Market Brief: Interest rate hike still on the table after inflation data
19 Oct 2017
The markets delivered a surprise yesterday when UK inflation numbers came in on consensus at 3% in what should have been a positive for the pound as it reinforces the view that an interest rate hike is coming.
Today's data releases |
Key levels | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
09:10 | EU ECB President Mario Draghi speaks in Frankfurt | Support | Resistance | |
09:30 | UK average weekly earnings | GBP/USD | 1.3012 | 1.3338 |
12:00 | UK PMQs | GBP/EUR | 1.1064 | 1.1438 |
13:30 | US housing starts and building permits |
Market overview
The markets delivered a surprise yesterday when UK inflation numbers came in on consensus at 3% in what should have been a positive for the pound as it reinforces the view that an interest rate hike is coming. In fact GBP/USD dropped a cent over the day! Dovish comments from the confirmation hearings of the two new MPC members weighed on sterling, while further pressure came from a stronger dollar on the back of speculation about a potential successor to Janet Yellen as head of the Federal Reserve, both of which will be discussed below. Headline CPI inflation rose to its highest level since April 2012, up from 2.9% in August. The drivers of the upward move in inflation were rises in petrol and diesel prices which rose by more than in the same month last year whilst there was also upward pressure from the airfares and recreation categories. Factory gate inflation data released at the same time showed producer input prices rising by 0.4% m/m, a smaller increase than the 1.2% m/m consensus expectation. That meant input price inflation was steady on the year at 8.4% y/y. Overall, the further move up in the targeted CPI inflation measure reinforces our view that the BoE will move forward and raise Bank rate by 25bps on 2 November.
However in a slight twist to the story, the two newest members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee have suggested that they are not ready to vote for higher interest rates. Both Sir Dave Ramsden and Silvana Tenreyro told MPs on the Treasury select committee that they weren’t committed to voting with the majority for a hike. The November meeting is seen as the most likely time to announce a move as it coincides with the MPC’s quarterly Inflation Report which will simplify the communication of the change. Four members of the committee are known to back a rise from 0.25% to 0.50% but after the hearing yesterday it seems that the vote could be a touch closer than many would have expected. While still not a border line decision, it seems unlikely to be a unanimous one.
As mentioned above, U.S. President Donald Trump’s choice for the next chair of the Federal Reserve, which has been a focus for markets in recent weeks, lent some strength to the U.S. dollar yesterday. His decision will be unveiled before he leaves on 3rd November for an 11-day trip to Asia and Hawaii, a person familiar with the process said yesterday. The current pool includes incumbent Janet Yellen, advisor Gary Cohn, Fed Governor Jerome Powell, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and Stanford economist John Taylor. Taylor was said to have impressed Trump in an interview and this news proved positive for the U.S dollar given the assumption by many that he would favour tighter policy.
However in a slight twist to the story, the two newest members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee have suggested that they are not ready to vote for higher interest rates. Both Sir Dave Ramsden and Silvana Tenreyro told MPs on the Treasury select committee that they weren’t committed to voting with the majority for a hike. The November meeting is seen as the most likely time to announce a move as it coincides with the MPC’s quarterly Inflation Report which will simplify the communication of the change. Four members of the committee are known to back a rise from 0.25% to 0.50% but after the hearing yesterday it seems that the vote could be a touch closer than many would have expected. While still not a border line decision, it seems unlikely to be a unanimous one.
As mentioned above, U.S. President Donald Trump’s choice for the next chair of the Federal Reserve, which has been a focus for markets in recent weeks, lent some strength to the U.S. dollar yesterday. His decision will be unveiled before he leaves on 3rd November for an 11-day trip to Asia and Hawaii, a person familiar with the process said yesterday. The current pool includes incumbent Janet Yellen, advisor Gary Cohn, Fed Governor Jerome Powell, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and Stanford economist John Taylor. Taylor was said to have impressed Trump in an interview and this news proved positive for the U.S dollar given the assumption by many that he would favour tighter policy.