The Overnight Report: June Strengthens

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By Greg Peel

The Dow closed down 3 points while the S&P closed flat at 2047 and the Nasdaq rose 0.5%.

Will They, Won’t They?

While the Australian market is presently not dutifully following Wall Street around, given a widening disparity between the industries that primarily drive each market, US central bank policy is very much a factor Australian investors need to pay heed to. Interest rates connect the world.

On Monday night the Dow fell close to 200 points following stronger than expected US inflation data and Fedspeak reaffirming that the June Fed meeting is “live” and that a rate hike cannot be ruled out. However the US bond market shrugged off the possibility and remained unmoved, as did the US dollar and gold. Last night was a very different story, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Yesterday the ASX200 plunged 48 points on the open, came back to almost square at lunchtime. It was a battle, it would seem, between those believing a Fed rate hike is possible and those who don’t. Or perhaps between those who think a Fed rate hike is a problem for the Australian market and those who see any dip as a buying opportunity. Or both.

But to further complicate the matter, the morning saw the release of the Australian March quarter wage index data. At 2.1% annualised, the quarter saw the weakest growth on record for the series. This suggests both low inflation and less consumer spending power. And reinforces the potential for another RBA rate cut.

But if the Fed hikes in June, would the RBA hold off? How will it all balance out?

As confusion reigned, the ASX200 fell again in the afternoon, closing down 39. Sector moves suggested yesterday was all about interest rates, and their flow-on effects.

The resource sectors stood aside, balanced by stronger commodity prices. A stronger US dollar weighs on commodity prices but a weaker Aussie dollar improves earnings, so there is some trade-off either way.

Consumer staples fell 1.2% and discretionary 1.5%. Low wages are not promising for retailers, and a Fed hike might prevent another RBA cut.

The banks fell 0.8%. Low wages are not promising for mortgage demand and if the RBA does not cut, demand will not be boosted. Bank yields are less attractive if US rates rise and/or Australian rates don’t fall.

The telcos fell 0.9% and utilities 0.7%. The yield story is the same here.

Healthcare only fell 0.1%. The sector derives a lot of income from offshore, and thus benefits from a weaker Aussie. Industrials fell 1.1%. This sector offers a mixed bag of winners and losers.

The Aussie has fallen over a cent over 24 hours to US$0.7227. Yesterday’s local wage data encouraged further weakness in the currency, albeit it has already fallen quite a way from its recent highs, but last night’s Fed minutes stuck the knife in.

Backflip

When the FOMC released its policy statement following its meeting in April, the tone was dovish. Wall Street reduced expectations of a June rate cut to near zero. This was reinforced by the April US jobs numbers, which were to the low side.

Last night the minutes of that meeting were released, and suggested the FOMC statement on the day was somewhat misleading. This might explain why Fedheads have recently been out and about talking up the possibility of a June rate hike. The Fed is worried markets are not prepared.

The minutes suggested the FOMC is no longer concerned about the global volatility factor, as markets have now recovered from their panic earlier in the year and settled down again. That just leaves US data. While recent data have not been all that strong, the question is whether they are weak enough to justify near-zero interest rates. On a trend basis, the US labour market remains positive, If the CPI data are anything to go by, inflation is heading the right direction.

These are the Fed’s two mandated policy drivers.

The bottom line is, the minutes basically suggested the Fed is not waiting to be given a reason to hike in June, it is waiting for any reason not to hike. Not only is June very much “live”, Wall Street now sees a June hike as very much a possibility.

Having fallen 180 points on Monday night on this very possibility, last night the Dow had rallied back a hundred points ahead of the 2pm release of the minutes. A two hundred point fall ensued on the release, followed by a one hundred point recovery.

Wall Street finished square. Arguably, June rate hike potential has been priced in the night before. But the night before, the US bond market, currency and gold markets had shrugged off the possibility.

Last night the US ten-year yield jumped 12 basis points to 1.88%. The US dollar index jumped 0.7% to 95.20. Gold fell US$20.80 to US$1258.00/oz. Now all the markets are aligned.

The only possible barrier to a June rate hike, assuming no US economic shocks occur between now and June 15, is the Brexit vote. It doesn’t occur until June 23, and some believe the Fed is more likely to hold off until the July meeting in case a Yes vote sparks fresh global turmoil. Recent polls suggest the No vote appears to be gaining traction, nonetheless.

Commodities

For commodities, it was all about the jump in the US dollar that a Fed rate hike implies. Gold’s move has been noted.

West Texas crude is down US71c at US$47.88/bbl and Brent is down US94c at US$48.54/bbl.

The LME was shutting its doors just as the minutes were released so there may yet be a more pronounced reaction tonight, but all metals closed slightly lower bar aluminium, which rose 0.8%.

Iron ore never pays much attention to outside influences. It’s up US20c at US$55.90.

Today

The SPI Overnight closed down 4 points. While this reflects the flat close on Wall Street, we might also suggest, a la Wall Street, that the local market adjusted yesterday to heightened Fed rate hike possibility.

With regard the Aussie, it might be a whole new ball game this morning when the Australian jobs numbers are released for April. Presumably the market has now become quite short.

Apologies to readers who have been stuffed around by the FNArena calendar suggesting James Hardie ((JHX)) was to report on Tuesday, or on Wednesday. Short of contacting a few hundred companies over the course of a year, we rely on broker calendars, which often clash.

Note also that companies are not legally obliged to advise on a reporting date, or even stick to it if they have.

James Hardie reports today.

Rudi will make his weekly guest appearance on Sky Business today, 12.30-2.30pm and then return for an interview on Switzer TV between 7-8pm.
 

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