HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

  • U.S. economic data was relatively constructive this week; existing home sales remained near their multiyear highs, while real GDP expanded by a robust 2.6% (annualized) to cap off last year.
  • The IMF upgraded its global economic forecast to 3.9% for this year and next. Managing Director Lagarde hailed it the “broadest synchronised global growth upsurge since 2010.”
  • This year’s Davos meetings were focused on trade, with Trump, Ross and Mnuchin forming the core of the U.S. delegation. The Treasury Secretary grabbed headlines saying that a “weak dollar is good” for the U.S.
  • The ECB and BoJ stood pat on rates, with the Fed likely to follow suit next week at Chair Yellen’s last meeting.

 


Greenback Takes a Beating on Davos Comments


The week got off to a good start, with Congress on Monday voting to end the 69-hour government shutdown. Still, the vote extends funding for the federal government until only February 8th – a mere eighteen days. Markets, having shrugged off the shutdown threat (the new modus operandi in Washington), were neither elated nor surprised about the can being kicked down the road again.

U.S. data was also relatively constructive. Existing home sales remained near multi-year records. Housing markets will have to contend with rising rates and lack of for-sale inventory, but will remain supported by above-trend growth and diminishing slack. U.S. real GDP capped the year with growth of 2.6% (annualized) in Q4 – more than half a point above its potential rate.

Robust U.S. growth comes alongside a solid global backdrop. This week, the IMF updated its global economic forecast to 3.9% for this year and next – 0.2 pp higher than before. The Fund’s Managing Director Lagarde, speaking in Davos, hailed this the “broadest synchronised global growth upsurge since 2010”, also highlighting that trade remains a “significant engine of growth.”

Trade was a key focus of Davos this year.  On the eve of the signing of the new TPP-11, which the U.S. pulled out of,  Japanese Economy Minister Motegi said the pact would be an “engine to overcome protectionism,” while Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau called it “the right deal.” President Trump, defending his stance, indicated that “America is open for business” and suggested the U.S. may join the TPP if the terms are better.

Still, America’s protectionist policies remain a worry. The U.S. this week levied tariffs on washing machines and solar panels. Defending the move, Commerce Secretary Ross stated that the U.S. approach to trade policy is dated, indicating that he is trying to right past wrongs and that the U.S. is done being “a sucker” or “a patsy” on trade.

But, it was Treasury Secretary Mnuchin that grabbed most headlines, stating that “a weaker dollar is good,” – a reversal of U.S. Treasury mantra. A broad U.S. dollar selloff followed, despite attempts by Ross and Trump to repair the damage.

Mnuchin’s comments were criticized by ECB President Draghi who referred to an international agreement last October not to talk down currencies. Speaking after the ECB kept policy rates unchanged this week, Draghi insisted that the bank would consider loosening policy to offset “unwarranted” tightening related to exchange rate. The ECB is unlikely to tighten policy until mid-2019, but is expected to let is bond-buying program lapse in September.

The BoJ also kept rates steady, only altering its inflation outlook wording from “weaker than expected” to “broadly unchanged.”  And in what will be the last meeting headed by Chair Yellen, the Fed is also likely to stand pat next week. The incoming Chair, Jerome Powel, will take over on February 3rd, having been confirmed by the Senate this week. We don’t expect the policy to be dramatically altered by the change at the top, with our current view for three Fed hikes this year.

 

Michael Dolega, Senior Economist


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