GBP CAD - FUNDAMENTAL DRIVERS
GBP
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: WEAK BEARISH
BASELINE
The negative outlook for the UK economy has been a key source of the Pound’s downside. Stagflation risks are high with CPI > 10% and recession expected in 4Q22 (lasting 5 quarters). It has kept pressure on Sterling despite ongoing BoE rate hikes. With the energy cap expected to rise again in October 2022 and April 2023, the new PM hit the ground running by announcing a much bigger than expected fiscal plan which will keep energy prices capped for 2 years for households and will also offer support for businesses. According to preliminary research, this means inflation most likely already peaked in the UK (as the main driver has been energy), and also means that the expected hit to the economy should be less severe than previously thought. Thus, even though the bias for the GBP remains bearish as a recession still seems likely, the fiscal news is a positive development for Sterling on balance, and with a lot of bad news already priced in we are expecting some reprieve for Sterling with asymmetric risk to incoming data (good news expected to have a bigger upside impact compared to the impact from bad news).
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any incoming data that surprises meaningfully higher could trigger relief for the GBP. With focus on stagflation, any downside surprises in CPI or factors that decrease inflation pressures are expected to support the GBP and not pressure it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any further support measures announced by the new PM should continue to ease stagflation fears. With UK threats of triggering Article 16 and EU threats to terminate the Brexit deal if they do Brexit is in focus. For now, markets have rightly ignored this as posturing, but any major de-escalation can see some upside for Sterling.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any material downside surprises in growth data can still trigger short-term pressure. With focus on stagflation, any upside surprises in CPI or factors that increase more inflation pressures are expected to weigh on the GBP and not support it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any potential walk back from the new PM on the planslaid out last week would increase stagflation fears once again. With UK threats of triggering Article 16 and EU threats to terminate the Brexit deal if they do Brexit is in focus. For now, markets have rightly ignored this as posturing, but any actual escalation can see sharp GBP downside.
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamentals for Sterling remain bearish , especially after the BoE’s recent forecasts of a 5-quarter recession in the UK. Furthermore, given the risks to growth, there is growing speculation that the BoE might not be too far away from pausing their current hiking cycle. Anything that exacerbates stagflation fears is expected to weigh on the Pound and anything that alleviates some pressure could see some reprieve. Since Sterling is trading at fresh new cycle lows, the risk to reward for chasing it lower looks unattractive, and we could see asymmetric reactions skewed to the upside on positive data & news.
CAD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: NEUTRAL
BASELINE
The CAD has enjoyed far more upside in the past few weeks than we anticipated. We’ve been cautious on the currency given Canada’s dependency on the US (>70% of exports) where the clear signs of a faster than expected slowdown and possible recession should deteriorate the growth outlook for Canada. Apart from that, the risks to the Canadian housing market can negatively impact consumer spending as interest rates rise higher at aggressive speed. Potentially damaging the wealth effect created by the rapid rise in house prices since covid. However, despite the risks to the economy and the outlook, markets still price in a strangely favourable growth environment for Canada, also supported by a big push higher in terms of trade due to the rise in commodity prices. The market’s reaction after the 75bsp was fairly muted as the bank didn’t provide any important additional info in their statement that markets didn’t already know. With their frontloading, the bank is now just one 50bsp or two 25bsp hikes away from hitting terminal rate expectations, which means any upside from policy differentials should being to fade. Either way, we remain cautious on the CAD and favour short-term catalysts that provide us with shorting opportunities.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Catalysts that see further upside in Oil (deteriorating supply outlook, ease in demand fears) could trigger bullish CAD reactions. The correlation has been hit and miss in recent weeks though. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk on sentiment could trigger bullish reactions in the CAD. After the bank’s frontloading, there is a very high bar to surprise on the hawkish side for the BoC, but if the bank were to say they think STIR market pricing for the terminal rate is too low that can provide upside for the CAD.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Any catalyst that triggers meaningful downside in oil (deteriorating demand outlook, ease in supply shortage, less supply constraints) could be a negative catalyst for the CAD as well. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk off sentiment could trigger bearish reactions in the CAD. With the bank just 50bsp away from terminal rate expectations, it won’t take much to surprise on the dovish side, and any signals or comments from the BoC that they’ll pause hikes should be a negative for the CAD.
BIGGER PICTURE
The bigger picture outlook for the CAD remains neutral for now. Given the clear risks to the growth outlook due to the slowdown in the US, as well as rising risks to the consumer and the housing market, and potential negative impact for commodities like oil, we remain cautious on the currency (even though it’s moved much higher than we anticipated from the start of the year). With a lot of good news priced in, our preferred way of trading the CAD is lower on clear short-term negative catalysts. With the bank now very close to terminal rate expectations, markets will want to know whether the bank thinks the terminal rate currently priced is adequate or not, so watching for any BoC comments on this point will be important.
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: WEAK BEARISH
BASELINE
The negative outlook for the UK economy has been a key source of the Pound’s downside. Stagflation risks are high with CPI > 10% and recession expected in 4Q22 (lasting 5 quarters). It has kept pressure on Sterling despite ongoing BoE rate hikes. With the energy cap expected to rise again in October 2022 and April 2023, the new PM hit the ground running by announcing a much bigger than expected fiscal plan which will keep energy prices capped for 2 years for households and will also offer support for businesses. According to preliminary research, this means inflation most likely already peaked in the UK (as the main driver has been energy), and also means that the expected hit to the economy should be less severe than previously thought. Thus, even though the bias for the GBP remains bearish as a recession still seems likely, the fiscal news is a positive development for Sterling on balance, and with a lot of bad news already priced in we are expecting some reprieve for Sterling with asymmetric risk to incoming data (good news expected to have a bigger upside impact compared to the impact from bad news).
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any incoming data that surprises meaningfully higher could trigger relief for the GBP. With focus on stagflation, any downside surprises in CPI or factors that decrease inflation pressures are expected to support the GBP and not pressure it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any further support measures announced by the new PM should continue to ease stagflation fears. With UK threats of triggering Article 16 and EU threats to terminate the Brexit deal if they do Brexit is in focus. For now, markets have rightly ignored this as posturing, but any major de-escalation can see some upside for Sterling.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
With recession the base assumption, any material downside surprises in growth data can still trigger short-term pressure. With focus on stagflation, any upside surprises in CPI or factors that increase more inflation pressures are expected to weigh on the GBP and not support it. The fiscal announcements last week were a welcome change, and any potential walk back from the new PM on the planslaid out last week would increase stagflation fears once again. With UK threats of triggering Article 16 and EU threats to terminate the Brexit deal if they do Brexit is in focus. For now, markets have rightly ignored this as posturing, but any actual escalation can see sharp GBP downside.
BIGGER PICTURE
The fundamentals for Sterling remain bearish , especially after the BoE’s recent forecasts of a 5-quarter recession in the UK. Furthermore, given the risks to growth, there is growing speculation that the BoE might not be too far away from pausing their current hiking cycle. Anything that exacerbates stagflation fears is expected to weigh on the Pound and anything that alleviates some pressure could see some reprieve. Since Sterling is trading at fresh new cycle lows, the risk to reward for chasing it lower looks unattractive, and we could see asymmetric reactions skewed to the upside on positive data & news.
CAD
FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK: NEUTRAL
BASELINE
The CAD has enjoyed far more upside in the past few weeks than we anticipated. We’ve been cautious on the currency given Canada’s dependency on the US (>70% of exports) where the clear signs of a faster than expected slowdown and possible recession should deteriorate the growth outlook for Canada. Apart from that, the risks to the Canadian housing market can negatively impact consumer spending as interest rates rise higher at aggressive speed. Potentially damaging the wealth effect created by the rapid rise in house prices since covid. However, despite the risks to the economy and the outlook, markets still price in a strangely favourable growth environment for Canada, also supported by a big push higher in terms of trade due to the rise in commodity prices. The market’s reaction after the 75bsp was fairly muted as the bank didn’t provide any important additional info in their statement that markets didn’t already know. With their frontloading, the bank is now just one 50bsp or two 25bsp hikes away from hitting terminal rate expectations, which means any upside from policy differentials should being to fade. Either way, we remain cautious on the CAD and favour short-term catalysts that provide us with shorting opportunities.
POSSIBLE BULLISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Catalysts that see further upside in Oil (deteriorating supply outlook, ease in demand fears) could trigger bullish CAD reactions. The correlation has been hit and miss in recent weeks though. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk on sentiment could trigger bullish reactions in the CAD. After the bank’s frontloading, there is a very high bar to surprise on the hawkish side for the BoC, but if the bank were to say they think STIR market pricing for the terminal rate is too low that can provide upside for the CAD.
POSSIBLE BEARISH SURPRISES
As an oil exporter, oil prices are important for CAD. Any catalyst that triggers meaningful downside in oil (deteriorating demand outlook, ease in supply shortage, less supply constraints) could be a negative catalyst for the CAD as well. As a risk sensitive currency, and catalyst that causes big bouts of risk off sentiment could trigger bearish reactions in the CAD. With the bank just 50bsp away from terminal rate expectations, it won’t take much to surprise on the dovish side, and any signals or comments from the BoC that they’ll pause hikes should be a negative for the CAD.
BIGGER PICTURE
The bigger picture outlook for the CAD remains neutral for now. Given the clear risks to the growth outlook due to the slowdown in the US, as well as rising risks to the consumer and the housing market, and potential negative impact for commodities like oil, we remain cautious on the currency (even though it’s moved much higher than we anticipated from the start of the year). With a lot of good news priced in, our preferred way of trading the CAD is lower on clear short-term negative catalysts. With the bank now very close to terminal rate expectations, markets will want to know whether the bank thinks the terminal rate currently priced is adequate or not, so watching for any BoC comments on this point will be important.
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