Every year, Saxo Bank makes 10 outrageous predictions for the new year. The ideas are meant to get people to think.

"Outrageous Prediction" Definition

Saxo Bank points out their "Outrageous Predictions for 2018 " are not their actual forecasts. Rather, they are a list of supposed “1% likelihood” events that Saxo really feels should be considered as 10% likely or higher.

In other words, they bring together a list of things that may happen, in an effort to get you to think.

Overview

Our suspicion is that the complacency and low volatility in 2017 will not repeat and may indeed have stored energy for a spectacular and outrageous 2018. Thus, a number of our predictions point squarely at the risk that this accumulation of excess complacency may have blown a pent-up bubble of volatility.

Besides our prediction of an ugly end to the complacency bubble, we place our European focus on the increasingly stark political faultline between “Austro-Hungarian Europe” and its feasible allies, and the traditional EU core.

In China, we look at the potential for enormous gains in consumption-linked equities as China transitions from an investment to a consumption-focused growth model.

We are outrageously bullish on sub-Saharan Africa and equally bearish on central banks, who risk having their independence taken away next year.

It’s safe to say that if any of our predictions see the light of day in 2018, the world will feel like a new place this time next year.

Short Synopsis

  1. FED Loses Independence as the US Treasury Takes Charge: Both the Republican and Democratic parties will increasingly vie for their share of the populist vote heading into 2018’s mid-term elections, and budget discipline is entirely absent with GOP tax cuts bringing a massive revenue shortfall that will only be made worse as the US heads into recession. The double whammy of a weak economy and higher interest rates/inflation will leave the Fed with no answers on monetary policy. The hapless Fed will be scapegoated by politicians for the economy’s weak performance, a bond market in vicious turmoil, and the aggravation of already worsening inequality brought on by years of post-global financial crisis quantitative easing. In order to maintain federal spending and nominal growth, as well as to stabilise the bond market and save face into the 2018 mid-terms, the US Treasury seizes the reins as it did after World War II, enacting the same 2.5% yield cap on long bonds after a massive spike in yields. Steen Jakobsen / Chief Economist

  2. Bank of Japan Forced to Abandon Yield Curve Control: With inflation rising and global bond yields (led by US Treasuries) surging, the BoJ nevertheless digs in its heels on the 10-year yield peg and even tries to make a show of moving the peg slightly to accommodate market pressures. The JPY is crushed all the way to 150 versus USD in an aggravated spike to absorb the pressure of higher yields. USDJPY hits 150 before the BoJ capitulates, after which it rapidly devalues to 100. John J Hardy / Head of FX strategy.

  3. China Rolls Out the Pretro-Renminbi: The introduction of the petro-yuan sees CNY appreciate more than 10% versus the dollar, taking the USDCNY rate below 6.0 for the first time ever. Ole Hansen / Head of Commodity Strategy

  4. Volatility Spikes After Flash Crash in Stock Markets: The S&P 500 suffers a flash crash of 25% (peak-to-trough) in a spectacular, one-off move reminiscent of 1987. A whole swathe of short volatility funds are completely wiped out and a formerly unknown long volatility trader realises a 1000% gain and instantly becomes a legend. Peter Garnry / Head of Equity Strategy

  5. US Voters Go Hard Left in 2018 Election: The Democrats pull the debate away from tax reform to spending stimulus for the masses. True populism means breaking out the chequebook for the 90%, and that means fiscal stimulus, deficits be damned. US 30-year Treasury yields rip beyond 5%. John J Hardy / Head of FX Strategy

  6. "Austro-Hungarian Empire" Threatens EU Takeover: The divide between old core EU members and the more sceptical and newer members of the bloc will widen to an impassable chasm in 2018 and will shift the centre of gravity from the Franco-German axis to Visegrad-and-friends.The consequences for the euro will be severe. Looking for further weight to counter the Franco-German led “core EU”, Austria and the Visegrad 4 lobby to take the union in a pro-stimulus and anti-immigration direction. They successfully manage to gather a group of 13 EU countries, including Italy (once again led by Silvio Berlusconi) and Slovenia, to form a blocking minority at the European Council. For the first time since 1951, Europe’s political centre of gravity shifts from the Franco-German couple to CEE. The EU’s institutional blockage does not take long to worry financial markets. After spiking to new highs versus the G10 and many EM currencies by late in 2018, the euro rapidly weakens towards parity with USD. Christopher Dembik / Head of Macro Analysis

  7. Bitcoin is Thrown to the Wolves: The rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has been one of the most spectacular phenomena of financial markets in recent years. Bitcoin peaks in 2018 with Bitcoin above $60,000 and a market capitalisation of over $1 trillion as the advent of the Bitcoin futures contract in December 2017 leads to a groundswell of involvement by investors and funds that are more comfortable trading futures than tying up funds on cryptocurrency exchanges Bitcoin will continue to rise – and rise high – during most of 2018 but Russia and China will together engineer a crash. After its spectacular peak in 2018, Bitcoin crashes and limps into 2019 close to its fundamental “production cost” of $1,000. Kay Van-Petersen / Global Macro & Crypto Strategist Jacob Pouncey / Cryptocurrency Analyst

  8. Southern Africa Spring Sees South Africa Blossom: Africa always has the potential to surprise us and 2018 will see South Africa lead an unexpected renaissance that will see it and its neighbours blossom politically and economically. South Africa, however, is the main winner as the ZAR becomes the EM darling and returns 30% against the G3 currencies. It brings the world’s strongest rates of growth in South Africa and the satellite frontier economies of the region. Christopher Dembik / Head of Macro Analysis

  9. Tencent Outstrips Apple. Becomes World's Largest Company: China is opening up its capital markets, and the country’s enormous size and surging living standards are attracting investors from across the globe. Given this, it’s no surprise that tech-sector leader Tencent is bumping up against some of the world’s largest companies by market capitalisation. Tencent shares advance another 100% despite the company’s already enormous size and in 2018 the firm steals the world market cap crown from Apple at well above $1 trillion. Peter Garnry / Head of Equity Strategy

  10. It's Their Time - Women Smash the Glass Ceiling: In 2018, the trend towards increasing female representation in the boardroom level goes super-exponential, with twice as many women rising to the level of CEO at Fortune 500 companies. Perhaps the trigger for all of this was the rediscovery in 2017 of the gross harassment women deal with every day when knuckle-dragging alpha males run the show. In 2018, the chauvinist old boys’ clubs are shaken to their core by shareholders and enlightened self-reflective purges and a woman occupies the top spot at more than 60 Fortune 500 companies by the end of the year. Steen Jakobsen / Chief Economist

"It’s safe to say that if any of our predictions see the light of day in 2018, the world will feel like a new place this time next year," states the Saxo Bank introduction.

Currency Crisis Awaits

As I see it, only half of Saxo's predictions mean much of anything (1, 2, 4, 5, 6). I discard Saxo's result for number 5 even though I strongly agree with the title.

A volatility spike, prediction 4, in and of itself, may not have global significance. However, if it's related to a currency crisis started by 1, 2, or 6, that's another matter indeed.

A global currency crisis of some sort its long overdue. If Saxo's predictions for 1, 2, 5, or 6 happen as Saxo presents them, 2018 may be the year.

A crushing spike in volatility would certainly accompany Saxo predictions 1 or 2.

Related Articles

Bitcoin: Gundlach Says "Bet Against Bitcoin and Make Money"

Volatility: "Everyone in the Room is Selling Volatility"

Petro-Yuan: To understand my point regarding the meaninglessness of the petro-yuan, please see Gold-Backed Petro-Yuan Silliness: Reserve Currency Curse?

This material is based upon information that Sitka Pacific Capital Management considers reliable and endeavors to keep current, Sitka Pacific Capital Management does not assure that this material is accurate, current or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such.

Recommended Content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD gathers fresh upside traction and approaches 1.0580

EUR/USD gathers fresh upside traction and approaches 1.0580

Following an early dip to a new 2024 low at 1.0495, EUR/USD manages to regain some balance and retests the area of daily peaks near 1.0580 as the US Dollar's initial uptick seems to have run out of steam.

EUR/USD News
GBP/USD reclaims the 1.2700 barrier and above

GBP/USD reclaims the 1.2700 barrier and above

In line with the rest of its risk-related peers, GBP/USD leaves behind the initial drop to multi-month lows near 1.2630 and attempts a move beyond 1.2700 the figure amidst renewed weakness in the Greenback.

GBP/USD News
Gold trims early losses hovers around $2,575

Gold trims early losses hovers around $2,575

The loss of momentum in the US Dollar and the retracement in US yields across the curve allow Gold prices to pick up some upside traction and revisit the $2,570 zone per ounce troy, trimming part of their early losses.

Gold News
Missing crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi found dead in Montreal Park

Missing crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi found dead in Montreal Park

Authorities report that the remains of Kevin Mirshahi, a prominent crypto influencer who was abducted in June, have been found in a Montreal park. Local police informed “The Gazette” that a passerby found the grim discovery on October 30 in Île-de-la-Visitation Park. 

Read more
Trump vs CPI

Trump vs CPI

US CPI for October was exactly in line with expectations. The headline rate of CPI rose to 2.6% YoY from 2.4% YoY in September. The core rate remained steady at 3.3%. The detail of the report shows that the shelter index rose by 0.4% on the month, which accounted for 50% of the increase in all items on a monthly basis. 

Read more
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

Majors

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures