Image source: Pixabay
 

• The US Dollar eases on Friday after some hawkish ECB comments weighed on the DXY.  
• Traders’ eyes are on the US PCE Price Index data on Friday.
• The US Dollar Index popped above 101.00, holding above it.

The US Dollar (USD) trades flat to a touch softer on Friday after comments from European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel left European trading with a hawkish undertone. Although recent figures in the Eurozone might be pointing to disinflation, ECB’s Schnabel said that the scenario of a few consecutive rate cuts is not on the table as the ECB needs to remain cautious. This gave some oomph to the Euro (EUR) against the US Dollar (USD). Still, the US Dollar is trading only slightly softer against several other currencies as traders keep their powder dry ahead of the last bit of important economic data this Friday. 

This main economic data point will be the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, the favorite inflation gauge of the US Federal Reserve (Fed). With most analysts expecting another soft number, the PCE component under the US Gross Domestic Product release from Thursday was downwardly revised, suggesting that price pressures in the second quarter were milder than previously thought.
 

Daily digest market movers: Make or break

• In early Asian trading, the Chinese offshore Yuan reached its strongest level against the US Dollar since June 2023, hitting 7.0710 in USD/CNH.
• At 12:30 GMT, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (CPE) numbers for July will be released:
  • Headline PCE is expected to come in a touch stronger at 0.2% on the month, up from the 0.1% increase seen in June. The yearly component should head higher as well to 2.6% from 2.5%.
  • Core PCE on the month is expected to grow by 0.2%, the same pace as in June. The yearly number should head to 2.7% from 2.6%.
  • Personal Income should grow at a stable 0.2% while Personal Spending is expected to tick up from 0.3% to 0.5%.
• At 13:45, the Chicago Purchase Managers Index for August will be released. The previous number was at 45.3, in contraction. The August number is anticipated to remain in contraction at 45.5.
• The last data for this Friday will be the final University of Michigan numbers for August:
  • Consumer Sentiment is expected to head from 67.8 to 68.
  • The 5-year Inflation expectations number should remain stable at 3%.
• Equities are set to close this week on a positive note. Asian indices all closed in the green. European and US equities are far from done for this Friday, although they are up on the day. 
• The CME Fedwatch Tool shows a 67.5% chance of a 25 basis points (bps) interest rate cut by the Fed in September against a 32.5% chance for a 50 bps cut.  Another 25 bps cut (if September is a 25 bps cut) is expected in November by 48.4%, while there is a 42.4% chance that rates will be 75 bps (25 bps + 50 bps) below the current levels and a 9.2% probability of rates being 100 (25 bps + 75 bps) basis points lower. 
• The US 10-year benchmark rate trades at 3.86%, close to its peak for this week near 3.87%.

More By This Author: