市場新聞與洞察

As April draws to a close, the global economy stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the resurgence of inflationary pressures that refuse to retreat. In fact, it feels as though the inflation genie has re-emerged, asking, "Oh, you want more?" This resurgence prompts a crucial question: have we truly witnessed the peak of inflation, and consequently, the peak in interest rates, or are we merely witnessing a temporary lull before central banks are compelled to escalate interest rates further? The market has become entangled in this debate over the past few weeks, and it's far from reaching a resolution.

At the heart of the matter lies 'sticky' inflation. Economies such as Australia, the United States, and New Zealand are grappling with persistent price increases in essential fixed goods and services, including insurance, rent, housing costs, and utilities. The resilience of inflation in these sectors underscores the enduring impact of global economic forces on household budgets.

Remarkably, despite facing a post-COVID landscape fraught with challenges, households in these nations have displayed remarkable resilience. They have weathered the storm of rising interest rates while managing to maintain or marginally adjust their spending habits. Such resilience would typically be viewed as a positive narrative in a conventional economic cycle, signaling prudent financial management and adaptability.

However, the current economic landscape is anything but conventional. Against the backdrop of a global interest rate cycle reaching decade-high levels, the resilience of households and the absence of significant spending contractions raise concerns. Will tentative central banks be forced to raise rates again, rather than enact the forecasted rate cuts that were almost certain just eight weeks ago?

The chart depicting the change in the 30-day interbank cash rate implied yield curve from the start of March to the end of April vividly illustrates this shift. The difference is staggering. The resurgence of inflationary pressures threatens to upend optimistic projections.

It challenges the notion that the peak of the current economic cycle has already been reached. Instead, it suggests that the trajectory of interest rates may continue to trend upward, defying earlier forecasts and unsettling financial markets. From and FX perspective this is creating and interesting situation in the policy divergences of other central banks.

The US is facing a similar issue to that of the RBA - market pricing for the Federal Funds rate has gone from a fully pricing in 3 rate cuts with the real possibility of a 4 th in 2024 too just 1 rate cut in 2024 and only 2 cuts in 2025. Both are facing much higher rate situations in 2024. Compare that to the likes of European Central Bank (ECB), Swiss National Bank (SNB), Bank of Canada (BoC), and the Riksbank.

All are signalling potential rate cuts in upcoming meetings. In the case of the ECB it looks like being as early as June. This policy divergence creates significant implications for FX markets.

Bullish bets in the AUD have been coming thick and fast as interest rate differentials has seen crosses moving firmly in the AUD’s favour. EURAUD, AUDCAD, AUDJPY and the likes In the case of the AUDUSD this pair is hard to read as both have similar dynamics. The rule of thumb in a scenario like this is ‘all roads lead to the USD’ and explains why the AUD is lagging in this pair but not elsewhere.

On the USD – the clearest example of the pressure it is putting on the rest of its peers is USDJPY. For the first time since 1990 USDJPY passed Y160. It would appear this is a market test for the Bank of Japan.

Does it defend its falling currency? Does it lose its authority due to it losing control of its control mechanism? The economic fundamentals make this a very interesting question indeed.

With an ECB June cut looking likely, FX traders will start looking at the policy path beyond June. Most analysists are calling that the European Central Bank will not cut rates at consecutive meetings and deliver only 75bp of total easing in 2024 based on current data and recent comments from ECB members, the latest being Governing Council member Madis Muller who seemed to stress exactly that point this week. EURUSD has been trading lately It appears that the divergence narrative - triggered by US data and the ECB in-meeting communication – has started to fade slightly, With EURUSD bouncing nicely off support at 1.06 over the last week.

Improvements in the eurozone economic outlook probably playing a role in making the hawks reluctant to give in to a dovish policy path. A June cut is still the base case, but the accompanying message may fail to push rates much lower. That potentially limits how far EURUSD can fall on higher USD rates.

Today, the ECB publishes the CPI expectation surveys for March. In February, the 1-year gauge came in at 3.1% and the 3-year at 2.4%. Expectations are probably for a nudge lower in both surveys.

Still, the dollar story should drive most EURUSD moves today: we see risks skewed to a higher dollar and do not see the pair being able to trade sustainably at 1.0700+.

Q1 earnings season is nearly finished but there are still a few companies expected to release their latest results for the previous quarter. On Wednesday, Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) announced their latest financial results. American company that specializes in the manufacturing and sale of workwear and uniforms achieved revenue of $2.406 billion in fiscal 2024 third quarter, which was above analyst estimate of $2.39 billion.

Earnings per share (EPS) also topped estimates at $3.84 vs. $3.576 per share expected. Revenue and EPS were up by 9.9% and 22.3% year-over-year respectively. Company overview Founded: 1929 Headquarters: Mason, Ohio, United States Number of employees: 44,500 (2023) Industry: Service Key people: Todd Schneider (CEO), Scott D.

Farmer (Executive Chairman), Mike Thompson (Executive Vice President and CAO) CEO commentary "Our third quarter results reflect the outstanding dedication and execution of our employees, whom we call partners. Each of our operating segments continue to execute at a high level, which led to robust revenue growth of 9.9%, record high gross margin of 49.4%, record high operating margin of 21.6% and diluted EPS growth of 22.3%," Todd Schneider, CEO of Cintas said in a statement to shareholders. Schneider also announced that the company is raising its guidance for 2024: "Based on our third quarter results, we are increasing our full fiscal year financial guidance.

We are raising our annual revenue expectations from a range of $9.48 billion to $9.56 billion to a range of $9.57 billion to $9.60 billion and our diluted EPS from a range of $14.35 to $14.65 to a range of $14.80 to $15.00." Stock reaction The stock was up by over 9% on Wednesday, trading at above $700 level for the first time ever during the trading session. Stock performance 5 day: +8.56% 1 month: +9.29% 3 months: +13.71% Year-to-date: +14.38% 1 year: +48.20% Cintas stock price targets Barclays: $700 Truist Financial: $660 Stifel: $585 Royal Bank of Canada: $645 JP Morgan Chase & Co.: $640 Deutsche Bank: $590 Citigroup: $530 Robert W. Baird: $540 Bank of America: $565 Wells Fargo & Company: $500 UBS Group: $575 Morgan Stanley: $441 Argus: $540 Jefferies Financial Group: $487 Cintas Corporation is the 261 st largest company in the world with a market cap of $69.82 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap.

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Why trade during extended hours? Volatility never sleeps. Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: Cintas Corporation, TradingView, MarketWatch, MarketBeat, CompaniesMarketCap

What a week and a half we have had - Central Banks the world over have delivered their May decisions for their respective interest rate moves (or non-moves). Thus, we need to review the FX reactions and the outlook for rates for the rest of 2024. Let’s start at home: RBA and the AUD First, as expected the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left rates on hold at 4.35%, this was expected however the prospect of rate cuts in 2024 is fading fast.

That was brought to light in the statement and Michele Bullock’s press conference. Here's a breakdown of the key points: Inflation Dynamics: The RBA notes that inflation is declining, albeit at a slower pace than expected. Services inflation is moderating gradually, driven by a labour market that the RBA now perceives as tighter than previously assessed.

This indicates that the labour market conditions are exerting influence on inflation dynamics. Monetary Policy: The RBA views its current monetary policy stance as restrictive, with the cash rate level seen as supportive of achieving the target inflation range of 2–3%. However the Board did leave the door open for all movements both hikes and cuts if inflation doesn’t return target inside a meaningful timeframe.

Other Considerations: The RBA remains attentive to developments in the global and domestic economy, the outlook for inflation and the labour market. Thus, it remains data-dependent to policy decisions. What caught our attention the most was the shift in language, particularity the downplaying of supply-side inflation and the attention on domestic demand which is still be too high leading to the same sticky inflation effect we are seeing in the US.

The FX market reaction was mixed on all this, the initial reaction was bearish as the more hawkish bets of the previous few weeks unwound. However, the AUD remains one of the best performing currencies in the G10. With the RBA signalling that its next move may still be a hike it is likely to remain in the ascendancy against those FX players that are facing confirmed cuts in the coming months.

BoE and GBP It seems like the Bank of England (BoE) is navigating through some interesting waters with its monetary policy decisions. The Board voted 7-2 vote to keep rates at 5.25%, but it was Governor Andrew Bailey's remarks post the decisions that caught the market’s attention hinting at a potential shift towards a sharper and faster accommodative stance. The fact that money markets are fully pricing in a rate cut by August, with a considerable probability assigned to a cut in June (44%), indicates a significant anticipation of policy easing.

But Bailey’s suggestion suggests it could be sooner and stronger than priced. No doubt the BoE's decision-making will indeed be influenced by upcoming data on wage settlements and inflation. But it’s clear the impact on the GBP is one way and that is down, particularly when it’s against the likes of the USD or AUD.

It’s a slight more mixed position against the EUR, SEK and CAD as their respective banks are also pointing to rate cuts. ECB and the EUR The EUR is facing a mixed bag having eased through the year but is facing a complex interplay between economic data, market sentiment, and central bank expectations. For example despite some mixed German economic indicators, EUR managed to strengthen last week supported by positive developments in German exports and stronger Eurozone retail sales.

The real headwind for the EUR is the speculation of when (not if) European Central Bank (ECB) will rate cuts. Speculation is rising that next month’s meeting will be the start point after the minutes from the last meeting reinforced dovish bets. Something to watch, the upcoming release of May’s ZEW economic sentiment index for Germany could provide further insight into the economic outlook.

If the sentiment continues to improve, particularly in the Eurozone's largest economy, it could lend support to the EUR amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding ECB policy decisions. Watch the likes of EURGBP and EURSEK in particular. Riksbank and SEK And finally, a mover.

For the first time in 8 years the Riksbank lowered its key interest rate to 3.75% after a two-year period of rate hikes. Governor Erik Thedeen's indication that two more rate cuts are likely in the second half of the year, contingent upon inflation remaining subdued, reflects the proactive stance aimed at supporting economic stability from the Bank. However, Thedeen's emphasized caution as the economic landscape and potential risks associated with policy changes could change the Bank’s outlook.

This could explain the reaction of the SEK to the rate cut a short-lived weakening then a recovery. This highlights the interplay between monetary policy as bigger players such as the BoE and ECB could overrun the dovishness in the smaller SEK for the bigger EUR and GBP.

One of the largest software companies in the world, Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) announced Q1 FY2024 earnings results after the market closed in the US on Thursday. The company achieved revenue of $5.182 billion – a new record vs. $5.143 billion expected. Revenue grew by 11% year-over-year.

Earnings per share (EPS) was reported at $4.48 (up from $3.80 in 2023) vs. $4.377 per share estimate. Adobe expects revenue of between $5.25 and $5.30 billion for the current quarter, which would fall below Wall Street estimate of $5.31 billion. EPS expected at between $4.35 and $4.40 vs. $4.37 per share estimate.

Company overview Founded: December 1982 Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States Number of employees: 26,000 (2022) Industry: Software Key people: Shantanu Narayen (Chairman & CEO) CEO commentary "Adobe drove record Q1 revenue demonstrating strong momentum across Creative Cloud, Document Cloud and Experience Cloud," Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe said in a press release to shareholders. "We’ve done an incredible job harnessing the power of generative AI to deliver groundbreaking innovation across our product portfolio," Narayen added. Stock reaction There was no major movement in Adobe share price before the earnings call. The stock was down by 0.54% at $570.45 a share.

Shares fell by around 10% in the after-hours trading despite beating analyst estimates on future guidance. Stock performance 5 day: +2.59% 1 month: -3.39% 3 months: -2.43% Year-to-date: -4.38% 1 year: +61.47% Adobe stock price targets BNP Paribas: $499 Piper Sandler: $705 Barclays: $700 Stifel Nicolaus: $625 Royal Bank of Canada: $615 Citigroup: $675 BMO Capital Markets: $690 KGI Securities: $730 DA Davidson: $640 Oppenheimer: $660 HSBC: $519 Argus: $611 Wolfe Research: $650 Bank of America: $660 Adobe Inc. is the 42 nd largest company in the world with a market cap of $258.15 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap. You can trade Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX and ASX with GO Markets as a Share CFD on the MetaTrader 5 platform.

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Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) announced Q2 of fiscal 2024 earnings results before the US market opened on Thursday. Irish-American professional services company reported revenue that fell slightly short of analyst estimate of $15.847 billion at $15.8 billion. Earnings per share reached $2.77 for the quarter vs. $2.661 per share expected.

Company overview Founded: 1989 Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland Number of employees: 733,000 (2023) Industry: Professional services, information technology consulting Key people: Julie Sweet (Chair and CEO) CEO commentary "In an uncertain macro environment, we remain the trusted partner to our clients for reinvention with a record 39 clients with quarterly bookings of over $100 million. We also extended our early lead in generative AI with $1.1 billion in new bookings in the first half of the year. And we are investing to serve the needs of our clients and expand our growth opportunities with $2.9 billion of capital deployed in the first half in strategic acquisitions.

Thank you to our more than 740,000 people around the world for your dedication to delivering value for our clients," Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture said in a note to shareholders. Stock reaction Share price fell by around 9% on Thursday to $346.12 a share – the lowest level since January. Stock performance 5 day: +0.59% 1 month: +2.46% 3 months: +9.09% Year-to-date: +8.42% 1 year: +40.04% Accenture stock price targets Guggenheim: $425 Redburn Atlantic: $445 Morgan Stanley: $417 Stifel Nicolaus: $395 Piper Sandler: $394 Citigroup: $430 Robert W.

Baird: $375 Bank of America: $419 Royal Bank of Canada: $374 Mizuho: $426 UBS Group: $400 BNP Paribas: $440 BMO Capital Markets: $385 Wedbush: $360 TD Cowen: $360 Barclays: $390 JP Morgan Chase & Co.: $341 Accenture plc is the 44 th largest company in the world with a market cap of $238.53 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap. You can trade Accenture plc (NYSE: CAN) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX and ASX with GO Markets as a Share CFD on the MetaTrader 5 platform. To find out more, go to "Trading" then select "Share CFDs".

GO Markets offers pre-market and after-market trading on popular US Share CFDs. Why trade during extended hours? Volatility never sleeps.

Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: Accenture plc, TradingView, MarketWatch, MarketBeat, CompaniesMarketCap