivered Pound support.

In the week, the Pound rose by 1.13% to end the week at $1.3904. In the week prior, the Pound had fallen by 0.14% to $1.3748.

The FTSE100 ended the week up by 0.07%, following a 0.28% gain from the previous week.

Out of the Eurozone

Through much of the week, the German economy was in focus.

Business and consumer sentiment figures delivered mixed results. While business sentiment waned in July, consumer confidence remained unchanged, in spite of the reopening of economies.

Unemployment figures from Germany were upbeat. The unemployment fell from 5.9% to 5.7% in July.

Inflationary pressures continued to surge, however, with Germany’s annual rate of inflation accelerating in July to 3.8%.

At the end of the week, 1^st estimate GDP numbers and prelim inflation figures were the key stats of the week.

Quarter-on-quarter, the French economy grew by 0.9% versus a forecasted 0.7% in the 2^nd quarter.

Germany saw growth of 1.5%, falling short of a forecasted 1.9%. In the 1^st quarter, the economy had contracted by 2.1%.

For the Eurozone, the economy grew by 2.0%, coming in ahead of a forecasted 1.5%. The economy had contracted by 0.3% in the previous quarter.

Inflation also ticked up, aligned with member state numbers. According to prelim figures, the Eurozone’s annual rate of inflation accelerated from 1.9% to 2.2% in July, rising above the ECB’s 2% target.

For the week, the EUR rose by 0.84% to $1.1870. In the week prior, the EUR had fallen by 0.30% to $1.1771.

The DAX30 fell by 0.67%, while the CAC40 and the EuroStoxx600 ended the week up by 0.67% and by 0.05% respectively.

For the Loonie

It was a relatively quiet week on the economic data front.

Inflation and GDP numbers were the key stats of the week.

In June, the annual rate of inflation softened from 2.8% to 2.7%, bucking the trend seen across key economies.

The Canadian economy also continued to struggle in May, with the economy contracting by 0.3%. The economy had contracted by 0.5% in April.

In the week ending 30th July, the Loonie rose by 0.71% to C$1.2475. In the week prior, the Loonie had risen by 0.39% to C$1.2564.

Elsewhere

It was a mixed week for the Aussie Dollar and the Kiwi Dollar.

While the Aussie Dollar fell by 0.30% to $0.7344, the Kiwi Dollar ended the week flat at $0.6974.

For the Aussie Dollar

Inflation was the main area of focus. The stats were mixed, however, pegging the Aussie Dollar back.

In the 2^nd quarter, the annual rate of inflation surged from 1.1% to 3.8%. The trimmed mean rate of inflation picked up from 1.1% to 1.6%, however.

Wholesale inflation also saw a pickup but at a softer pace than anticipated.

Australia’s annual wholesale rate of inflation ticked up from 0.2% to 2.2%. Economists had forecast a rate of 3.5%.

For the Kiwi Dollar

It was a busier week, with trade and consumer and business confidence in focus.

Trade data disappointed, with the trade surplus narrowing from NZ$498m to NZ$261m in June. The narrowing stemmed from a more marked increase in imports, however, rather than a fall exports, which limited the damage.

Business and consumer confidence figures were also skewed to the negative. The ANZ Business Confidence Index fell from -0.60 to -3.80, with the ANZ Consumer Confidence Index falling from 114 to 113.1.

The week numbers were not enough to sink the Kiwi.

For the Japanese Yen

It was another relatively busy week.

Early in the week, private sector PMIs were in focus. Later in the week industrial production and retail sales also drew attention on Friday.

While prelim private sector PMIs softened slightly in July, industrial production and retail sales impressed.

Industrial production jumped by 6.2% in June, reversing a 6.5% slide from May. More significantly, retail sales increased by 3.1%, reversing a 0.4% decline from May.

The Japanese Yen rose by 0.75% to ¥109.72 against the U.S Dollar. In the week prior, the Yen had fallen by 0.44% to ¥110.550.

Out of China

It was a quiet week on the economic data front. There were no major stats from China for the markets to consider.

In the week ending 30^th July, the Chinese Yuan rose by 0.31% to CNY6.4614. In the week prior, the Yuan had ended the week down by 0.03% to CNY6.4813.

The CSI300 and the Hang Seng ended the week down by 4.98% and by 5.46% respectively.