Central Bank Watch – Week Ahead Brings ECB, BoJ, and The Fed Rate Meetings

In the past week the SARB kept its rate at 8.25% as expected, The Central Bank of Turkey hiked less than expected 250 bps to 17.5 percent and the Bank of Russia hiked rates by a more-than-expected 100 bps to 8.5%. Ahead we have a potentially market shifting week with the Fed’s interest rate decision along with the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ). A Bloomberg report indicates BOJ officials don’t see much of an urgent need at this point to address the side effects of the yield curve control program. We also have monetary policy decisions from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Chile.

There is a lot of data for central banks to chew over, inflation rates for Germany, France, Spain, and Australia. Additionally, Q2 GDP growth rates for South Korea, France, and Spain and the release of flash PMI readings for Australia, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, and the Euro Area, along with the Ifo business climate report for Germany.

Central Bank Weekly Analysis and Outlook – Banker dynamics are complex. There are myriad facets to analyze and contemplate.

Central bank monetary policy decisions and market activity interest rate decisions can have a dominant effect on financial markets, fiscal policy and geopolitics. We keep an eye on key banker developments, what they mean and what is ahead.

In the Week Ahead

In the week ahead we have three of the major central banks on deck. The market has a FOMC meeting on Wednesday, the ECB meeting on Thursday, and the BOJ meeting on Friday. We also have monetary policy decisions from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Chile.

To say central bankers, have issues is an understatement. Already grappling with the quickest inflation in decades they now have these decisions to make, forcefully raise borrowing costs to defend currencies and risk hurting growth, spend reserves that took years to build to intervene in foreign exchange markets, or simply stand aside and let the market play out.

Central Bank Highlights This Past Week:

Most of the G10 central banks may complete their rate hike cycles around the middle of the year or earlier, the unwinding of central bank balance sheets may continue longer, depending on the damage done.

This week’s central bank main events included:

  • The Central Bank of Turkey hiked by 250 bps to 17.5 percent at its June 2023 meeting. It followed 650bps to 15% at its June 2023 meeting, the consensus guess was 20%.
  • The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) kept its benchmark repo interest rate at 8.25% at its July 2023 meeting as markets had expected.
  • Bank of Russia hiked rates by a more-than-expected 100 basis points to 8.5% with rising inflationary pressures, and weak Rouble.

Eyes on the Bond Market

U.S. Treasuries corrected some of last week’s rally except with the long bond that actually gained 2 basis points on the week. Weakness was in the short end with the 2-year losing 13 bps for the week. The market is poised fora heavy weak of central bank meetings and data. The market has a FOMC meeting on Wednesday, the ECB meeting on Thursday, and the BOJ meeting on Friday. There is a lot of data for central banks to chew over. Due out is US GDP, June’s personal outlays and income, PCE price index, flash S&P Global PMI surveys, Case-Shiller home prices, second-quarter employment cost index, new and pending home sales, and consumer confidence updates.

Yield Watch

Friday/Week/Month/Quarter

  • 2-yr: +1 bp to 4.85% (+13 bps for the week)
  • 3-yr: +2 bps to 4.45% (+9 bps for the week)
  • 5-yr: unch at 4.10% (+7 bps for the week)
  • 10-yr: unch at 3.85% (+3 bps for the week)
  • 30-yr: unch at 3.91% (-2 bps for the week)

Highlights – Federal Reserve

  • Federal Reserve Credit declined $10.7bn last week to $8.250 TN.
  • Fed Credit was down $617bn from the June 22nd, 2022, peak.
  • Over the past 201 weeks, Fed Credit expanded $4.523 TN, or 121%.
  • Fed Credit inflated $5.438 TN, or 193%, over the past 558 weeks.
  • Fed holdings for foreign owners of Treasury, Agency Debt declined $5.5bn last week to $3.431 TN.
  • “Custody holdings” were up $79bn, or 2.4%, y-o-y.
  • The fed funds futures market is pricing in a 99.8% probability of a 25-basis points rate hike. The questions revolve around what Fed Chair Powell signals about additional rate hikes after the July meeting.
  • Fed funds futures are pricing the July rate hike as the last in the tightening cycle. There is only a 16% probability of a second-rate hike at the September meeting, a 30.7% probability of a second-rate hike at the November meeting, and a 27.3% probability of a second-rate hike at the December meeting, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Fed 2023 Bank Stress Tests.

The Federal Reserve released the hypothetical scenarios for its annual bank stress tests before hand. This year, 23 banks will be tested against a severe global recession with heightened stress in both commercial and residential real estate markets, as well as in corporate debt markets. Last year the Fed found all 34 large banks tested remained well above their risk-based minimum capital requirements, and the Fed announced no restrictions relating to dividends and buybacks.

Busy Central Bank Week Ahead:


This Week’s Interest Rate Announcements (Time E.T.)

Sunday, July 23, 2023

  • 21:15 PBoC 1-year Medium-Term Lending Facility

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

  • 03:00 Bank Indonesia Interest Rate Decision

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

  • 14:00 FOMC Interest Rate Decision
  • 21:15 PBoC Loan Prime Rate
  • 22:30 HKMA Interest Rate Decision

Thursday, July 27, 2023

  • 08:15 ECB Interest Rate Decision
  • 23:00 BoJ Interest Rate Decision

Friday, July 28, 2023

  • 17:00 Chile Interest Rate Decision

This Week’s Central Bank Speeches, Meetings (Time E.T.)

Monday, July 24, 2023

  • None Seen

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

  • 03:00 Bank Indonesia Interest Rate Decision
  • 04:00 ECB Bank Lending Survey

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

  • 13:30 BOC Summary of Deliberations
  • 14:00 FOMC Interest Rate Decision
  • 14:30 FOMC Press Conference
  • 22:30 HKMA Interest Rate Decision

Thursday, July 27, 2023

  • 08:15 ECB Interest Rate Decision
  • 08:45 ECB Press Conference
  • 16:30 Fed’s Balance Sheet
  • 16:30 Reserve Balances with Federal Reserve Banks
  • 23:00 BoJ Interest Rate Decision

Friday, July 28, 2023

  • 02:00 BoJ Press Conference
  • 17:00 Chile Interest Rate Decision

Federal Reserve FOMC Schedule 2023


The Fed with a Strong US Dollar

The strong dollar is likely to negatively affect the US economic outlook and could alter the Federal Reserve terminal interest rate, economists surveyed by Bloomberg said. Just 28% saw the currency strength as unlikely to have any impact.


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Sources: TC WSJ Bloomberg Scotia Bank

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