Top Japanese lawmaker urges BoJ to clarify monetary policy normalization plans

Markets

US President Biden stepping out of the presidential election race dominated press/market headlines yesterday. Still, the direct impact on global trading was modest after all. For now, the outcome of an expected contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is too early too call. It is even more difficult to assess the concrete impact of postelection policy both the economy and a fortiori what it might mean for (global) markets trading. Equities had a good start to the new week (S&P +1.08%, Nasdaq +1.58%, EuroStoxx 50 +1.45%). However, coming on the back of a rather forceful correction last week and with investors looking forward to the earnings’ season, it’s unclear how much of this rebound was due to the political developments in the US. US and European yields extended last week’s bottoming out process. US yields rose marginally between 0.6 bps (2-y) and 2.5 bps (30-y). With an inaugural September 25 bps Fed rate cut almost fully discounted and more than one additional step priced for the end of the year, markets currently see no reason anticipate an even more aggressive Fed U-turn compared to the June dots (one 25 bps step this year). For that to happen, more soft US data and/or more concrete Fed guidance is probably needed. Bunds underperformed Treasury with German yields rising between 4.6 bps (2-y) and 1.5 bps (30-y). Markets are adapting to the message from last week’s ECB press conference that everything is open with respect to an additional ECB rate cut in September. Despite a (small) loss of relative interest rate support and a risk-on sentiment, the dollar only lost modest ground (DXY 104.30 from 104.39 on Friday, EUR/USD 1.0891 from 1.0882). The yen again marginally outperformed (close USD/JPY 157 area). Sterling showed signs of bottoming after a correction last week supported by tentatively higher UK yields (2-y + 5.9 bps). EUR/GBP closed at 0.842.

Asian markets (ex-China) this morning show a mild risk-on in the wake of yesterday’s WS rebound. The yen extends its rebound (USD/JPY 156.4). EUR/USD is going nowhere. US yields decline marginally (+/- 1 bp). Eco data in the US (Richmond Fed manufacturing index, existing home sales) and E(M)U (EC consumer confidence) only are of intraday significance, at best. ECB’s Lane will speak. Equity investors will keep a close eye at earnings of Alphabet & Tesla. We assume more technical inspired trading with the preliminary PMI’s (tomorrow) and the first estimate of US GDP (including price deflators) on Thursday further shaping market expectations going into next week’s Fed, BOJ and BoE policy meetings. For now, we expect recent lows in US and EMU yields to hold. The dollar shows no clear trend. In other countries, the Central bank of Turkey (CBRT) and the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) will announce policy decisions today. The CBRT is expected to keep the policy rate unchanged at 50% but might take additional measures to reduce excess liquidity. Comments from MNB vice governor Virag last week suggested that there is still room for some guarded easing as inflation is still cooling (3.7% in June) and as the forint continues to hold up rather well. We expected an MNB rate cut from 7.0% to 6.75%.

News and views

Car manufacturers and dealers in the US are increasingly cutting prices in an attempt to offset demand dented by high interest rates and to clear inventories at pre-pandemic levels. Auto data provider Motor Intelligence said that incentive packages, which include cash backs, low interest rates and price cuts, rose 53% y/y in June. Their efforts have been showing up in US inflation figures with the cost of new and used vehicles having fallen by 0.2% and 1.5% m/m respectively. The report adds to evidence that the Fed’s restrictive monetary policy is increasingly weighing on consumer demand, especially for big-ticket items.

Top Japanese lawmaker Toshimitsu Motegi is calling upon the Bank of Japan to more clearly reveal its monetary policy normalization intentions. Motegi is Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and shared growing frustrations among party members that the BoJ’s snail pace, even with inflation above target, is hurting the yen and biting in Japanese consumer’s purchasing power. Motegi’s remarks are closely watched. He’s seen as a possible contender with good odds in the September LDP leadership race. The outcome of the race ultimately determines who will be prime minister of Japan. The Bank of Japan is meeting July 31.

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