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US Dollar declines as ISM PMIs from the US came in weak

  • Weak ISM PMI report for May and decreasing US Treasury yields weigh on USD.
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI report increases odds of Fed rate cut in September.
  • Markets awaiting upcoming Nonfarm Payrolls report and wage growth data.

On Monday, the US Dollar Index (DXY) continued its decline toward the 104.15 area mainly due to the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) PMI report for May. The data led to a decline in US Treasury yields and a slight increase in the odds of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in September.

Market attention has now shifted toward labor market data, specifically the Nonfarm Payrolls report for May, for investors to gather additional data on the US economy.

Daily digest market movers: DXY retreats due to weak ISM data

  • Investors are signaling concerns with the ISM PMI report due to indications of a contracting manufacturing sector.
  • The ISM Manufacturing PMI for May contracted to 48.7, falling below both the expected 49.6 and April’s 49.2, as per the ISM data released on Monday.
  • The lower-than-expected PMI data led to an increase in market-based probabilities of a Fed interest rate cut in September.
  • Following the release, the probability of a rate cut in September increased to nearly 60%.
  • Markets eagerly await the Nonfarm Payrolls report for May, due later this week, which may influence the Fed’s future decisions.
  • US Treasury yields saw a sharp decline with the 2, 5 and 10-year yields falling more than 2%.

DXY technical analysis: US Dollar struggles as negative indicators resurface

The DXY fell below the 20, 100 and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs) on Monday due to the disappointing ISM PMI report. This caused the index to enter a bearish phase.

Similarly, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) fell into negative territory, indicating a rise in bearish sentiment and selling pressure. However, as the pair now tallies a three-day losing streak there are chances that buyers might step in for a slight upwards correction.

Central banks FAQs

Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.

A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.

A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.

Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.

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