Can earnings season soothe investors’ nerves?
It’s been a turbulent start to the year in the markets and that’s unlikely to change as we move into earnings season. Fear of high inflation and accelerated monetary tightening is driving much of the volatility that we’re seeing in financial markets over the last couple of weeks and that’s unlikely to abate any time soon, with peak inflation still probably ahead of us.
Earnings season could go some way to easing the nerves in the coming weeks as we get a reminder that the economy is still in a strong position despite the challenges it’s facing. But even this comes with an element of uncertainty given that omicron hit in late November which will undoubtedly have had an impact. Of course, as we’ve seen the last two years, there are also winners when consumers stay at home and restrictions are imposed.
Ultimately though, central banks remain at the top of the list for investors right now and next week offers a selection of meetings, minutes, and speakers that will surely attract a lot of attention. It’s hard to look past the CBRT on Thursday as being one of the highlights next week. After an aggressive easing cycle that’s come at a huge cost, will the central bank finally slam on the breaks?
US
The upcoming week is busy with economic data and earnings results. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley will close out earnings for the big banks, while Procter & Gamble may give a better look at how much further price increases the consumer may have to expect. On Tuesday, the Empire Manufacturing Index should show activity cooled in January. Wednesday is all about housing activity that might show both building permits and housing starts edged down. On Thursday, initial jobless claims are expected to resume declining, while the Philadelphia business outlook is anticipated to improve, and Existing home sales may show a small decline.
The blackout dates are in effect for the Fed, so it will be quiet until the January 26th FOMC meeting. With financial markets pricing in over a 90% chance that the Fed will raise rates in March, Treasury yields appear to be forming a range just below the 1.80% level.
EU
With the ECB being among the minority of central banks still singing from the transitory hymn sheet, the focus next week will be on the ECB accounts from December, comments from policymakers including President Christine Lagarde on Monday, and the final inflation numbers for December. At 5%, inflation is uncomfortably high and the central bank may soon finally buckle like the rest if pressures don’t soon ease.
UK
The data dump week for the UK, with labour market, inflation, and retail sales all being released. But Wednesday is undoubtedly the standout, with Governor Bailey due to speak hours after the CPI release which could make for some interesting comments. Three or four rate hikes are expected this year so expectations are quite hawkish but as we’ve seen recently, there is a growing fear that more will be warranted.
Russia
No major data or economic events next week so the focus will remain on the various geopolitical risks that Russia has found itself at the centre of. A possible invasion of Ukraine is very much top of the list, with the week of intense talks between the US and Russia seemingly failing to lead to any breakthrough.
Russia is also intrinsically linked to the energy crisis in Europe which is intensifying as more outages in French reactors put further pressure on limited reserves.
South Africa
Inflation data next week is expected to show price pressures increasing, with the CPI rising to 5.7% which will increase calls for more rate hikes from the SARB.
Turkey
A rare period of relative stability for the lira which is unlikely to last, as the CBRT meets next week. Can the central bank resist the urge to cut again or are more sharp losses on the horizon? Not cutting could provide some support for the lira as it may signal an end, for now, of the easing cycle.
China
China releases fourth-quarter GDP and Retail Sales on Monday. The markets are braced for a downturn in growth, with a consensus of 3.5%, down from the gain of 4.9% in Q3. This would mark the weakest GDP report since Q2 2020.
Retail Sales are forecast at 3.8% y/y in December, down from 3.9% beforehand. The government has enacted a zero-Covid strategy, which has restricted travel and dining out. Slow income growth is also hurting consumers and has put a dampener on consumer spending.
China’s property sector remains in deep crisis, with no signs of any improvement on the horizon. Evergrande and other developers owe billions and investment growth and household loans have decreased. The government has eased restrictions on real estate funding but these measures have so far proven ineffective.
China house price index is released on Saturday which could put a dampener on the open if it’s particularly bad news. The previous release showed 3% growth though and it’s widely regarded as low impact data.
Also on Monday, ahead of the GDP release, the PBOC will decide whether to maintain the MLF rate at 2.95%.
India
No major economic data or events next week.
Australia
Australia releases key employment data for December next week. Employment change is expected to slow to 60,000, down from 366,100 in November. The unemployment rate is forecast to ease to 3.5%, down from 3.6%.
Iron ore prices rose to their highest level in three months, as heavy rains engulfed Brazil’s mining region, which has sparked supply concerns.
New Zealand
It’s a quiet economic calendar next week. On Thursday, New Zealand releases the BusinessNZ Manufacturing PMI for December. The PMI was stagnant in November, with a reading of 50.6 points.
Japan
Inflationary pressures in Japan are much lower than those in the UK or the US, but inflation is nonetheless moving higher after years of deflation. The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain its ultra-loose policy at its meeting on Tuesday, but will likely revise up its view of inflation risks for the first time since 2014.
Inflation remains well below the bank’s target of 2%, but the BoJ could look to raise interest rates before it achieves it.
Economic Calendar
Saturday, Jan. 15
Economic Data/Events
- China new home prices
Sunday, Jan. 16
- The US’ National Retail Federation opens its annual Retail’s Big Show expo at Javits Center, New York
Monday, Jan. 17
Economic Data/Events
- US equity and bond markets are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
- China GDP, retail sales, industrial production, surveyed jobless, property investment, medium-term lending
- Handelsblatt Energy Summit with German Economy Minister Habeck
- Finance ministers of the Euro region meet in Brussels
- Japan PM Kishida speaks to parliament
- Canada existing home sales
- Poland CPI
- Japan industrial production, core machine orders, tertiary industry index
- Singapore electronic exports
- Russia Trade
- Norway Trade
- Philippines overseas remittances
- UK Rightmove house prices
- Switzerland sight deposits, Bloomberg January economic survey
- Turkey central government budget balance
Tuesday, Jan. 18
Economic Data/Events
- US cross-border investment, empire manufacturing, NAHB Housing Market Index
- BOJ Rate Decision: No change to monetary policy, may adjust its view of inflation risks
- Japan industrial production, capacity utilization
- EU finance ministers meet in Brussels and hold a policy debate on global minimum taxation for multinational companies.
- Australia consumer confidence
- Canada housing starts
- Eurozone new car registrations
- Germany ZEW survey expectations
- New Zealand house sales
- Russia Trade
- Mexico international reserves
- UK jobless claims, unemployment
- Poland CPI
- Switzerland producer and import prices
- South Africa mining, gold, and platinum production
- Turkey house price index
- Sweden Riksbank Gov Ingves speaks on a panel at a blockchain and stablecoin conference
Wednesday, Jan. 19
Economic Data/Events
- US housing starts
- UK CPI, house price index
- French President Macron addresses European Parliament
- BOE Gov Bailey speaks to UK Parliament Treasury Committee
- Canada CPI
- Germany CPI
- South Africa CPI
- Eurozone construction output
- Australia Westpac consumer confidence
- New Zealand card spending
- South Africa retail sales
- Russia current account
- Bank Earnings from BoA and Morgan Stanley
Thursday, Jan. 20
Economic Data/Events
- US existing home sales, initial jobless claims
- ECB Minutes to December policy meeting
- BOJ Minutes of December meeting
- UK RICS house prices
- Norway Rate decision: Expected to keep rates steady
- Turkey Rate decision: Expected to keep rates steady
- Hungary Rate decision: Expected may keep rates steady
- Eurozone CPI
- Hong Kong CPI
- Russia CPI
- Japan Trade
- China loan prime rates, swift global payments
- Australia unemployment, consumer inflation expectations, RBA FX transactions
- New Zealand food prices, ANZ Truckometer heavy traffic
- Germany PPI
- Taiwan export orders
- Mexico unemployment
- Spain house transactions, trade
- France business and manufacturing confidence
- Netherlands unemployment, consumer spending
- Poland consumer confidence
- EIA Crude Oil Inventory Report
- Netflix reports earnings after the bell
Friday, Jan. 21
Economic Data/Events
- US Conf. Board leading index
- Japan CPI
- UK Retail sales
- BOE Mann speaks at the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum
- Canada Retail
- Eurozone Consumer confidence
- Bank of Italy releases the Quarterly Economic Bulletin
- Turkey Consumer Confidence
- New Zealand performance of manufacturing index, net migration
- Singapore home prices
- Switzerland Money supply
- Russia Money supply
- Thailand trade, forward contracts, foreign reserves
- China FX net settlement
- Poland sold industrial output, construction output, employment, PPI
Sovereign Rating Updates
- EFSF (DBRS)
- ESM (DBRS)
