The Week Ahead – Central Banks back in Focus with the BoE and the FED in Action

On the Macro

It’s a quiet week ahead on the economic calendar, with 37 stats in focus in the week ending 17^th September. In the week prior, 62 stats had also been in focus.

For the Dollar:

Prelim private sector PMIs for September will be in focus on Thursday.

Expect the services PMI to be the key stat of the week.

Other stats include housing sector data that will likely have a muted impact on the Dollar and the broader market.

The main event of the week, however, is the FOMC monetary policy decision on Wednesday.

With the markets expecting the FED to stand pat, the economic and interest rate projections and press conference will be pivotal. FED Chair Powell prepped the markets for the tapering to begin this year. The markets are not expecting any hint of a shift in policy on interest rates, however…

In the week ending 17^th September, the Dollar Spot Index rose by 0.66% to 93.195.

For the EUR:

It’s a relatively busy week on the economic data front.

Prelim September private sector PMIs for France, Germany, and the Eurozone will draw plenty of interest on Thursday.

While Germany’s manufacturing PMI is key, expect influence from the entire data set. Market concerns over the economic recovery have tested support for riskier assets. Softer PMI numbers would test EUR support on the day.

For the week, the EUR fell by 0.75% to $1.1725.

For the Pound:

It’s a relatively busy week ahead on the economic calendar.

On the economic data front, CBI Industrial Trend Orders and prelim private sector PMIs are due out.

Expect the services PMI for September to be the key stat on Thursday.

While the stats will influence, the BoE’s monetary policy decision on Thursday will be the main event.

Persistent inflationary pressure has raised the prospects of a sooner rather than later move by the BoE. Weak retail sales figures have made things less clear, however.

Expect any dissent to drive the Pound towards $1.40 levels.

The Pound ended the week down by 0.71% to $1.3741.

For the Loonie:

It’s another quiet week ahead on the economic calendar.

Early in the week, house price figures for August are due out. The numbers are not expected to have a material impact on the Loonie, however.

Retail sales figures for July, due out on Thursday, will influence, however. Another sharp increase in spending would deliver the Loonie with much-needed support.

The Loonie ended the week down 0.57% to C$1.2764 against the U.S Dollar.

Out of Asia

For the Aussie Dollar:

There are no major stats to provide the Aussie Dollar with direction.

While there are no major stats, the RBA monetary policy meeting minutes on Tuesday will influence. The markets will be looking for forward guidance following the latest lockdown measures.

The Aussie Dollar ended the week down by 1.05% to $0.7279.

For the Kiwi Dollar:

It’s another quiet week ahead.

Early in the week, consumer sentiment figures for the 3^rd quarter will be in focus.

Trade data, due out on Friday, will be the key numbers for the week, however.

Away from the economic calendar, however, COVID-19 news updates will also be key.

The Kiwi Dollar ended the week down by 1.03% to $0.7040.

For the Japanese Yen:

It’s a relatively busy week on the economic calendar.

Inflation and prelim private sector PMIs are due out on Friday. We don’t expect the numbers to influence the Yen, however.

On the monetary policy front, the BoJ is in action on Wednesday. We aren’t expecting any surprises, however, as the Delta variant continues to deliver economic uncertainty.

The Japanese Yen rose by 0.01% to ¥109.93 against the U.S Dollar.

Out of China

There are also no major stats due out of China for the markets to consider, with the Chinese markets closed early in the week.

On the monetary policy front, the PBoC is in action. We don’t expect any changes to the Loan Prime Rates, however.

The Chinese Yuan ended the week down by 0.34% to CNY6.4661 against the U.S Dollar.

Geo-Politics

Iran, China, and Russia remain the main areas of interest for the markets. News updates from the Middle East, in particular, will need continued monitoring following recent events in Afghanistan.