Written by John Benjamin from Orbex
The British pound closed the week as the top currency gaining 1.38% relative to the US dollar. The gains came on a surprise improvement in the UK’s manufacturing PMI. Although construction PMI still showed a contraction, the better than expected improvement added to the optimism. Following the GBP, was the Kiwi dollar which also managed to post strong gains against the dollar. Gold prices which were weaker just last week managed to rise 0.36% to the dollar.
The US dollar closed slightly weaker after prices failed to keep up the bullish momentum from the previous week. Thursday’s ISM manufacturing PMI and Friday’s nonfarm payrolls saw investors selling the US dollar. However, despite the weakness, the Japanese yen continued to fall strongly, this week losing 1.89% against the US dollar. Following the yen, were the NOK and the SEK which were weaker over the week as well.
Economic Calendar for the Week 05/09 – 09/09
| Date | Time | Currency | Event | Forecast | Previous |
| 05-Sep | 01:00 | JPY | Average Cash Earnings y/y | 0.50% | 1.40% |
| 02:30 | AUD | Company Operating Profits q/q | 2.10% | -4.70% | |
| 02:45 | CNY | Caixin Services PMI | 51.9 | 51.7 | |
| 03:30 | JPY | BOJ Gov Kuroda Speaks | |||
| 08:15 | EUR | Spanish Services PMI | 55.1 | 54.1 | |
| 08:45 | EUR | Italian Services PMI | 51.8 | 52 | |
| 08:50 | EUR | French Final Services PMI | 52 | 52 | |
| 08:55 | EUR | German Final Services PMI | 53.3 | 53.3 | |
| 09:00 | EUR | Final Services PMI | 53.1 | 53.1 | |
| 09:30 | EUR | Sentix Investor Confidence | 5.1 | 4.2 | |
| 09:30 | GBP | Services PMI | 49.1 | 47.4 | |
| 10:00 | EUR | Retail Sales m/m | 0.50% | 0.00% | |
| 06-Sep | 02:30 | AUD | Current Account | -20.2B | -20.8B |
| 05:30 | AUD | Cash Rate | 1.50% | 1.50% | |
| AUD | RBA Rate Statement | ||||
| 06:45 | CHF | GDP q/q | 0.20% | 0.10% | |
| 07:00 | EUR | German Factory Orders m/m | 0.50% | -0.40% | |
| 08:15 | CHF | CPI m/m | -0.10% | -0.40% | |
| 09:10 | EUR | Retail PMI | 48.9 | ||
| 10:00 | EUR | Revised GDP q/q | 0.30% | 0.30% | |
| 14:45 | USD | Final Services PMI | 51.2 | 50.9 | |
| 15:00 | USD | ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI | 55.4 | 55.5 | |
| 17:15 | CHF | SNB Chairman Jordan Speaks | |||
| 23:45 | NZD | Manufacturing Sales q/q | -2.60% | ||
| 07-Sep | 02:30 | AUD | GDP q/q | 0.40% | 1.10% |
| 06:00 | JPY | Leading Indicators | 98.60% | 99.20% | |
| 07:00 | EUR | German Industrial Production m/m | 0.10% | 0.80% | |
| 07:45 | EUR | French Trade Balance | -3.7B | -3.4B | |
| 08:00 | CHF | Foreign Currency Reserves | 615B | ||
| 09:30 | GBP | Manufacturing Production m/m | -0.40% | -0.30% | |
| GBP | Industrial Production m/m | -0.30% | 0.10% | ||
| 10:15 | GBP | MPC Member Cunliffe Speaks | |||
| 14:15 | GBP | Inflation Report Hearings | |||
| 15:00 | CAD | BOC Rate Statement | |||
| CAD | Overnight Rate | 0.50% | 0.50% | ||
| CAD | Ivey PMI | 56.3 | 57 | ||
| 08-Sep | 00:01 | GBP | RICS House Price Balance | 2% | 5% |
| 00:50 | JPY | Current Account | 1.59T | 1.65T | |
| JPY | Final GDP q/q | 0.00% | 0.00% | ||
| JPY | Bank Lending y/y | 2.10% | |||
| JPY | Final GDP Price Index y/y | 0.80% | 0.80% | ||
| 02:30 | AUD | Trade Balance | -2.65B | -3.20B | |
| Tentative | CNY | Trade Balance | 372B | 343B | |
| Tentative | CNY | USD-Denominated Trade Balance | 58.3B | 52.3B | |
| 06:00 | JPY | Economy Watchers Sentiment | 45.2 | 45.1 | |
| 06:30 | EUR | French Final Non-Farm Payrolls q/q | 0.20% | 0.20% | |
| 12:45 | EUR | Minimum Bid Rate | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| 13:30 | CAD | Building Permits m/m | 2.10% | -5.50% | |
| CAD | NHPI m/m | 0.20% | 0.10% | ||
| CAD | Capacity Utilization Rate | 81.50% | 81.40% | ||
| EUR | ECB Press Conference | ||||
| USD | Unemployment Claims | 263K | |||
| 20:00 | USD | Consumer Credit m/m | 15.1B | 12.3B | |
| 09-Sep | 00:50 | JPY | M2 Money Stock y/y | 3.30% | 3.30% |
| 02:30 | AUD | Home Loans m/m | -1.30% | 1.20% | |
| CNY | CPI y/y | 1.70% | 1.80% | ||
| CNY | PPI y/y | -1.00% | -1.70% | ||
| 05:30 | JPY | Tertiary Industry Activity m/m | 0.40% | 0.80% | |
| 06:45 | CHF | Unemployment Rate | 3.30% | 3.30% | |
| 07:00 | EUR | German Trade Balance | 21.2B | 21.7B | |
| 07:45 | EUR | French Gov Budget Balance | -61.8B | ||
| EUR | French Industrial Production m/m | 0.20% | -0.80% | ||
| 09:30 | GBP | Goods Trade Balance | -11.7B | -12.4B | |
| GBP | Construction Output m/m | -1.00% | -0.90% | ||
| GBP | Consumer Inflation Expectations | 2.00% | |||
| 12:45 | USD | FOMC Member Rosengren Speaks | |||
| 13:15 | CAD | Housing Starts | 194K | 195K | |
| 13:30 | CAD | Employment Change | -31.2K | ||
| CAD | Unemployment Rate | 6.90% | |||
| 15:00 | USD | Wholesale Inventories m/m | 0.10% | 0.30% |
Time: GMT+1
Currencies/Events to Watch this Week
AUD: Economic data from Australia will largely focus on the upcoming RBA meeting on Sep. 6. The central bank is expected to keep rates unchanged at 1.50%. However, the following day’s GDP report will be closely watched. Expectations call for a second quarter GDP growth rate of only 0.40% down from 1.10% GDP growth rate seen earlier. This could potentially put the RBA on a dovish path after last week’s retail sales data remained flat on the month.
JPY: A relatively quiet week from Japan, after Monday BoJ governor Kuroda, is expected to speak. Later in the week the final quarterly GDP data is expected to show a no change in the second quarter. The Japanese yen has eased back strongly over the past two weeks giving some respite for BoJ officials. However, going ahead the BoJ’s meeting later in September is likely to see the markets start price in expectations for a potential expansion to QE.
EUR: The ECB’s meeting next week will be the big event to watch although no changes are expected. Still, many expect the ECB to maintain a dovish view, especially after last week’s inflation data failed to provide any evidence of inflationary pressures. The Eurozone’s second quarter GDP will be released over the week which is expected to confirm the 0.30% GDP growth rate. Other data over the week includes Monday’s services PMI and Germany’s industrial production data.
GBP: From the UK, Monday’s services PMI will be the focus with expectations of an increase to 49.1, after the PMI fell to 47.4 in July. With services usually the strongest among manufacturing and construction, there is scope for a positive surprise. Later in the week, UK’s industrial and manufacturing production data will also be released, although expectations are for a contraction during August for 0.30% and 0.40% respectively. The week will also see the BoE’s inflation report hearings with the governor, Mark Carney due to testify to the UK parliament.
CAD: A busy week for Canada, the week kicks off after the markets open on Tuesday after Monday’s bank holiday. However, Wednesday’s BoC meeting will be the main event. No changes are expected with rates being held steady at 0.50%. But the scope for the BoC to come out dovish is quite high especially after weak GDP numbers last week. Ivey PMI is also due later in the day and is expected to show the index falling to 56.3 from 57.0 previously. Friday’s jobs report will be the next main event for the week.
USD: The US markets are also closed on Monday, but economic data kicks off with Tuesday’s ISM non-manufacturing PMI report. Expectations call for a slight dip to 55.4 from 55.5 in July. The remainder of the week is fairly quiet with Fed member speeches from Eric Rosengren who hasn’t yet made any comments on the Fed rate hikes