MNI Global Week Ahead: Fed Decision Headlines Busy Calendar
Developed Markets
TUESDAY - Canada CPI
CPI for August on Tuesday is the focal point of the Canadian calendar although retail sales on Friday is increasingly of note with the BoC avidly watching for stronger economic growth to help limit the extent to which excess supply is building. Recall that the latest monthly GDP data pointed to softer momentum heading into Q3. The BoC’s preferred average of the trim and median measures has been particularly welcoming for the BoC in trend terms with a six-month run rate of just 2.2% annualized, firmly within the 1-3% target band. The three-month does sit a little higher at 2.7% and possibly saw only a slightly softer pace as of August judging by early analyst estimates. With 33bp of cuts priced for the October BoC decision, the data could help guide either towards a fourth consecutive 25bp cut or an acceleration in easing. That said, barring particularly large surprises, we see the report having less impact than usual. Despite regional differences, Wednesday's FOMC decision can have huge sway on the near-term outlook for Canadian monetary policy. We will also see the September labour and CPI reports before the BoC decision on Oct 23.
WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY - UK CPI and BOE Decision
It’s another big week for the UK with August inflation data on Wednesday, the MPC decision due to be published Thursday and retail sales on Friday. Inflation data surprised to the downside in July across both headline, core and services, all of which were driven by a reversal in accommodation prices (which had jumped in June). Outside of accommodation the data was broadly in line, setting the baseline for the September MPC meeting. At the time of writing, markets are pricing in around a 13% probability of a 25bp cut – with sequential cuts thereafter between November and May 2025 almost fully priced. There will be focus on any change in language (although not much is expected). The vote split will also be interesting with Dhingra widely expected to vote for a cut, potentially joined by Ramsden but other MPC members may prefer to wait until November. There is also a possibility that one or both of these members vote for rates on hold this month. A larger market reaction would likely be seen if there were more than two votes for a cut, however.
In addition to the Bank Rate decision, the MPC will make the annual decision on the pace of QT over the coming year (Oct ’24 - Sep ’25). The pace of active sales is widely (but not unanimously) expected to fall from the GBP50bln this year, but with GBP87bln of redemptions (up from GBP50bln this year), the market is uncertain how much sales will slow. The very loose early consensus looks for around a GBP100bln stock reduction (GBP13bln active gilt sales). We look for a higher GBP110bln stock reduction, but not that we have seen sellside estimates ranging from GBP87bln (ending active sales, but not reinvesting) to GBP137bln (keeping active sales at their current pace).
WEDNESDAY - Fed Decision
The Federal Reserve will cut the Fed funds rate for the first time in over 4 years on Wednesday Sept 18 – but the size of the initial reduction is in question as we head into meeting week. Participants’ communication prior to the pre-FOMC blackout period and the subsequent August CPI data appeared to cement a 25bp cut to 5.00-5.25%, but subsequent media reports that it’s a “close call” have pushed market pricing to imply a split decision vs a 50bp cut. Aside from the decision itself, the quarterly Dot Plot projections will provide a guide as to how quickly the FOMC envisages dialing back policy restriction. The median for expected total 2024 cuts is likely to come in at between 75bp (4.50-4.75%) and 125bp (4.00-4.25%), depending in part on how big the September cut is (vs just 25bp to 5.00-5.25% in the June projections). From there, the 2025 end-year median is likely to come in at either 3.00-3.25% or 3.25-3.50%, closer to neutral settings (vs 4.00-4.25% in the June projections). Expect Chair Powell to reiterate his Jackson Hole speech comments on the rising risks to the labor market warranting a removal of policy restriction. He is likely to emphasize that the Dot Plot is neither an official Committee forecast nor a pre-commitment, and that the FOMC will take a meeting-by-meeting, data-dependent approach on the size and pace of further cuts.
THURSDAY - Norges Bank Decision
The Norges Bank is unanimously expected to leave the policy rate on hold at 4.50%. The September meeting comes with an updated MPR and set of projections. We think there is scope for a small downward revision to the rate path, which could re-open the door to a rate cut in December of this year (after the June MPR rate path pushed the likelihood of the first rate cut into early 2025). However, we don’t expect the policy statement to see wholesale changes, because the primary guidance that “the policy rate will likely be kept at the current level for some time ahead” is still consistent with rates being cut in December, or a later date should Norges want to keep its stance hawkish.
FRIDAY - Japan CPI and BoJ Decision
The markets expect the National CPI to rise to 3.0% y/y for August in terms of the headline result. The prior outcome was 2.8%. Ex fresh food is projected at 2.8%y/y, versus 2.7% prior. The core ex fresh food, energy metric is forecast to tick back up to 2.0%y/y, from 1.9%. This would put it back at the BoJ's long term inflation target. In terms of the details it has been mixed. The Tokyo August CPI was stronger than expected, although this week's PPI showed slightly less than expected upstream price pressures. Recent wage gains may also feed into services inflation.
At its September 19-20 policy meeting, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) is expected to weigh whether gradual, timely interest rate hikes are necessary to avoid falling behind the curve and potentially facing steeper increases later. While the BoJ does not commit to a specific pace, policymakers may consider quarterly 0.25% rate hikes, aiming toward 1%, with the option to adjust depending on economic and price developments. The BoJ could accelerate tightening if data on capital investment and consumption, and a resilient US economy, support such a move. However, if higher rates begin to weigh on Japan’s economy or if the US enters a downturn, the BoJ may adopt a more cautious approach.
Emerging Markets
WEDNESDAY - BI Decision (Indonesia)
Bank Indonesia meets on September 18 and will announce its decision just hours before the Fed. With meetings every month, BI has the flexibility to watch and wait and is unlikely to feel the pressure to cut rates on the day the Fed is widely expected to begin easing, especially given uncertainties. FX stability will remain its focus. With inflation little changed in August and within the band and growth expected to be over 5% in 2024, there is little urgency to cut rates from current levels of 6.25%. It is more likely to consider easing at its October 16 meeting instead but may still want time to monitor market developments and see further IDR appreciation before cutting its policy rate.
WEDNESDAY - BCB Decision (Brazil)
Shortly after the anticipated FOMC rate cut, the BCB are now expected to begin a tightening cycle, hiking the Selic rate by 25bps to 10.75%. Deanchored inflation expectations, robust growth and pressure on the exchange rate are likely to be cited as reasons for the hawkish pivot. The BCB’s Focus survey expect three 25bp rate hikes for the remainder of 2024, however, some analysts are forecasting even more aggressive tightening.
THURSDAY - CBRT Decision (Turkey)
The CBRT is widely expected to keep its one-week repo rate unchanged at 50% for the sixth consecutive meeting, though some sell-side analysts see rate cuts commencing as early as November – largely owing to favourable inflation developments in recent months. While headline CPI has plunged sharply from the summer peak, much of the decline can be attributed to significant base effects, and therefore a hawkish stance is still justified until underlying inflation trends begin to slow.
THURSDAY - SARB Decision (South Africa)
The SARB is expected to deliver the first rate cut of the cycle, easing by 25bps to 8.00% just a day after the release of local inflation data and the Fed's monetary policy decision. A cut in the US would make it easier for South African policymakers to follow suit, but domestic inflation dropping close to the +4.5% Y/Y target mid-point and moderating inflation expectations could also be cited to support looser policy.
Date | GMT/Local | Impact | Country | Event |
14/09/2024 | 0200/1000 | *** | CN | Fixed-Asset Investment |
14/09/2024 | 0200/1000 | *** | CN | Retail Sales |
14/09/2024 | 0200/1000 | *** | CN | Industrial Output |
14/09/2024 | 0200/1000 | ** | CN | Surveyed Unemployment Rate M/M |
16/09/2024 | 0800/1000 | ** | IT | Italy Final HICP |
16/09/2024 | 0810/1010 | EU | ECB's De Guindos at VII Foro Banca event | |
16/09/2024 | 0900/1100 | * | EU | Trade Balance |
16/09/2024 | 1200/1400 | EU | ECB's Lane Speech at European Investment Bank Chief Economists' Meeting | |
16/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | ** | CA | Monthly Survey of Manufacturing |
16/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | ** | US | Empire State Manufacturing Survey |
16/09/2024 | 1300/0900 | * | CA | CREA Existing Home Sales |
16/09/2024 | 1530/1130 | * | US | US Treasury Auction Result for 13 Week Bill |
16/09/2024 | 1530/1130 | * | US | US Treasury Auction Result for 26 Week Bill |
17/09/2024 | 0900/1100 | *** | DE | ZEW Current Conditions Index |
17/09/2024 | 0900/1100 | *** | DE | ZEW Current Expectations Index |
17/09/2024 | 0900/1000 | ** | GB | Gilt Outright Auction Result |
17/09/2024 | 1215/0815 | ** | CA | CMHC Housing Starts |
17/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | *** | CA | CPI |
17/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | *** | US | Retail Sales |
17/09/2024 | 1255/0855 | ** | US | Redbook Retail Sales Index |
17/09/2024 | 1300/1500 | EU | ECB's Elderson in supervisory effectiveness panel | |
17/09/2024 | 1315/0915 | *** | US | Industrial Production |
17/09/2024 | 1400/1000 | * | US | Business Inventories |
17/09/2024 | 1400/1000 | ** | US | NAHB Home Builder Index |
17/09/2024 | 1530/1130 | * | US | US Treasury Auction Result for Cash Management Bill |
17/09/2024 | 1700/1300 | ** | US | US Treasury Auction Result for 20 Year Bond |
17/09/2024 | 2200/1800 | CA | BOC Sr Deputy Rogers fireside chat on women in finance. | |
18/09/2024 | 2350/0850 | ** | JP | Trade |
18/09/2024 | 2350/0850 | * | JP | Machinery orders |
18/09/2024 | 0600/0700 | *** | GB | Consumer inflation report |
18/09/2024 | 0600/0700 | *** | GB | Producer Prices |
18/09/2024 | 0600/0800 | ** | SE | Unemployment |
18/09/2024 | 0900/1100 | *** | EU | HICP (f) |
18/09/2024 | 0900/1100 | ** | EU | Construction Production |
18/09/2024 | 1100/0700 | ** | US | MBA Weekly Applications Index |
18/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | * | CA | International Canadian Transaction in Securities |
18/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | *** | US | Housing Starts |
18/09/2024 | 1300/1500 | EU | MNI Connect Video Conference on Euro Area Macro Projections | |
18/09/2024 | 1430/1030 | ** | US | DOE Weekly Crude Oil Stocks |
18/09/2024 | 1730/1330 | CA | BOC Minutes (Summary of Deliberations) | |
18/09/2024 | 1800/1400 | *** | US | Fed Rate Decision / FOMC Statement |
18/09/2024 | 2000/1600 | ** | US | TICS |
19/09/2024 | 2245/1045 | *** | NZ | GDP |
19/09/2024 | 0130/1130 | *** | AU | Labor Force Survey |
19/09/2024 | 0800/1000 | ** | EU | EZ Current Account |
19/09/2024 | 0800/1000 | *** | NO | Norges Bank Rate Decision |
19/09/2024 | 0900/1100 | EU | ECB's Schnabel participates on Monetary Policy discussion | |
19/09/2024 | 1100/1200 | *** | GB | Bank Of England Interest Rate |
19/09/2024 | 1100/0700 | *** | TR | Turkey Benchmark Rate |
19/09/2024 | 1100/1200 | GB | BOE's Monetary Policy Summary and minutes | |
19/09/2024 | 1200/0800 | CA | BOC Deputy Vincent speech. | |
19/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | *** | US | Jobless Claims |
19/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | ** | US | WASDE Weekly Import/Export |
19/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | * | US | Current Account Balance |
19/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | ** | US | Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index |
19/09/2024 | 1400/1000 | *** | US | NAR existing home sales |
19/09/2024 | 1430/1030 | ** | US | Natural Gas Stocks |
19/09/2024 | 1440/1640 | EU | ECB's Schnabel chairs Jean Monnet Lecture at ECB Conference | |
19/09/2024 | 1700/1300 | ** | US | US Treasury Auction Result for TIPS 10 Year Note |
20/09/2024 | 2301/0001 | ** | GB | Gfk Monthly Consumer Confidence |
20/09/2024 | 2330/0830 | *** | JP | CPI |
20/09/2024 | 0200/1100 | *** | JP | BOJ Policy Rate Announcement |
20/09/2024 | 0600/0700 | *** | GB | Retail Sales |
20/09/2024 | 0600/0700 | *** | GB | Public Sector Finances |
20/09/2024 | 0600/0800 | ** | DE | PPI |
20/09/2024 | 0645/0845 | ** | FR | Manufacturing Sentiment |
20/09/2024 | 0830/0930 | GB | BOE's Mann Speech at Central Bank Research Association | |
20/09/2024 | 1215/0815 | CA | BOC Governor Macklem speech at AI conference | |
20/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | * | CA | Industrial Product and Raw Material Price Index |
20/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | ** | CA | Retail Trade |
20/09/2024 | 1230/0830 | ** | CA | Retail Trade |
20/09/2024 | 1400/1600 | ** | EU | Consumer Confidence Indicator (p) |
20/09/2024 | 1500/1700 | EU | ECB's Lagarde Banking Lecture Organised by the IMF | |
20/09/2024 | 1530/1730 | EU | ECB's Lagarde converses with IMF Georgieva | |
20/09/2024 | 1700/1300 | ** | US | Baker Hughes Rig Count Overview - Weekly |
20/09/2024 | 1800/1400 | US | Philly Fed's Pat Harker |