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Will the FOMC, Q1 GDP Bring the Dollar Back to Losing Status?

Source: DailyFX.com
The US dollar staged a massive comeback last week as US economic data indicated that, while conditions remain dismal, they aren’t quite as bad as expected. First, the Richmond Fed index “only” fell to 0 from +6, versus expectations of a drop to -1, while existing home sales slipped 2.0 percent. Next, the headline reading of the Commerce Department’s durable goods orders report contracted for the third consecutive month during March, due largely to declines in demand for transportation and defense goods. However, the markets took their cue from the durable goods orders excluding transportation reading, as the index surged 1.5 percent and helped to keep the US dollar rally alive.

Looking ahead to this week, Tuesday’s economic data will likely highlight some of the reasons why traders are ramping up speculation that the country is in midst of a recession. Indeed, the S&P/Case-Schiller index of home prices is likely to fall sharply for the fourteenth consecutive month. Later in the morning, the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index is forecasted to fall to a five year low of 62.0 from 64.5, which won’t be entirely surprising as rocketing food and energy prices combined with the collapse of the US housing sector and tightening credit conditions have sparked widespread pessimism throughout the financial markets. On Wednesday morning, highly anticipated Q1 GDP figures will be released, and a Bloomberg News poll of economists reflects consensus estimates for a 0.3 percent gain. However, these could be rather optimistic expectations, as there is a good possibility that GDP could actually fall negative.

Nevertheless, the market’s response may be muted as the FOMC rate decision will come at 14:15 EST and the Bank is forecasted to cut the fed funds rate by 25bps to 2.00 percent. However, the vote for the March reduction in the fed funds rate had two dissenters, both of whom voted in favor of “less aggressive” policy given upside inflation risks, and futures are now only pricing in a 75 percent chance of a 25bp rate cut and a 25 percent chance of no change in policy. The odds are certainly in favor of more accommodative policy, but if the concurrent policy statement suggests that the FOMC may not cut rates again at their next meeting, the US dollar could actually rally. The latter part of the week will see both ISM Manufacturing and Non-farm Payrolls, though the employment data will likely be the bigger market-mover. NFPs are expected to fall negative for the fourth consecutive month, indicating that consumer spending will continue to deteriorate as record high energy and food prices sap disposable income. – TB