Swiss Franc Sold Off Again as Stocks Rebound, Yields Turned Mixed

Swiss Franc is in deep selloff again today as risk sentiment further stabilized in the markets. European indices rebound broadly while US futures point to higher open. Global bond markets also turned mixed for now. Euro and Yen are following as next weakest. Meanwhile, Canadian Dollar is leading other commodity currencies higher. Dollar and Sterling are mixed for now.

Technically, EUR/AUD could be a focus with RBA rate decision featured in the upcoming Asian session. It’s so far bounded inside near term falling channel despite last week’s strong rebound. Break of 1.5487 minor support will suggest completion of the rebound and bring retest of 1.5250 low.

In Europe, currently, FTSE is up 1.32%. DAX is up 1.05%. CAC is up 1.36%. Germany 10-year yield is down -0.0602 at -0.319. Earlier in Asia, Nikkei rose 2.41%. Hong Kong HSI rose 1.63%. China Shanghai SSE rose 1.21%. Singapore Strait Times rose 0.81%. Japan 10-year JGB yield dropped -0.0016 to 0.157.

BIS: Central banks have to work out the implications of rising bond yields

The Bank for International Settlements said, with the release of its quarterly review, that “prospects of a more robust economic recovery buoyed risky asset prices, with signs of exuberance reflected in the behaviour of retail investors.” And, “sovereign yield curves steepened as investors priced in higher inflation and fiscal support.” Also, “sentiment towards emerging market assets remained favourable, in particular in East Asia.”

“The recent market jitters confirm that the back-up in bond yields and reflation trade are casting the financial market outlook in a completely new light,” said Claudio Borio, Head of the BIS’ Monetary and Economic Department. “People just saw low rates for as far as the eye could see, whereas now they have started having doubts about how long these conditions would last.”

Central banks “will have to work out what the implications of that (rising bond yields) for their objectives and respond accordingly,” Borio added.

Eurozone PMI manufacturing finalized at 57.9, fastest cost inflation in a decade

Eurozone PMI Manufacturing was finalized at 57.9 in February, up from January’s 54.8. Markit said output and new orders were up sharply as export trade strengthens. But acute lengthening of delivery times drove fastest cost inflation in nearly a decade.

Looking at some member states, Germany PMI manufacturing hit 37-month high at 60.7. The Netherlands rose to 29-month high at 59.6. Austria rose to 36-month high at 58.9. Italy rose to 37-month high at 56.9. France rose to 37-month high at 56.1. However, Greece dropped to 2-month low at 49.4.

Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit said: “Manufacturing is appearing as an increasingly bright spot in the eurozone’s economy so far this year. The PMI has reached a three-year high to run at a level that has rarely been exceeded in more than two-decades of survey history – notably during the dot-com bubble, the initial rebound from the global financial crisis and in 2017-18…

“The growth spurt has brought its own problems, however, with demand for inputs not yet being met by supply. Shipping delays and shortages of materials are being widely reported, and led to near record supply chain delays. Prices paid for inputs are consequently rising at the fastest rate for nearly a decade, hinting at further increases in consumer price inflation in coming months, at least until supply and demand come back into balance.”

UK PMI manufacturing finalized at 55.1 in Feb, stretched supply chains and rising costs

UK PMI Manufacturing was finalized at 55.1 in February, up from January’s 54.1. Markit noted growth was subdued by stretched supply chains and rising costs. But Business optimism rose to near six-and-a-half year high.

Rob Dobson, Director at IHS Markit: “The UK manufacturing sector was again hit by supply chain issues, COVID-19 restrictions, stalling exports, input shortages and rising cost pressures in February. Look past the headline PMI and the survey reveals near-stagnant production, widespread shipping and port delays and confusion following the end of the Brexit transition period.

“In fact the biggest contributor to the headline PMI reading was a near-record lengthening of supplier delivery times. However, while normally a positive sign of an increasingly busy economy, the recent lengthening was far from welcome, more often than not linked to problems resulting from Brexit and COVID related. The resultant shortages for a vast array of components and raw materials, as rising demand chased restricted supply, led to a further acceleration in input cost inflation to a four-year high.

“With current constraints likely to continue for the foreseeable future, pressure on prices and output volumes may remain a feature during the coming months. That said, improved domestic demand as lockdown restrictions ease and a further rise in manufacturers’ optimism are reasons to hope brighter times are on the horizon, and have already supported a modest rebound in staffing levels since the turn of the year.”

Also from the UK, mortgage approvals dropped to 99k in January. M4 money supply rose 0.7% mom in Jan.

China Caixin PMI manufacturing dropped to 50.9, inflationary pressure continued to grow

China Caixin PMI Manufacturing dropped to 50.9 in February down from 51.5, missed expectation of 51.5. That’s also the worst reading since last May. Output expanded modestly amid notably softer rise in new work. Pandemic weighed on exports sales and supplier performance. Though, business confidence improved on hopes of global economic recovery in months ahead.

Wang Zhe, Senior Economist at Caixin Insight Group said: “To sum up, the momentum of the manufacturing recovery further weakened as the supply and demand both rose at a slower clip, adding pressure on employment. The prices of raw materials continued to increase and inflationary pressure continued to grow. Despite the headwinds mentioned above, manufacturers became more optimistic about the outlook for their businesses.”

Released over the weekend, official NBS PMI Manufacturing dropped to 50.6 in February, down from 51.3, below expectation of 51.1. NBS PMI Non-Manufacturing dropped to 51.4, down from 52.4, below expectation of 52.1.

Japan PMI manufacturing finalized at 51.4. Feb, sharp rises in raw materials prices

Japan PMI Manufacturing rose to 51.4 in February, up from 49.8. That’s the strongest reading since December 2018, as manufacturers gradually recovered from the impact of the pandemic. Markit also noted that output and new orders expanded modestly. Input prices rose at fastest pace for two years. Positive sentiments reached strongest since July 2017.

Usamah Bhatti, Economist at IHS Markit, said: “Concern has been building throughout the Japanese manufacturing sector regarding ongoing supply chain disruption, which has induced sharp rises in the prices of raw materials. Cost burdens faced by firms rose at the sharpest pace in two years… Japanese manufacturers continued to report a positive outlook beyond the immediate future… in line with the IHS Markit forecast for industrial production to grow 7.4% in 2021, although this is from a low base.”

Australia AiG manufacturing rose to 58.8 in Feb, input prices surged

Australia AiG Performance of Manufacturing Index rose to 58.8 in February, up from 55.3, hitting the strongest level since March 2018. Input prices jumped above its long-run average (67.4 pts), by 9.7 pts to 74.1, highest since October 2019. Selling prices only rose slightly by 0.4 pts to 51.2.

Looking at other details, production rose 8.9 pts to 65.8. New orders rose 5.3 pts to 59.9. Employment rose 2.7 pts to 57.8. Average wages rose 1.8 to 58.2. But supplier deliveries dropped -2.6 to 53.2. Exports also dropped -7.3 to 54.1.

Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said: “Australia’s manufacturers lifted production and employment in February as sales recovered a large share of the ground lost in 2020. Growth was distributed broadly across manufacturing… Manufacturers are generally positive about the outlook for the next few months with new orders coming in at a greater pace as restrictions on activity and cross-border travel are hopefully wound back.

Also from Australia, TD securities inflation rose 0.1% mom in February. Company gross operating profits dropped -6.6% qoq in Q4.

USD/CHF Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.9042; (P) 0.9072; (R1) 0.9117; More….

USD/CHF’s rally accelerates to as high as 0.9143 so far today, and intraday bias remains on the upside. Current rise from 0.8756 is in progress for 100% projection of 0.8756 to 0.9044 from 0.8869 at 0.9127 next. Break there will target 0.9181 support turned resistance next. On the downside, break of 0.9069 minor support will turn intraday bias neutral first.

In the bigger picture, decline from 1.0237 is seen as the third leg of the pattern from 1.0342 (2016 high). There is no clear sign of completion yet. Next target will be 138.2% projection of 1.0342 to 0.9186 from 1.0237 at 0.8639. In any case, break of 0.9295 resistance is needed to signal medium term bottoming. Otherwise, outlook will remain bearish in case of rebound.

Economic Indicators Update