Dollar Sharply Lower as Trump’s Reliable Ally Challenges Him on Tariffs, Canadian Dollar Jumps on Strong Data

Dollar suffers steep selloff in the early US session as WSJ reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch sent a letter to Trump requesting him to reconsider his trade policies. And Hatch warned that GOP senators may be ready to risk a legislative confrontation with Trump if he doesn’t reverse course. Hatch is a seven-term Utah Republican Senator who’s seen as a reliable Trump ally.

Earlier today, CNBC released a video on the interview of Trump at the White House taken yesterday. Trump complained again the the US has been “ripped off by China for a long time”. And he’s “ready to go to 500”, referring to tariffs on USD 500B of Chinese imports. That’s nearly all of the USD 505.5B Chinese imports in 2017. And he pledged that he’s “not doing this for politics” but “to do the right thing for the country”.

Separately, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow laid the blame on Chinese President Xi Jinping again. He said, “the problem here is Xi. He doesn’t want to move, and they’ve offered the U.S. absolutely … no options regarding the issue of (intellectual property) theft and forced technology transfer.”

The timing of these rhetorics and the interview is a bit odd. But after all, we’ll soon know whether these stories will continue to develop, or the American’s focuses will be back on the relationship of their President and Russia and Vladimir Putin quickly.

Canadian Dollar jumps on stellar retail sales, CPI accelerated

Canadian Dollar surges sharply in early US session after stellar retail sales data. Headline retail sales rose 2.0% mom in May versus expectation of 0.0% mom. That’s more than offset -1.2% mom contraction in April. Ex-auto sales also jumped 1.4% mom, well above expectation of 0.5% mom.

Headline CPI accelerated to 2.5% yoy in June as expected. CPI core common was unchanged at 1.9% yoy. CPI core median rose 0.1% to 2.0% yoy. CPI core trim rose 0.1% to 2.0% yoy.

The set of data gives a nod to BoC’s rate hike earlier in the month and it’s hawkish stance.

German Merkel: Can’t rely on the superpower of the US

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a news conference that the Germany “can’t rely on the superpower of the United States. And the auto tariffs are “a real threat to the prosperity of many in the world”. Also, the “usual framework” of the world is “under strong pressure at the moment” before of the US. Though, she maintain that “transatlantic working relationship, including with the U.S. president, is crucial for us and I will carry on cultivating it”.

For the EU, Merkel said it’s in a “transformation process”. And, “it recognizes the seriousness of the situation, but it hasn’t yet been resolved whether we are going to rise to the challenges quickly enough.” She pointed to the “big economic challenge, and one day certainly also military, from the strengthening of China”. And, the EU must also deal with the relationship with Russia.

Released in European session, German PPI rose 0.3% mom, 3.0% yoy in June. Eurozone current account surplus narrowed to EUR 22.4B in May. UK public sector net borrowing rose to GBP 4.5B in June.

Japan core CPI rose 0.8% yoy but mainly driven by energy

Released from Japan, the all items CPI rose 0.1% mom, 0.7% yoy in June. Core CPI, all item less fresh food, rose 0.1% mom, 0.8% yoy. Core core CPI, all item less fresh food and energy, has indeed dropped -0.1% mom and rose 0.2% yoy.

The set of data should be rather disappointing for the BoJ. The decline in core core CPI suggests that inflation was mainly driven by the surge in energy costs. There wasn’t much of press pressure elsewhere. It’s remains a long road to meet its 2% inflation target. And there is no light on when the central could withdraw the massive stimulus.

USD/CAD Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.3187; (P) 1.3240; (R1) 1.3320; More…

USD/CAD’s sharp decline suggests that a temporary top is at least formed at 1.3289. But it’s staying above 1.3063 so far and intraday bias is turned neutral first. On the downside, break of 1.3063 will extend the corrective decline from 1.3385 with another falling leg. USD/CAD should then target channel support (now at 1.2880). For now, we’d expect strong support from there to bring rebound. On the upside, above 1.3289 will bring retest of 1.3385 high instead.

In the bigger picture, as long as channel support (now at 1.2880) holds, we’ll holding to the bullish view. That is, fall from 1.4689 (2015 high) has completed at 1.2061, ahead of 50% retracement of 0.9406 (2011 low) to 1.4689 (2015 high) at 1.2048. Further rally should be seen for 61.8% retracement of 1.4689 to 1.2061 at 1.3685 and above. However, sustained break of the channel support will argue that rise from 1.2061 has completed and will bring deeper fall to 1.2526 support to confirm.

Economic Indicators Update