European update – Powell testimonies eyed

Markets off highs ahead of Powell testimonies

The rally in stock markets has stalled again at the start of the trading week, as last week’s jobs report continues to worry investors relying on rate cuts to sustain the rally.

Source – Thomson Reuters Eikon

Interestingly, expectations for rate cuts remain bullish, even if the odds of a 50 basis point cut this month have been dramatically pared back. We’ll have plenty of opportunity to see whether they’re justified this week, as Fed Chair Powell makes numerous appearances – along with his colleagues – and we get the minutes from the June meeting.

Fed Interest Rate Probability

Source – Thomson Reuters Eikon

I’m not convinced that investors will get the message they’re after this week, with Powell in the past having been very conservative in his interest rate rhetoric. The central bank has left the door open to cuts without committing to anything and I expect to get more of the same.

A cut in July will be difficult to dodge given current market pricing but Powell may use the opportunity to manage expectations beyond the meeting. How successful he’ll be is another thing as investors don’t appear to want to hear it and may instead continue to apply the pressure going into the September meeting.

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Former Craig

Former Craig

Former Senior Market Analyst, UK & EMEA at OANDA
Based in London, Craig Erlam joined OANDA in 2015 as a market analyst. With many years of experience as a financial market analyst and trader, he focuses on both fundamental and technical analysis while producing macroeconomic commentary. His views have been published in the Financial Times, Reuters, The Telegraph and the International Business Times, and he also appears as a regular guest commentator on the BBC, Bloomberg TV, FOX Business and SKY News. Craig holds a full membership to the Society of Technical Analysts and is recognised as a Certified Financial Technician by the International Federation of Technical Analysts.