Currency Market Trend Analysis: February 5, 2018

By The Numbers: Your FX Week In Review

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Market Analysis

CAD/USD - Canadian Dollar

CAD/USD opened last week at 0.8124 and closed at 0.8049 – depreciating by 0.92% as Canadian CPI inflation slowed down, crude prices faltered, and US employment figures bettered expectations.

The CAD was under pressure this last week, following a slowdown in Canadian headline CPI inflation from 2.1% to 1.9% YoY. These data were partially balanced by a respectable monthly GDP growth of 0.4% - in-line with market expectations. The commodity-sensitive Loonie was weighed down further by sliding oil prices triggered by an announced expansion in Iraqi oil production, and fears that US shale will pick up in H2 2018.

The USD was underpinned by rising treasury yields and a stellar jobs report – 200,000 new jobs in January against a 180,000 expectation. These strong figures compounded the Loonie’s commodity and domestic data-inspired losses.

It is of note that the CAD is currently overvalued in terms of interest rate differentials, a measurement often used as a short-term predictor of currency exchange movements. 

1. International Merchandise Trade (Dec): Tuesday, February 6^th     

2. Ivey Purchasing Managers Index (Jan): Tuesday, February 6^th    

3. Housing Starts (Jan): Thursday, February 8^th    

4. Unemployment Rate (Jan): Friday, February 9^th    

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GBP/USD - British Pound

GBP/USD opened last week at 1.4157 and closed at 1.4122 – depreciating by 0.25% as US jobs reports bettered expectations, UK manufacturing and Markit PMI’s missed the mark, and a leaked Brexit report created jitters.

UK data was tilted to the downside this past week. Markit’s services PMI fell to 53.0 from 54.2 in December, while the Manufacturing Purchasing Mangers’ Index fell from 56.2 to 55.3. Additionally, the Manufacturing sector reported slowed growth and rising prices. The effects of these poor data were compounded by strong US figures.

Politics continues to weigh on the Sterling. A leaked Brexit reports suggest that all forms of Brexit will damage the UK economy, in particular raising the possibility of energy supply shortages and corresponding price increases. Questions over Prime Minster May’s leadership cropped up again this week, with MP’s worrying about upcoming local elections in light of faltering popularity. 

The BoE’s Governor Carney lent some support to the GBP, acknowledging that the Sterling has exceeded the inflation target, but that deviations were due to the GBP’s depreciation. He went on to say that as slack is removed from the UK economy, the focus of the BoE will turn more to correcting inflation.

This week markets will likely look to the retail sales and manufacturing production data for impetus. Though the BoE does have an interest rate decision, is it unlikely that rates will change, and market reactions will likely be muted.

1. BRC Like-For-Like Retail Sales (Jan): Tuesday, February 6^th      

2. RICS Housing Price Balance (Jan): Thursday, February 8^th

3. BoE Interest Rate Decision: Thursday, February 8^th

4. Monetary Policy Summary: Thursday, February 8^th    

5. Industrial/Manufacturing Production: Friday, February 9^th    

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EUR/USD - European Central Bank Euro

EUR/USD opened last week at 1.246 and closed at 1.2459 – appreciating by 0.26% despite strong US data, as Eurozone CPI bettered expectations and Q4 GDP came it at a robust 2.7% YoY.

The common currency appreciated against the USD this past week, as Eurozone (EZ) data continued to come in strong. The annual EZ CPI came in at 1.4%, surprising to the up-side. This was partially balanced by core figures which dropped to 0.9% against a 1.0% expectation. GDP figures came in strong, following Q3’s 2.8% YoY rise with 2.7% for Q4. The EUR was also underpinned by German unemployment, which hit a record low of 5.5%.

This will be a relatively data-light week for the common currency, with US politics and Markit Services PMI likely being key determinants.

1. Markit Services PMI (Jan, EMU): Monday, February 5^th

2. ECB President Draghi’s Speech: Monday, February 5^th

3. German Buba President Weidmann speech (Germany): Tuesday, February 6^th        

4. Non-monetary policy’s ECB meeting (EMU): Wednesday, February 7^th        

5. Imports/Exports (Dec, Germany): Thursday, February 8^th       

6. Economic Bulletin (EMU): Thursday, February 8^th       

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About the Author

 Collin McAliley - Business Operations Analyst,

Collin educates corporate clients on foreign currency markets lending industry best practices that enhance client knowledge and create specialized solutions that fit each business. Interested in having a custom international payments strategy or foreign exchange risk plan? Request A Call

Written with assistance from Christopher Griffith - Junior Data Analyst