Macro Minutes

A number of global fixed-income markets have broken higher as central banks are still left to deal with tight labor markets and core inflation that is not falling fast enough for comfort. Can the sell-off continue, overcoming lingering fears of an economic slow-down or will yields quickly pull back down into old ranges? Participants: Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy...

Groundhog Day was a film about the same day repeating itself over and over, which has some parallels to what is happening in markets - policy rates higher, curves flattening, equities unfazed, and USD-CNY marching higher. Will this cycle continue or be short-circuited? That probably depends on what market or country you are talking about. Participants: Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North Amer...

Hiking cycles are extending or re-starting later in 2023 than many expected for the BoC and Fed, with the terminal points heavily dependent on the evolution of data in the near term. The BoE is similarly very data dependent, while the ECB looks set to extend its cycle further. Developed market economies have generally "outperformed" in the first half of the year, with expected weakness failing to...

Debt ceiling negotiations turned out to be a lot less dramatic than many had anticipated – still to come are congressional votes – but once the smoke clears we’re left facing down the back half of the year with many of the questions investors had in January not much closer to being answered – it looks like we have seen peak headline inflation but core is proving to be stickier than many had antici...

Debt limit talks are ongoing in Washington, with financial markets already jittery on US banking concerns amid restrictive policy stances across many developed markets. Recent ECB speakers have generally noted they expect further hikes, while the BoE left the door open in its data dependent stance. BoC communication over the last month has emphasized that another hike is very possible and any talk...

We have a number of major central banks meeting these next two weeks, including the RBA last night, the FOMC, ECB, later this week, and the BOE next week. While each of these institutions may be facing slightly different circumstances, it’s likely that all are nearing a decision point within the next meeting or two, where they have to decide whether to keep pushing against high inflation or trust...

Rate volatility continues to be elevated, with policy rate expectations swinging around as determining the terminal rate and what happens afterwards is proving complicated. The unwinding of banking sector concerns accelerated into a more meaningful sell-off and rate hikes continued from most major central banks. Participants: Simon Deeley  (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist, Izaac Brook...

The last week felt much calmer than anything experienced since the SVB and CS induced turmoil over the prior weeks. Volatility is much reduced, credit spreads are tighter and primary markets are re-opening again. Can this last and what are the lingering implications for markets and the economy from the March volatility? Participants:  Peter Schaffrik  (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European...

It might be an overly simplistic argument, but in hindsight it should not be surprising that aggressive Fed rate hikes broke something in financial markets. Policy actions to ring fence the problems have been fast and furious but can all the kings horses and all the king's men, put dislocated markets back together again? Participants:  Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates St...

As hockey and basketball enter the last weeks of the regular season, central banks themselves are approaching the end of their hiking cycles. There is significant divergence among global central banks, ranging from a conditional pause from the BoC in January (which we expect to be reiterated this week) to ongoing tightening messages from the ECB and the Fed. Participants:  Cathal Kennedy (Des...

Are markets being fooled by lags? Not unusual for this point in the cycle, some data is coming stronger and some weaker. Recently the market has taken its cue from strong labor market data which might be a mistake. It has only been 6-8 months since large-scale rate hikes started and with monetary policy lags being anywhere from 12-24 months, there is a possibility that the bond market is underesti...

The US payroll report sent shock waves through the fixed income market. Market pricing shifted aggressively - terminal pricing is now the highest in the cycle and finally consistent with the FOMC dots. Contagion has also spread to other markets. What now? Can the Fed keep hiking, can the BoC stay on hold, how much further will the BoE, ECB, or RBA go? And what are the implications for equities and...

Recent months have seen widespread hikes across most G10 central banks, but the potential for divergence is high in the coming months as some central banks are approaching the end of their hiking cycle. Participants:  Peter Schaffrik  (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics Adam Cole  (Desk Strategy), Chief Currency Strategist Simon Deeley  (Desk Strategy), C...

While upcoming policy increments and terminal values for various countries are highly debatable, Can't, Won't, Don't Stop seems like an appropriate characterization of current near term central bank policy. To reiterate our message from late last year - 2023 could turn out to be as challenging as 2022 but for different reasons. 2022 was how high policy rates would go. In 2023 market expectations s...

BoC/Fed/BoE/ECB are all on tap over the coming week. How high rates will go, whether there will be a quick U-turn to rate cuts in 2023 and by how much, is a central theme for markets that will influence not only yield levels and curve shapes, but also important for FX and broader risk assets. Participants:  Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Simon Deeley (Desk Str...

2022 was complicated, but it was dominated by a one-sided risk event - how high would rates go. 2023 should be even more complicated; policy scenarios could oscillate between various outcomes depending on the depth of the growth slowdown and inflation dynamics. Participants:  Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy...

All year market pricing for terminal rates in most countries has been a moving target and one directional - higher. Last week the Fed signaled a slower pace of rate hikes but a terminal value that was higher than their previous forecast. Where does this cycle end? Participants:  Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategi...

Most central banks are at a maturing stage of the hiking cycle, putting terminal policy rates firmly in focus at upcoming meetings both sides of the Atlantic. Participants:   Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics Elsa Lignos (Desk Strategy), Head of FX Strategy Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rate...

A made in UK fiscal crisis has led to sharp rises in gilt yields, with the BoE's buyer of last resort interventions disappointing those expecting more QE-type operations. The yield rises have permeated to Treasuries and other developed markets, with important cross-asset implications. Participants:  Jason Daw  (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy Blake Gwinn (Desk Strate...

Fiscal policy has cracked the UK bond market, opened fissures in the Pound, causing ruptures in other bond markets and by extension risk and cyclically sensitive assets. Whether the fault lines in bond markets and risk assets turn into a full blown earthquake remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the high volatility should remain in place for the rest of the year. Stay tuned for our Macro...

Central banks are going full throttle to fight inflation by delivering outsized rate increases over multiple meetings. Their job isn't over, and more policy tightening should be forthcoming over the next few months. As they try to find the level of rates that is sufficient to contain inflation, it leads to a high possibility of over-tightening and recession. There are wild times ahead for the bond...

Many G10 central banks have moved policy rates to a neutral policy setting and are set to send them into restrictive territory with further super-sized rate hikes. Meanwhile, the late-coming ECB is contemplating an accelerated tightening path in the near-term as natural gas and power prices skyrocket due to supply concerns from Russia. How high can policy rates go and when will this cycle end for...

The bond market overreacted to inflation fears in June and yields overshot on the topside. July was a complete reversal (and some) as growth fears escalated and yields overshot on the downside. Bond market volatility should remain high until there is better clarity on inflation, central bank terminal rates and how deep the impending recession will be, and this will continue to impact all asset cla...

Central banks are full throttle on rate increases in a throwback to the early 1980's inflation fighting era. The ultimate end game of current central bank policy will be recession. Will this surprise anyone? How quickly will it happen? And what does it mean for financial markets? Participants:  Tom Porcelli  (Research), Chief US Economist Blake Gwinn  (Desk Startegy), Head of US Rat...

The weather isn't the only thing heating up; North American central banks are expected to deliver large rate increases in July and the ECB should hike for the first time since 2011, while August should see sizeable rate hikes in the UK and Australia. Will the heat from rate hikes suffocate economies and markets? Participants:  Jason Daw  (Desk strategy), Head of North America Rates Strat...