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CNY

North American data prints bolster soft landing hopes

US retail spending rose by less than expected last month, but underlying consumer demand remained strong, bolstering “soft landing” hopes in financial markets. According to figures published by the Census Bureau this morning, total receipts at retail stores, online sellers and restaurants rose 0.2 percent on a month-over-month basis in June, missing market forecasts for a 0.5 percent headline gain. Gas station sales fell 1.4 percent month-over-month, while motor vehicle and parts dealers posted a 0.3 percent gain. Receipts in the food and beverage category fell -0.7 percent, and restaurant sales gained just 0.1 percent. Sales at general merchandise stores inched -0.1 percent...

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Sluggish China growth pulse

• China data. China’s post-COVID recovery continues to stumble. The pick-up in annual growth wasn’t as strong as anticipated.• Shaky sentiment. Growth concerns exerted some downward pressure on bond yields, commodities, the CNH, the AUD & NZD.• US trends. US retail sales due tonight. A solid report could see US rate expectations lift, supporting the USD. RBA minutes released today. Mixed fortunes across markets at the start of the new week with China’s data batch in focus. China’s post-COVID recovery continues to stumble with the economy expanding by 0.8% in Q2. As a result, the pick-up in annual growth wasn’t...

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Will the China data disappoint?

• US sentiment. US yields & the USD recovered some ground after US consumer confidence rebounded. US retail sales in focus ahead of next week’s Fed meeting.• China in focus. China Q2 GDP & monthly activity data released today. The post COVID recovery has been faltering. Soft data could dampen risk sentiment.• AUD sluggish. The AUD’s upswing has lost steam. We think offshore forces could outweigh another solid Australian labour market report this week. Relative to the substantial adjustment earlier in the week, markets were more sedate on Friday, with a bit of a reversal coming through in bonds and...

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USD doldrums

• Weaker USD. Lower than expected US CPI was compounded by soft PPI inflation. US bond yields have fallen back further. The USD has weakened.• Risk sentiment. The shift in interest rate expectations has boosted risk appetite. Equities & commodities higher. The AUD has jumped up.• Too far too fast? Markets have moved a long way very quickly. Inflation is heading in the right direction, but central banks may not declare victory just yet. The adjustment in markets following the lower-than-expected US CPI data (released two nights ago) has continued with softer producer price inflation reinforcing the ‘disinflation’ theme. Equities...

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Expectations are low.

The renminbi has remained in a downtrend for much of the year, falling to its lowest levels against the dollar since November 2022. The upward adjustment in US interest rate assumptions has coincided with a faltering post-Covid economic rebound to weaken rate differentials and limit the appeal of Chinese assets. With domestic demand remaining stubbornly anemic, markets are convinced policymakers are preparing to roll out a range of measures – including more rate cuts – to support growth in coming months. Much like our thoughts regarding the Japanese yen, we believe a lot of negativity may now be built into...

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