Daily Market Briefing, Asia Pacific

• FX consolidation. In contrast to the dip in US equities & yields the USD tread water. AUD near ~$0.66. Fed Chair Powell notes the “challenging situation”.• AU CPI. Monthly CPI indicator due today. Base effects & leading indicators point to a pick up in inflation. RBA looks set to remain on a different path to its peers. Global Trends Steady as she goes, at least in FX, with the major currencies treading water over the past few sessions after last week’s US Fed induced burst of volatility. EUR (the major USD alternative) is tracking just above ~$1.18, USD/JPY (the...

• Holding on. Quiet end to last week. US equities at record levels. US yields & USD tick up. AUD eased back further. AUD’s first weekly fall in a month.• Event Radar. Global PMIs due (Tues). US PCE deflator also out (Fri). US Fed Chair Powell speaks (Weds AEST). AU CPI indicator scheduled (Weds). Global Trends It was a fairly quiet end to the week after the burst of US Fed inspired volatility the prior few sessions. Data wise there were no major releases in the US or Europe, while in Asia, as expected, the Bank of Japan held interest...

• Fed moves. US Fed cut rates by 25bps & flagged more down the track. But this was priced. A burst of vol. overnight. AUD slipped back from ~11mth highs.• Rate cuts. Chair Powell labelled it ‘risk management’. But negative labour market trends point to a steady stream of Fed rate cuts, in our view.• Data flow. Bank of Canada also cut rates overnight. NZ GDP weaker than expected. Australian jobs report out today. BoE set to hold steady tonight. Global Trends The US Fed policy meeting was in focus overnight. The outcome generated a bit of volatility due to...

• Mixed markets. US equities consolidated while yields dipped & USD weakened. EUR at multi-year high. AUD at levels last traded in November.• US Fed. Tomorrow’s Fed decision in the spotlight. After being on hold since December the US Fed is expected to cut rates by 25bps.• Signals matter. Fed’s guidance in focus. More cuts anticipated over coming months. But Fed may struggle to be more ‘dovish’ than what is baked in. Global Trends A mixed performance across markets over the past 24hrs with participants focused on tomorrow’s US Fed meeting (4am AEST) and Chair Powell’s press conference (from 4:30am...

• Consolidation. Quieter markets on Friday. US equities near record highs. USD tread water. AUD hovering near the top of its multi-month range.• Central banks. US Fed expected to re-start its cutting cycle. Focus will be on updated guidance. Markets pricing in a series of Fed rate reductions.• Event Radar. China data today. Australia jobs report scheduled (Thurs). NZ GDP due. US Fed the focal point (Thurs). US retail sales also out (Tues). Global Trends It was a relatively subdued end to last week in markets, but there are a few events on the horizon which could liven things up...