Daily Market Analysis - FRIDAY JULY 07, 2023Key News:
USA - Average Hourly Earnings (MoM) (Jun)
USA - Nonfarm Payrolls (Jun)
USA - Unemployment Rate (Jun)
During Thursday's trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a decline as robust job market data sparked expectations of further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. This development subsequently led to a surge in Treasury yields, which raised concerns among market participants. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a notable decrease of 1.1%, resulting in a loss of 366 points. Similarly, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 also faced declines of 0.8% and 0.8% respectively.
NASDAQ, SPX, and DJI indices daily charts
Amidst the broader market decline, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) bucked the trend and achieved a gain of nearly 1% driven by optimism surrounding its advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Morgan Stanley, a prominent financial institution, expressed confidence in Microsoft's position within the software industry, particularly in relation to the projected $90 billion growth opportunity in generative AI by fiscal 2025. In light of this positive outlook, Morgan Stanley increased its price target on Microsoft from $355 to $415, indicating a favorable investment potential for the company.
Microsoft stock daily chart
Despite the launch of its Twitter competitor app called Threads and the announcement by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that it had garnered over 30 million sign-ups since its recent introduction, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) faced a reversal of its early-day gains. The company's stock failed to maintain its upward momentum, and the gains dissipated as the trading session progressed. The market response to Threads and Meta's overall performance suggests that investors and traders may have reacted differently to the news, leading to the subsequent decline in the stock price.
Meta Platforms stock daily chart
In the Eurozone, inflation expectations for the medium term experienced a decrease in May. The gauge measuring the 12-month expectation dipped from 4.1% to 3.9%. Despite this decline, the long-term (three-year) inflation expectations, which hold greater significance for the European Central Bank (ECB), remained unchanged at 2.5%. This level is notably higher than the ECB's target inflation rate of 2%.
The latest flash core Consumer Price Index (CPI) estimates for June further strengthen the argument for proponents of tighter monetary policies within the ECB. These estimates provide substantial justification for those who advocate for a more stringent approach to monetary policy, given that inflationary pressures persist in the Eurozone.
The ECB, as the central bank responsible for maintaining price stability, closely monitors inflation expectations and aims to keep them in line with its target. The fact that long-term inflation expectations remain above the ECB's target suggests that there may be a need for increased vigilance and potential policy adjustments to curb inflationary pressures.
The divergence between medium-term and long-term inflation expectations underscores the complexity of managing inflationary dynamics in the Eurozone. The ECB will need to carefully assess economic data, including CPI estimates, to make informed decisions regarding monetary policy and strike a balance between supporting economic growth and maintaining price stability.
EUR/USD daily chart
Today, the economic calendar in the Eurozone is relatively light, implying that the movement of the EUR/USD exchange rate will primarily be influenced by the market's reaction to data releases from the United States.
The market's response to US data is of particular significance, as it has a notable impact on shaping the direction of the EUR/USD exchange rate. Positive data releases from the US could strengthen the US Dollar and potentially lead to a decline in the EUR/USD pair, while weaker-than-expected data could exert downward pressure on the US Dollar, potentially favoring an upward movement in the EUR/USD pair.
Additionally, the market remains highly sensitive to price-related developments. In this context, there is ongoing concern regarding the Bank of England's aggressive tightening expectations. Speculation suggests that the BoE could implement a significant 140 basis point increase in interest rates by January 2024. This projection, if realized, raises the possibility of a reassessment in the market. If investors revise their expectations and perceive the tightening as too aggressive or potentially detrimental to economic growth, it could pose downside risks for the British Pound. Consequently, the GBP/USD exchange rate could experience downward pressure.
GBP/USD daily chart
The EUR/GBP pair has witnessed a decline over the past two sessions; however, it may find support at its current levels and potentially make a move towards the 0.8600 mark once again. This shift in the pair's direction could be driven by the potential threat of a repricing of the previously overbought British Pound, influenced by the actions of the Bank of England.
The recent weakening of the EUR/GBP pair suggests that the Pound has gained strength against the Euro. However, the current levels may act as a support zone, potentially leading to a reversal in the pair's direction. If the support holds, it could provide an opportunity for the EUR/GBP pair to regain some ground and move towards the 0.8600 level.
The potential repricing of the Pound is a significant factor that could influence the pair's movement. If market participants perceive that the British Pound had become overbought or overvalued in relation to its fundamentals, they may adjust their positions accordingly, leading to a corrective move in the currency. This adjustment could contribute to a potential reversal in the EUR/GBP pair, benefiting the Euro and causing the pair to move higher towards the 0.8600 mark.
EUR/GBP daily chart
Yesterday's market sell-off was primarily triggered by the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve, which revealed a greater inclination for further tightening of monetary policy than previously anticipated. This direction gained further momentum with the release of strong employment-related data, namely the ADP payrolls and ISM services reports, which indicated that the US labor market remains robust and is expected to continue performing well.
The ADP payrolls report for June showcased an impressive addition of 497,000 new jobs. However, it is important to note that a significant portion of these positions were in lower-paid service roles, which could have implications for wage growth and overall economic recovery.
In addition to the employment data, the prices paid component of the ISM services report indicated a slowdown, reaching its lowest level in three years. This decline in price pressures suggests that inflationary pressures might be easing, potentially influencing the Federal Reserve's decision-making process regarding future monetary policy actions.
The combination of the Federal Reserve minutes highlighting a stronger inclination for tightening, along with positive employment data and easing price pressures, contributed to the market sell-off observed. Investors and traders reacted to these factors, reassessing their positions and adjusting their expectations accordingly.
US Employment Change
The resilience of the labor market presents a challenge for the Federal Reserve in its pursuit of achieving its target inflation rate. Despite the possibility of a potential decrease in headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 3% in June, the task of returning inflation to the desired level becomes increasingly difficult.
Today's release of the US nonfarm payrolls report for June has the potential to further reinforce optimism about the US economy. A strong jobs report would provide evidence of a robust labor market, indicating economic strength and potential future growth. However, there is also a concern that such a positive report could lead the Federal Reserve to overestimate the economy's resilience and prompt them to raise interest rates more aggressively than necessary.
The market has already priced in these expectations, as reflected by the recent rise in yields. The anticipation of a stronger economy and the possibility of more aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve have contributed to an increase in yields. This pricing-in of expectations suggests that there is a level of caution in the market regarding the potential actions of the central bank and the impact they may have on various sectors.
Balancing the need to support the labor market with the goal of achieving the desired inflation rate remains a challenge for the Federal Reserve. The nonfarm payrolls report for June will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers alike, as it has the potential to shape future monetary policy decisions and market expectations.
As always, it is important to monitor economic data releases, central bank statements, and market sentiment to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and make informed decisions regarding investments and trading strategies.
