Markets
On Friday, market fears on financial stability focused on Europe. Deutsche Bank was in the eye of the storm after it announced to call a Tier 2 subordinated bond. While this in se shouldn’t be a source of concern, it apparently added to market nervousness. European equities nosedived and core bonds again received a strong safe have bid. The financial stability concerns overshadowed the macro-economic narrative as European PMI printed stronger than expected. The S&P global EMU composite PMI for March unexpectedly jumped from 52.0 to 54.1 (unchanged expected). Strength especially came from the services sector (55.6 from 52.7). The picture of the manufacturing sector remains much less brilliant (47.1 from 48.5). Even so, the global index suggests solid EMU growth in the first quarter, with ongoing job growth while price indices also remained at elevated levels. For now, the report only confirms the ECB’s assessment, that it will probably have to do more work to bring inflation lower in a sustainable way. Later in the session, US PMI’s showed a similar picture with the composite PMI rising from 50.1 to 53.8. The move was supported by both an improvement in the manufacturing sector (49.3 from 47.3) and even more in the services sector (53.8 from 50.6). Sentiment gradually improved in the US session after the publication of the US PMI’s. Even so, at the end of the day core yields still closed the session in red. US yields declined between 6.6 bps (2-y) and 3.2 bps (5-y).Despite recent financial turmoil, Fed Bullard still indicated that he sees the peak rate in the US policy rate at 5.50%/5.75%. Fed’s Bostic also defended the Fed’s latest rate hike as inflation remains too high. German yields dropped another 13.3 bps (2-y) to 3.3 bps (30-y). In both cases, yields closed well off the intra-day lows. A similar pattern developed in equity markets. The Eurostoxx 50 closed the session with a loss of 1.82%. US indices managed to reverse a negative open to close with gains of about 0.5%. The financial stability focus turning to Europe this time also hit the euro. EUR/USD dropped sharply early in European dealings. In the end EUR/USD still closed just above 1.0750. DXY jumped from the 102.50 area to close at 103.12. The yen slightly outperformed the dollar (USD/JPY close 130.7). Sterling again show relative resilience despite the risk-off. EUR/GBP closed near 0.88.
This morning, Asian (equity) markets show no clear directional trend. Fed Kashkari during the weekend indicated that recent stress might raise the risk of US recession. Even so, US yields regain a few bps this morning. The USD DXY index trades little changed just north of 103. Later today, the eco calendar is rather thin. The German IFO business climate is expected to hold little changed near 91.0. Even is case of a positive surprise, it probably won’t be a game-changer. Key question is whether/when concerns on financial stability will gradually subside. Even if no new ‘individual cases’ come in the spotlights, the process of restoring confidence will take quite some time. The US 2-y yield returning above the 4.0% barrier in a sustainable ay could be a first indication that stress is easing. In this respect, also keep an eye at a $42bln sale of US 2-y Treasuries after recent sharp decline in short term yields. After the USD rebound end last week, the picture between the euro and the dollar now looks again more balanced. Some further range trading in the 1.05/1.093 area might be on the cards.
News and views
The IMF’s managing director Georgieva warned of increased risks to financial stability and said there’s vigilance needed following the recent turmoil. “The rapid transition from a prolonged period of low interest rates to much higher rates necessary to fight inflation inevitably generates stresses and vulnerabilities”. Policymakers have acted decisively and the provision of dollar liquidity has been enhanced. That eased market stress to some extent but uncertainty remains high, Georgieva added. The huge amount of monetary tightening combined with Ukraine war and “scarring” from the pandemic according to the IMF is expected to slow global economic growth below 3%.
According to chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility Richard Hughes the UK economy is about 4% smaller because of the Brexit. He said it’s a shock of the order of magnitude like the one coming from the pandemic and the energy crisis. The OBR earlier this month estimated that the volume of UK imports and exports will be 15% lower than if the UK had remained in the EU, with the full effects visible after 15 years. Hughes identified other factors weighing on economic growth too, including declining productivity, a shrinking workforce and stagnant investment. The UK is the only development economy that has not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic GDP levels.
