Midnight Studio
US
The main event of the week will be the September FOMC meeting. Powell and Co. are expected to keep rates steady but may still signal one more rate increase is coming.
Too many upside surprises with service/jobs/consumer readings will keep the Fed upbeat on the economy, forcing them to revise up their GDP forecasts and to price in one more rate hike.
Investors will also pay close attention to a steady dose of housing data. On Tuesday, the release of both building permits and housing starts should show the housing market is stabilizing.
On Thursday, weekly jobless claims are expected to show the labor market slowdown is slowly happening and existing home sales are steadying. The key economic release of the weak is the flash PMIs, which are expected to show the economy is losing momentum.
Eurozone
The ECB probably brought an end to its tightening cycle at its September meeting but it doesn’t end there, with traders now switching their focus to when the easing cycle will begin. Lagarde was keen to stress that they could hike again if necessary but the likelihood is that they won’t.
Final HICP inflation data will be of interest on Tuesday, although revisions are not common and when they do happen, they’re usually small. Flash PMIs at the end of the week for the eurozone, Germany, and France will also be eyed.
UK
It feels like a pivotal week for the UK, with inflation figures for August being released on Wednesday, one day before the Bank of England rate decision. While the central bank is believed to be near the end of its tightening cycle – in part due to the comments from policymakers in front of the Treasury Select Committee recently – one more on Thursday looks highly likely.
And the inflation data a day earlier is not expected to complicate the discussion, with the headline CPI seen rising to 7.1% – driven by energy prices as we’ve seen elsewhere – and the core reading falling slightly to 6.8%.
I can’t imagine that will inspire a majority to declare job done or even consider pausing just yet. Retail sales and flash PMIs will also be released on Friday.
Russia
A quiet week following the CBR meeting on Friday, at which the central bank raised the Key Rate by another 100 basis points to 13%. Resurgent inflation and a slumping rouble is driving the central bank’s tightening efforts and more may be needed.
PPI data on Wednesday will be eyed for signs of price pressures cooling, something we haven’t seen much of yet. We’ll also hear from various CBR policymakers throughout the week which will be interesting under the circumstances.
South Africa
The SARB is one of the few central banks that is not expected to raise interest rates next week, with the Repo Rate seen staying at 8.25%. Inflation data released a day earlier could spark a more lively debate but with headline and core both at 4.7% – well within the 3-6% target range – it probably won’t change the outcome. Retail sales figures will also be released on Wednesday.
Turkey
The CBRT meeting on Thursday brings a wide array of possibilities. Markets are expecting another 5% rate hike, taking the Repo Rate to 30% but expectations will vary massively. With inflation at almost 59% and the lira near record lows, there’s clearly a lot more to do to clean up the mess left by the previous Governor.
Switzerland
Inflation is back below 2% – 1.6% in August – and yet the SNB is widely expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday. It’s expected to be the final hike in the cycle, leaving the Policy Rate at 2%, with the first cut not priced in until late next year.
China
The only data to focus on will be the PBoC decision on the 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates on Wednesday. After they left the 1-year medium-term lending rate unchanged at 2.50% on Friday following a reduction on the commercial banks’ reserve requirements ratio by 25 basis points, it is likely that the 1-year and 5-year loan prime rate rates will remain unchanged at 3.45% and 4.2% respectively.
Chinese economic data recently has started to improve. Retail sales in August rose 4.6% y/y, above the consensus of 3%, and surpassing July’s 2.5%; the strongest pace of growth since May. August’s industrial production also managed to beat expectations of 3.9% with a growth of 4.5% y/y; the highest reading since April.
All things considered, the latest set of economic data suggests that the risk of a deflationary spiral in China has abated by another notch.
India
No key data releases.
Australia
On Tuesday minutes of the recent RBA meeting will be released. At the last monetary policy meeting, the RBA extended its interest rate pause at 4.1% for the third consecutive meeting.
Market participants will be looking for more clues on whether there will be further hikes after the latest jobs data rebounded following a surprise drop in July.
Next up, flash services and manufacturing PMIs for September will be released on Friday. A deeper contraction in the services PMI is expected, falling to 46.5 from 47.8 in August.
That would be the third consecutive month of contraction in the services sector. Meanwhile, manufacturing is expected to remain almost unchanged at 49.5 versus 49.6 in August.
New Zealand
Two key data releases to take note of. Firstly, Q2 GDP on Thursday could see a dip to 1.2% y/y from 2.2% in Q1. That would be the weakest annualized quarterly growth since Q2 2022.
Balance of trade data for August is due on Friday with the trade deficit expected to narrow slightly to NZ$-0.9 billion from NZ$-1.11 billion in July. Imports are seen falling to NZ$6.1 billion from NZ$6.56 billion recorded in July.
Japan
A pivotal week with inflation data and the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy decision. After BoJ Governor Ueda’s recent “quiet exit” comment from the current ultra-easy monetary policy stance, expectations for an earlier exit have dialed up with the first interest rate hike seen as early as Q1 2024.
Therefore, the upcoming inflation numbers for August out on Friday will be scrutinized closely. The core inflation rate is expected to be almost unchanged at 3% y/y versus 3.1% in July.
That would be the eighteenth consecutive month that it exceeds BoJ’s target of 2%. Interestingly, the core-core inflation rate (excluding fresh food & energy) is expected to accelerate further to 4.4% y/y in August from 4.3% in July.
The BoJ’s monetary policy decision will be on the same day. No change is expected after the “flexible” yield curve control policy on the 10-year JGB yield was enacted at the previous meeting.
No release of the latest economic forecasts for Japan, hence all ears will be on Ueda’s press conference for hints on how confident he is on the inflation trajectory.
Singapore
Balance of trade data for August will be out on Monday with export growth expected to be still in contractionary mode albeit at a slower pace, -15.8% y/y from -20.2% in July. This would be the 11th straight month of contraction.
Economic Calendar
Saturday, Sept. 16
Economic Events
Global Geothermal Conference in Beijing
Informal meeting of EU finance ministers concludes in Spain
Sunday, Sept. 17
Economic Events
No major events
Monday, Sept. 18
Economic Data/Events
US cross-border investment, NY Fed services business activity, NAHB housing market index
Canada housing starts
Singapore trade
Russian and Chinese foreign ministers to talk in Moscow
RBA Deputy Governor Bullock becomes central bank chief
German Finance Minister Lindner speaks at the Bloomberg Future of Finance Conference in Frankfurt
Ukraine defense ministers meet in Germany
Tuesday, Sept. 19
Economic Data/Events
US housing starts
Canada CPI
Eurozone CPI
Mexico international reserves
RBA releases minutes of this month’s policy meeting
General debate starts at the United Nations’ 78th general assembly
OECD releases interim economic outlook report on the global economy
New Zealand PM Hipkins debates National Party leader Christopher Luxon
ECB’s Elderson addresses conference at Goethe-Universität/Center for Financial Studies in Frankfurt
BOC Deputy Governor Kozicki speaks at the University of Regina
EU European affairs ministers to meet in Brussels
Wednesday, Sept. 20
Economic Data/Events
FOMC Rate Decision: Expected to maintain benchmark lending rate target at 5.25% to 5.5%
China loan prime rates
Eurozone new car registrations
Japan trade
South Africa retail sales, CPI
UK CPI
Bank of Canada issues summary of this month’s policy meeting
ECB’s Elderson speaks at Springtij Forum 2023 in Netherlands
FedEx reports earnings
Thursday, Sept. 21
Economic Data/Events
US leading index, initial jobless claims, existing home sales
BOE Rate Decision: Expected to raise rates by 25bps to 5.50%
Eurozone consumer confidence
New Zealand GDP
Norway rate decision: Expected to raise rates by 25bps to 4.25%
South Africa rate decision: Expected to keep rates steady at 8.25%
Spain trade
Sweden rate decision: Expected to raise rates by 25bps to 4.00%
Switzerland rate decision: Expected to raise rates by 25bps to 2.00%
Turkey rate decision: Expected to raise rates by 500bps to 30.00%
ECB’s Schnabel speaks at the ECB Annual Research Conference
ECB chief economist Lane addresses Money Marketeers of New York University in New York
Friday, Sept. 22
Economic Data/Events
US Sept flash manufacturing PMI: 47.9e v 47.9 prior; Services PMI: No est v 50.5 prior
Australia manufacturing PMI, services PMI
Canada retail sales
European flash PMIs: Eurozone, Germany, France, and the UK
Japan BOJ rate decision: No change expected with rates, to keep ultra-easy policy
Japan CPI and preliminary PMIs
New Zealand trade
Spain GDP
Taiwan jobless rate
ECB VP de Guindos addresses online event
China’s Bund Summit
Atlantic Council’s “Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics” in Berlin, with German Economy Minister Habeck and others
Riksbank Governor Thedeen speaks on “Why is the Swedish krona so weak” in separate events
Sovereign Rating Updates
Germany (S&P)
Poland (Moody’s)
Finland (DBRS)
France (DBRS)
