In the loop
Shireen Darmalingam
What you should know this morning:
- The rand is weaker this morning, at R18.25/$, after closing weaker yesterday (R18.19/$*).
- EM currencies were mixed yesterday; the ARS (+5.0%), RUB (+1.3%) and KRW (+0.6%) were the biggest gainers; the CLP (-0.7%), BRL (-0.5%) and RON (-0.5%) were the biggest losers.
- Asian equity markets the Nikkei, Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite are up.
- Central bank watch: the US FOMC kept the Fed funds rate unchanged yesterday, as expected.
- Fed policymakers voted unanimously to keep the benchmark Fed funds rate in a range of 4.25% to 4.5%.
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted policymakers as being in no hurry to adjust interest rates.
- Policymakers felt that “it’s appropriate to be patient” at this stage given the risks to the economy.
- The Fed chairman indicated that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration could lead to higher inflation and unemployment.
- He nonetheless noted that “the effects on inflation could be short lived, reflecting a one-time shift in the price level”.
- He remarked that it is “also possible that the inflationary effects could instead be more persistent”.
- The Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) has hiked the Selic rate, by 50 bps, to 14.75%.
- The central bank kept its options open for either an interest hike or a pause at its next policy meeting.
- Policymakers indicated that they would remain vigilant as the “global environment is adverse and particularly unclear due to US economic and trade policies”.
- The BOE interest rate decision is in focus today; the central bank is expected to cut its benchmark lending rate by 25 bps.
- BOE governor Andrew Bailey is expected to focus on growth in the economy given the risks from US trade tariffs.
- Bailey has warned that the global trade war will likely hit open economies such as the UK particularly hard.
- The central banks of Norway and Sweden are expected to sit pat on rates today.
- The UK’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) house price balance fell to -3% (the lowest since 2023) in April, from 2% in March.
- This slippage came largely on the back of a property tax increase and the US trade war.
- The gauge of agreed sales dropped to -31% in April.
- The UK’s Decision Maker Panel 3m and 1yr inflation expectations for April are due out today.
- One-year ahead inflation expectations are expected to have increased to 3.5% in April, from 3.4% in March.
- The 3-month ahead inflation expectations are expected to have increased to 4.0% in April, from 3.9% in March.
- Locally, the SARB’s gross and net reserves for April are scheduled for release today.
- Net reserves are expected to have increased to $64.31bn in April, from $63.17bn in March.
- Gross reserves were $67.45bn in March.
- Manufacturing production for March is also scheduled for release today; production is expected to have increased by 0.8% y/y in March, after having fallen by 3.2% y/y in February.
- On a m/m basis, manufacturing production is likely to have increased by 0.2% in March, following a 0.3% increase in February.
- Brent crude is up this morning, and down by 17.6% year-to-date.
- The gold price is down this morning, and up by 28.6% year-to-date.
- Brent crude oil is currently at $61.48/bbl; ($61.12/bbl*).
- Gold is at $3374/oz ($3386/oz*).
- SA CDS 230bps*, Brazil 180bps* and Turkey 340bps*.
- Yields: US 10yr at 4.26%*, German bund at 2.47%*, SA 10-year generic at 10.66%*, SA’s R2035 at 10.61%*.
* Denotes yesterday’s close.
Key events and data:
- 08h00: SA gross and net reserves (April)
- 13h00: SA manufacturing production (March)
- 13h00: UK BOE interest rate decision – 25 bps cut expected
- 14h30: US initial jobless claims (3 May)
- 15h00: UK Decision Maker Panel (DMP) 3m and 1yr inflation expectations (April)
- 17h00: US NY Fed 1 yr inflation expectations (April)
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