Week in FX Americas – “To Taper Or Not To Taper” That is the Question

Global sentiment remains dominated by the speculation over the timeline of the Fed’s move to reduce its bond-buying program. This week’s U.S. initial jobless claims fell to a multi-year low and other data showed the American consumer-price index rose for a third straight month in July. However, despite the improving jobs picture, the labor force participation rate in July was 63.4% — reportedly the lowest it has been since 1979. Regardless, Fed officials have been saying that they require signs of higher inflation; coupled with other encouraging indicators, before a decision to reduce any part of the current $85-billion monthly bond-buying program is made.

For the sixth straight week, the amount of US Treasury’s owned by foreign accounts held at the Fed fell. The $5.2b drop brings the total decline in past 10-weeks to a little over +$58b. Is a falling bond market meaning that investors are losing confidence in the US? “Custodial holding at the Fed tend to track how Asian currencies are performing. When these strengthened amid growing Fed stimulus, dollars were bought to cap the strength, then used to invest in US Treasury’s.” Now that the Emerging Currencies are weakening the market is doing the exact opposite.

Anxiety over the Fed tapering next month continues to weigh on bond prices. US ten are ending the week straddling their highest yields (+2.81%). If the Fed does table “taper” in September, how much will they reduce their monthly $85b purchases by? At this stage it seems it will take a dismal August NFP print to derail a stimulus reduction.

WEEK AHEAD

* AUD RBA Meeting’s Minutes
* USD FOMC Minutes
* USD Jackson Hole Symposium
* EUR German Gross Domestic Product
* CNY China Flash PMI
* EUR Germany Flash Manufacturing PMI
* EUR France Flash Manufacturing PMI
* GBP United Kingdom Gross Domestic Product
* CAD Canada Consumer Price Index

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Dean Popplewell

Dean Popplewell

Vice-President of Market Analysis at MarketPulse
Dean Popplewell has nearly two decades of experience trading currencies and fixed income instruments. He has a deep understanding of market fundamentals and the impact of global events on capital markets. He is respected among professional traders for his skilled analysis and career history as global head of trading for firms such as Scotia Capital and BMO Nesbitt Burns. Since joining OANDA in 2006, Dean has played an instrumental role in driving awareness of the forex market as an emerging asset class for retail investors, as well as providing expert counsel to a number of internal teams on how to best serve clients and industry stakeholders.
Dean Popplewell