Explore the world.

Assess underlying market conditions and fundamentals in the world's major economies.

World

Stay ahead.

Follow the biggest stories in markets and economics in real time.

Subscribe

Get insight into the latest trends and developments in global currency markets with breaking news updates and research reports delivered right to your inbox.

After signing up, you will receive regular newsletters from Corpay, and may unsubscribe at any time. View Corpay’s Privacy Policy

USD

Capitulation

Markets have given up on trying to fight the Fed. Yields and the dollar remain well-supported after Friday’s date showed the central bank’s preferred inflation measure accelerating in January, suggesting policymakers will have to move more aggressively to cool aggregate demand in the months ahead. The core personal consumption expenditures price index climbed 4.7 percent from a year earlier, up slightly from December as consumer spending jumped 1.8 percent month over month. This pushed market-implied terminal rate expectations above the 5.5 percent threshold, with back-to-back quarter-point hikes expected at the next three meetings. If historical price dynamics are any indication,...

Read More Read More

Another US inflation surprise

• Higher US rates. Strong US inflation data generated another repricing in US rate expectations, propelling the USD even higher.• Fed needs to do more. Sticky inflation means the US Fed has more work to do. Positive US data can reinforce the upswing in US yields.• AUD slump. AUD is now ~6% below its early-February peak. Will this weeks Australia/China data provide an offset to the stronger USD? The outlook for US Fed policy continues to drive markets. US rate hike expectations took another leg higher on Friday, pushing US bond yields back up towards their peaks. This in turn...

Read More Read More

Hotter-Than-Expected Inflation Lifts Terminal Rate Forecasts

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure exceeded expectations in January, bolstering the case for continued tightening in the months ahead. Data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis this morning showed the core personal consumption expenditures index – targeted by the Fed – rose 0.6 percent in January from the prior month, up 4.7 percent year-over-year – topping consensus estimates. The overall personal consumption expenditures index was up 5.4 percent from a year ago, well above forecasts.  Personal income rose 0.6 percent month-over-month, led by a 0.9-percent increase in private sector wages and salaries, along with a substantial jump in...

Read More Read More

Looming Inflation Data Reinforces Market Caution

Risk appetites and trading ranges remain subdued across the financial markets this morning as investors brace for an inflation report that could show the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening efforts are having little effect on underlying price pressures – or on overall aggregate demand. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure will land in less than half an hour, with markets prepared to see more evidence of overheating. Economists think the headline headline personal consumption expenditures deflator rose 0.5 percent month-on-month, with the annual rate holding at 5 percent. Consumer spending is seen increasing 1.4 percent from the prior month, and personal...

Read More Read More

USD recovery continues

• Mixed markets. US equities are a little stronger, with US bond yields slightly lower. However, the USD remains firm.• US data focus. Initial jobless claims remain low, a sign the labour market is still tight and that the US Fed has more work to do.• AUD pressure. AUD slipped below 0.68 overnight before recovering modestly. We see further near-term downside on the back of a stronger USD. While market moves have generally been modest, underlying themes have remained the same, especially in FX markets. US equities whipped around overnight, but have ended the day in positive territory (S&P500 +0.6%),...

Read More Read More