China slowdown fears will likely intensify
The week will kick off with the monthly dump of data out of China, which might attract more attention than usual this time as the lockdown measures introduced in March in the country’s largest city – Shanghai – have yet to be lifted. Moreover, the shutdowns have now spread to Beijing and the government does not seem to be ready to abandon its zero-Covid policy that many see as unsustainable.
With growth prospects fading fast, investors are increasingly concerned that a sharp slowdown in China will drag on growth in the rest of the world where interest rates are on the rise and consumers are feeling the pinch of higher living costs. According to the forecasts, next week’s releases will only add to the gloom.
Industrial output growth is expected to have been near stagnant in April, cooling from 5.0% year-on-year in March to just 0.4% y/y. More worryingly, consumer spending likely slumped in April as retail sales are projected to have fallen by 6.1% y/y. The only bright spot is fixed asset investment, which is expected to have held up at a relatively healthier reading of 7.0% y/y between January and April.
Elections and jobs on the aussie’s radar
Doubts about China have taken a toll on the Australian dollar as a weaker Chinese economy would be bad news for Australian exporters of resources. However, domestic data might be more supportive of the aussie.
Australia's employment report for April is out on Thursday and a day earlier, the wage price index for the first quarter will be scrutinized for any signs that the tight jobs market is pushing up labour costs.
The RBA surprised many last week when it raised its cash rate by 25 basis points instead of 15 bps so strong jobs numbers could fuel speculation of another aggressive hike at the next meeting in June. But before then, there is the tiny detail of the federal election on May 21 that traders will be keeping an eye on.
The opposition Labor party has recently widened its lead with the ruling Liberal-National coalition in the polls. Labor has said it would not repeal the final stage of the coalition government’s tax cuts that are targeted at the wealthy and due to take effect in 2024, while the jump in inflation that is pressuring disposable incomes is likely hurting incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s popularity.
Yet, with not a lot separating the two parties when it comes to economic policies, the widening gap in polls may not be such a bad thing as it would at least prevent a hung parliament, which is probably the worst outcome for the aussie.
Pound may not find much love from UK data
The pound has taken quite a bashing over the last month, with its year-to-date losses versus the US dollar approaching 10%. Its woes deepened after GDP numbers showed that the UK economy contracted in March, in what could be the start of a major downturn. Investors will get another chance to gauge the health of the economy next week when employment, inflation and retail sales figures are due on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
The consumer price index probably soared to 9.1% y/y in April as higher energy prices took effect for many households, likely adding pressure on the Bank of England to do more to contain the inflationary buildup. The BoE is worried about tightening too fast amidst the weakening economic backdrop. The April retail sales report should reveal how severe the squeeze on consumers was as wage growth has been unable to keep up with the pace of inflation, and now there are signs that hiring could be slowing too.
Risk sentiment to drive loonie and yen as April CPI eyed
Inflation will be in focus in Canada and Japan too. Canada’s 12-month CPI rate hit 6.7% in March and the Bank of Canada was one of the first to join the 50-bps bandwagon. Another strong print on Wednesday for April would reinforce expectations that the BoC would again hike by 50 bps at its next meeting. Although this may not provide much of a boost to the Canadian dollar, which has fallen victim to the risk-off flows.
The Bank of Japan is one of the few central banks that can claim inflation has yet to overshoot the universally accepted 2% target. However, that could all change on Friday when core CPI is forecast to have jumped from just 0.8% to 2.1% y/y in April.
Prior to the CPI report, the GDP estimate for Q1 will be released on Wednesday. Japan’s economy is expected to have shrunk in the first quarter when business activity was curbed by the Omicron outbreak. Other data will include wholesale prices on Monday, as well as trade figures and machinery orders on Thursday.
The yen has benefited from the increased demand for safe havens when markets turned jittery during May on the dimming outlook for growth and fears of high inflation persisting for far longer than what is currently anticipated.
US retail sales to be dollar’s primary focus
Finally in the United States, the highlight will be the retail sales numbers out on Tuesday. Retail sales growth is forecast to have quickened 0.9% month-on-month in April. Industrial output data are due the same day and a solid print of 0.4% m/m is expected. If confirmed, they would help alleviate concerns about a slowdown in the US economy and keep the Fed on track to hike rates by 50 bps several more times this year.
However, amidst the warnings of a correction in America’s housing market, the latest housing starts and building permits (both out on Wednesday), and existing home sales (Friday) will also be of interest for investors.
The dollar is likely to draw further bullish support if there are no troubling trends in the US economic barometers that are scheduled for the next seven days. Although, regardless of any surprises in the upcoming data or any fresh panic episodes in the markets, a small pullback is looking overdue for the greenback after the recent strong gains.
