NAB Morning Call

Friday 6th August 2021I amongst the mixed data from the US – including signs that the job recovery is slowing - and the varied opinions of central bankers, take a look at what’s happening in Germany. Factory orders came bouncing back in June and Google mobility data is showing most people are heading back to work. NAB’s Gavin Friend says this adds to the strong GDP numbers last week. The extent to which these surpassed US growths hasn’t been given enough consideration, he says. Also today, the Bank of England ups its inflation forecast to 4% by the end of the year and all eyes will be on the non-farms payrolls data tonight – with a wide range of predictions, so take your pick!

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Thursday 5th August 2021The New Zealand unemployment rate has fallen sharply, adding more to the expectation that the RBNZ will lift interest rates next month. NAB’s David de Garis says the markets have now priced it in at more than 100 percent. US jobs, however, are taking longer to recover. The ADP employment report saw far fewer new jobs than expected. Although all eyes are on the more credible non-farm payrolls number on Friday, the ADP report did knock the S&P off its record high. Today, the Bank of England meets, although we can’t expect them to be signalling anything of significance.

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Wednesday 4th August 2021Central banks seem to be taking a very optimistic view of the rate of recovery right now. The RBA has decided it will push ahead with its tapering of asset purchases, despite the protracted Sydney lockdown. The RBNZ’s Governor Orr has as good as said that the central bank will lift interest rates next month. The direction taken by the US Fed will be dependent on jobs numbers, making the non-farm payrolls data all that more important at the end of the week. Meanwhile US equities have bounced back as investors take stock of strong corporate earnings. NAB’s Tapas Strickland says 88% of S&P 500 companies have reported a positive earnings surprise for Q2. Of concern, though, are rising infection rates in China. Mass cancellation of flights has been influential in the fall in oil prices again overnight.

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Tuesday 3rd August 2021There was a sharp drop in Treasury yields soon after the release of the ISM Manufacturing numbers from the US. The expectation was that they would rise slightly, but they actually fell. Although still in expansionary territory NAB’s Rodrigo Catril says it adds to the narrative that the speed of recovery is slowing. It was compounded further with weaker Caixin PMI manufacturing numbers from China. At home the RBA is fully expected to reverse its plans to start tapering its bond purchases from September, as NSW focuses more on increasing the vaccine rate as the only way out of lockdown.

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Monday 2nd August 2021Iron ore prices fell below U$200 on Friday as China indicated that they would be cutting demand. It hit the Aussie dollar on Friday, which was already suffering as virus cases mounted in several parts of the country and no immediate escape plan for the Sydney lockdown. Today, Phil Dobbie asks NAB’s Ray Attrill whether the Aussie dollar could fall to 73 cents again this week, or lower, and whether that’s such a problem, given it has spent much of the last few years below that level. Also today, how Friday’s data showed that Europe is gaining momentum over the US on the recovery race. And mixed messaging from the Fed, but tapering is not likely to start anytime soon.

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Friday 30th July 2021Markets have had a chance to absorb the dovish sentiment from the Fed yesterday and take stock of mixed data overnight. On the surface US GDP numbers looked weaker than anticipated, but a chunk of that was influenced by lower inventory and trade numbers. NAB’s Gavin Friend explains how consumption and investment was actually much higher than anticipated. He says we can expect a strong GDP read for the Euro are later today, where vaccine levels are picking up. Markets have also been soothed from conciliatory messages from China regarding overseas investors. The Aussie dollar showed slower growth on the back of a weaker US dollar, as the question remains, how long will the Sydney lockdown really last?

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Thursday 29th July 2021There was a tame response to the FOMC statement this morning, but a more marked reaction during the press conference that followed. NAB’s David de Garis says the turning point was Powell’s remark that there was some ground to cover when it came to reaching full employment. Also on today’s podcast, discussion on yesterday’s Aussie CPI numbers, and how the widening trade deficit has seen a downgrade to US GDP expectations later today. And the US infrastructure bill might finally be voted on, but we’ll explain why markets are unlikely to be too interested.

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Wednesday 28th July 2021Whilst US equities edged to all-time highs, the real yields on US Treasuries sank to new lows. NAB’s Rodrigo Catril talks about how expectations for tapering by the Fed could be pushed back, as the recovery slows. The take-up of vaccines in the US isn’t helping, with the seven-day average of daily jabs now at the lowest level since early January. In the UK infection rates are falling – but still very high – but hospitalisations are increasing. Whilst in the Sydney region lockdowns are likely to last longer, with almost 400k people claiming disaster payments, according to today’s AFR. So, plenty of reason for caution, and the waiting game is on for the response from the Fed later this week.

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Tuesday 27th July 2021Whilst US equities edged to all-time highs, the real yields on US Treasuries sank to new lows. NAB’s Rodrigo Catril talks about how expectations for tapering by the Fed could be pushed back, as the recovery slows. The take-up of vaccines in the US isn’t helping, with the seven-day average of daily jabs now at the lowest level since early January. In the UK infection rates are falling – but still very high – but hospitalisations are increasing. Whilst in the Sydney region lockdowns are likely to last longer, with almost 400k people claiming disaster payments, according to today’s AFR. So, plenty of reason for caution, and the waiting game is on for the response from the Fed later this week.

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Monday 26th July 2021Last week markets were pulled between concerns over the rise of the Delta variant and the encouragement of strong corporate earnings data. This week could go either way, with significant earnings to come, and mixed opinions on the direction the virus will take. In today’s podcast NAB’s Tapas Strickland looks at the latest vaccine efficacy numbers and the influence on the Aussie dollar. Which was one of the biggest losers last week. We also look at the PMIs from Friday shows, which suggest Europe might have the edge on the US for growth. And the American economy has something else to contend with, slower population growth.

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