All eyes evidently will be on Washington

KBC Market Research Desk KBC Bank

Markets

The correction in US yields that started on (marginally) softer than expected US CPI data and comments from Fed Waller finally met first support on Friday as markets returned their focus to the new Trump era. Solid US housing and production data helped build this floor. US yields in a bear flattening move added between 5.3 bps (2-y) and 0.2 bps (30-y). EMU/German yields intraday also showed signs of bottoming but still closed the day in red (German 2-y -0.1 bp, 30-y -2.0 bps). Still, the yields’ move didn’t change the constructive bias on global equity markets. US indices closed the session up to 1.5% higher (Nasdaq). Europe this time slightly underperformed the US (EuroStoxx50 +0.81%), but the index still firmly confirmed the break above the cycle top. Last week’s setback in the USD on lower US yields and the broader risk-on mostly remained modest and this dollar resilience basically remained in place at the end of last week. At 109.35, DYX still closed the week within striking distance of the correction top (110 area) reached on Monday. EUR/USD extended the short-term consolidation pattern (close 1.0273), but in this process last week failed to challenge any significant resistance level, suggesting that underlying USD strength/euro weakness still remained in place. UK and sterling trailed as weaker-than-expected retail sales confirmed a mediocre narrative on the economy as the government tries to convince the country and markets on the viability of its economic/budgetary policy. EUR/GBP (0.8442) closed the week near the 0.845 resistance area.

Asian equity markets mostly open in positive territory. Regional investors apparently take comfort from the headlines on a what was said to have been a good conversation between Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. ECB Board member Isabel Schnabel in an interview with Finanztip this weekend indicated that for now she sees no major risk that could prevent the bank from reaching the 2.0% target, allowing it to continue its easing cycle. However, after steep rate cuts executed of late, she said that the point is coming closer for the bank to evaluate whether and to what extent the ECB can cut rates further. Today’s calendar in Europe is empty and US markets are closed in observance of Martin Luther King day. All eyes evidently will be on Washington as Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the US. The president is expected to announce an avalanche of executive orders in the first hours/days after taking office, with sweeping measures to be announced on migration, tariffs, deregulation and American energy policy amongst others. The wide scope of potential surprises makes a consistent market reaction not evident, but the focus likely will be on the pace and nature of the first import tariffs. Visibility on longer-term market impact/reaction function stays low, but we assume that even ‘disruptive’ Trump measures won’t be disruptive for the Trump trade in a first instance. (US) yields might to look for a bottom after last week’s correction. The 4.20% area serves as a first support area for the US 2-y yield. The 1.0400/1.0450 area remains strong resistance for the EUR/USD cross rate.

News and views

Average asking prices for newly listed UK homes rose by 1.7% M/M in January to be 1.8% higher compared with the same period last year. The nominal average price of £366 189 is only £9k below the peak hit in May of last year. Other signs of momentum come from increases in agreed sales (+11% Y/Y), the number of buyers contacting agents about properties (+9% Y/Y) and the number of new properties coming to the market (+11% Y/Y). Property website Rightmove, who conducted the survey, said that current drive could rapidly peter out should hopes on BoE rate cuts not materialize as they are key in reducing mortgage rates. April’s expiry of a lower rate of property purchase tax on less expensive homes is seen as currently boosting demand but equally represents a risk from Q2 onwards for momentum to be sustained.

The German conservative opposition block CDU/CSU polled a first time below 30% since April in the run-up to February 23 parliamentary elections. They maintained their lead over the far-right AfD though which also dropped a point to 21%. Support for social Democrats of Chancellor Scholz (16%) and greens (13%) was unchanged with relative gains going to smaller parties. With centre-left and centre-right all refusing a tie-up with AfD, election night will decide on whether CDU/CSU-leader Merz will be able to set-up his preferred two-way coalition or whether he’ll have to explore the three-way alliance.

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KBC Market Research Desk

KBC Bank

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