Eurozone CPI finalized at 0.9% yoy, EU at 1.2% yoy

    Eurozone CPI was finalized at 0.9% yoy in January, up from December’s -0.3% yoy. The highest contribution came from services (+0.65%), followed by non-energy industrial goods (+0.37%), food, alcohol & tobacco (+0.30%) and energy (-0.41%).

    EU CPI was finalized at 1.2% yoy, up from 0.3% yoy. The lowest annual rates were registered in Greece (-2.4%), Slovenia (-0.9%) and Cyprus (-0.8%). The highest annual rates were recorded in Poland (3.6%), Hungary (2.9%) and Czechia (2.2%). Compared with December, annual inflation fell in three Member States, remained stable in six and rose in eighteen.

    Full release here.

    UK claimant count dropped -20k Jan, unemployment edged up to 5.1 in Dec

      UK claimant count dropped -20k in January, versus expectation of 35k rise. Total claimant count was relatively unchanged at 2.6m, which was still 109.4% above March 2020’s level.

      Unemployment rate edged up to 5.1% in the three months to December, up from 5.0%, matched expectations. Total actually weekly hours worked rose 53.7 million hours, or 5.8%, to 978.7 million. Average earnings excluding bonus rose 4.1% 3moy, above expectation of 4.0%. Average earnings including bonus rose 4.7% 3moy, above expectation of 4.2% 3moy.

      Full release here.

      WTI resumes up trend after brief consolidations, targeting 65.4

        WTI oil resumes recent up trend after brief consolidation and hits as high as 62.70 so far in Asian session. It’s believed that restoration of US oil production after the deep freeze in Texas could take longer than expected. With possible pipeline freeze and work on examination oil infrastructure, resumption in output could take more than just days.

        Near term outlook in WTI will now stay bullish as long as 58.57 support holds. Next target is 65.43 key long term structure resistance.

        Australia goods exports dropped -9% mom in Jan, imports down -10% mom

          Australia exports of goods dropped -9% mom to AUD 32.1B in January. The decline was led by 10% mom fall in export of metalliferous ores. Imports of goods also dropped -10% mom to AUD 23.4B, driven by -23% mom fall in road vehicles imports. Trades surplus narrowed slightly to AUD 8.75B, down from AUD 9.18B.

          “The decline in metalliferous ores was driven by a decline in the quantity of iron ore exported in January. Despite the decline, exports of Metalliferous ores are the second highest on record behind December 2020,” Head of International Statistics at the ABS, Andrew Tomadini said. “A drop in global car manufacturing is leading to supply shortages, with the imports of road vehicles from Japan and Thailand, Australia’s two largest road vehicle source countries, driving the decline in January imports”.

          Full release here.

          New Zealand retail sales dropped -2.7% qoq in Q4

            New Zealand retail sales dropped -2.7% qoq in Q4, below expectation of -0.5% qoq. Ex-auto sales dropped -3.1% qoq, versus expectation of -0.6% qoq. That same after strong reboun dof 27.8% qoq in retail sales in Q3.

            Nevertheless, comparing to Q4 2019, total value of retail sales rose 4.9% yoy. Total volume of sales rose 4.8% yoy. 13 of the 16 regions showed higher sales values.

            Full release here.

            BoE Vlieghe: Interest rate may not go back to 4-5% level in my lifetime

              BoE MPC member Gertjan Vlieghe said yesterday, 1970s and 1980xs were the “unusual decades” when “interest rates were unusually high then”. Asked if interest rates might return to the levels of 4-5% before the financial crisis, he said “maybe not in my lifetime”.

              “It doesn’t mean that interest rates don’t go up from current levels. It just means that when they go up, they don’t go back to 4 or 5%”, he added.

              ECB Villeroy: We’re watching long rates closely

                ECB Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau echoed President Christine Lagarde’s comments regarding monitoring the developments in bond yields.

                “We are watching long rates closely as it is an important element of favorable financial conditions,” he told BFM Business TV. “Financing conditions remain very favorable — France is financing itself for 10 years at -0.1% tonight — but we will ensure they remain favorable.”

                Villeroy also said that there is no risk of overheating in the Eurozone economy. Also, there’s no risk of a lasting pick up of inflation.

                Lagarde: ECB closely monitoring evolution of longer-term nominal bond yields

                  In a speech, ECB President Christine Lagarde said the central bank’s commitment to preserve favorable financing condition to support all sectors of the economy implies “looking at indicators along the whole transmission chain of our monetary policy – from risk-free rates to government borrowing costs to capital markets to bank lending for firms and households.”

                  “Within the broad-based set of indicators that we monitor to assess whether financing conditions are still favourable, risk-free overnight indexed swap (OIS) rates and sovereign yields are particularly important”. Accordingly, she added, “the ECB is closely monitoring the evolution of longer-term nominal bond yields.”

                  Full speech here.

                  Bitcoin break 50k as correction starts, support expected between 46-49k

                    Bitcoin’s correction has finally started today, probably in reaction to Elon Musk that “BTC & ETH do seem high lol” over the weekend. The strong break of 52672 support and the near term channel confirms short term topping at 57529, on bearish divergence condition in H and 4H MACD.

                    Nevertheless, we’re not expecting a much deeper pull back. Strong support would likely be seen between 4 hour 55 EMA (now at 49179) and 38.2% retracement of 29283 to 57529 at 46739 to contain downside. Though, the consolidation would continue for a while in the near term, before another record run.

                    German Ifo business climate rose to 92.4, manufacturing at best since 2018

                      Germany Ifo Business Climate rose to 92.4 in February, up from 90.3, above expectation of 90.5. Current Assessment index rose to 90.6, up from 89.2, above expectation of 88.9. Expectations index rose to 94.2, up from 91.5, above expectation of 91.9.

                      Looking at some details, manufacturing index rose from 9.1 to 16.1, highest since November 2018. Services rose from -4.4 to -2.2. Trade rose from -17.2 to -14.6. Construction rose from -4.9 to -3.6.

                      Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institute, said “the German economy is proving robust despite the lockdown, especially thanks to strength in industry.”

                      Full release here.

                      A look at EUR/CHF, GBP/CHF and CHF/JPY as selloff in Swiss Franc intensifies

                        Swiss Franc’s broad based selloff intensifies in European session. EUIR/CHF break of 1.0890 resistance suggests that consolidation pattern from 1.0915 has completed. Firm break of 1.0915 will resume whole rebound from 1.0503 to 61.8% projection of 1.0503 to 1.0915 from 1.0737 at 1.0992. That would put 1.1059 key resistance into focus.

                        GBP/CHF also hits as high as 1.2625 so far, with eyes on near term channel resistance (now at 1.2645). Decisive break there will indicate further upside acceleration for 100% projection of 1.1102 to 1.2259 from 1.1683 at 1.2840. Strong break there will raise affirm the case that rise from 1.1102 is an impulsive move that’s starting a long term up trend.

                        Development in CHF/JPY could help gauge the intensity of Swiss Franc’s coming moving. While it retreated after hitting 118.59 long term resistance, outlook stays bullish with 116.20 support intact. However, firm break of 116.20 will confirm rejection by 118.59 and turn near term outlook bearish for 55 week EMA (now at 114.70) and possibly below. . That could give additional pressure to the Swiss Franc elsewhere.

                          

                        Bitcoin kept well inside near term channel, 58843 next

                          The unstoppable Bitcoin staged another impressive rally last Friday and took out our perceived resistance zone around 53618/54629 without any hesitation. Though, we’re still skeptical on the sustainability of its momentum. Firstly, bearish divergence condition seems to be building up in hourly MACD. Secondly, there appears to be some resistance around mid-point of the near term channel.

                          Nevertheless, current up trend is not under any threat as long as channel support (now at 52671) holds. 100% projection of 37232 to 48263 from 47812 at 58843 is the next target. Firm break there could indeed bring upside re-acceleration for 161.8% projection at 65660.

                          NZD/USD resumes up trend, long term resistance at 0.75

                            NZD/USD’s up trend resumes by breaking through 0.7314 resistance today and hits as high as 0.7337 so far. From a near term perspective, current rise from 0.5469 should target 61.8% projection of 0.6589 to 0.7314 from 0.7156 at 0.7604 next.

                            However, a key cluster resistance at 0.7557, 61.8% retracement of 0.8835 (2014 high) to 0.5469 (2020 low) at 0.7549, comes just before above mentioned 0.7604 projection target. Additionally, RBNZ statement poses a slight risk to the Kiwi, in the sense that it may want to talk down the strong exchange rate.

                            So we’d pay close attention to the momentum of next move. But in any case, outlook will stay bullish as long as 0.7156 support holds, even in case of deep retreat.

                            S&P upgrades New Zealand rating back to AA+/AAA

                              S&P raised New Zealand’s foreign and local currency government debt rating by a notch to AA+ and AAA, up from AA and AA+ respectively. The ratings are back to a level last seen in 2009. A “stable” outlook was attached to the new ratings.

                              “New Zealand is recovering quicker than most advanced economies after the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent government lockdown delivered a severe economic and fiscal shock to the country,” S&P said. “While downside risks persist, such as another outbreak, we expect New Zealand’s fiscal indicators to recover during the next few years.”

                              “This provides us with better clarity over the extent of the pandemic’s damage to the government’s balance sheet,” it said in a statement,” it said, “We now believe that the government’s credit metrics can withstand potential damage from negative shocks to the economy, including a possible weakening of the real estate market”.

                               

                              Fitch affirms Australia rating at AAA with negative outlook

                                Fitch Ratings affirmed Australia’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating at “AAA” with a negative outlook. The rating reflects the country’s “strong institutions and effective policy framework, which supported nearly three decades of economic growth prior to the coronavirus pandemic and helped limit the severity of the current shock”

                                But the negative outlook reflects “uncertainty around the medium-term debt trajectory following the significant rise in public debt/GDP caused by the response to the pandemic.”

                                Fitch estimated that GDP contracted by -2.8% in 2020, versus “AAA” median of -3.8%. Economy is forecast to growth 3.8% in 2021 and 2.7% in 2022. It expects closure of international borders to persist until late-2021, which “dampened inward migration”. Trade tension with China “have not had a significant macroeconomic effect”, but remains a medium term risk.

                                Full release here.

                                Canada retail sales dropped -3.4% mom in Dec, down in 9 out of 11 subsectors

                                  Canada retail sales dropped -3.4% mom to CAD 53.4B in December, below expectation of -2.5% mom. That’s also the worst decline since last April. Ex-auto sales dropped -4.1% mom, below expectation of -2.4% mom.

                                  Sales were down in 9 out of 11 subsectors, representing 83.6% of retail sales. Also, sales were down in every province for the first time since April.

                                  Full release here.

                                  BoE Vlieghe: No further stimulus required if economy evolves as Feb central projections

                                    BoE MPC member Gertjan Vlieghe said in a speech that “if the economy evolves broadly in line with our February central projection, then in my view it is likely that no further monetary stimulus is required… we will just complete the already announced QE programme”.

                                    Though also, “given how low I think the neutral rate of interest is, there is no hurry at all to remove stimulus”, he added. “My preferred path for policy would be to keep the current monetary stimulus in place until well into 2023 or 2024, long enough to judge whether economic slack has indeed been eliminated fully, and inflation has returned to target sustainably, rather than being pushed up by temporary factors.”

                                    Full speech here.

                                    AUD/CAD resumes up trend, 1.0115 as next near term target

                                      AUD/CAD surges to high as 0.9910 so far today and the break of 0.9898 resistance finally confirms resumption of rise from 0.9247. Near term outlook will now stay bullish as long as 0.9936 minor support holds. Next target is 61.8% projection of 0.9247 to 0.9898 from 0.9713 at 1.0115.

                                      Major focus is indeed on 1.0241 long term resistance down the road. We’re seeing the corrective decline from 1.0784 (2012 high) as completed with three waves down to 0.8058 (2020 low). Rise from 0.8058 could indeed be the third leg of the pattern from 0.7149 (2008 low). A strong break of 1.0231 will raise the chance of further break of 1.0784 in medium term.

                                      UK PMI composite rose to 49.8, welcome signs of steadying

                                        UK PMI Manufacturing rose to 54.9 in February, up from 54.1, above expectation of 54.0. PMI Services rose to 49.7, up from 39.5, above expectation of 40.5. PMI Composite rose to 49.8, up from 41.2.

                                        Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, said: “The UK economy showed welcome signs of steadying in February after the severe slump seen in January… In contrast, the manufacturing sector’s performance worsened amid escalating Brexit-related export losses and supply chain disruptions…

                                        “More encouragingly, although the data hint at a renewed contraction of the economy in the first quarter, business expectations for the year ahead improved to the highest for almost seven years, suggesting the economy is poised for recovery. Confidence continued to be lifted by hopes that the vaccine roll-out will allow virus related restrictions to ease, outweighing concerns among many other firms of the potential further damaging impact of Brexit-related trading issues.”

                                        Full release here.

                                        Eurozone PMI manufacturing rose to 57.7 a 36-mth high, services dropped slightly to 44.7

                                          Eurozone PMI Manufacturing rose to 57.7 in February, up from 54.8, well above expectation of 54.4. That’s also the highest level in 36 months. PMI Services dropped to 44.7, down from 45.4, slightly above expectation of 44.5. PMI Composite rose to 48.1, up from 47.8.

                                          Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit said:

                                          “Ongoing COVID-19 lockdown measures dealt a further blow to the eurozone’s service sector in February, adding to the likelihood of GDP falling again in the first quarter. However, the impact was alleviated by a strengthening upturn in manufacturing, hinting at a far milder economic downturn than suffered in the first half of last year. Factory output grew at one of the strongest rates seen over the past three years, thanks to another impressive performance by German producers and signs of strengthening production trends across the rest of the region.

                                          “Vaccine developments have meanwhile helped business confidence to revive, with firms across the eurozone becoming increasingly upbeat about recovery prospects. Assuming vaccine roll-outs can boost service sector growth alongside a sustained strong manufacturing sector, the second half of the year should see a robust recovery take hold.

                                          “One concern is the further intensification of supply shortages, which have pushed raw material prices higher. Supply delays have risen to near-record levels, leading to near-decade high producer input cost inflation. At the moment, weak consumer demand – notably for services – is limiting overall price pressures, but it seems likely that inflation will pick up in coming months.”

                                          Full release here.