A December Fed cut is back as a baseline scenario for markets, but the dollar has remained relatively strong. Our short-term valuation metrics point to significant risks of a USD correction, unless data prompts a hawkish repricing. Geopolitics will remain in focus, both for European FX (Ukraine peace talks) and the yen (Japan-China tensions over Taiwan)
Volatility is back again after relatively unsurprising sessions since the past week FOMC.
It seems that the since last week, the 2025 theme of currency debasing, seeing a huge rally in metals (Gold, Silver at their yearly highs) and equities was intact after the September meeting which resulted in a cut.
As markets assess the implications of the Zelenskyy-Trump clash on Friday, the focus today is whether US tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go ahead. The FX market is not pricing in 25% duties as a base case, and still leans in favour of either smaller tariffs or another last minute deal. Downside risks for CAD and MXN are therefore sizeable.
Stocks ended down as Nvidia results failed to rekindle an AI rally. Treasury yields rose ahead of the crucial PCE data. The dollar was up as tariff threats loom, pushing gold prices down. Oil climbed on supply concerns after U.S. President Doanld Trump revoked Chevron’s Venezuela deal.
Germany voted over the weekend, and the results are broadly in line with expectations. The euro got a small boost from the CDU/CSU being able to form a coalition only with the SPD, without any smaller third party. There’s a lot on the table for markets this week, and we expect plenty of noise in FX.
