Are markets being fooled by lags? Not unusual for this point in the cycle, some data is coming stronger and some weaker. Recently the market has taken its cue from strong labor market data which might be a mistake. It has only been 6-8 months since large-scale rate hikes started and with monetary policy lags being anywhere from 12-24 months, there is a possibility that the bond market is underestimating the timing and magnitude of the growth downturn. But the patterns are not uniform across countries and this episode examines some of the nuances.

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Robert Hogue (Research), Assistant Chief Economist
• Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategist
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Adam Cole (Desk Strategy), Chief Currency Strategist

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

The US payroll report sent shock waves through the fixed income market. Market pricing shifted aggressively - terminal pricing is now the highest in the cycle and finally consistent with the FOMC dots. Contagion has also spread to other markets. What now? Can the Fed keep hiking, can the BoC stay on hold, how much further will the BoE, ECB, or RBA go? And what are the implications for equities and FX? This episode delves into these topics.

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategist
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Elsa Lignos (Desk Strategy), Head of FX Strategy
• Lori Calvasina (Research), Head of U.S. Equity Strategy
• Su-Lin Ong (Research), Chief Australia Economist

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

Recent months have seen widespread hikes across most G10 central banks, but the potential for divergence is high in the coming months as some central banks are approaching the end of their hiking cycle.

Participants: 

• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Adam Cole (Desk Strategy), Chief Currency Strategist
• Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist
• Amy Wu Silverman (Desk Strategy), Head of Equity Derivatives Strategy
• Su-Lin (Research), Chief Economist & Senior Corporate Relationship Manage
• Robert Thompson (Research), Macro Rates Strategist

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

While upcoming policy increments and terminal values for various countries are highly debatable, Can't, Won't, Don't Stop seems like an appropriate characterization of current near term central bank policy. To reiterate our message from late last year - 2023 could turn out to be as challenging as 2022 but for different reasons. 2022 was how high policy rates would go. In 2023 market expectations should become fractured into the hike, hold, cut camps.

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategist
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Elsa Lignos (Desk Strategy), Head of FX Strategy
• Michael Tran (Research), Global Energy Strategist

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

BoC/Fed/BoE/ECB are all on tap over the coming week. How high rates will go, whether there will be a quick U-turn to rate cuts in 2023 and by how much, is a central theme for markets that will influence not only yield levels and curve shapes, but also important for FX and broader risk assets.

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist
• Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategist
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Elsa Lignos (Desk Strategy), Head of FX Strategy

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

2022 was complicated, but it was dominated by a one-sided risk event - how high would rates go. 2023 should be even more complicated; policy scenarios could oscillate between various outcomes depending on the depth of the growth slowdown and inflation dynamics.

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Adam Cole (Desk Strategy), Chief Currency Strategist
• Amy Wu Silverman (Desk Strategy), Head of Equity Derivatives Strategy

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

All year market pricing for terminal rates in most countries has been a moving target and one directional - higher. Last week the Fed signaled a slower pace of rate hikes but a terminal value that was higher than their previous forecast. Where does this cycle end?

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Daria Parkhomenko (Desk Strategy), FX Strategist
• Lori Calvasina (Research), Head of U.S. Equity Strategy

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

Most central banks are at a maturing stage of the hiking cycle, putting terminal policy rates firmly in focus at upcoming meetings both sides of the Atlantic.

Participants: 

• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Elsa Lignos (Desk Strategy), Head of FX Strategy
• Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy
• Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist
• Michael Tran (Research), Global Energy Strategist

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

A made in UK fiscal crisis has led to sharp rises in gilt yields, with the BoE's buyer of last resort interventions disappointing those expecting more QE-type operations. The yield rises have permeated to Treasuries and other developed markets, with important cross-asset implications.

Participants: 

• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Blake Gwinn(Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy
• Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
• Daniel Rico (Desk Strategy), Latin America FX Strategist

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts

Fiscal policy has cracked the UK bond market, opened fissures in the Pound, causing ruptures in other bond markets and by extension risk and cyclically sensitive assets. Whether the fault lines in bond markets and risk assets turn into a full blown earthquake remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the high volatility should remain in place for the rest of the year. Stay tuned for our Macro Minutes series to hear from RBC experts on these developments.

Participants: 

• Cathal Kennedy (Desk Strategy), UK Economist
• Adam Cole (Desk Strategy), Chief Currency Strategist
• Simon Deeley (Desk Strategy), Canada Rates Strategist
• Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
• Lori Calvasina (Research), Head of U.S. Equity Strategy

* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts