Central Bank Views
Fed Discussed Options to Adjust QE, More Details Probably Out Next Month
As widely anticipated, the Fed left the policy rate unchanged at 0-0.25% and asset purchases at US$120B per month. The decisions were made unanimously. The members acknowledged that economic recovery remained under way. Yet, they warned of the downside risks to growth amidst the huge uncertainty of the coronavirus...
BOE’s QE Expansion Exceeds Expectations as Economy Heads for Double Dip
While leaving the Bank rate unchanged at 0.1%, BOE raised the size of asset purchases (QE) by +135B pound to 875 pound. Both decisions were made unanimously. The expansion came in larger than we had anticipated. The staff also revised lower GDP growth outlook, now expecting the economy to...
FOMC Preview – Fed to Discuss Asset Purchases Arrangement as Balance Sheet Surpasses US$ 7 Trillion
We do not expect any change in the monetary policy at the November meeting. That is, the Fed should leave the policy rate unchanged at 0-0.25% and the asset purchases program unchanged at US$120B/month. The central bank will maintain a dovish stance, warning that risks to growth are skewed...
RBA Cuts Rates and Increases QE Purchases for at Least 6 More Months
As expected, RBA announced further monetary easing at today’s meeting. RBA cut the cash rate to 0.1%, from 0.25% previously. Similarly, the target for the yield on the 3-year government bond yield and the interest rate on new drawings under the Term Funding Facility were also lowered to 0.1%....
BOE Preview – Expanding QE Size while Keeping Rate Unchanged at Record Low
At the meeting this week, we expect BOE to increase the size of asset purchases (QE), by 100B pound, to 845B pound. The Bank rate will stay unchanged at 0.1%. Economic data released since the last meeting suggest that the members’ forecasts in August were too optimistic. A downgrade...
RBA Preview – Expecting New Easing Package of Rate Cuts and QE Expansion
It is widely anticipated that RBA will announce more easing measures at this week’s meeting. The package of measures will likely include a rate cut to 0.1% and expansion of the yield curve control program with the focus on 5-10 year bonds.
Economic Development since October
Economic data released since the...
ECB Expects “Very Negative” Data in November, Pledges to Recalibrate Measures to Downturn
ECB has announced to leave all its monetary policy measures unchanged. The deposit rate stays at -0.5%, while the main refi rate and the marginal lending rate also remain unchanged at 0% and 0.25% respectively. The PEPP program will continue to run with a total envelope of 1.35 trillion...
BOC Recalibrated QE with Focus on Long-term Bonds. Downgraded Growth for 2021
BOC left the policy rate unchanged at 0.25% in October. The central bank explicitly noted that the policy rate will stay unchanged at least until 2023. Meanwhile, it announced to “recalibrate” the QE program, reducing weekly purchases “gradually” to at least CAD 4 billion and turning the focus to...
ECB Preview – More Stimulus to Come in December as Recovery Loses Momentum
Economic data released since the September signaled that the recovery might have lost momentum. This is a worrying signs as renewed lockdown measures in light of the second wave are expected to damage the recovery further. As a preparatory meeting for more stimulus in December, ECB will turn more...
BOC Preview – Staying Cautious about the Uneven Recovery
BOC will likely leave the policy rate unchanged at 0.25% next week’s meeting. After surprising unwinding of some operations last week, the rest of easing measures put in place since March should remain unchanged. Inter-meeting data flow shows that economic recovery is underway in Canada. However, the pace is...
RBA Minutes Reveal Strong Conviction to Further Easing in November
RBA's minutes for the October meeting offered more supports that further easing will be rolled out soon. Potential measures include rate cuts and asset purchases. The bottom line is that the policy rate will not go negative. Assistant Governor Christopher Kent's speech earlier today signaled strongly the easing bias....
ECB Minutes Tilted to Dovish Side
The message sent from the ECB minutes came in more dovish that the meeting statement released a few weeks ago. Policymakers were concerned about the inflation outlook more than previously expected. Despite upward revisions to the economic projections, the members stressed that there were “key downside risks to the...
FOMC Minutes Reveal that Upgrade on Economy Greatly Hinged on More Fiscal Stimulus
The minutes for the September FOMC meeting reveals that the members generally agreed to adopt the new monetary policy framework and change the forward guidance in the way presented in the statement. While the economic projections were upgraded in the meeting, these were conditioned on the further fiscal stimulus...
RBA Left Rates Unchanged at 0.25%. Hinted to Add Stimulus to Support Job Market
As widely anticipated, RBA left the cash rate unchanged at 0.25% at the October meeting. The yield curve control target also stays at 0.25%. This is the 7th consecutive month that the central bank has kept the monetary policy unchanged. While economic recovery is underway, policymakers judged that the...
RBA Preview: Preparing the Market for Rate Cut and QE Expansion
RBA will likely use the opportunity of the upcoming meeting to prepare the market for more monetary easing in November. The stimulus measures due later this week should include reduction in the cash rate, yield curve control (YCC) target and Term Funding Facility (TFF) rate to 0.1%, from the...
CFTC Commitments of Traders – NET SHORT in USD Index Futures could Trim Next Week on Strong Rebound in Greenback
As suggested in the CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended September 22, NET SHORT for USD Index futures increased -906 to 9 146 contracts. Speculative long positions dropped -1 424 contracts and short positions slipped -518 contracts. NET SHORT will likely shrink in the coming week...
SNB Expects Deflation to Stay Until 2Q21. Pledged to Intervene Exchange Rate as CHF Remains Highly Valued
As widely anticipated, SNB left the policy rate unchanged at -0.75%. It reiterated the view that Swiss franc remained “highly valued” and the commitment to intervene in the FX market. The central bank will publish data on money and foreign exchange market operations on a quarterly basis, compared with...
RBNZ Hints to Add Alternative Easing in Coming Months
As widely anticipated, RBNZ left the OCR unchanged at 0.25% today. The cap of Large Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) program, a.k.a. QE, also stays at NZD 100B. Meanwhile, the central bank reiterated the forward guidance that the OCR will be “held at 0.25% in accordance with the guidance issued...
SNB Preview : FX Intervention the Key Monetary Policy Tool to Curb CHF’s Strength
We expect SNB to leave the policy rate unchanged at -0.75%. While it does not rule out the possibility of further rate cut, the central bank's main tool is FX intervention to curb excessive strength in Swiss franc. Economic contraction in 2Q20 turned out to be less severe than...
RBNZ Preview – Waiting for More Hints on Negative Rate
After a big move in August, the RBNZ will likely leave the OCR unchanged at 0.25% and the cap of Large Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) unchanged at NZD 100B. It is, however, expected to offer more indication on the alternative policy tools to be implemented. While we expect the...