Intro
Lately, the Japanese yen has been quite volatile. Meanwhile, the Fed surprised the markets by holding the rate on Wednesday.
We are deep into December, where the market is quieter (and often more volatile). Nonetheless, the year is almost over, and we should always know the market sentiment for each major forex pair!
Market Overview
Here is a brief sentiment report for all major currencies.
US Dollar (DXY): Bearish
The Fed surprised analysts by delivering a rate hold (where a 0.25% cut was predicted. Still, data such as the recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP prints) equate to a bearish bias for USD.
In the long term, the Fed is determining how far and fast it should cut rates to achieve a 2% inflation rate.
Euro (EUR): Bearish
The European Central Bank (ECB) cut the interest rate a few weeks ago, as it did in October. They also removed the ‘sufficiently restrictive’ language, so we should expect more cuts next year.
Economic forecasts are downgraded, suggesting slowing momentum (another negative for the euro).
The threat of a fresh trade tariff with Trump is hugely influential and may cause the euro to be sold off on tariff fears.
British Pound (GBP): Bearish
The Bank of England (BoE) put a hold on the interest rate (4.75%) last week as expected. The reason is that year-on-year inflation is still higher than desired (rising from 2.3% to 2.6% on Wednesday). This could lift GBP despite the overall bearish bias.
The BoE has also indicated they need to be restrictive and a “gradual approach” to policy easing.
Japanese Yen (JPY): Bullish
Despite some volatility on the charts, the fundamentals are bullish for the yen. Tokyo’s CPI rose above forecasts last month. Also, Japan’s base salaries have increased above expectations.
However, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) did not hike the interest rate on Thursday as predicted. Still, Governor Ueda has said they can’t keep interest rates too low for too long last month (as it would accelerate inflation).
In the long term, we should also keep an eye on US Treasury yields – rising yields = lower JPY, while lower yields = higher JPY.
Australian dollar (AUD): Neutral
‘Unchanged’ should be the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)’s middle name. It’s the ninth time in a row they have kept the interest rate the same at 4.35%.
Growth remains weak, with GDP at 0.8% y/y, while the labour market shows gradual easing and wages slowing. The RBA has also emphasised that policy will remain restrictive until inflation moves toward its target.
Always keep in mind the Australian dollar is procyclical, with particular exposure to China’s geopolitics. Trump’s recent win in the US election means the prospect of trade tariffs with China has increased (potentially causing headwinds for AUD).
New Zealand dollar (NZD): Bearish
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) cut its interest by 50 bps to 4.25% as expected recently. It also signalled further reductions while having confidence that inflation will remain in the target zone.
Governor Orr indicated in the last RBNZ meeting that a 50 bps cut in February 2025 is possible. So, we can rule out a rate hike, more so with potential trade tariff issues between China and the United States.
Canadian dollar (CAD): Bearish
The Bank of Canada (BoC) unsurprisingly delivered a 50 bps cut two weeks ago. Their language also indicates potential further cuts, depending on economic data. Like other banks, inflation is key for the central bank. They are, so far, getting it lowered (a positive).
Besides inflation, keep an eye on oil prices, which share a positive correlation – lower/higher oil prices = lower/higher CAD.
Swiss Franc (CHF): Bearish
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) delivered another 25 bps rate cut last week. Economic growth is modest. With this in mind, the central bank is prepared to intervene in the forex market to maintain a stable Swiss franc.
Always look at geopolitical tensions (like the current Russia/Ukraine crisis) that can affect the currency’s value.
In the long run, the bearish sentiment remains. The new SNB chairman is more keen to cut rates than the last chairman, with the SNB aiming for neutral rates between 0-0.5% (currently at 0.5%).
