USD Unchanged Ahead Of NFP

 | Oct 03, 2016 07:45AM ET

h3 Forex News and Events

Be ready for a week of US data (by Arnaud Masset)

After a dovish Fed at the September meeting and lacklustre economic data from the US economy, the market is eagerly awaiting the upcoming nonf, which is due for release later this week. Indeed, the market has been looking for a sweet spot in the US economy and it seems that the job market is still the best candidate. However, before NFP Friday, we’ll get the final read of September manufacturing PMI, which is expected to come in flat at 51.4, while construction spending is expected to have accelerated 0.3% in August. ISM manufacturing should improve slightly in September after having slid below the 50 threshold that separates extension from contraction. The manufacturing gauge should print at 50.3, up from 49.4 in August.

On the job market, the September ADP report will be released on Wednesday and should show that the US economy created 163k private jobs over the previous month. On Friday, the NFPs are expected to show further strength of the US job market with an increase of 170k new jobs.

The market will be very sensitive to these jobs figures as the Federal Reserve would be unable to lift short-term interest rates if the jobs market eventually comes under pressure. Over the past few months, the job market has been sending mixed signals, raising doubts that the situation has really further room to improve. Since mid-August EUR/USD has been trading range-bound at between 1.1123 and 1.1366. The pair may escape that range to the downside should NFPs come in well above the median forecast.

Swiss sight deposits suggest FX intervention (by Peter Rosenstreich)

Switzerland printed a slew of data this morning. Real retail sales for August fell more than expected by -3.0% versus -1.7%, prior read -2.2%. However, manufacturing PMI came in at 53.2 against 51.8 expected and 51.0 prior read. Finally, domestic sight deposits surged 452.96 bn from 444.6 bn, basically confirming that last week’s “suspicious” EUR/CHF spike was actually SNB intervention. Uncertainty surrounding Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) triggered an exodus from the euro into the regional safe-haven currency of choice. The SNB has been intervening regularly to halt excessive CHF appreciation. The last major FX intervention was post Brexit. While SNB negative interest rates do typically dissuade investors during times of normal volatility, rogue fear trades will continue to benefit the CHF to the behest of the SNB. The Swiss economy continues to prove resilient against the backdrop of weaker macro demand and stronger CHF. However, there are marginal signals that the overvalued CHF is shifting consumer and corporate spending behaviours.

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EUR/USD - Recovery bounce.