Markteinblicke

US: Dallas Fed Manufacturing index: -17.5 vs -10 expected (-13.5 prior month)

• Views have deteriorated on current situation on orders and shipments, while current production was firmer. The 6-months view has deteriorated.

Eurozone: M3 (Feb.): 2.9% y/y vs 3.2% expected (prior: 3.5%)

• M1 was down by 2.7% y/y after -0.8% y/y the prior month; M2 growth has also decelerated from 3% y/y the prior month to 2% y/y.
• Credit to the private sector has also slowed down from 3.8% y/y prior month to 3.3% y/y. Resulting from the tighter bank’s lending standards and higher cost of capital, credit should slow down further in the next quarters.

Germany: IFO (March): 93.3 vs 91 expected (prior: 91.1)

• Contrary to consensus and to the latest PMI manufacturing sentiment has rebounded over the month.
• Both sentiment on current situation and expectations have rebounded from prior month.
• Opinions have regained in manufacturing and services while views on trade and construction were just less negative.

Brazil: Consumer confidence (March): 87 (prior: 84.5)

• Consumer confidence has regained on both current situation and expectations over the month.

Brazil: Current account (Feb.): -2815 M$ vs -5000 M$ expected (prior: -9081 M$ revised from -8791 M$)

• After two months of large current account deficit, deficit has reduced over the month.
• Foreign direct investment remained high at USD 6.4 M after USD 6.8 M the prior month.

Turkey: Industrial confidence (March): 104.1 (prior: 102.4)

• Sentiment on production, orders and exports has increased over the month while opinions on employment have decreased.

US: Services PMI (March): 53.8 vs 50.3 expected (prior: 50.6)

• Sentiment has rebounded with higher new demand and firmer activity. Labor and prices remained positive and continue to rise.

US: Manufacturing PMI (March): 49.3 vs 47 expected (prior: 47.3)

• Sentiment has improved on production but weakened on new orders and exports.
• Modest increase in prices with some easing in costs. Modest rise in employment.

Eurozone: PMI Manufacturing (March): 47.1 vs 49 expected (prior: 48.5)

• The flash index has weakened from the prior month, despite some improvement in the supply chain and the auto sector.
• The index has decreased in Germany (from 46.3 to 44.4) but was slightly higher in France (from 47.4 to 47.7).
• New orders were weak while prices remained on the rise despite some easing in costs.

Eurozone: PMI Services (March): 55.6 vs 52.5 expected (prior: 52.7)

• The flash estimates have pointed to an increase in business confidence, despite turmoil in banks.
• Sentiment has increased in both France and Germany; by sector, demand was firmer, favoring several sectors such as finance, real estate, industrial services, IT and healthcare.
• As demand remained strong, momentum in prices also stays strong.

Spain: PPI (Feb.): 2.1% m/m (prior: -2.3%)

• Prices have rebounded due to energy prices.
• Yearly trend remained stable at 7.8% y/y.

UK: GFK consumer confidence (March): -36 as expected (prior: -38)

• Sentiment was marginally less negative; opinions have slightly decreased on personal financial situation but were marginally less negative on future economic situation.

UK: Retail sales (Feb.): 1.2% m/m vs 0.2% expected (prior: 0.9% revised from 0.5%)

• Sales (in volume terms) were surprisingly sustained for all categories, except households’ good stores. Discounts and labor have underpinned firm consumption, fuelling upside to inflation in services.

UK: PMI Manufacturing (March): 48 vs 49.7 expected (prior: 49.3)

• First estimates have pointed to slower activity over the month; employment has also turned less favorable.

UK: PMI Services (March): 52.8 vs 53 expected (prior: 53.5)

• Sentiment has marginally decreased from the prior month.

US: Initial jobless claims (Mar 18): 191k vs 197k expected (prior: 192k)

• Continuing claims: 1694 k after 1680 k the prior week.

US: New home sales (Feb.): 640k vs 650k expected (prior: 633k revised from 670k)

• Some rebound after large downwards revisions to prior months data.
• 2 districts over 4 have driven the monthly rebound; inventories have marginally decreased over the month.
• Prices were volatile; median prices have rebounded (2.5% y/y after -0.9% y/y the prior month) but mean prices remained under contraction (-4.5% y/y after 4.3% y/y).

Switzerland: The SNB has increased key rates by 50 bp to 1.50%

• Inflation remained a concern that justified a 50 bp rate hike to 1.50%. The rise in inflation looks broad-based, driven by electricity, food and tourism.
• The inflation forecasts have been increased by 0.2-0.3 pp to 2.6% in 2023 and 2% in 2024-24; note the 2% inflation target is supposed to be reached at end of 2024.
• The statement mentioned that more rate hikes are possible, and the bank could remain active in FX interventions.
• Growth is expected to be around 1% in 2023 and uncertainties remain on the short term related to foreign economies and turmoil in banks.
• SNB mentioned that actions have put a halt on the bank crisis, and the bank will provide liquidity in Swiss franc and foreign currencies. Signs of slowdown in housing prices have developed, and vulnerabilities remain in place according to the central bank.

Norway: Norges bank has increased key rates by 25 bp as expected to 3.0%

• Hawkish statement mentioned further rises in May (and probably June) to contain any inflation-wage growth spiral.

UK: The BoE has increased key rates by 25 bp to 4.25%

• The bank has hiked by 25 bp after 50 bp the previous meeting. 2 governors were in favor of no change rates and other agreed to hike by 25 bp.
• Meeting-by-meeting decision should lead to another potential hike in May if inflation and labor stay high or a pause if inflation comes back. Growth is expected to be slightly positive in Q2 after a mild negative Q1 GDP.
• The bank stated the banking sector is in a good shape. The bank will monitor credit conditions but did not seem to expect more restrictive credit supply.

Turkey: Consumer confidence (March): 80.1 (prior: 82.5)

• Consumer confidence has decreased on deteriorating future personal financial situation; opinions on economy and purchases have also slightly decreased over the month.

Turkey: The central bank has left key rates unchanged at 8.50%

UK: CPI (Feb.): 1.1% m/m vs 0.6% expected (prior: -0.6%)

• All major prices have strongly accelerated over the month: food clothes, household goods, communication and hotels-restaurants prices have increased more than 1% m/m.
• Goods and services prices have both strongly accelerated over the month despite signs of slowdown in the economy and past action of the BoE. Yearly trend has accelerated from 10.1% y/y the prior month to 10.4% y/y.

UK: PPI Input prices (Feb.): -0.1% m/m vs -0.2% expected (prior: 0.4% revised from -0.1%)

• Prices have declined thanks to lower energy prices (-1.1% m/m after -3.5% m/m the prior month). Prices in other sectors were flat or modestly up over the month.
• Yearly trend has declined from 14.7% y/y to 12.7% y/y.

UK: PPI Output prices (Feb.): -0.3% m/m vs 0.1% expected (prior: 0.5%)

• Oil and good prices have declined over the month, while food prices were up by 0.8% m/m after 1% m/m the prior month.
• Yearly trend has declined from 13.5% y/y to 12.1% y/y. Output and input prices have pointed toward lower pressures on costs, while firms have increased further margins and final prices to consumers in several sectors notably in services.

Norway: Unemployment rate (Feb.): 3.6% (prior: 3.5% revised from 3.4%)

• Unemployment continues to bottom out, from the lows (3%) reached in May 22.

Poland: M3 (Feb.): 1.7% m/m vs 0.9% expected (prior: 0.2%)

• M3 up by 7.4% y/y after 6.9% y/y prior month.