Macro Minutes

There are nuances in every economic cycle but this one continues to feel different. Central banks are firmly in easing mode - the Fed will join the rate-cutting party in September. The timing and magnitude of rate cuts is the main topic for financial markets and is highly dependent on the assessment of the economic cycle. Listen to our macro and rates experts discuss the US, Canada, and European e...

We have seen very large market moves triggered by the US labour market report over the last few days that have also led to quite a few market participants changing their view on Fed rate cuts. We take a deeper dive into the data, highlight important questions that need answering and reiterate our rates call for the Fed and all other major central banks. We do not feel the need to make changes at t...

Markets have been pricing more rate cuts again on the back of somewhat weaker data releases, specifically in the US. Yet, central banks remain reticent in telegraphing rate cuts clearly. Can the latter change and make markets price in even more? Participants: Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Simon Deel...

Two G7 central banks have already cut – the ECB & BoC . Both should cut more as the year progresses while the BoE and Fed are likely to join the rate-cutting party later this year. At the other end of the spectrum is the RBA which is widely expected to keep the cash rate steady this year. Each country has its own nuances that will impact the timing and magnitude of policy changes, which we dis...

The BOC and ECB both kicked off long-awaited cutting cycles last week with questions about the depth and duration of these cycles likely to drive markets from here. But in other regions the case for pulling forward cuts is still somewhat weak. Where other central banks remain on hold, the trading environment might remain relatively rangebound into this summer. Participants: Simon Deeley  (Des...

Two developed market central banks have already cut - Riksbank and SNB - and the BoC, ECB and BoE should follow suit over the next couple of months. But the higher for longer theme is dominating the US rates market. The divergence in macro and policy is the major theme in rates markets. The other important theme is that despite Fed cuts being priced out, risk assets continue to perform well with t...

Markets have been ultra-sensitive to data for some time now, going back to market pricing for hikes starting in late 2021. More recently, several strong US inflation prints have de-railed the potential for upcoming Fed cuts, while upside surprises have occurred in Canada, the UK and Australia in the recent weeks. Will these data points be determinant for upcoming central bank decisions? What impor...

The latest resilience in the US has kick started a debate about how much other regions that appear to not show the same kind of underlying strength can diverge from the Fed and cut rates regardless. We see the best chances of that happening in Canada, but also provide updated views on the BoE, ECB and RBA. Meanwhile, the gyrations in the JPY keep investors on their toes and we add our voice to the...

Expectations for Fed rate cuts this year are wavering as US economic data continues to come in hot. But that economic performance hasn’t necessarily been replicated in other regions. Will other major central banks feel pressure to keep in step with the Fed or start marching to the beat of their own drummers? Participants: Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Simon Deeley (Desk St...

The question on everyone’s mind is when central banks will start cutting rates. Over the past month, market pricing has progressively gravitated from a near certainty that the BoC and Fed would cut by June to now under a 50% chance. In the UK the pricing for a June cut is higher than a month ago but less than two weeks ago, while for the ECB the market has been resolute in pricing a June start dat...

While markets are parsing through central bank communication for the timing and pace of rate cuts, the future of central bank balance sheets is increasingly in focus as well. What will happen with quantitative tightening? And what will balance sheets look like in a future steady state? Participants: Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates...

It appears that markets have retraced some of their expectations for central bank action much closer to where speakers are guiding investors - in other words, we are trading much closer to what most people would consider 'fair value'. We sense a long bias in the fixed income markets and the question whether this is a sign of things to come offers itself. Meanwhile, FX markets are trading sideways...

Markets came into 2024 pricing in aggressive central bank cutting cycles. But continued resilience in growth and labor market data, along with some recent wobbles in the downward march of inflation has markets (and policymakers) pumping the brakes. Participants: Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Michael Reid (Desk Strategy), US Economist Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Ra...

The narrative from central banks has decidedly shifted from the risk of further tightening to signaling the next move will be lower. To paraphrase the message Powell gave us last week – we have confidence, and our confidence has increased that inflation will meet our objective, but we need more confidence before we start to cut. With central banks expecting a soft landing, they are gently easing i...

Focus continues on the timing and depth of central bank rate cuts as they try to engineer soft landings for economies across the globe. Central bank balance sheets and QT end timing in different jurisdictions have become increasingly topical as well. How do equity markets navigate this uncertain environment? Participants: Simon Deeley  (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist Izaac Brook&nbsp...

Bond markets and equity markets have rallied sharply at the tail end of 2023 essentially based on a ‘soft landing’ scenario that sees inflation back at target as early as Q2 2024 whilst growth is weakening but not descending into a fully-fledged recession. This allows global central to cut rates – according to current market pricing – as early as March/April and will see up to 150bp of rate cuts b...

As 2023 comes to a close, we shift focus to what to expect in 2024, with year-ahead outlooks released for Europe, the US, and Canada last week. Will macro data show a clear direction towards reaching the 2% inflation target? How soon will central banks cut? These questions and more will be the focus of this edition. Participants: Blake Gwinn  (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Peter S...

The market environment over the last two weeks may be best described as chop. Yields have been bouncing around day-to-day but market narratives seem to be settling with year-end in sight. Participants: Michael Reid (Desk Strategy), US Economist Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Hea...

The trends in markets since June - higher yields, lower equities, wider credit spreads - pulled a sharp U-turn over the past week. Lower bond yields have provided the impetus for a decent equity and credit rally. Listen to hear about where bond yields are headed from here and what it means for the equity market. Participants: Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Blake Gw...

Global yield curves have been moving higher and steeper despite new geopolitical risks and a dovish tilt in recent central bank rhetoric. Can bonds find some solid ground to stand on or do they still have further to fall? Participants: Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Gordon Scott  (Desk Strategy), Euro Area...

Bond markets keep pushing higher and curves steeper - but why? It appears that a combination of better than expected macro data and central banks communicating that rates will be held around present levels for longer than expected is leading to a repricing. The risk is that this not only continues but also takes hold of other markets, notably in the European time zone, where only a small amount of...

The main story in financial markets is fixed income and the relentless surge in yields. We explore why yields have been rising and curves steepening, whether this trend can continue, or what are the necessary ingredients for a turnaround. Participants: Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Lori Calvasina (Research), H...

We have a number of central bank events on deck, with the ECB meeting this week, followed by the Fed and BoE next week. Overall, it seems like it’s coming up on closing time for global hiking cycles, but major central banks may be looking to get one last round of hiking in before the end. Participants: Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Cathal Kennedy (Desk Strategy), Senior UK...

Ouch! Bonds have been burned in low liquidity summer markets, adding to the pain (total return losses) of the past two years. The move in bond yields is not unjustified based on fundamentals (now) but the level seems unsustainably high for the future evolution of macro. But can bonds rally in the face of a positioning overhang? Participants: Jason Daw  (Desk Strategy), Head of North America R...

With key central bank meetings due over the coming weeks at the same time, as economic sentiment data is weakening, the question of 'How Long Will It Take?' until rate hikes feed through into the real economy has become more prominent again lately. Meanwhile, the very same question is also asked in China, with the opposite effect in mind. In this episode, we preview the upcoming rate decisions and...