Preview: Due March 7 - U.S. February Employment (Non-Farm Payrolls) - Stronger than January, but slower than November and December

February 20, 2025 7:02 PM UTC

We expect a 210k increase in February’s non-farm payroll, with 190k in the private sector, slightly stronger than in January but slower than in November and December. We expect unemployment to remain at 4.0% and a 0.3% rise in average hourly earnings, following an above trend 0.5% in January.

Argentina: Primary Surpluses Continues

February 20, 2025 6:18 PM UTC

Argentina’s fiscal anchor under Milei remains the key stabilizer, with inflation gradually declining and the crawling peg rate cut to 1% monthly. A primary surplus of USD 8 billion was achieved in 2024 through spending cuts, while capital controls and IMF support help manage low reserves. For 2025

Mexico: Tariffs and Growth Issues Could Impose Fiscal Difficulties

February 19, 2025 10:20 PM UTC

Mexico aims for fiscal consolidation in 2025, relying on revenue growth while freezing most expenditures. However, weak growth could undermine this strategy. Authorities expect 2–3% GDP growth, but our forecast is 1.6%, with a recession risk. A less integrated U.S.-Mexico trade relationship, parti

FOMC Minutes from January 29 - No rush to ease, but not hawkish

February 19, 2025 7:59 PM UTC

FOMC minutes from January 29 showed agreement to hold policy steady, and that further progress was needed before additional policy adjustments were made. High uncertainty was seen as making a careful approach appropriate, but the minutes contained few shocks, in a market that appeared to be braced f

FX Daily Strategy: APAC, February 20th

February 19, 2025 3:40 PM UTC

Little impact likely from Australian employment data…
…but AUD still has upside potential
JPY continues to edge higher with CHF/JPY looking particularly vulnerable
GBP strength bolstered by data short term, but little further upside scope

U.S. 25% Tariff for Cars, Pharma and Semiconductors?

February 19, 2025 1:40 PM UTC

·        Tariff reality in the spring and summer will likely be both tariff threats to negotiate trade deals and permanently higher tariffs in certain products and reciprocally to raise revenue for the U.S. government – along Peter Navarro guidance to Trump.  The macro effects of this cou

FX Daily Strategy: N America, February 19th

February 19, 2025 10:07 AM UTC

RBNZ cut 50bps, still scope for AUD/NZD gains
UK CPI may tick higher, but possibly less than expected
EUR/GBP still looks stretched near 0.83
USD may rally a little on FOMC minutes with the CAD maybe the most vulnerable

UK CPI Review: Inflation Jumps and Broadly So But Still Some Promising Wage Signs?

February 19, 2025 7:44 AM UTC

January’s CPI numbers showed a marked bounce back up, and with the 0.5 ppt rise taking it to a 10-month high of 3.0%, this being above consensus and BoE thinking.  Notably services jumped from 4.4% to 5.0%, actually below expectations, having been driven higher by a swing in airfares and the rise

Brazil: Activity Strong in Q4 but Some Marginal Deceleration

February 18, 2025 10:04 PM UTC

We see Brazilian economy growing 1.0% in Q4 and is expected to expand 3.6% in 2024, surpassing initial forecasts. However, monthly data shows signs of weakness, with contractions in services, industry, and retail trade in in December. Despite tight monetary policy (13.25%), the expected slowdown has

FX Daily Strategy: APAC, February 19th

February 18, 2025 4:02 PM UTC

RBNZ likely to cut 50bps, still scope for AUD/NZD gains
UK CPI may tick higher, but possibly less than expected
EUR/GBP still looks stretched near 0.83
USD may rally a little on FOMC minutes with the CAD maybe the most vulnerable

Europe: Economic Consequences of Likely Defence Build-Up

February 18, 2025 3:29 PM UTC

As Europe is forced to consider a massive and rapid ramp up to its relatively mediocre defence spending (Figure 1) as it contemplates a reduction in military support from the US, key questions emerge as the economic effect(s).  Will it boost or inhibit growth, add to inflation, and how will/should

U.S. Treasuries and the Trump Effect

February 18, 2025 1:20 PM UTC

If the Fed convince the market that it is leaving the door open to easing and sees Fed Funds reduction multi-year, then 2yr could hold onto a small discount in the next two quarters and then swing to a small premium of 2yr to Fed Funds (Figure 1).  10yr yields will likely maintain a small to modest

FX Daily Strategy: N America, February 18th

February 18, 2025 10:06 AM UTC

RBA cut by 25bps
GBP firmer after labour market data
SEK stays strong after CPI
CAD could slip lower with dip in core inflation rates

UK: Mixed Labor Market Signals – Yet Again

February 18, 2025 7:56 AM UTC

There is little in the latest UK labor market numbers that will ease any concerns of the BoE policy hawks.  Admittedly, inactivity and vacancies fell, both suggesting some easing in the labor market, although the former is as suspect as the (still apparently rising) ONS employment numbers due to qu

RBA Review: It has begun

February 18, 2025 4:47 AM UTC

The RBA meeting on February 18th cut rates on by 25bps to 4.1% and suggest data dependency going forward

Reciprocal Tariffs and Reducing Bilateral Trade Imbalances

February 17, 2025 10:28 AM UTC

·       President Trump’s executive order on reciprocal tariffs has not produced much market reaction, both as the proposals will not be delivered to the president until April 1 and the process of Commerce/U.S. Treasury and Homeland Security input is seen reducing the odds of penal tariffs.

FX Weekly Strategy: February 17th - 21st

February 17, 2025 9:53 AM UTC

USD weakness may fade if market reconsiders recent events
Tariff threats remain despite delays
Ukraine hopes are still speculative
JPY and AUD look the best placed currencies

Stubborn Inflation Continues to Stay Elevated in the First Month of 2025

February 17, 2025 9:33 AM UTC

Bottom Line: According to Russian Federal Statistics Service (Rosstat) data, inflation ticked up to 9.9% YoY in January after hitting 9.5% in December, remaining well above the Central Bank of Russia’s (CBR) midterm target of 4%, due to surges in services and food prices, huge military spending,