Risk-On Appetite Returns On China Data, Weaker U.S. Inflation

 | Jul 17, 2017 09:52

h3 Market Overview

Market sentiment is positive today as weaker US inflation and Retail Sales questions the speed of Fed tightening, whilst stronger growth data from China should also help support risk appetite. There have been some decisive trend-changing moves seen in major markets recently and the driver seems to have initially been a dovish Fed, but backed up by once more weaker than expected inflation trends in the US.

This has all pointed towards questions over whether the Fed will deliver a 3rd rate hike in 2017, whilst also could impact on the timing for the balance sheet reduction to kick off. The prospect of looser for longer monetary policy has hit Treasury yields and the dollar. Subsequently, we see gold breaking higher, the yen also stronger and a sharp upside break to multi-month highs on sterling.

However, risk appetite is also improved and this could weigh on the recovery of these safe haven plays (Treasury yields are back higher today) as traders opt for more traditionally higher risk plays, with commodity currencies benefiting, and equities also seemingly turning a corner away from their previously corrective outlooks. Will this move be sustained this week? There is limited US data with which to change the trend. The positive risk outlook is also being helped by Chinese GDP which was higher than forecast at +6.9% (6.8% exp), whilst Industrial Production of +7.6% and Retail Sales of +11.0% also topped forecasts.

Wall Street closed at all-time highs again with strength in the breakout, as the S&P 500 was +0.5% at 2459. Asian markets were also broadly higher in the wake of the positive China data, although the Nikkei was closed for a public holiday in Japan. The European markets are mildly positive in early moves. In forex, the dollar is looking to pare some of the recent losses and is outperforming across the majors today. In commodities, gold is trading mildly higher and oil is around the flat line.

Traders will be looking at the final reading of Eurozone CPI for June at 1000BST which is expected to be confirmed from the flash readings at +1.3% for the headline CPI and +1.1% for the core CPI. Empire State Manufacturing (New York Fed) at 1330BST is expected to drop to +15.0 (from +19.8) but this still would remain well above zero and a positive for the region. New Zealand CPI at 2345BST is expected to drop to +1.9% from +2.2%.

Chart of the Day – DAX Xetra

The upside break above 12,490 has changed the outlook, or now. The near to medium term outlook is now far more neutral. The bears still hang on to the two month top pattern that was formed on the breach of 12,490 which subsequently became a pivot. However there is still a sequence of lower highs intact and the top pattern will remain in play whilst this is still the case. The candles since the Wednesday’s initial breakout suggest consolidation but the momentum indicators are pointing to recovery. The hourly hart shows 12,577 with the neckline at 12,490. If the market can now build another higher low above the neckline of 12,490 then the bulls will begin to form a new recovery trend to challenge the corrective one.

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